Sludge Dewatering Processes for Various Wastewater Treatment Applications3066735
Sludge dewatering is the procedure of removing water from sludge. Following wastewater treatment, the remaining material usually has a high water content material. This final step in the treatment process reclaims much of the liquid.
The sludge handling and disposal procedure is a major cost for wastewater facilities. Improvements to older methods as nicely as innovative alternatives are now available for treatment plants. Some of these options include:
Belt Filter Presses
This type of equipment has been about 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 very best alternative for containing odors.
Centrifuges
Centrifuges have been significantly improved over the long period of time that they have been used in the sludge dewatering process. They are recognized to be fast (about 3000 rpm), which means they require regular maintenance. Still, they are built to be very dependable and easy to operate. Centrifuges usually produce 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 altering conditions and does well in all kinds 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 equipment may contain from one to six discs per unit. Users like the slow rotation (usually in between one and 3 rpm) and how the whole 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 uses minimal horsepower compared to other methods, resulting in reduce 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 nicely when greater quantities are anticipated. They have been used traditionally in the pulp and paper industry, and more recently with wastewater treatment plants.
The correct sludge dewatering gear for a treatment facility depends on a variety of elements such as:
- Sludge quantity and composition - How much space is available for gear - How rapidly the sludge dewatering must take location - 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 objective
A professional service should be consulted to assist evaluate the facility's needs to make sure the best, most effective system is becoming used for its particular applications.
