In order to efficiently tackle odour problems from sewers which are connected with resident’s complaints and health risks, reliable online odour monitoring is necessary. Multi-gas sensor systems (electronic noses), which display a broad range of odorants, may substitute common online odour monitoring devices in the future. Four electronic noses with different configurations were tested over a period of 8 months at a sewer research plant of Berliner Wasserbetriebe. The objective was to analyse the applicability of four electronic noses for sewer odour management. 11 evaluation criteria were defined to evaluate the E-noses measurement behaviour, stability and their general practicability and handling. Generally it can be mentioned that the results are promising and the E-noses show good potentials. The E-noses which showed good results in predicting the odour concentration at the site have lack of some practical features. Whereas the systems which provide more possibilities (e.g. remote control, direct odour display) and have more complex gas preparation or measurements modes (like thermal desorption) showed lower capabilities to measure the actual odour at the site.

Vier verschieden-konfigurierte Multigas-Sensorsysteme (Elektronische Nasen) sind Gegenstand von Versuchen an einer Kanalforschungsanlage der Berliner Wasserbetriebe. Die Systeme werden 6 Monate verschiedenen realitätsnahen Prozessbedingungen ausgesetzt, um im Anschluss eine Aussage zur Einsetzbarkeit der Systeme auf derzeitigem Stand der Technik im Geruchsmanagement von Abwasserkanalisationen machen zu können. Momentan ist kein Standard zum Test und zur Bewertung von solchen technischen Messsystemen unter Praxisbedingungen verfügbar. Daher wurde eine Methode entwickelt, die eine anwendungs- und innovationsorientierte Bewertung zulässt. Bewertungskriterien werden aufgestellt, orientiert an Verfahrenskenngrößen laut DIN EN ISO 9169 [3]. Die Kriterien werden an das Messkonzept der Elektronischen Nasen, sowie an die Versuchsbedingungen angepasst und erweitert. Das Versuchsprogramm ist so konzipiert, dass verschiedene Zielanwendungsfälle (wie z. B. die Planung einer Dosierstrategie mit geruchsreduzierenden Additiven) abgedeckt sind. Das Vorhaben wird zusammen mit den Berliner Wasserbetrieben und Veolia Wasser sowie in Kooperation mit evado-engineering durchgeführt.

The Berliner Wasserbetriebe are the largest water supply and wastewater disposal company in Germany. They are challenged to tackle various kinds of odour problems emerging from the sewer network. The continuous extension of sewer networks and a decrease in water consumption (in Berlin: ~ 20 % in the last 16 years, according to the statistical office BB, 2009) have led to elevated odour emissions arising from sewer systems. Together with growing public concern over odours from water treatment works, this has led to increasing numbers of odour complaints in urban catchments (Stuetz and Frechen, 2001; ATV-DVWK-M 154, 2003; Barjenbruch, 2003). Different odour abatement technologies are widely-used but often response only after consumer complaints and do not consider adequate identification of odour problems beforehand. An operational, together with a scientific approach is necessary in order to apply effective measures or combinations thereof. In Berlin annually almost 3 Mio € are spent by BWB to reduce odour emissions from the Berlin sewer system (BWB, 2006). Applied measures vary from dosing of nitrate or iron hydroxide sludge, flushing, or compensation by means of bio-filters or masking. The quantification of odour by means of continuous odour monitoring solutions such as electronic noses can contribute to minder economic and operational risks in odour management. The paper presents the research project ODOCO-ARTNOSE, dealing with the evaluation of electronic noses for the online application in sewer systems. The KompetenzZentrum Wasser Berlin (research centre) in cooperation with the Berlin water utilities Berliner Wasserbetriebe and Veolia Water will carry out bench tests with selected, commercially available chemosensor arrays to identify advanced applications of electronic noses in odour management in sewer networks. Objectives of the project are to analytically assess the online-ability of electronic noses by means of a multi-criteria methodology and to specify future odour control services based on the application of e-noses in sewer networks. The potential of electronic noses will be evaluated as tool to fulfil certain needs, namely (i) support for planning/designing of odour preventive measures and abatement strategies, (ii) support for real-time odour control and (iii) data acquisition tool to supervise and document (industrial) dischargers, document the effect of abatement measures and document legal compliance. Tests are possible to be carried out in the frame of a sewer research plant or within the sewer system of Berlin. A large-scale research plant was developed by Berliner Wasserbetriebe for investigating different odour and corrosion strategies. The plant consists of 2 independent gravity lines and is fed by combined wastewater from Berlin, pumped directly from the sewer. Various milieu conditions can be generated. The paper places current challenges within the city of Berlin into perspective and displays examples of odour abatement strategies of Berliner Wasserbetriebe. Expected outcomes and correlated benefits of the project will be presented. The methodological approach relies on a transparent selection of chemosensor array systems, on bench tests following a sophisticated measurement program and the evaluation of the electronic noses by clear defined criteria.

The Berliner Wasserbetriebe are the largest water supply and wastewater disposal company in Germany. They are challenged to tackle various kinds of odour problems emerging from the sewer network. The continuous extension of sewer networks and a decrease in water consumption (in Berlin: ~ 20 % in the last 16 years, according to the statistical office BB, 2009) have led to elevated odour emissions arising from sewer systems. Together with growing public concern over odours from water treatment works, this has led to increasing numbers of odour complaints in urban catchments (Stuetz and Frechen, 2001; ATV-DVWK-M 154, 2003; Barjenbruch, 2003). Different odour abatement technologies are widely-used but often response only after consumer complaints and do not consider adequate identification of odour problems beforehand. An operational, together with a scientific approach is necessary in order to apply effective measures or combinations thereof. In Berlin annually almost 3 Mio € are spent by BWB to reduce odour emissions from the Berlin sewer system (BWB, 2006). Applied measures vary from dosing of nitrate or iron hydroxide sludge, flushing, or compensation by means of bio-filters or masking. The quantification of odour by means of continuous odour monitoring solutions such as electronic noses can contribute to minder economic and operational risks in odour management. The paper presents the research project ODOCO-ARTNOSE, dealing with the evaluation of electronic noses for the online application in sewer systems. The KompetenzZentrum Wasser Berlin (research centre) in cooperation with the Berlin water utilities Berliner Wasserbetriebe and Veolia Water will carry out bench tests with selected, commercially available chemosensor arrays to identify advanced applications of electronic noses in odour management in sewer networks. Objectives of the project are to analytically assess the online-ability of electronic noses by means of a multi-criteria methodology and to specify future odour control services based on the application of e-noses in sewer networks. The potential of electronic noses will be evaluated as tool to fulfil certain needs, namely (i) support for planning/designing of odour preventive measures and abatement strategies, (ii) support for real-time odour control and (iii) data acquisition tool to supervise and document (industrial) dischargers, document the effect of abatement measures and document legal compliance. Tests are possible to be carried out in the frame of a sewer research plant or within the sewer system of Berlin. A large-scale research plant was developed by Berliner Wasserbetriebe for investigating different odour and corrosion strategies. The plant consists of 2 independent gravity lines and is fed by combined wastewater from Berlin, pumped directly from the sewer. Various milieu conditions can be generated. The paper places current challenges within the city of Berlin into perspective and displays examples of odour abatement strategies of Berliner Wasserbetriebe. Expected outcomes and correlated benefits of the project will be presented. The methodological approach relies on a transparent selection of chemosensor array systems, on bench tests following a sophisticated measurement program and the evaluation of the electronic noses by clear defined criteria.