OPTIMISATION OF ASSETS BY ULTRASOUND TO ACHIEVE LOWEST OPERATIONAL COSTS 6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition th October 2012, Manchester

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition INDEX INDEX 1.Ultrasound engineering 2.Anaerobic digestion application 3.Bulking and foaming application 4.Excess sludge reduction application 5.Nitrogen removal application Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING A wave is a disturbance travelling through a medium Sound is a wave where excited magnitude is pressure Ultrasound (US) is a sound wave where the frequency is beyond 20 kHz With adequate frequencies and intensities strong ultrasonic cavitation is produced Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs What is ultrasound? What is ultrasound?

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition Cavitation bubbles cannot survive in the medium (water) Forceful implosion takes place and high energy is delivered 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Ultrasonic cavitation Ultrasonic cavitation

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Effect on the sludge Effect on the sludge

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition 5 oscillators (1 kW each) Reactor volume 30 l Frequency 20 kHz Intensity 25 to 50 W/cm 2 Sonication dose 1 to 9 kWh/m 3 Sizes 1.5 x 1.1 x 0.35 m 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs The reactor The reactor

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition New sonotrode Sonotrode after 1.5 to 2 years 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Transferring energy to the sludge Transferring energy to the sludge

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition Preconditioning sludge Easily adapted to existing facilities Fixed, skid or mobile availability Local & remote control GiMACS Predictive analysis (Mass balance) Start up & commissioning Consulting service & support 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Engineering package & consulting service Engineering package & consulting service

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING 1. ULTRASOUND ENGINEERING Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Applications in WWTPs Applications in WWTPs

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition 2. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION APPLICATION 2. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION APPLICATION Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Process Process Sludge to be treated is between 30 and 50% of the Thickened Waste Activated Sludge (TWAS) US dose ≈ 4 kWh/m 3 to reach cell breakdown COD s and enzymes are released Hydrolysis step is highly intensified The organic fraction is further degraded

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition Increase in Volatile Solids degradation: % Increase in biogas production: % Digested sludge reduction: % Increase in dewatering % Complete elimination of the problems associated with bulking and foaming inside the digester 2. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION APPLICATION 2. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION APPLICATION Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Results Results It is only necessary a 5 kW US unit for each 200 m 3 /d of mixed sludge

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition 2. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION APPLICATION 2. ANAEROBIC DIGESTION APPLICATION Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Case study: Bamberg WWTP Case study: Bamberg WWTP VS deg increased from 34 to 50% Biogas enhanced 45% New digester construction avoided

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition Sludge treated is approx. 1% of the Returned Activated Sludge (RAS) Low US dose is applied (≈ 1 kWh/m 3 ) Only filamentous microorganisms are affected (ΔCOD ≈ 0) 3. BULKING & FOAMING APPLICATION 3. BULKING & FOAMING APPLICATION Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Process Process Not treated SonicatedSonicated

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition A selective sonication to remove only filamentous microorganisms for the activated sludge system takes place Associated problems with Bulking & Foaming complete disappear Up to 65% in SVI reduction Chemical solutions are not necessary WWTP processes have not to be modified (sludge age, etc.) 3. BULKING & FOAMING APPLICATION 3. BULKING & FOAMING APPLICATION Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Process Process

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition 3. BULKING & FOAMING APPLICATION 3. BULKING & FOAMING APPLICATION Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Case study: Seevetal WWTP Case study: Seevetal WWTP Conventional activated sludge tank Activated sludge tank after sonication

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition TWAS is disintegrated with an US dose ≈ 4 kWh/m 3 COD b is produced which is recycled back to the biological reactor Cell lysis and cryptic growth process takes place meaning a significant excess sludge reduction New flocs are formed when cell content is released into the medium 4. EXCESS SLUDGE REDUCTION APPLICATION 4. EXCESS SLUDGE REDUCTION APPLICATION Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Process Process

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition Depending of the biological reactor characterization a reduction around 30% in excess sludge production is reached After the sonication a new floc-matrix is formed due to a new re-aggregation which results in a more suitable structure to be dewatered. 2 points more in dewatering is achieved With high US dose filamentous microorganisms are killed meaning an elimination of Bulking & Foaming problems 4. EXCESS SLUDGE REDUCTION APPLICATION 4. EXCESS SLUDGE REDUCTION APPLICATION Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Results Results One 5 kW US unit can remove 500 to 750 kg/d of WAS produced

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition Excess sludge production reduced in nearly 30% Dewatering increased 2 points No Bulking & Foaming in the biological reactor 4. EXCESS SLUDGE REDUCTION APPLICATION 4. EXCESS SLUDGE REDUCTION APPLICATION Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Case study: Leinetal WWTP Case study: Leinetal WWTP

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition TWAS is disintegrated at ≥ 4 kWh/m 3 COD b is produced which is recycled back to the anoxic zone A new autochthonous carbon source readily biodegradable for denitrification is available Hydrolysis rate of the WAS endogen particulate COD is enhanced meaning lower HRT and lower volume 5. NITROGEN REMOVAL APPLICATION 5. NITROGEN REMOVAL APPLICATION Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Process Process

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition Total inorganic nitrogen in the final effluent can be reduced up to reach optimum levels WWTP is self-sufficient in carbon source for denitrification Excess sludge production is reduced around 25 to 30% Dewatering of the sludge for disposal in increased in 2 points Bulking & Foaming problems are completely eliminated 5. NITROGEN REMOVAL APPLICATION 5. NITROGEN REMOVAL APPLICATION Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Results Results One 5 kW US unit can remove 60 to 100 kg/d of inorganic nitrogen

6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition N inorg reduced up to less than 5 mg/l in the final effluent WAS production reduced in 25% Sludge dewatering increased 2 points No bulking & Foaming problems 5. NITROGEN REMOVAL APPLICATION 5. NITROGEN REMOVAL APPLICATION Optimisation of assets by ultrasound to achieve lowest operational costs Case study: Bünde WWTP Case study: Bünde WWTP

… more details can be found in our paper submitted for this event 6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition Any questions?

Contact: Luis Vergara Technical Director 6 th European Waste Water Management Conference & Exhibition