Sludge Dewatering Processes for Various Wastewater Treatment Applications6172888
Sludge dewatering is the procedure of removing water from sludge. Following wastewater treatment, the remaining material generally has a high water content. This final step in the treatment process reclaims much of the liquid.
The sludge handling and disposal process is a significant price for wastewater facilities. Improvements to older techniques as nicely as innovative alternatives are now accessible for treatment plants. Some of these options include:
Belt Filter Presses
This kind of gear has been around for many years and is still considered one of the industry standards. These systems are easy to operate and familiar to most facility employees but are not the best alternative for containing odors.
Centrifuges
Centrifuges have been greatly improved over the lengthy period of time that they have been used in the sludge dewatering procedure. They are known to be fast (about 3000 rpm), which indicates they need normal maintenance. Still, they are built to be very dependable and easy to operate. Centrifuges typically create the driest cake, meaning the most water possible has been removed. Because they are self-contained, the odor control is not a big problem. This flexible piece of equipment handles changing conditions and does nicely in all sorts of treatment applications.
Rotary Disc Press
This is a relatively new method that involves feeding flocculated material between slowly rotating screens within every disc assembly. The gear might include from one to six discs per unit. Customers like the slow rotation (generally between one and three rpm) and how the entire system is self-contained.
Inclined Screw Press
Similar to the rotary disc press, this system feeds flocculated material into an inclined screw that rotates inside a stainless nonetheless wedge wire screen. It also operates at a very slow speed and is self-contained. It utilizes minimal horsepower compared to other techniques, resulting in lower operation costs.
Horizontal Screw Press
This system is similar to the inclined screw press, but the flocculated material is fed into a horizontal rotating screen. It works well when higher quantities are anticipated. They have been used traditionally in the pulp and paper industry, and much more recently with wastewater treatment plants.
The right sludge dewatering equipment for a treatment facility depends on a variety of elements such as:
- Sludge quantity and composition - How much space is accessible for gear - How quickly the sludge dewatering must take place - Operator experience and preferences - Odor control preferences - How the sludge cake may be used, such as land applications, landfill disposal, alternative fuels, or additional processing for some other purpose
A professional service should be consulted to help evaluate the facility's needs to ensure the very best, most effective system is being used for its particular applications.
