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Results for “Wastewater System”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

An analysis of the market potential of water hyacinth-based systems for municipal wastewater treatment

The potential U.S. market for tertiary municipal wastewater treatment facilities which make use of water hyacinths was investigated. A baseline design was developed which approximates the "typical" or "average" situation under which hyacinth-based systems can be used. The total market size for tertiary treatment was then estimated for those geographical regions in which hyacinths appear to be applicable. Market penetration of the baseline hyacinth system when competing with conventional chemical and physical processing systems was approximated, based primarily on cost differences. A limited analysis was made of the sensitivity of market penetration to individual changes in these assumptions.

Robinson, A. C.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Fiber Attachment Module Experiment (FAME): Using a Multiplexed Miniature Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor Solution for Rapid Process Testing

Bioreactor research is mostly limited to continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTRs) which are not an option for microgravity (g) applications due to the lack of a gravity gradient to drive aeration as described by the Archimedes principle. Bioreactors and filtration systems for treating wastewater in g could avoid the need for harsh pretreatment chemicals and improve overall water recovery. Solution: Membrane Aerated Bioreactors (MABRs) for g applications, including possible use for wastewater treatment systems for the International Space Station (ISS).

Module Experiment↗
DOE OSTI2021

Enrichments of Anaerobic Selenium Oxyanion Reducers from FGD Wastewater Effluent

Flue gas desulfurization systems (FGD) mitigate air pollutants from coal fired power plants. However, such systems produce wastewater that contains other pollutants such as mercury, arsenic, nitrogen, and selenium that must be removed before the water is released back into the environment. Selenium is of interest because chronic low doses of selenium (ng/L) can cause detrimental ecological consequences. Biological treatment can be utilized to remove selenium from FGD wastewater, but the microorganisms involved in this process and environment within the FGD effluent have not been well studied. This study identifies the microorganisms in selenate-enriched and selenite-enriched FGD effluent that can reduce selenium oxyanions to elemental selenium. Knowing more about these organisms can lead to an eventual optimization in the biological removal of selenium species in these wastewaters.

Sarkar, Preom↗
DOE OSTI2025

Scale-up study of enhancing algal growth through bioaugmentation with the indole-3-acetic acid producing bacteria Azospirillum brasilense

Algae-based wastewater treatment technologies can recover nutrients while generating algal biomass with diverse application potentials. While numerous bacteria have demonstrated the ability to enhance algal growth through symbiotic relationships in laboratory settings, scaling this benefit to larger applications remains challenging due to complex wastewater conditions and microbe-algae dynamics. This study explores the effectiveness of bioaugmentation with Azospirillum brasilense, a plant growth-promoting bacterium known for producing the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), in boosting algal productivity within an Algaewheel wastewater treatment system. Through a series of experiments conducted at lab-, pilot-, and full-scale levels, we evaluated the impact of bioaugmentation on algal growth and developed a bioaugmentation strategy for an Algaewheel system. The results indicate that a biweekly dosing, achieving a final bioaugmenting cell density of 0.2–4 × 10 9 cells/L, effectively doubles the biomass productivity in a residential subdivision wastewater treatment plant in Northern Illinois. The bacterial production of IAA was the primary mechanism driving this enhancement, as demonstrated by the similar growth and yield improvements observed with chemically supplemented IAA and bioaugmentation across all experimental scales. High-throughput sequencing of 18S rRNA genes revealed that the algal community in the bioaugmented tank exhibited more stable biodiversity than the control. Additionally, bioaugmentation improved nutrient removal efficiency during winter, highlighting its potential to enhance the overall performance and sustainability of algae-based wastewater systems. The developed bioaugmentation and chemical treatment methods offer further operational solutions for managing yield, optimizing biochemical profiles, and enhancing biofuel production potential.

Algae-bacterial symbiotic relationship↗
NASA NTRS2010

Offshore Membrane Enclosures for Growing Algae (OMEGA: A System for Biofuel Production, Wastewater Treatment, and CO2 Sequestration

We are developing Offshore Membrane Enclosures for Growing Algae (OMEGA). OMEGAs are closed photo-bioreactors constructed of flexible, inexpensive, and durable plastic with small sections of semi-permeable membranes for gas exchange and forward osmosis (FO). Each OMEGA modules is filled with municipal wastewater and provided with CO2 from coastal CO2 sources. The OMEGA modules float just below the surface, and the surrounding seawater provides structural support, temperature control, and mixing for the freshwater algae cultures inside. The salinit7 gradient from inside to outside drives forward osmosis through the patches of FO membranes. This concentrates nutrients in the wastewater, which enhances algal growth, and slowly dewaters the algae, which facilitates harvesting. Thy concentrated algal biomass is harvested for producing biofuels and fertilizer. OMEGA system cleans the wastewater released into the surrounding coastal waters and functions as a carbon sequestration system.

