Dynamic plant-wide optimization of wastewater treatment plant performance using neuro-fuzzy models and predictive control

Karer, Gorazd (author), Vrečko, Darko (author), Hvala, Nadja (author), Škrjanc, Igor (author)

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are complex facilities that must be operated efficiently from both environmental and economic perspectives. They need to balance a range of often conflicting performance objectives, necessitating a plant-wide approach and multi-objective optimization. This paper presents an approach for dynamic plant-wide optimization of the effluent quality index (EQI) and operational cost index (OCI) by employing reduced neuro-fuzzy models to represent performance indices, combined with simplified predictive control. The approach is validated through a one-year simulation using the plant-wide benchmark simulation model no. 2 (BSM2PSFe) and by dynamically optimizing the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration set-point in an aerobic reactor. The Pareto front of optimal solutions is analyzed, and the individual indices are integrated into a single objective function by adjusting the weights of the criteria. The results show that the proposed optimization approach provides a better trade-off between the EQI and OCI indices than constant DO set-point values. Compared to the DO set-point of 1.5 g/m3 , the presented optimization case improves EQI for 2.64% and OCI for 0.87%. The advantage of the approach, apart from plant-wide consideration, is its reliance on measurements available in practice, making it suitable for implementation in real WWTPs.

• Language: English
• Keywords: multi-objective optimization, long-term control evaluation, neuro-fuzzy modeling, model predictive control, wastewater treatment operation
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FE - Faculty of Electrical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 14 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 328, art. 102008
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-190966
• UDC: 681.5
• ISSN on article: 1944-3994
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dwt.2026.102008
• COBISS.SI-ID: 304446979
• Publication date in RUL: 09.11.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Desalination and water treatment
• Shortened title: Desalination water treat.
• Publisher: Balaban Publishers
• ISSN: 1944-3994
• COBISS.SI-ID: 14437398

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: večkriterijska optimizacija, dolgoročno ovrednotenje vodenja, nevro-mehko modeliranje, prediktivno vodenje, upravljanje z odpadno vodo

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P2-0219
• Name: Modeliranje, simulacija in vodenje procesov

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: L2-3166
• Name: Nadzorni sistem vodenja za celostno optimizacijo delovanja čistilnih naprav za čiščenje odpadnih voda