TECHNOLOGIES

• Filter Press is a dewatering unit which is used to reduce the moisture content of the sludge and biosolids.

• The fixed volume, recessed plate filter press consists of series of square plates, recessed on both sides that are supported face to face in a vertical position on a frame with a fixed and movable head.

• A filter cloth is hung or fitted over each plate. The plates are held together with sufficient force to seal them to withstand the pressure applied during the filtration process.

• In operation, chemically conditioned sludge is pumped into the space between the plates and pressure of 100 to 225 lbf/in 2 is applied and maintained for 1 to 3 hr forcing the liquid through the filter cloth and plate outlet ports.

• The plates are then separated and cake is removed. The sludge cake thickness which varies from 25-45 mm and the moisture content of the cake varies from 48-70%.

• Belt filter allow continuous sludge dewatering between two filter belts. It has different zones through which sludge passes.

• Flocculator: The sludge flocculent blend is done in the flocculator and then flocculated sludge is evenly distributed on the filter belt.

• The inlet stream is stilled upon entry into the clarifier. Hoppers are kept at the bottom of the clarifier to collect the solid particles which are settling down and the clarified liquid exits.

• A gravity drainage zone: The sludge is drained on the first belt while the drainage is helped by the picket fences which are lying freely on the belt Water line is created and the majority of the water by flocculation is eliminated.

• Water line is created and the majority of the water by flocculation is eliminated.

• A progressive compression zone: The sludge, after drainage of the water freed by flocculation, is then pressed between two filter belts. With the arrival of the top belt, a progressive pressurization takes place:

• Up to 4 bars for low-pressure belt filters.

• Up to 5 bars for medium pressure belt filters.

• Up to 7 bars for high-pressure belt filters.

A cake scraping zone: Once pressed, the sludge has a more solid aspect. It is called a sludge cake or simply cake. This cake is then scraped off from the surface of the two belts that separate at this level.

A high-pressure washing station: A bank of nozzles under 7 to 8 bars (100 to 120 PSI) continuously cleans each belt.

• The principle of the centrifuge, also known as centrifugal decanter, is to use centrifugal force to accelerate the solid-liquid separation.

• A centrifuge is a conical cylinder decanter that turns horizontally on its axis with a clarified water overflow, and the dewatered sludge being removed by an Archimedean screw. The rotation applies a centrifugal force on the solid particles which then moves a lot more quickly.

• The flocculated sludge is injected inside the centrifuge bowl through an injection pipe. The bowl has a high rotation speed and the particles are flattened against the bowl’s sides in the clarification zone.

• These particles are then pushed by an Archimedean screw towards the end of the bowl’s cone in the sludge spin-dry zone.

• The clarified liquid called centrate, is evacuated at the other end of the bowl by overflow.

• Objective is to minimize SRT (Sludge Retention Time) required to achieve maximum VSS (Volatile Suspended Solid) destruction

• Operating temperatures for digestion are usually between 30 – 45 degree celcius

• Single stage high rate digestion is preferred where retention time for concentrated sludge is between 10 – 20 days

• Thickening of sludge is required to increase SRT and hence increases production of digestion gas

• The digested sludge is about half as concentrated as the untreated sludge feed leading to reduction in volatile content and hence reduces handling cost

• Sludge is mixed with the help of external recirculation system made up of draft tubes, the arrangement is easier to maintain, provides better mixing control and recirculation of scum layer and sludge deposits

• Digested gas contains 65 – 70% methane by volume and typically vary from 0.75 – 1.12 m3/kg of volatile solids destroyed

• Aerobic digestion only works with waste activated sludge or mixture of waste activated or trickling filter sludge and primary sludge.

• High power cost associated with supplying required oxygen to the aerobic digester

• Digested bio solids produced have poorer mechanical dewatering characteristics

• Process gets affected significantly by temperature, location, tank geometry and concentration of feed solids

• Methane cannot be recovered from anaerobic digester for thermal application

• Versatile in solid handling from 0.8% to 5% solids in slurry

• Can reduce need of sedimentation and thickening tank

• It can replace filter press, belt press, decanters and other dewatering technologies

• Rotation of screw is a very low speed, hence leading to low power and water consumption

• Single skid comprises of slurry storage, flocculation tank, dehydrator zone and dosing system

• Once started, the system can run unattended and can be set to shutdown automatically with no operator intervention

• Primary sludge

• Waste activated sludge

• Trickling filter secondary sludge

• Secondary sludge

• Digested sludge

• Aeration sludge, and

• Tertiary sludge

Advantages of using AEL screw dehydrator are as follows:

• Low power consumption and foot print

• Reduction in investment cost for thickening and storage equipment

• Fully automatic control

• Can dewater oily sludge

• No skill worker required

• Minimum wash water requirement, and various other benefits which can be seen in below comparison chart