ONLINE AND OFF-LINE EXPERT-SYSTEMS FOR THE OPERATION OF WASTE-WATER TREATMENT PLANTS

To provide the operators of wastewater treatment plants with the required knowledge to operate their plant both an on-line and an off-line expert system were developed. The on-line system recognises plant failures from on-line signals and laboratory measurements, immediately starts the diagnosis and gives proper advice displayed on the screen without controlling the plant directly. The off-line system is used for the diagnosis of plant upsets as well as for plant operation and the choice of control parameters. Both expert systems are PC-based and are applied to nutrient removing municipal treatment plants. They contain rules and models for nitrogen- and phosphorus removal, sludge losses, sludge bulking and the on-line control of different plant functions.