Trent, Jonathan↗
NASA NTRS2010

Offshore Membrane Enclosure for Growing Algai (Omega) System for Biofuel Production, Wastewater Treatment, and CO2 Sequestration

We are developing Offshore Membrane Enclosures for Growing Algae (OMEGA). OMEGAs are closed photo-bioreactors constructed of flexible, inexpensive, and durable plastic with small sections of semi-permeable membranes for gas exchange and forward osmosis (FO). Each OMEGA modules is filled with municipal wastewater and provided with CO2 from coastal CO2 sources. The OMEGA modules float just below the surface, and the surrounding seawater provides structural support, temperature control, and mixing for the freshwater algae cultures inside. The salinity gradient from inside to outside drives forward osmosis through the patches of FO membranes. This concentrates nutrients in the wastewater, which enhances algal growth, and slowly dewaters the algae, which facilitates harvesting. The concentrated algal biomass is harvested for producing biofuels and fertilizer. OMEGA system cleans the wastewater released into the surrounding coastal waters and functions as a carbon sequestration system.

Trent, Jonathan↗
NASA NTRS1988

Utility of Emulation and Simulation Computer Modeling of Space Station Environmental Control and Life Support Systems

Over the years, computer modeling has been used extensively in many disciplines to solve engineering problems. A set of computer program tools is proposed to assist the engineer in the various phases of the Space Station program from technology selection through flight operations. The development and application of emulation and simulation transient performance modeling tools for life support systems are examined. The results of the development and the demonstration of the utility of three computer models are presented. The first model is a detailed computer model (emulation) of a solid amine water desorbed (SAWD) CO2 removal subsystem combined with much less detailed models (simulations) of a cabin, crew, and heat exchangers. This model was used in parallel with the hardware design and test of this CO2 removal subsystem. The second model is a simulation of an air revitalization system combined with a wastewater processing system to demonstrate the capabilities to study subsystem integration. The third model is that of a Space Station total air revitalization system. The station configuration consists of a habitat module, a lab module, two crews, and four connecting nodes.

Yanosy, James L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

MIUS wastewater technology evaluation

A modular integrated utility system wastewater-treatment process is described. Research in the field of wastewater treatment is reviewed, treatment processes are specified and evaluated, and recommendations for system use are made. The treatment processes evaluated are in the broad categories of preparatory, primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment, physical-chemical processing, dissolved-solids removal, disinfection, sludge processing, and separate systems. Capital, operating, and maintenance costs are estimated, and extensive references are given.

Poradek, J. C.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optimization based process modeling of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor system: Application to swine wastewater

To maintain current levels of consumption in the economy with the dwindling supply of non-renewable material and energy, alternative resource streams more traditionally viewed as waste streams must be considered. Fermentation of high-strength wastewaters is one such pathway that allows for the recovery of energy, nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon compounds. Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) are an emerging technology that allow for the digestion of wastewater in a much smaller footprint than traditional anaerobic digesters. Adoption of this technology into industry has been limited by membrane capital and cleaning costs, but these costs may be offset through the recovery of valuable products. To evaluate the viability of AnMBR technology in the context of swine wastewater treatment, an optimization-based process model built upon Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1) has been developed. Modeling results show that a swine wastewater stream provides potential for net positive energy generation from the AnMBR system in most cases. Sensitivity analyses around important variables were conducted to determine focus areas for future research into AnMBR technology and evaluate the robustness of the model to microbial variables that may change with different microbial communities.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
NASA NTRS1995

Predatory Microorganisms Would Help Reclaim Water

Wastewater-reclamation systems of proposed type use predatory, nonpathogenic microorganisms to consume pathogenic microorganisms. Unlike some other wastewater-reclamation systems, these systems do not require use of toxic chemicals, intense heat, or ionizing radiation (conductivity rays or ultraviolet) to destroy microorganisms.

