# Analysis and Forecasting of the Energy Consumption in Wastewater Treatment Plant

Authors: ZhenHua Li; ZhiHong Zou; LiPing Wang
Journal: Mathematical Problems in Engineering
 (2019)

---

## Abstract

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is the energy-intensive industries. Energy is consumed at every stage of wastewater treatment. It is the main contributor to the costs of WWTP. Analysis and forecasting of energy consumption are critical to energy-saving. Many factors influence energy consumption. The relationship between energy consumption and wastewater is complex and challenging to identify. This article employed the fuzzy clustering method to categorize the sample data of WWTP and analyzed the relationship between energy consumption and the influence factors in different categories. The study found that energy efficiency in various categories was changed and the same influence factors in different types had different influence intensity. The Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network was used to forecast energy consumption. The data from the complete set and categories was adopted to train and test the model. The results show that the RBF model using the date from the subset has better performance than the multivariable linear regression (MLR) model. The results of this study provided an essential theoretical basis for energy-saving in WWTP.


---

## Body

## 1. Introduction

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is the energy-intensive industries. Collecting, treating, and discharging wastewater to acceptable permit standards needs a large amount of energy. Wastewater includes three stages. Physical treatment is used to remove the suspended solids and other impurities. Around 25% of energy is consumed to drive the influent pumps and aerated grit chamber [1]. Biological treatment is used to process high concentrations of organic matter and nitrogen. More than 90% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 20% nitrogen in wastewater is removed. Aerobic digestion and anaerobic digestion convert organic matter into carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane, and so on. Much of the energy used by this stage is for aeration. Only a small amount of energy is used for pumping water. About 60-70% of energy is used in biological treatment [2]. Besides, sludge thickening and dewatering contribute 4.1-13.9% of the total energy consumption in WWTP [3]. The energy efficiency of WWTP is influenced to a great extent by the wastewater treatment technology, the size of the plant, and the sewage inflow and effluent quality [4]. Energy efficiency measure and treatment process modifications may be able to reduce their energy cost by up to 30% [5]. Studies to understand the energy consumption are critical to implementing target strategies for energy reduction.It is clear that an improvement in energy efficiency enables the achievement of the same result with less energy or achieving an improved performance with the same power. Wastewater treatment is a nonlinear biological reaction process. The relationship between wastewater and energy consumption is complex and uncertain. The data analysis seems a difficult task because the data are multidimensional, complex, and nonlinear. In the scientific literature, there are a large number of studies on energy consumption in WWTP. Deborah et al. employed a multistep methodology to evaluate the energy efficiency of wastewater treatment in Italy and suggested some energy optimization solutions to decrease energy cost [6]. Daw et al. concluded that the energy audit could help to improve energy efficiency in wastewater treatment [7]. Viktoria et al. identified that energy consumption is decreasing with the increase of the amount of treated wastewater [8]. Ortiz et al. applied the life cycle assessment to evaluate water treatment technologies. They found that tertiary treatment did not increase the environment loads significantly [9]. Gua et al. analyzed the overall influence factors of energy use in WWTPs [10]. Abusoglu et al. used the thermoeconomical methodology to assess a municipal wastewater treatment system. [11]. Plappally and Lienhard considered the wastewater treated with various processes, and the results showed that membrane bioreactors were significant energy consumers in wastewater treatment [12]. The energy intensity of advanced wastewater treatment process is higher than the traditional method. Hernández-Sancho et al. employed the nonradial DEA model for estimating the energy efficiency in Spanish wastewater treatment plant, and results showed that the energy efficiencies of the analyzed WWTPs were quite low [13]. Awe et al. discussed the energy production, usage, and saving in WWTP [14]. Andersson and Holmberg showed that electrical energy consumption decreased by 10% by introducing an in-feed filter system for the blowers [15]. Joao and Justina found that energy saving of every WWTPs could vary from 20% up to 40% [16]. Also, some scholars provide a review of the various modeling techniques for modeling the wastewater treatment process [17–20]. Xu et al. employed the artificial immune algorithm to calculate the optimal setting value of the control variables [21]. Ye et al. combined the RBF network and immune algorithm to establishing the wastewater treatment process models [22]. Guan et al. and Wang et al. proposed the soft-sensing method for predicting the quality parameters of wastewater treatment [23, 24]. Luo et al. developed a soft computing approach based on the back propagation neural networks and fuzzy-rough sets to predict effluent NH3-N, COD, and total nitrogen (TN) concentration of a real WWTP [25]. The results showed that the prediction by this approach was better than the other traditional modeling approaches. Chen et al. proposed a hierarchically neural network to predict the COD and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) concentrations [26]. Yu et al. implemented the statistical regression models to predict energy consumption in WWTP [27]. Systematic analysis of energy efficiency and modeling of the energy consumption in wastewater treatment under various categories is somewhat rare in the literature.As wastewater treatment system contains many statistics about energy consumption, and FCM is an efficient tool to divide a given set of data into categories so that elements drawn from the same type are as similar to each other as possible, while those assigned to different groups are dissimilar [28]. FCM has been widely used in economics, finance, science, and other fields and has obtained lots of good results [29–32]. However, few studies have paid attention to the application of FCM in analyzing energy consumption in WWTP. The energy efficiency in different categories should be considered. Thus, clustering analysis appears to be an appropriate choice for categorizing energy efficiency with similar energy consumption and facilitating the exploration of the specific characteristics of each category and its influence factors. The Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network was adopted to establish an energy consumption model. The central sample point is critical for the performance of the RBF model. Often only the nearest sample point plays a vital role, while the other samples far from the spot have very minimum impact, which can be ignored. Here, the RBF model used data from a complete set and subset, respectively, to establish the prediction models. The multivariable linear regression (MLR) model was also used. The results showed that using the data from the categories can improve the performance of these models. The method could be used by wastewater managers to accurately forecast the behavior of the energy consumption in various WWTPs.


