Sludge Dewatering Processes for Different Wastewater Treatment Applications6852070
Sludge dewatering is the process of removing water from sludge. Following wastewater treatment, the remaining material generally has a high water content. This final step in the treatment procedure reclaims much of the liquid.
The sludge handling and disposal procedure is a significant cost for wastewater facilities. Improvements to older methods as well as innovative alternatives are now available for treatment plants. Some of these options consist of:
Belt Filter Presses
This kind of gear has been about for many years and is still considered one of the industry requirements. These systems are simple to operate and familiar to most facility employees but are not the very best alternative for containing odors.
Centrifuges
Centrifuges have been greatly enhanced over the lengthy period of time that they have been used in the sludge dewatering procedure. They are known to be quick (about 3000 rpm), which means they need regular maintenance. Still, they are built to be extremely dependable and easy to operate. Centrifuges usually create the driest cake, meaning the most water possible has been removed. Simply because they are self-contained, the odor control is not a big problem. This versatile piece of equipment handles changing conditions and does well in all kinds of treatment applications.
Rotary Disc Press
This is a fairly new technique that involves feeding flocculated material in between gradually rotating screens inside every disc assembly. The gear might include from one to six discs per unit. Users like the slow rotation (generally in 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 still wedge wire screen. It also operates at a very slow speed and is self-contained. It uses minimal horsepower compared to other methods, 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 business, and more lately with wastewater treatment plants.
The correct sludge dewatering gear for a treatment facility depends on a variety of factors such as:
- Sludge quantity and composition - How much space is accessible for gear - How rapidly the sludge dewatering should take place - Operator encounter 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 best, most effective system is becoming used for its particular applications.