Benjaminson, Morris A.↗
DOE OSTI2020

A general-purpose method for Pareto optimal placement of flow rate and concentration sensors in networked systems – With application to wastewater treatment plants

The advent of affordable computing, low-cost sensor hardware, and high-speed and reliable communications have spurred installation of ubiquitous sensors in complex engineered systems. However, ensuring reliable data quality remains a challenge. Exploitation of redundancy among sensor signals can help improving the precision of measured variables, detecting the presence of gross errors, and identifying faulty sensors. The cost of sensor ownership, maintenance efforts in particular, can still be cost-prohibitive however. Maximizing the ability to assess and control data quality while minimizing the cost of ownership thus requires a careful sensor placement. To solve this challenge, in this work we develop a generally applicable method to solve the multi-objective sensor placement problem in systems governed by linear and bilinear balance equations. Importantly, the method computes all Pareto-optimal sensor layouts with conventional computational resources and requires no information about the expected sensor quality.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2015

Off Grid Photovoltaic Wastewater Treatment and Management Lagoons

The SSC wastewater treatment system is comprised of key components that require a constant source of electrical power or diesel fuel to effectively treat the wastewater. In alignment with the President's new Executive Order 13653, Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade, this project aims to transform the wastewater treatment system into a zero emissions operation by incorporating the advantages of an off grid, photovoltaic system. Feasibility of implementation will be based on an analytical evaluation of electrical data, fuel consumption, and site observations.

LaPlace, Lucas A.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Advanced Water-Related Technology Performance Development

This U.S. Department of Energy/National Energy Technology Laboratory techno-economic analysis evaluates those parameters having the greatest performance and cost impact on wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) effluent wastewater treatment systems, and air cooled condensers for dry cooling systems. Two supercritical pulverized coal power plants are considered: 1) an existing plant (modified for surface water discharge and air emissions consistent with limits for existing plants) retrofitted with wet FGD effluent wastewater treatment and 2) a greenfield plant constructed with an air-cooled condenser (ACC). Sensitivity analyses are completed on various process parameters associated with the wet FGD effluent wastewater treatment system and ACC to determine the impact on the net plant efficiency and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Research and development targets are recommended for the parameters shown to have the greatest potential impact on cost or performance.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS1980

An industrial application of the JPL ACTS with energy recovery

The JPL Activated Carbon Treatment System (ACTS) uses sewage solids derived from municipal wastewater treatment systems as a source of organic material for powdered activated carbons (PAC). The PAC is used for the COD removal from wastewater and as a filter aid in the recovery of additional sewage solids.

Humphrey, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Strategies for Stabilizing Nitrogenous Compounds in ECLSS Wastewater: Top-Down System Design and Unit Operation Selection with Focus on Bio-Regenerative Processes for Short and Long Term Scenarios

Water recycling and eventual nutrient recovery is crucial for surviving in or past low earth orbit. New approaches and syste.m architecture considerations need to be addressed to meet current and future system requirements. This paper proposes a flexible system architecture that breaks down pretreatment , steps into discrete areas where multiple unit operations can be considered. An overview focusing on the urea and ammonia conversion steps allows an analysis on each process's strengths and weaknesses and synergy with upstream and downstream processing. Process technologies to be covered include chemical pretreatment, biological urea hydrolysis, chemical urea hydrolysis, combined nitrification-denitrification, nitrate nitrification, anammox denitrification, and regenerative ammonia absorption through struvite formation. Biological processes are considered mainly for their ability to both maximize water recovery and to produce nutrients for future plant systems. Unit operations can be considered for traditional equivalent system mass requirements in the near term or what they can provide downstream in the form of usable chemicals or nutrients for the long term closed-loop ecological control and life support system. Optimally this would allow a system to meet the former but to support the latter without major modification.

Lunn, Griffin M.↗
NASA NTRS2023

Wastewater to Plant Nutrient System

Vision and Mission Statement During human space exploration missions longer than 30 days (500 days to indefinite; as defined by NASA strategic plan), a spacefaring crew will generate liquid waste that can be recovered and processed to create nutrients for a plant food production system. In addition, the sodium in urine has a potential to build-up in the system and is not useful as a plant fertilizer since it can stress plants at high concentrations. Finding a way to separate these products and retrieve them for other use is critical for long duration missions. This is useful since it can greatly reduce the amount of overall mission mass.

Robert Gitten↗