Micro hydro installation analysis in a wastewater treatment plant

Abstract

This paper introduces the technical and economic viability of a new micro hydro installation solution designed to reduce the power consumption of a medium-sized wastewater treatment plant. The work analyses the hydroelectric potential of the plant and summarizes the turbine-generator design procedure performed to optimize the production. Results demonstrate the viability when energy produced is used for self-consumption.

Metropolitan water purification facilities towards variability mitigation of the renewable resources: Optimal bid method for small hydropower generators

“…et al [ 50 ], Beltran. et al [ 51 ], and Bousquet. et al [ 52 ] advocated for active utilization of SHPGs in water treatment plants, with revenue streams limited by energy trades and kWh generation, as well as operational expenses.…”

“…However, due to insufficient altitude differences for SHPG installation in process wells at water treatment plants, Beltran. et al [ 51 ] recommended diversifying revenue streams to improve economic feasibility. Despite these suggestions, none of the studies addressed the use of SHPGs to mitigate variability from renewable resources in the power system.…”

Assessment of Hydropower Potential in Wastewater Systems and Application in a Lowland Country, Lithuania

“…Urban water management is known to be very energy-intensive. Therefore, engineers and researchers worldwide are looking for ways to recover the energy residing in water networks supplying drinking water or collecting sewage water and their treatment plants [1][2][3][4]. The untapped potential of small (1-10 MW), mini (100 kW-1 MW), and micro (5-100 kW) hydropower systems in engineered water conduits has largely remained unexplored, and this alternative energy source is receiving more attention from regulators in a number of countries.…”

“…Real case studies with a brief technical description of small hydro turbines integrated into water infrastructure, including drinking water and wastewater networks, were presented in [6]. Assessments of hydropower potential, including the technical and economic viability of installing turbines in water and wastewater infrastructure, have been conducted in a number of countries [1,2,[13][14][15][16][17].…”

Feasibility Evaluation of Micro-Hydropower System Generation for Different Types of Sewage Treatment Plants

“…The other research study related to MHP with low head constraint was done in Vilareal Spain where the measured head are about 1.5m & 3m and the potential energy which can be produced from wastewater treatment facilities were about 1.67 kW & 3.1 kW respectively [15]. Moreover, another study which is focusing on the potential hydro flow capacity by PE volume was done in Malaysia by proposing a micro hydroelectric generator which is embedded at the continuous flow of effluent discharge point domestic Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP).…”