What are the key designs of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR)?

The key design of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) is its ability to combine biological treatment and clarification within a single tank. This integrated design allows for a series of processes—fill, react, settle, and decant—to occur sequentially in the same vessel. During the react phase, the aerobic and anaerobic biological processes can effectively degrade organic material in the wastewater. Following this, the settle phase allows for the separation of treated water from the biomass, leading to efficient clarification.

This design not only simplifies the overall treatment system by reducing the need for multiple separate units (like aeration tanks and clarifiers) but also enhances operational flexibility. Variations in inflow rates and quality can be effectively managed within a single reactor through adjustments in time and conditions during the different phases of operation. By allowing all these processes to occur in one tank, SBR systems optimize space and can enhance treatment efficiency.

In contrast, options referring to continuous flow treatment without clarification and systems that only treat solids do not accurately capture the unique operational cycling that characterizes SBRs. Additionally, a design focused solely on filtering treated effluent overlooks the crucial biological treatment phase essential to SBR functionality.