Pilot facility experimentation

The subject of Pilot Plant Experimentation is a compulsory experimental discipline of the Interuniversity Master in Sustainable Water Management, integrated in module 3 of Process Engineering.

The objective of the subject is that students perform a series of experimental practices where they will use both the knowledge acquired in the master, as well as acquire new knowledge during the development of various laboratory practices. In this sense, this subject pursues the following learning outcomes focused on knowing the processes applied in drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment (physical, chemical and biological), being able to make a basic economic evaluation, prepare reports and apply critical thinking to all these activities.

In order to achieve the objectives, the subject consists of a series of experimental practices where, for example, the following processes can be seen: flotation, coagulation-flocculation, activated sludge reactors, anaerobic digester, stirring and mixing, ozonation, Fenton oxidation processes, adsorption by activated carbon, determination of oxygen transfer coefficients, reverse osmosis, determination of aerobic sludge activity, respirometry, aerobic granular reactors, anaerobic-aerobic SIAM process, etc.

The subject has the following general contents:

- Operation and control of water treatment and potabilization processes at laboratory and/or pilot scale.
- Physicochemical operations
- Monitoring of biological reactors.
The following are the laboratory practices that will be taught in order to adjust to the indicated contents:

1.- Coagulation-flocculation.
2.- Fenton oxidation process.
3.- Ozone degradation kinetics.
4.- Reverse osmosis plant.
5.- Activated carbon adsorption
6.- Sludge flotation
7.- Activated sludge reactor
8.- Granular biomass reactor
9.- Sludge sedimentation
10.- Anaerobic digestion

Basic

Pilot Plant Experimentation Practice Guidelines Document. Dept. of Chemical Engineering. Universidade de Santiago de Compostela.
DÍAZ, M. Ecuaciones y cálculos para el tratamiento de aguas. Madrid: Paraninfo, 2019. ISBN: 84-283-4152-4 (on-line)

Complementary

ECKENFELDER, W. Wesley. Industrial Water Pollution Control 3ª ed. Boston: Mc-Graw Hill Book Company, 1999. ISBN: 0-07-116275-5

HENZE, M., VAN LOOSDRECHT, M.C.M., EKAMA, G.A. and BRDJANOVIC, D. Biological wastewater treatment: Principles, Modelling and Design. Londres. IWA Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84-339188-3

E-book downloadable at the following link:

https://iwaponline.com/ebooks/book/707/Tratamiento-biologico-de-aguas-r…

METCALF & EDDY Inc. Wastewater engineering: treatment and resource recovery. 5ª ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-259-01079-8

PARSONS, S., JEFFERSON, B. Introduction to Potable Water Treatment Processes. Williston: Wiley, 2006. ISBN: 1405127961. E-book.

The students will develop the following learning outcomes that appear in the study report of the Interuniversity Master's Degree in Sustainable Water Management.

Knowledge:

CON4 List the water treatment systems, both for supply to populations or industries, and for purification and subsequent restitution to natural environments and reuse of reclaimed water. Identify and describe emerging challenges in water treatment.

Skills:

HAB3 Select and operate innovative treatment systems adapted to different realities, geographical environments and quality requirements, including emerging challenges and the application of green or nature-based treatments. Experiment with pilot water treatment systems.

Competencies:

COM3 Judge the performance and suitability of various water treatment proposals. Compare different alternatives. Integrate expert judgment in planning water treatment systems, considering emerging challenges and green solutions.

Experimental practices will be carried out in the laboratory.

Each group of 2-3 members will receive the guidelines document of all the available practices of which they will perform 2 practices. Before starting the realization of each practice, the students will have 15-20 minutes to read the guidelines document, after this period, the teacher will ask them questions about the basics of the process, taking into account the level of knowledge that they present, they will be recommended to read a certain part of the proposed bibliography or will be given authorization to start the practice. At the end of the experimental part, the students will carry out an analysis of results, supported by the use of the bibliography and spreadsheets. In the performance of the practices the following competences will be developed CON4, HAB3 e COM3.

The Virtual Campus (Moodle) will be used as a communication tool between lecturer and students, using this application to make the laboratory guidelines document and complementary materials available to the students.

It is expected that at least 2 laboratory practicals will be carried out during the internship period. Preferably, the quality of the work performed will be evaluated. Three factors will be taken into account for the final grade:

- Quality of the work done in the laboratory (20%). The active participation, the capacity of individual and team work, as well as the maintenance of order and cleanliness in the laboratory will be valued. CON4, HAB3 e COM3
- Quality of the notebook and report presented (45%). The notebook and report will be handed in one week after the end of the internship period. CON4, HAB3 e COM3
- Examination (35%) to be taken on the scheduled date and in which questions related to the experimental practice laboratory will be asked, including questions related to safety in the practice laboratory. CON4, HAB3 e COM3

In order to pass the course it is essential to attend the laboratory sessions as established in the University regulations.

For the second opportunity in the same academic year, the grades obtained in the sections of notebook and report + laboratory work will be retained.

In the case of failing the notebook and/or report, the student will have to make a new report of the practicals before the date of the second opportunity exam.

In cases of fraudulent performance of exercises or test, the provisions of the Regulations for evaluating student academic performance and reviewing grades will apply.

The report of the Interuniversity Master in Sustainable Water Management assigns a teaching load of 24 hours in the laboratory, 2 hours of group tutoring, 2 hours of exams and 47 hours of personal work, corresponding to 75 hours of student work (3 ECTS).

It is recommended that the students keep up to date with the material, and that they prepare the notebook in the laboratory during the practical period.

The teaching of the subject will be given preferably in Spanish and alternatively in Galician or English in the case of foreign students.

It is mandatory that students bring lab coats and a notebook for each work team.

The admission and permanence of the students enrolled in the practical laboratory requires that they know and comply with the standards included in the “Protocol of basic training in security matters for experimental spaces” of the School of Engineering, available in the security section of its Web. To access the document do as follows:
1. https://www.usc.gal/gl/centro/escola-tecnica-superior-enxenaria
2. Access your intranet
3. Go to Documentación/Comisións/Comisión Seguridade e Saúde/Formación
4. Press in “Protocolo de formación básica en materia de seguridade para espazos experimentais”


Students will also be provided with basic operational information for each of the practices (guidelines document), which will include the most relevant aspects related to safety and occupational risk prevention.

The Virtual Campus will be used as a tool to provide information/announcements about the teaching activity throughout the course and complementary materials for the study of the subject.