## 2. Methodology and Data

The energy consumption of WWTPs is ambiguous and uncertain. It is influenced by many factors and involves three standard process performance indicator variables that are regarded as input parameters: Influent loads, COD, and, TN removals. The energy efficiency in different condition should be considered. Thus, clustering analysis appears to be an appropriate choice for categorizing energy efficiency with similar energy consumption characteristics. This paper selects the FCM method to analyze the energy consumption in WWTP.


### 2.1. The FCM Method

The FCM method was first proposed by Dunn and Bezdek in the 1980s [28]. It has been applied in many fields. FCM can be described as below. Given subsets X=X1,X2,…,XN, where Xk=xk1,xk2,…,xknT∈Rn,xkj(j=1,2,…,n) is the jth element of a sample Xk(k=1,2,…,N). ZT=(Z1,Z2,…,Zc) (Zi=zi1,zi2,…,zinT∈Rn) is the cluster centers vector. The fuzzy c-clustering for X can be described as below:(1)minJmU,Z,c=∑i=1c∑k=1Nμkhdik2=∑k=1N∑i=1cμkmXk-Zi2,1≤m≤∞∑i=1cμik=1,1≤k≤N0<∑k=1Nμik≤N,i=1,2,…,c.μik=∑j=1cXi-ZkXj-Zk2/m-1-1Zk=∑k=1nμikmXk∑k=1nμikmwhereU=μik0≤μik≤1,1≤i≤c,1≤k≤N is partition matrix. Z=Zi is the nuclear matrix of clustering. μik is the fuzzy membership grade belonging to the kth category of the ith sample. dik2 denote the distance function between ith element and kth cluster center in the same subset. m is the weighted index, usually set to 2. The values of the original data must be normalized to the same order as the inaccurate cluster will be induced by the order variation of the data characterizing the factors. The procedure of fuzzy c-clustering algorithm is as follows.Step 1.
Determine the cluster number and the cluster center; initialize the partition matrix.Step 2.
Calculate the nuclear matrix of clustering.Step 3.
Update the partition matrix.Step 4.
For each partition matrix, compare the matrix norm with its previous value.Step 5.
If the stopping iteration condition is not met, loop to Step2.The FCM parameter values were set as follows: the maximum number of iterations is 40; the weighted index is 4; the cluster number is 3.


