The　continuous　aerobic　granular　sludge　(AGS)　process　is　promising　for　upgrading　existing　wastewater　treatment　facilities.　However,　this　approach　is　still　challenging　because　of　its　complicated　structure　and　operation.　To　address　this　issue,　a　novel　separate　aeration　self-circulating　technology　(abbreviated　as　Zier)　was　proposed,　which　is　promising　for　cultivating　AGS　by　its　outstanding　upflow　velocity　and　circulation　multiplier　(more　than　30　m/h　and　200,　respectively).　This　study　elaborated　on　the　Zier　reactor＇s　feasibility,　optimization,　and　control　strategy　through　computational　fluid　dynamics　simulations,　theoretical　calculations,　and　experiments.　An　appropriate　flow　regime　for　efficient　removal　of　pollutant　and　granulation　of　sludge　was　attained　at　a　superficial　gas　velocity　of　1.3　cm/s.　Moreover,　optimizing　the　aeration　column　diameter　to　half　of　the　reaction　column　and　increasing　the　height/diameter　ratio　to　20　dramatically　boosted　the　nitrogen　removal　capacity　over　1.6　kg　N/m3/d.　Utilizing　a　smaller　circulation　pipe　diameter　ensured　granulation　under　a　consistent　flow　regime.　By　judiciously　regulating,　multiple　CSTRs　and　PFRs　seamlessly　integrated　within　the　Zier　reactor　across　a　broad　spectrum　of　particle　sludge.　The　validity　of　these　findings　was　further　substantiated　through　experimental　and　theoretical　validations.　Drawing　from　these　findings,　a　multi-scenario　control　strategy　was　proposed　as　Zier＇s　map.　With　all　the　superiorities　shown　by　the　Zier　reactor,　this　study　could　offer　new　insights　into　an　efficient　continuous　AGS　process.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd