Sludge digestion instead of aerobic stabilisation – a cost benefit analysis based on experiences in Germany

Gretzschel, Oliver; Schmitt, Theo G.; Hansen, Joachim; Siekmann, Klaus; Jakob, Jürgen

doi:10.2166/wst.2013.711

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Aerobic digestion is a significant energy user at WRRFs and is mainly used at facilities treating less than 19,000 m 3 /d (5 mgd) (Pabi et al, 2013;Tchobanoglous et al, 2014). Gretzschel et al (2014) found that even under the best circumstances, anaerobic stabilization is only economically feasible for facilities serving population equivalents greater than 7500, in part since it is difficult to produce sufficient biogas to self-heat at smaller scales. Only 3 of the 71 facilities included in the overall model are above this population level.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benchmarking the Energy Intensity of Small Water Resource Recovery Facilities

Hanna¹,

Thompson

Dahab

et al. 2018

Water Environment Research

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To enable small communities to benchmark the energy efficiency of their water resource recovery facilities (also known as wastewater treatment facilities), multiple linear regression models of electric and overall energy intensity (kWh/m3) were created using data from Nebraska and Pennsylvania. Key variables found to be significant include: facility type, supplemental energy usage for sludge treatment, average flow, percent design flow, climate controlled floor area, effluent NH3-N, and influent CBOD5. The results show that energy use models for small systems differ from those for large facilities and that regulatory changes can affect energy usage. Step changes in the data for facilities that changed operators highlight the importance of operational decisions on energy efficiency for small facilities serving fewer than 10,000 people. Differences were observed between the models of data from specific states. Although these models may not include all factors that account for variability in energy use, they can provide a reference benchmark for small WRRFs.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benchmarking the Energy Intensity of Small Water Resource Recovery Facilities

Hanna¹,

Thompson

Dahab

et al. 2018

Water Environment Research

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“…Therefore, the aerobic digestion process (Sta 2 ) is required for the SSTP configuration. Indeed, in low plant capacity, the anaerobic digestion process (Sta 3 ) is not recommended since it is considered too costly for low plant capacity [32,51].…”

Section: Plant Capacity #1 (Max 5000 Pe)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this case, a stabilization treatment through aerobic digestion (Sta 2 ) and a composting treatment (Comp = yes) is suggested. The prescription of an aerobic digestion (Sta 2 ) instead of anaerobic one (Sta 3 ) follows the same consideration highlighted for class #1, in which aerobic digestion is considered more economically sustainable [51].…”

Section: Plant Capacity #1 (Max 5000 Pe)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Scenario Analysis for Selecting Sewage Sludge-to-Energy/Matter Recovery Processes

2021

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The sewage sludges are the byproducts of the wastewater treatment. The new perspective of the wastewater value chain points to a sustainable circular economy approach, where the residual solid material produced by sewage sludge treatments is a resource rather than a waste. A sewage sludge treatment system consists of five main phases; each of them can be performed by different alternative processes. Each process is characterized by its capability to recover energy and/or matter. In this paper, a state of the art of the sludge-to-energy and sludge-to-matter treatments is provided. Then, a scenario analysis is developed to identify suitable sewage sludge treatments plants that best fit the quality and flowrate of sewage sludge to be processed while meeting technological and economic constraints. Based on the scientific literature findings and experts’ opinions, the authors identify a set of reference initial scenarios and the corresponding best treatments’ selection for configuring sewage sludge treatment plants. The scenario analysis reveals a useful reference technical framework when circular economy goals are pursued. The results achieved in all scenarios ensure the potential recovery of matter and/or energy from sewage sludges processes.

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“…The economic feasibility of anaerobic digestion in WWTPs is highly dependent on the legal framework conditions. A large-scale study of the feasibility of a conversation from aerobic to anaerobic stabilization was conducted in [36]. It could be shown that it is feasible even for WWTPs at sizes of 20,000 PE 120 under fitting circumstances (for Germany).…”

Section: Ch 4 Utilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It could be shown that it is feasible even for WWTPs at sizes of 20,000 PE 120 under fitting circumstances (for Germany). Furthermore, the boundary conditions favoring conversation were evaluated, but it was also shown that, especially, taxation systems have a huge impact, and feasibility has to be examined individually for each plant and each country's framework [36].…”

Section: Ch 4 Utilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Possible Roles of Wastewater Treatment Plants in Sector Coupling

2020

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The development of a power system based on high shares of renewable energy sources puts high demands on power grids and the remaining controllable power generation plants, load management and the storage of energy. To reach climate protection goals and a significant reduction of CO 2 , surplus energies from fluctuating renewables have to be used to defossilize not only the power production sector but the mobility, heat and industry sectors as well, which is called sector coupling. In this article, the role of wastewater treatment plants by means of sector coupling is pictured, discussed and evaluated. The results show significant synergies-for example, using electrical surplus energy to produce hydrogen and oxygen with an electrolyzer to use them for long-term storage and enhancing purification processes on the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Furthermore, biofuels and storable methane gas can be produced or integrate the WWTP into a local heating network. An interconnection in many fields of different research sectors are given and show that a practical utilization is possible and reasonable for WWTPs to contribute with sustainable energy concepts to defossilization.Energies 2020, 13, 2088 2 of 20 reached, like in Uruguay, Germany and the United Kingdom [6]. The gradual extension of RES and the expedited abandonment of fossil and nuclear energy production results in new problems but also new opportunities for power supplies. There is a shift from demand-oriented power generation to a production-driven generation of electrical energy. In an electricity system with a high share of RES, flexibility options are needed to counterbalance fluctuating wind and solar-based power production to maintain the high standards in its supply [7]. For now, there are just a few hours of surplus energy but with proportions of more than 60% RES; times in which supply exceeds demand are increasing significantly. On this basis, there will be a high need of short-term flexibility in the near future to stabilize power grids and further integrate RES into the energy grids [8]. Short-term storage options are classified in the range of seconds up to 24 h (daily storage). These energy surpluses and deficits have to be balanced by flexible energy generators and consumers. Furthermore, long-term storage capacities are needed to provide enough energy in times of deficits on a larger scale. This is caused by longer periods of low amounts of available wind and sun. To compensate these fluctuations and store or generate energy, based on its availability, fundamentally different applications compared to short-term flexibility are required [9].Energy has always been stored, but the focus and the technologies used have changed. Storage concepts like pumped storage plants, battery or compressed air systems are not suitable for long-term storage-too expensive or cannot provide enough capacities for an extensive use in every country [10]. Additionally, ecological issues and resource scarcity have to be considered. Unlike solar and wind-based energy p...

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Sludge digestion instead of aerobic stabilisation – a cost benefit analysis based on experiences in Germany

Cited by 17 publications

References 4 publications

Benchmarking the Energy Intensity of Small Water Resource Recovery Facilities

Benchmarking the Energy Intensity of Small Water Resource Recovery Facilities

Scenario Analysis for Selecting Sewage Sludge-to-Energy/Matter Recovery Processes

The Possible Roles of Wastewater Treatment Plants in Sector Coupling

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