Dynamic Sequencing Reactor (SBR) Is Custom-Built
Dynamic Sequencing Reactor (SBR) requires advanced, engineered-to-order equipment built around your exact water conditions, flow rate, and site requirements — that’s why we don’t list generic units online. Request a quote and one of our engineers will call you to walk through your application and build a solution designed specifically for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) and how does it differ from continuous-flow treatment?
An SBR is a single-tank wastewater treatment process that cycles through five phases in sequence: fill, react (aeration), settle, decant (draw), and idle. All biological treatment and clarification occur in the same tank without a separate clarifier. Continuous-flow systems require separate tanks for each treatment stage. The SBR design is simpler mechanically, handles variable flow well, and is cost-effective for small to medium flow rates.
What flow rates are SBR systems designed for?
SBR systems are practical for flows from 5,000 GPD for small communities or industrial facilities up to 5 million GPD for mid-size municipal plants. For very large flows, multiple SBR tanks operate in parallel with staggered cycles to maintain continuous influent acceptance. The SBR fill-and-draw cycle is inherently flexible, making it well-suited for facilities with significant diurnal or seasonal flow variation.
What effluent quality can an SBR system produce?
A well-operated SBR produces secondary effluent with BOD below 10-20 mg/L, TSS below 10-20 mg/L, and ammonia-nitrogen below 5 mg/L when nitrification is included in the cycle design. Adding anoxic react phases enables biological nitrogen removal to below 10 mg/L total nitrogen. Biological phosphorus removal is also achievable through anaerobic/aerobic cycle manipulation, reducing or eliminating chemical phosphorus precipitation.
What types of wastewater are SBR systems used to treat?
SBR systems treat municipal sewage, food processing wastewater, pharmaceutical manufacturing effluent, and industrial wastewater with moderate to high organic loads. They perform particularly well on wastewater with variable flow or strength, because the batch process naturally accommodates surge flows without hydraulic bypass. High-strength industrial waste may require equalization ahead of the SBR to prevent biological upset.
What are the main maintenance requirements for an SBR system?
Key maintenance items include aeration diffuser inspection and cleaning quarterly, decant mechanism (floating decanter or fixed weir) inspection and adjustment, mixed liquor suspended solids monitoring twice per week, and blower maintenance per manufacturer schedule. Sludge wasting based on solids retention time (SRT) targets is a daily operational task. SBR systems have fewer mechanical components than continuous-flow plants, which reduces overall maintenance burden.
How does an SBR handle biological nutrient removal?
SBR systems can achieve nitrogen removal by programming anoxic (no aeration) react phases within the cycle. During anoxic phases, denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate to nitrogen gas, which escapes to atmosphere. Ammonia is nitrified during the aerobic aeration phase. The ratio of aerobic to anoxic time in each cycle controls effluent nitrogen concentration. This flexibility allows a single tank SBR to meet strict nutrient discharge limits without chemical addition.