Water and energy are two of the most important resources of the 21st century. Water is required to supply energy and, at the same time, energy is required to supply water. In urban water management, the key factor is warm water heating. Depending on the quality of the raw water, the
provision of drinking water requires the application of different process technologies; the more complex the methods, the higher the energy demand. As in metropolitan areas, in particular, water consumption exceeds local availability, water pipelines are necessary with respective energy demand. The reuse of water can contribute significantly to conserve water and energy resources. Usually, the water to be reclaimed is supplied locally, making long-distance transport dispensable. By adjusting the process technology to the intended function (fit for purpose), it is possible to minimize the energy demand as well. Water use implies the input of energy (heat, chemically bound energy in form of organic matter) as well as nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, etc.). In the context of implementing water reuse technologies, they can also be reclaimed.
Resource Theme: Energy
GUIA’s WWTP 0-100% Energy self-sufficient
Guia’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) one of EPAL main assets, is the largest Portuguese WWTP and one of the main engineering works in Portugal due to the complexity of its technical solution, the requirements of the receiving environment (bathing area) and urban planning (tourist zone).
Guidelines on Energy Efficiency on Water and Wastewater Utilities
These EE-Guidelines were tested by three pilot utilities, SONEDE in Tunisia, ONEE in Morocco and Aqaba Water Company in Jordan. The energy checks and energy analysis at the water supply facilities were guided and supported by German experts from Hamburg Wasser, a company with longstanding experience in energy management – and known for its strategic target to be independent from external energy inputs before the year 2020.
Sewage Treatment Plants: Economic Evaluation of Innovative Technologies for Energy Efficiency
Sewage Treatment Plants: Economic Evaluation of Innovative Technologies for Energy Efficiency aims to show how cost saving can be achieved in sewage treatment plants through implementation of novel, energy efficient technologies or modification of the conventional, energy demanding treatment facilities towards the concept of energy streamlining.
Energy saving opportunities for wastewater facilities: A review
Energy saving opportunities for wastewater facilities: A review
Energy self-sufficiency as a feasible concept for wastewater treatment systems
Energy self-sufficiency as a feasible concept for wastewater treatment systems
Energy Recovery from Wastewater Treatment Plants in the United States: A Case Study of the Energy-Water Nexus
Energy recovery from wastewater treatment plants via anaerobic digestion with biogas utilization and biosolids incineration with electricity generation. We estimate that anaerobic digestion could save 628 to 4,940 million kWh annually in the United States. In Texas, anaerobic digestion could save 40.2 to 460 million kWh annually and biosolids incineration could save 51.9 to 1,030 million kWh annually.
United Utilities, Davyhulme WWTW, CHP Plant
At the Davyhulme wastewater treatment works (WWTW) in Greater Manchester, United Utilities is generating renewable energy from sewage gas that is created from sludge left behind after the treatment of wastewater. United Utilities spent £100 million on the programme that leaves the sludge behind to be used to power the site. At the site 90,000 tonnes of sludge is being processed a year. Clarke Energy has supplied 2 new GE’s Jenbacher JMS620 GS-BL gas engines and re-located 3 x JMS620 GS-BL existing engines to Davyhulme for this project, together creating 12.0MW of renewable power. This is the equivalent of powering over 10,000 typical UK homes.
sludge2energy A way to energy self-sufficient sewage treatment plants
Co-incineration costs less, but on the other hand monoincineration provides the option of phosphorus recovery. Another factor in favour of incineration is the fact that it allows to recover the amount of energy consumed for sludge transport, dewatering and drying. It is an innovative concept of decentralised sludge utilisation by generation and use of thermal and electrical energy.The plant on WWTP Straubing is designed for 200,000 PE and presently treats about 35,000 m3 wastewater per day. After anaerobic sludge treatment and dewatering by means of centrifuges this is an annual volume of almost 9,000 t sludge dewatered to on average 28-29 % DR. The thermal energy content of dried sludge is a substantial value for the creation of an energy balance. The thermal value of dried sludge with 65% dry residue is comparable with brown coal and provides 1,020 kWh of energy. With according boiler efficiency, about 800 kWh of thermal energy can be generated. After deduction of further thermal losses in the micro gas turbine about 700 kWh of thermal energy effectively remain for the drying process. With a thermal energy consumption of about 565 kWh for the drying process there is even a surplus of energy available.
Use of biogas for cogeneration of heat and electricity for local application: performance evaluation of an engine power generator and a sludge thermal dryer
A small unit of cogeneration of energy and heat was tested at the Centre for Research and Training on Sanitation UFMG/COPASA – CePTS, located at the Arrudas Sewage Treatment Plant, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The unit consisted of an engine power generator adapted to run on biogas, a thermal dryer prototype and other peripherals (compressor, biogas storage tank, air blower, etc.). The heat from engine power generator exhaust gases was directed towards the thermal dryer prototype to dry the sludge and disinfect it. The results showed that the experimental apparatus is self-sufficient in electricity, even producing a surplus, available for other uses. The tests of drying and disinfection of sludge lasted 7 h, leading to an increase in solids content from 4 to 8% (50% reduction in sludge volume). Although the drying of sludge was not possible (only thickening was achieved), the disinfection process proved very effective, enabling the complete inactivation of helminth eggs.