Abstract
The objective of this paper is to present the results of a global sensitivity analysis
(GSA) of a phenomenological model that generates wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) dynamic
influent disturbance scenarios. This influent model is part of the Benchmark Simulation Model no
2 (BSM2) and creates realistic dry/wet weather files describing diurnal, weekend and seasonal
variations through the combination of different generic models blocks, i.e. households, industry,
infiltration, rainfall and transport. The GSA is carried out by combining Monte Carlo simulations
and standard regression coefficients (SRC), followed by classification of the influence of model
parameters on the model output into strong, medium and weak. The results show that the method
is able to decompose the variance of the model predictions (R2 > 0.9) satisfactorily for several
flow rate descriptors calculated at different time resolutions. Catchment size (PE) and the usage of
wastewater per person equivalent (QperPE) are two parameters that strongly influence the yearly
average dry weather flow rate and its variability. Wet weather conditions are mainly affected by
three parameters: 1) the probability of occurrence of a rain event (Llrain); (2) the catchment size,
incorporated in the model as a parameter representing the conversion from mm day-1 to m3 day-1
(Qpermm); and, (3) the quantity of rain falling on permeable areas (aH). Very importantly, the
case study shows that the SRC parameter ranking changes when the time resolution is changed,
both for dry and wet weather conditions. The paper ends with a discussion on the interpretation of
GSA results and of the advantages of using synthetic flow rate data for WWTP simulation studies.
The discussion section also includes suggestions on how to use the influent model to adapt the
generated time series to each modeller’s demands.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | 8th IWA Symposium on Systems Analysis and Integrated Assessment |
Publication date | 2011 |
Pages | 722-729 |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Event | 8th IWA Symposium on System Analysis and Integrated Assessment - San Sebastian, Spain Duration: 20 Jun 2011 → 22 Jun 2011 |
Conference
Conference | 8th IWA Symposium on System Analysis and Integrated Assessment |
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Country/Territory | Spain |
City | San Sebastian |
Period | 20/06/2011 → 22/06/2011 |
Keywords
- Influent Modeling
- Activated Sludge Modeling, Benchmarking, BSM, Influent Modeling, Monte Carlo
- Standard Regression Coefficients (SRC)
- BSM
- Monte Carlo Simulations
- Benchmarking