### 2.2. Radical Basis Function (RBF) Neural Networks

Wastewater treatment is a highly nonlinear dynamic process. It is complicated and influenced by many factors. The relationship between energy consumption and influencing factors is nonlinear and complex. Meanwhile, the influent loads and the concentration of contaminations in the sewage are constant change. It is difficult to obtain reliable parameters of many biochemical reactions and fit a reasonable energy consumption model. Owing to many uncertain factors affecting energy consumption in WWTP, the energy consumption systems undergo nonlinear system changes dynamically. Neural networks played an important role in solving these problems. The model has been widely applied to various fields of mathematics, engineering, economics [22, 33, 34]. It can model any nonlinear system to a high degree of accuracy by adjusting the network parameters and uses the steepest descent method to search for the optimal solution. It includes the input layer, the hidden layer, and an output layer. Each sheet contains a massive parallel distributed neuron. The network can acquire the knowledge and modify the synaptic weights to attain the desired design objective in the learning process. Here, the RBF neural networks were introduced to forecast energy consumption in WWTP. Three leading performance indicators of WWTP, influent loads, COD, and TN removals were chosen as the input of these models. The distribution density of the RBF network is 0.3.


### 2.3. Data Sources

The data in this paper was collected from the daily records of a municipal WWTP located in Jimei District, Xiamen, China. The data includes 360 samples (from 25th December 2015 to 24th December 2016) after removing six invalid samples. The WWTP applies the activated sludge process, treating municipal sewage. The plant has a design capacity of 90000 cubic meters per day, or nominally 560,000 equivalent population. The inflow loads are 53900-95200 cubic meters per day. Figure1 depicts the operation of the WWTP system. The first two reactions are anoxic section, followed by two aeration sections and the clarifier. The effluent quality meets the national integrated discharge standard. The statistical describes energy consumption and influencing factors are depicted in Table 1. Table 1 describes energy consumption, inflow load, COD removal, and total nitrogen removal.Table 1
Statistical description of the energy consumption parameters.
Unit Inflow loads COD removal Total nitrogen removal Energy consumption (104  × m3) (tons) (tons) (kWh) 1 7.48 17.27 2.08 21177 2 7.09 13.39 2 20085 3 7.18 16.37 1.99 20729 4 7.08 16.63 2.11 20688 5 7.01 11.14 2.06 20906 … … … … … 355 8.43 20.58 3.17 23975 356 8.28 20.29 2.87 23762 357 8.5 10.8 3.03 24933 358 8.66 35.58 2.56 24110 359 8.53 8.35 1.38 23983 360 8.05 17.87 2.08 23841Figure 1
Modified the process of the WWTP system (Tank 1-2. Anaerobic section. Tank 3—4 Aerated sections).


## 2.1. The FCM Method

The FCM method was first proposed by Dunn and Bezdek in the 1980s [28]. It has been applied in many fields. FCM can be described as below. Given subsets X=X1,X2,…,XN, where Xk=xk1,xk2,…,xknT∈Rn,xkj(j=1,2,…,n) is the jth element of a sample Xk(k=1,2,…,N). ZT=(Z1,Z2,…,Zc) (Zi=zi1,zi2,…,zinT∈Rn) is the cluster centers vector. The fuzzy c-clustering for X can be described as below:(1)minJmU,Z,c=∑i=1c∑k=1Nμkhdik2=∑k=1N∑i=1cμkmXk-Zi2,1≤m≤∞∑i=1cμik=1,1≤k≤N0<∑k=1Nμik≤N,i=1,2,…,c.μik=∑j=1cXi-ZkXj-Zk2/m-1-1Zk=∑k=1nμikmXk∑k=1nμikmwhereU=μik0≤μik≤1,1≤i≤c,1≤k≤N is partition matrix. Z=Zi is the nuclear matrix of clustering. μik is the fuzzy membership grade belonging to the kth category of the ith sample. dik2 denote the distance function between ith element and kth cluster center in the same subset. m is the weighted index, usually set to 2. The values of the original data must be normalized to the same order as the inaccurate cluster will be induced by the order variation of the data characterizing the factors. The procedure of fuzzy c-clustering algorithm is as follows.Step 1.
Determine the cluster number and the cluster center; initialize the partition matrix.Step 2.
Calculate the nuclear matrix of clustering.Step 3.
Update the partition matrix.Step 4.
For each partition matrix, compare the matrix norm with its previous value.Step 5.
If the stopping iteration condition is not met, loop to Step2.The FCM parameter values were set as follows: the maximum number of iterations is 40; the weighted index is 4; the cluster number is 3.


