Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
University of Alberta
$143,600.00
Sewer ventilation and odor transport model for sanitary sewers
FY 2016-17
Summary
Our existing sanitary sewer systems have been designed to efficiently carry sewage flow without the consideration for air movement in sewer headspace. As a result, many municipalities are facing the nuisance of odor (foul air) releases from sewers. The odor, mainly hydrogen sulfide (H2S), is generated from sulfur or sulfate in sewage by bacteria in anaerobic condition. The H2S will release from sewage to sewer headspace air, and then be transported by the air flow inside the sewer systems. When the air in sewers is pressurized, H2S will leak into the atmosphere via openings such as manhole pickholes or catch basins in combined sewer systems. The odor of H2S is a nuisance to the public and substantially impacts the living quality of the communities close to release points. At a high concentration, it can also be toxic and responsible for sewer pipe corrosions. Municipalities have been working hard on sewer odor control but with limited successes due to the complexity of the issue. Four researchers from the University of Alberta will work closely with the City of Edmonton to develop sewer ventilation (air movement) and odor transport model. Laboratory experiments, numerical modeling and field monitoring will be carried out to study odor (H2S) generation and release in sewer systems, and hydraulic study on air entrainment in drop structures and by sewage flow with the consideration of air curtains and air jumpers. Computer model will be developed on sewer ventilation and odor transport, either as a stand-alone software or embedded as module in a commercial software such as Mike Urban. It will train a total of eight graduate students (2 PhD, 2 M.Sc. and 4 MEng students), as well as two post-doctoral fellows, to work on the important topic related to our infrastructural renewal. The proposed study will provide a useful tool for municipalities on designing sewer ventilation and odor control strategies, as well as retrofitting existing sewer systems and their future design.
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
445346-2012
Name nom
Zhu, David
Department département
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Organization id
9
Institution établissement
University of Alberta
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2016
Competition year année de concours
2012
Award amount
143600
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
400
Area of application group en
Environment
Area of application group fr
Environnement
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
1005
Research subject group en
Civil engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie civil
Research subject en
Hydraulic engineering
Research subject fr
Génie hydraulique
Partie
3 & 4
Nb partie
5
Application title
Sewer ventilation and odor transport model for sanitary sewers
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Our existing sanitary sewer systems have been designed to efficiently carry sewage flow without the consideration for air movement in sewer headspace. As a result, many municipalities are facing the nuisance of odor (foul air) releases from sewers. The odor, mainly hydrogen sulfide (H2S), is generated from sulfur or sulfate in sewage by bacteria in anaerobic condition. The H2S will release from sewage to sewer headspace air, and then be transported by the air flow inside the sewer systems. When the air in sewers is pressurized, H2S will leak into the atmosphere via openings such as manhole pickholes or catch basins in combined sewer systems. The odor of H2S is a nuisance to the public and substantially impacts the living quality of the communities close to release points. At a high concentration, it can also be toxic and responsible for sewer pipe corrosions. Municipalities have been working hard on sewer odor control but with limited successes due to the complexity of the issue. Four researchers from the University of Alberta will work closely with the City of Edmonton to develop sewer ventilation (air movement) and odor transport model. Laboratory experiments, numerical modeling and field monitoring will be carried out to study odor (H2S) generation and release in sewer systems, and hydraulic study on air entrainment in drop structures and by sewage flow with the consideration of air curtains and air jumpers. Computer model will be developed on sewer ventilation and odor transport, either as a stand-alone software or embedded as module in a commercial software such as Mike Urban. It will train a total of eight graduate students (2 PhD, 2 M.Sc. and 4 MEng students), as well as two post-doctoral fellows, to work on the important topic related to our infrastructural renewal. The proposed study will provide a useful tool for municipalities on designing sewer ventilation and odor control strategies, as well as retrofitting existing sewer systems and their future design.
