Comment: Optimising wastewater management with simulation

As the global population increases, and water consumption continues to rise, the amount of wastewater being created is now a major concern across the globe.

The International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) has declared that over 80 per cent of wastewater is not being treated or reused, which can have a disastrous impact on the environment. In fact, this is already unfolding, with recent research finding that spills of sewage water – a type of wastewater – increased by 54 per cent from 2022 to 2023.

However, wastewater isn’t just an environmental issue. The ISO’s findings also revealed that, whilst massive amounts of wastewater are being generated, 40 per cent of the planet’s population doesn’t have access to enough clean water to meet its needs. This issue cannot continue; solutions are needed to tackle wastewater and better support both the public and the planet.

Companies like VorTech Water Solutions and ACWA Robotics are creating solutions to help scale back wastewater and turn it into a consumable resource. However, they must first overcome challenges around product design, and meet external requirements such as complying with water safety standards. To do so, they can turn to simulation engineering.

Successfully aerating wastewater

Turning wastewater into clean, accessible, portable water can have a hugely beneficial impact on both the environment and global population. One way of doing so is through aeration technology based on vortex and cyclonic flows, which is being developed by VorTech Water Solutions.

Whilst aeration technology can prove beneficial, the solution must meet strict standards and regulations to ensure that the water is safe for both the environment and human consumption. Moreover, the movement and treatment of water is incredibly energy intensive; today, over 10 per cent of all electricity generated is being used for water pumping alone. Therefore, it’s imperative that companies deliver efficient sustainable treatment solutions whilst causing no collateral environmental harm in the process.

Meeting these needs requires next-generation technology. As such, engineers can use simulation to develop digital versions of their products, and model, test, and optimise a design before a physical prototype is created. For example, simulation can ensure that aeration technology is efficient and reliable to use, whilst also complying with external regulations. Moreover, engineers can use simulation to develop built-in smart technology and control systems that adapt to ever-changing aeration needs, resulting in a reduction in energy consumption. And, since engineers can produce an optimised design without creating multiple physical prototypes, little to no material waste is created during the production process.

Supporting water supply networks

Another solution to improving wastewater management, and distributing more clean water, is by optimising existing water supply networks. This becoming a top priority in the EU; its Water Framework Directive requires all member states to have achieved good ecological and chemical status of surface water and groundwater by 2027.

To support supply networks, ACWA Robotics is developing autonomous robots to travel within pipes and collect data on issues such as corrosion and sources of leaks, to improve network performance. However, the robots must be able to gain access to supply networks and travel around without GPS, and without disturbing or contaminating water distribution. Moreover, they need to be able to effectively collect data in multiple ways, such as through laser, ultrasound, and acoustics.

Physically testing and optimising these robots can be a complex, costly, and risky process, so engineers can leverage simulation to digitally replicate both the robots, and the scenarios they will encounter in real life. Engineers can build a 3D model and run simulations directly on the cloud, which allows each person in a team to optimise specific aspects of the design with ease. Moreover, it ensures that everyone is working from the same blueprint, reducing the economies of scale. With simulation, engineers also gain full visibility into how an autonomous robot collects and stores data from water supply networks, and how any external factors such as water pressure can impact its performance.  Not to mention, simulation assets can help reduce the need for many of the physical sensors on the actual robots, as they can deploy virtual sensors derived from the physics.

The future of wastewater management

It’s evident that the world is still in the early stages of optimising wastewater management, but the development of innovative solutions is proving a promising sign. As companies work to meet complex challenges, simulation will play a central role in this journey.

Scott Parent, VP & field CTO, Aerospace, Energy & Industrial, Ansys

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