## 2.2. Radical Basis Function (RBF) Neural Networks

Wastewater treatment is a highly nonlinear dynamic process. It is complicated and influenced by many factors. The relationship between energy consumption and influencing factors is nonlinear and complex. Meanwhile, the influent loads and the concentration of contaminations in the sewage are constant change. It is difficult to obtain reliable parameters of many biochemical reactions and fit a reasonable energy consumption model. Owing to many uncertain factors affecting energy consumption in WWTP, the energy consumption systems undergo nonlinear system changes dynamically. Neural networks played an important role in solving these problems. The model has been widely applied to various fields of mathematics, engineering, economics [22, 33, 34]. It can model any nonlinear system to a high degree of accuracy by adjusting the network parameters and uses the steepest descent method to search for the optimal solution. It includes the input layer, the hidden layer, and an output layer. Each sheet contains a massive parallel distributed neuron. The network can acquire the knowledge and modify the synaptic weights to attain the desired design objective in the learning process. Here, the RBF neural networks were introduced to forecast energy consumption in WWTP. Three leading performance indicators of WWTP, influent loads, COD, and TN removals were chosen as the input of these models. The distribution density of the RBF network is 0.3.


## 2.3. Data Sources

The data in this paper was collected from the daily records of a municipal WWTP located in Jimei District, Xiamen, China. The data includes 360 samples (from 25th December 2015 to 24th December 2016) after removing six invalid samples. The WWTP applies the activated sludge process, treating municipal sewage. The plant has a design capacity of 90000 cubic meters per day, or nominally 560,000 equivalent population. The inflow loads are 53900-95200 cubic meters per day. Figure1 depicts the operation of the WWTP system. The first two reactions are anoxic section, followed by two aeration sections and the clarifier. The effluent quality meets the national integrated discharge standard. The statistical describes energy consumption and influencing factors are depicted in Table 1. Table 1 describes energy consumption, inflow load, COD removal, and total nitrogen removal.Table 1
Statistical description of the energy consumption parameters.
Unit Inflow loads COD removal Total nitrogen removal Energy consumption (104  × m3) (tons) (tons) (kWh) 1 7.48 17.27 2.08 21177 2 7.09 13.39 2 20085 3 7.18 16.37 1.99 20729 4 7.08 16.63 2.11 20688 5 7.01 11.14 2.06 20906 … … … … … 355 8.43 20.58 3.17 23975 356 8.28 20.29 2.87 23762 357 8.5 10.8 3.03 24933 358 8.66 35.58 2.56 24110 359 8.53 8.35 1.38 23983 360 8.05 17.87 2.08 23841Figure 1
Modified the process of the WWTP system (Tank 1-2. Anaerobic section. Tank 3—4 Aerated sections).


## 3. Results and Discussion

The energy consumption of WWTP could be depicted by three indicators: inflow loads, COD, and TN removals. The present study selected these indicators as the clustering index to analyze the energy consumption of WWTP. The energy consumption of this WWTP was determined into three clusters with its significant characteristic. Figure2 shows the scatter diagram of energy consumption in different categories. Table 2 shows the center of different groups. The partial correlation coefficient among energy consumption and the influencing factors in different types are depicted in Table 3.Table 2
The center of different categories.
Center Inflow loads COD removal Total nitrogen removal Index 1 0.7365 0.2009 0.2534 Index 2 0.7451 0.2857 0.4307 Index 3 0.7209 0.4308 0.3798Table 3
The partial correlation coefficient among energy consumption and the influencing factors in different categories.
Pearson Correlation Inflow loads COD removal Total nitrogen removal Index1 Energy consumption 0.226 0.374 0.283 Sig. (2-tailed) 0.004 0.000 0.000 Index2 Energy consumption 0.338 0.516 0.575 Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 0.000 .000 Index3 Energy consumption 0.517 0.323 0.355 Sig. (2-tailed) 0.000 0.004 0.001Figure 2
Scatter diagram of energy consumption in different categories.


