Achieving an energy-positive operation is critical to meet the sustainability paradigm for wastewater management. While there is interest in developing energy positive schemes, a comprehensive analysis on full-scale implementation of such schemes is lacking. We used advanced simulation techniques to evaluate a low-energy treatment scheme capable of increasing resource recovery, while simultaneously meeting typical effluent limits (total N [TN] ≤ 3 mg/L; total P [TP] ≤ 1 mg/L). Major components of the treatment scheme include anaerobic membrane bioreactors (BOD/TSS removal), polymeric anion exchangers (P removal) and mainstream anammox process (N removal). Simulation results indicate the potential for reduction in net treatment energy requirement by about 0.46 kW h/m³ (∼ 94 %) compared to a conventional activated sludge system. Energy recovery through biogas combustion (0.29 kW h/m³) was about 90 % of the total energy required for treatment. Sludge production was reduced by 49 % using mainstream anaerobic configurations, while 55 % of the influent COD was recovered as biogas. Sensitivity analysis indicated that dominant parameters controlling energy production and consumption include temperature, influent COD, electric efficiency of combined heat and power (CHP) engine. Determination of solution space for energy self-sufficiency indicated that the proposed treatment scheme could reach a break-even point at 544 mg/L COD and 38 % electric efficiency of the CHP engine. Our analysis helped identify potential challenges for full-scale implementation and determination of operational strategies to overcome these challenges. We believe that our advanced simulation-based analysis provides a platform that utilities can apply to make decisions to achieve sustainable wastewater management.

实现正能量运行对于满足废水管理的可持续性范式至关重要。尽管有兴趣开发积极的能源计划，但缺乏对此类计划的全面实施的全面分析。我们使用了先进的模拟技术来评估一种低能耗的处理方案，该方案能够提高资源回收率，同时满足典型的排放限值（总N [TN]≤3 mg / L；总P [TP]≤1 mg / L）。处理方案的主要组成部分包括厌氧膜生物反应器（去除BOD / TSS），聚合阴离子交换剂（P去除）和主流厌氧氨氧化工艺（N去除）。仿真结果表明，潜在的净处理能量需求量减少了约0.46 kW h / m ³（〜94％）与传统的活性污泥系统相比。通过沼气燃烧回收能量（0.29 kW h / m ³）约为治疗所需总能量的90％。使用主流厌氧配置，污泥产量减少了49％，而流入的COD中有55％被回收为沼气。敏感性分析表明，控制能源生产和消耗的主要参数包括温度，进水COD，热电联产（CHP）发动机的电效率。确定能量自给自足的解决方案空间表明，所提出的处理方案在544 mg / L COD和CHP发动机电效率38％时可以达到收支平衡点。我们的分析有助于确定全面实施的潜在挑战，并确定克服这些挑战的运营策略。