Brief information for potential Ph.D. students

Research area: Wastewater, Stormwater and Sewer Processes

Transport of wastewater and stormwater in sewer networks and drainage systems is associated with physical, chemical and biological transformations prior to inflow to wastewater treatment plants or discharge to surface waters during runoff events. Focus is on experimental process studies, often combined with modeling of the processes and performance of the systems. The systems dealt with thereby include both municipal sewer networks and BMPs for detention and treatment of stormwater and road runoff.

The research activities take place within the Sewer Processes & Network Group (SPN-Group) and are linked to engineering applications. Ph.D. studies are in general conducted within the following three areas:

In-sewer processes with focus on sulfide and organic matter transformations (health risks, odor and concrete corrosion), sulfide control and process interactions between sewer networks and wastewater treatment plants. A conceptual sewer process model, WATS, (Wastewater Aerobic/anaerobic Transformations in Sewers), is developed by the group and subject to further improvement.

Sewer network development and performance with focus on e.g. exfiltration from sewers, sewer rehabilitation and ventilation.

Urban and highway drainage with particular emphasis on chemical and biological process engineering of stormwater and road runoff, e.g. related to treatment in and performance of BMPs.

In general, international Ph.D. students must themselves provide the financial support. In addition to living expenses, fees covering courses and experimental work will on a yearly basis amount to about USD 20,000.

Ph.D. courses offered for international students

Ph.D. courses are held with participation of students enrolled at other universities. Participation in these courses is free. The following two Ph.D. courses are regularly held:

1. Sewer Processes:

Aim: The course concerns in-sewer environmental process engineering of wastewater with emphasis on the dry weather chemical and microbial transformations.

Contents: Chemical and physicochemical aspects of in-sewer processes; substrates and microbiology; air-water mass transfer, odors and reaeration; aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic transformations of carbon, sulfur and nitrogen; experimental studies; modeling; applications related to sewer network design and operation.

Text and notes will be handed out to the participants.

2. Urban Stormwater Runoff

Aim: The course concerns process engineering of the runoff from urban surfaces and highways with an overall objective to reduce environmental impacts.

Contents: Urban runoff quality: transport, transformations, concepts and definitions; stormwater and road runoff characteristics and loads; effects of urban runoff pollutants; monitoring; management and mitigation methods; experimental studies; modeling; applications related to systems design and operation.

Text and notes will be handed out to the participants.