### 3.1. Clustering Results

The electricity consumption per cubic meter wastewater in the center of the first category is 0.2907 kWh/m3. This category contains 159 sets of data. As it can be seen in Table 3, the partial correlation coefficients of the influencing factors are 0.226, 0.374, and 0.283, respectively. The results show that COD removal has a significant impact on energy consumption, followed by total nitrogen removal, while inflow loads.The electricity consumption per cubic meter wastewater in the center of the second category is 0.2942 kWh/m3. This category contains 121 sets of data. It can be seen in Table 3 that the partial correlation coefficients of the influencing factors are 0.338, 0.516, and 0.575, respectively. Total nitrogen removal is positively contributing to energy consumption followed by COD removal, while inflow loads.The electricity consumption per cubic meter wastewater in the center of the third category is 0.2844 kWh/m3. This category contains 80 sets of data. As it can be seen in Table 3, the partial correlation coefficients of the influencing factors are 0.517, 0.323, and 0.355, respectively. The results show that energy consumption is highly correlated with inflow loads, followed by total nitrogen removal, while COD removal.The statistical description of energy consumption and influencing factors in different categories are depicted in Table4. It can be seen that average electricity consumption per cubic meter and inflow loads of three clusters are almost the same. COD removal and total nitrogen removal vary greatly. The COD removal of the first category is nearly1.63 times of the second category and 2.79 times of the third category. The total nitrogen removal of the first category is 1.27 times of second category and 1.69 times of the third category. The energy consumption of the first category achieves improved performance with the same energy consumption. It has better performance than other groups. The results indicate that when inflow loads are stable, COD removal and total nitrogen removal have a weak impact on energy consumption. Effective removal of the COD and total nitrogen are essential for improving the energy efficiency of this WWTP.Table 4
Statistical description of energy consumption and influencing factors in different categories.
Index1 Index2  Index3 Mean Std. Deviation Mean Std. Deviation Mean Std. Deviation Energy consumption (kWh) 22452 1790. 22577 1965 21483 1738 Inflow loads (104m3) 7.751 0.560 7.626 0.693 7.645 0.628 COD (tons) 20.824 8.181 12.716 3.379 7.463 1.932 TN (tons) 2.215 0.398 1.747 0.433 1.309 0.397 Average electricity consumption (kWh/m3) 0.2897  0.2961  0.2810It can be seen in Table3 that efficient removal COD and total nitrogen can improve the energy efficiency of the second category. In the third category, inflow loads play a prominent role in energy consumption and as is shown in Table 3, efficient treating inflow loads are essential for the high energy efficiency of this category.The above results indicate that the energy efficiency of WWTP in the different categories is different. Energy efficiency has an excellent performance when a lot of COD and total nitrogen are removed. Energy efficiency has poor performance when COD and total nitrogen removal are poor.


