Aeration is a critical process in biological wastewater treatment, but it also accounts for more than 50% of a treatment plant’s total energy consumption. To help utilities improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Carollo developed the Inflatable Fast and Lightweight Off-gas Analysis Technology (I-FLOAT), a portable system that provides real-time monitoring of oxygen transfer and emissions.
In an interview with Treatment Plant Operator Magazine (TPO), Carollo’s Sam Reifsnyder, technology developer and off-gas testing leader, and Malachai Woodiwiss, I-FLOAT designer and fabricator, discussed how this technology is transforming aeration monitoring and decision-making for utilities.
The Importance of Off-Gas Testing in Wastewater Treatment
Monitoring off-gas from aeration basins provides valuable data on both energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. “The main motivation for off-gas testing is for benchmarking the energy efficiency of the aeration step,” says Sam. “A more recent trend is looking into greenhouse gases leaving with the off-gas, including methane and nitrous oxide, which is a very potent greenhouse gas.”
With some European countries already regulating nitrous oxide emissions from water resource recovery facilities, U.S. utilities are beginning to proactively assess their emissions as part of sustainability initiatives. “We have early adopters here in the U.S. who are ahead of the game and are eager to test and see what they are emitting,” Sam explains.
How I-FLOAT Improves Aeration Performance and Monitoring
“The words that come to mind are portability and light weight. Those attributes help us perform testing and monitoring faster and more affordably,” Malachi says. I-FLOAT is designed to overcome the challenges of traditional off-gas testing methods, which often require heavy, stationary equipment that is difficult to deploy. Unlike these conventional systems, I-FLOAT is lightweight and compact, making it easy to transport in just two small cases. Its design allows a single operator to quickly set up and secure the inflatable hood over an aeration basin, streamlining the testing process.
Case Studies: Real-World Applications of I-FLOAT
The technology is helping utilities make data-driven decisions about aeration system maintenance. “Using I-FLOAT, we can determine how much oxygen transfer efficiency has decreased over time due to fouling,” Reifsnyder explains. “Utilities can use that data to define the break-even point for servicing their diffusers and recoup lost efficiency.”
I-FLOAT has already been used in projects like Metro Water Recovery’s Northern Treatment Plant in Denver, where it helped assess aeration efficiency and confirm that system performance met industry standards.
To learn more about how I-FLOAT is helping utilities optimize aeration performance and reduce environmental impact, read the full interview.