Calibration of an Activated Sludge Model Based on Human Expertise and on a Mathematical Optimization Technique – a Comparison

Two alternative methods, which both can be used to estimate some of the kinetic parameters of the IAWPRC Activated Sludge Model Nr. 1, are compared. By one method, which is based on professional experience and expertise, the unknown parameter values are determined one after the other by a sequential procedure. By the other method, the parameter values are determined simultaneously by use of a mathematical optimization technique. Both methods allow a good fit of a set of 25 experimental oxygen respiration rate time-series and yield accurate estimates of the model parameters. The sequential procedure can readily be employed for the evaluation of single experiments. The optimization technique is more suitable for the evaluation of larger data sets and allows for additional analysis of the data.