### 3.2. Forecasting Energy Consumption for WWTP

To compare the superiority of the RBF model and the MLR model in handling the data sets (the data sets were collected from the WWTP from the from 25th December 2015 to 24th December 2016) and subset (the clustering results), the 70 data were selected from these set. The first 50 data were used in the in-sample period. The data from 51 to 70 were used to evaluate the forecasting performance. The forecasting ability of the RBF model and the MLR model for different data set is compared in Table5 and Figure 3. The relative errors of different data sets are shown in Figure 4.Table 5
The relative errors of the RBF model and the multivariable linear regression model under different sets.
Min relative error (%) Max relative error (%) MAPE (%) MLRM RBF MLRM RBF MLRM RBF The data set 0.42 1.3 18.23 18.32 8.38 9.13 The first category 0.18 0.46 13.95 12.85 6.12 6.02 The second category 0.24 1.00 12.94 13.93 6.58 6.33 The third category 0.68 1.85 19.5 17.08 7.58 6.78Figure 3
The actual value and forecasting value under different data set.
(a) (b) (c) (d)Figure 4
The relative error of the RBF model and multivariable linear regression model under different data set.
(a) (b) (c) (d)As can be seen in Table5, the min relative errors of the MLRM are lower than the RBF model. The max relative errors of the RBF model for different data set is 18.32%, 12.85%, 13.97%, and 17.08%, respectively. The max relative error of the three categories is lower than the data set. The mean absolute percent error for the RBF model for various data set is 9.13%, 6.02%, 6.33%, and 6.78%, respectively. The mean absolute percent error of the RBF model for various data set is 9.13%, 6.02%, 6.33%, and 6.78%, respectively. The results show that the RBF model has better performance in three categories than in the data set. The mean absolute percent error of the MLRM model for various data set is 8.38%, 6.12%, 6.58%, and 7.58%, respectively. The outlet results show that the model has higher accuracy in three categories than in the data set. It means that using the clustering results can improve the performance of two forecasting models. According to Table 5, the empirical results indicate that the MLRM model data set has higher accuracy than the RBF model. However, for the three categories, the mean absolute percent error of the RBF model is lower than the values of the MLM model. Meanwhile, for the different categories, the forecasting effect of the RBF model is better than the MLM model.


## 3.1. Clustering Results

The electricity consumption per cubic meter wastewater in the center of the first category is 0.2907 kWh/m3. This category contains 159 sets of data. As it can be seen in Table 3, the partial correlation coefficients of the influencing factors are 0.226, 0.374, and 0.283, respectively. The results show that COD removal has a significant impact on energy consumption, followed by total nitrogen removal, while inflow loads.The electricity consumption per cubic meter wastewater in the center of the second category is 0.2942 kWh/m3. This category contains 121 sets of data. It can be seen in Table 3 that the partial correlation coefficients of the influencing factors are 0.338, 0.516, and 0.575, respectively. Total nitrogen removal is positively contributing to energy consumption followed by COD removal, while inflow loads.The electricity consumption per cubic meter wastewater in the center of the third category is 0.2844 kWh/m3. This category contains 80 sets of data. As it can be seen in Table 3, the partial correlation coefficients of the influencing factors are 0.517, 0.323, and 0.355, respectively. The results show that energy consumption is highly correlated with inflow loads, followed by total nitrogen removal, while COD removal.The statistical description of energy consumption and influencing factors in different categories are depicted in Table4. It can be seen that average electricity consumption per cubic meter and inflow loads of three clusters are almost the same. COD removal and total nitrogen removal vary greatly. The COD removal of the first category is nearly1.63 times of the second category and 2.79 times of the third category. The total nitrogen removal of the first category is 1.27 times of second category and 1.69 times of the third category. The energy consumption of the first category achieves improved performance with the same energy consumption. It has better performance than other groups. The results indicate that when inflow loads are stable, COD removal and total nitrogen removal have a weak impact on energy consumption. Effective removal of the COD and total nitrogen are essential for improving the energy efficiency of this WWTP.Table 4
Statistical description of energy consumption and influencing factors in different categories.
Index1 Index2  Index3 Mean Std. Deviation Mean Std. Deviation Mean Std. Deviation Energy consumption (kWh) 22452 1790. 22577 1965 21483 1738 Inflow loads (104m3) 7.751 0.560 7.626 0.693 7.645 0.628 COD (tons) 20.824 8.181 12.716 3.379 7.463 1.932 TN (tons) 2.215 0.398 1.747 0.433 1.309 0.397 Average electricity consumption (kWh/m3) 0.2897  0.2961  0.2810It can be seen in Table3 that efficient removal COD and total nitrogen can improve the energy efficiency of the second category. In the third category, inflow loads play a prominent role in energy consumption and as is shown in Table 3, efficient treating inflow loads are essential for the high energy efficiency of this category.The above results indicate that the energy efficiency of WWTP in the different categories is different. Energy efficiency has an excellent performance when a lot of COD and total nitrogen are removed. Energy efficiency has poor performance when COD and total nitrogen removal are poor.


