Existing　continuous　flow　reactors　(CFR)　utilized　for　the　investigation　of　aerobic　granular　sludge　(AGS)　exhibit　structural　complexity　and　suboptimal　energy　efficiency.　An　innovative　aeration　self-circulating　CFR　(Zier　rector)　was　employed　in　this　study　for　the　cultivation　of　AGS.　The　experiment　was　performed　202　days　using　real　municipal　wastewater　under　varying　operating　conditions.　A　hydraulic　retention　time　of　10　h　and　adequate　influent　organic　matter　resulted　in　a　chemical　oxygen　demand　removal　efficiency　of　85%,　an　ammonia　nitrogen　removal　efficiency　exceeding　92%,　and　a　total　nitrogen　removal　efficiency　ranging　from　60%　to　70%.　The　particle　size　increased　when　the　up-flow　velocity　was　maintained　between　9.8　and　18　m/h,　the　self-circulating　multiple　times　ratio　was　sustained　within　12–30　times,　and　the　food-to-microorganism　was　set　within　0.2–0.6　g　COD/(g　MLSS·d).　Ultimately,　the　mass　proportion　of　sludge　with　a　particle　size　larger　than　0.2　mm　was　75%,　with　42%　exceeding　0.5　mm.　The　stability　of　AGS　and　the　treatment　efficacy　of　the　Zier　process　were　influenced　by　the　temperature　and　volume　ratio　of　the　nonaerated　to　the　aerated　zones.　The　Zier　process　demonstrates　enhanced　advantages　and　application　potential,　rendering　it　a　more　appealing　option　for　a　broader　spectrum　of　water　treatment　facilities.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd