Sustentabilidad de la PTAR El Salitre y fotobiorreactores evaluados con emergía en modelos dinámicos

Abstract

A dynamic simulation model was proposed to explain the process of removal of organic matter expressed as emerging and determine the sustainability of two scenarios in the treatment plant (PTAR) El Salitre-Bogotá D.C., Colombia, over time; one with normal operation with anaerobic bioreactors and the second with photobioreactors with Microalgae and Bacteria. The models include the inflow and outflow of the plant and are mainly based on BOD5 and its removal as a variable that determines the greatest flow of Emergy. This modeling was based on differential equations and the Euler method of integration with the Vensim Ple computer program was used; Although the climate and precipitation influence the inflows of the plant, it only treats an average of 4 m 3 / s, the rest of the flow is not treated and continues along the Salitre river basin, which implies low efficiency in the treatment. The simulation showed that the plant has a low sustainability in relation to the removal of organic matter, this variable affects the results of the indexes such as: Emergy appropriation index (EYR), environmental load index (ELR) and the emergy sustainability index (ESI). Contrasted with the improvement of sustainability by incorporating the FMAB into the treatment scenario in the PTAR El Salitre. The model showed, according to the sensitivity analysis, a relationship in the variation of the sustainability indices, removal of contaminants with respect to the flow rate; This demonstrates that the model is valid and applicable in these types of processes to evaluate sustainability, decision-making for the adjustment of operations and processes, and for the formulation of government policies that improve treatment processes in cities.