## 3.2. Forecasting Energy Consumption for WWTP

To compare the superiority of the RBF model and the MLR model in handling the data sets (the data sets were collected from the WWTP from the from 25th December 2015 to 24th December 2016) and subset (the clustering results), the 70 data were selected from these set. The first 50 data were used in the in-sample period. The data from 51 to 70 were used to evaluate the forecasting performance. The forecasting ability of the RBF model and the MLR model for different data set is compared in Table5 and Figure 3. The relative errors of different data sets are shown in Figure 4.Table 5
The relative errors of the RBF model and the multivariable linear regression model under different sets.
Min relative error (%) Max relative error (%) MAPE (%) MLRM RBF MLRM RBF MLRM RBF The data set 0.42 1.3 18.23 18.32 8.38 9.13 The first category 0.18 0.46 13.95 12.85 6.12 6.02 The second category 0.24 1.00 12.94 13.93 6.58 6.33 The third category 0.68 1.85 19.5 17.08 7.58 6.78Figure 3
The actual value and forecasting value under different data set.
(a) (b) (c) (d)Figure 4
The relative error of the RBF model and multivariable linear regression model under different data set.
(a) (b) (c) (d)As can be seen in Table5, the min relative errors of the MLRM are lower than the RBF model. The max relative errors of the RBF model for different data set is 18.32%, 12.85%, 13.97%, and 17.08%, respectively. The max relative error of the three categories is lower than the data set. The mean absolute percent error for the RBF model for various data set is 9.13%, 6.02%, 6.33%, and 6.78%, respectively. The mean absolute percent error of the RBF model for various data set is 9.13%, 6.02%, 6.33%, and 6.78%, respectively. The results show that the RBF model has better performance in three categories than in the data set. The mean absolute percent error of the MLRM model for various data set is 8.38%, 6.12%, 6.58%, and 7.58%, respectively. The outlet results show that the model has higher accuracy in three categories than in the data set. It means that using the clustering results can improve the performance of two forecasting models. According to Table 5, the empirical results indicate that the MLRM model data set has higher accuracy than the RBF model. However, for the three categories, the mean absolute percent error of the RBF model is lower than the values of the MLM model. Meanwhile, for the different categories, the forecasting effect of the RBF model is better than the MLM model.


## 4. Conclusions

In this article, it is attempted to analyze and predict energy consumption in WWTP. WWTP is the energy-intensive industries. Analysis and forecasting of energy consumption in WWTP are critical to energy-saving. The energy consumption of WWTP is a complex nonlinear system and influenced by many factors. A large amount of collected data is complex, multidimensional, and nonlinearly related. Therefore, the analysis and forecasting of energy consumption are a difficult task due to the characteristic of the data. This paper considered the direct energy use indexes related to energy consumption and employed the FCM method to divide these indexes into three clusters with their significant characteristic. The results show that the average electricity consumption per cubic meter wastewater in various categories has a slight difference. In the first category, the average electricity consumption can removal more COD and total ammonia than the other categories. It means that the energy efficiency of the first category has a better performance than other classes. The partial correlation coefficient was used to analyze the relationships between energy consumption and various influencing factors in different types. It can be discovered that the partial correlation coefficient in multiple groups is different. In the first category, COD removal is a significant factor affecting energy consumption. In other groups, nitrogen and inflow loads have a substantial effect on energy consumption. To remove more pollutions with the same energy, the WWTP can determine the wastewater into different clusters with its significant characteristic. According to the characteristics of sewage adjust the wastewater treatment process to deal with sewage. Besides, the WWTP should adopt new technology to improve energy efficiency. The RBF model and the MLRM model were employed to forecast energy consumption in WWTP for the different data set. The numerical experiment indicates that these models adopted the data from the different categories have better performance than the data set. Meanwhile, for the different groups, the forecasting effect of the RBF model is better than the MLM model. The clustering analysis is a technique to analyze the energy efficiency of WWTP. Meanwhile, use the data from the clustering results can improve the performance of the RBF model.Wastewater industry faces the strict effluent limitations for removal of currently-unregulated contaminants in the future. To treat the influent to reduce these pollutions, WWTPs would become more energy-intensive. The WWTP should improve energy efficiency by applying new energy-intensive technologies to handle wastewater. The results show here could offer references to improve the energy efficiency of WWTP.



---

*Source: 8690898-2019-07-22.xml*