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Innovative technology for wastewaters and sewage sludge treatment with energy cogeneration
Published on 21 January 2021
Romania
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About this good practice
The wastewater treatment (wwt) represents a problem of local communities and its improvement contributes to renewability, one of circular economy topics.
An innovative and intelligent solution is the technology for advanced anaerobic fermentation, introduced by Kema Tronic LTD - an engineering firm from Maramures, at Danutoni WWT Plant in Valea Jiului – an important mining area in Romania.
This technology was part of an EU project implemented during 2012-2014, to provide public services with reduced environmental impact in the benefit of more than 162.000 inhabitants and businesses living in difficult conditions.
Through this technology, the wastewater treatment plant has significantly increased the renewable energy production, reducing the resources required for final sludge disposal. 50% of the energy required to treating wastewater and to sewage sludge is saved and instead, the plant produces energy.
Another problem is the sludge management costs, which represent at least 50% of a wastewater treatment plants costs. Through this technology, the final sludge quantity has decreased with 30% and the digested sludge quality has improved with 15%.
Kema Tronic LTD has an important experience in renewable energies, with 5 patents in wastewater treatment and more than 200 projects in all over the country, being strongly involved in tackling the circular principles in wastewater treatment, in close cooperation with local authorities from different regions of Romania
An innovative and intelligent solution is the technology for advanced anaerobic fermentation, introduced by Kema Tronic LTD - an engineering firm from Maramures, at Danutoni WWT Plant in Valea Jiului – an important mining area in Romania.
This technology was part of an EU project implemented during 2012-2014, to provide public services with reduced environmental impact in the benefit of more than 162.000 inhabitants and businesses living in difficult conditions.
Through this technology, the wastewater treatment plant has significantly increased the renewable energy production, reducing the resources required for final sludge disposal. 50% of the energy required to treating wastewater and to sewage sludge is saved and instead, the plant produces energy.
Another problem is the sludge management costs, which represent at least 50% of a wastewater treatment plants costs. Through this technology, the final sludge quantity has decreased with 30% and the digested sludge quality has improved with 15%.
Kema Tronic LTD has an important experience in renewable energies, with 5 patents in wastewater treatment and more than 200 projects in all over the country, being strongly involved in tackling the circular principles in wastewater treatment, in close cooperation with local authorities from different regions of Romania
Resources needed
The cost for switching from aerobic to advanced anaerobic sludge stabilization for Danutoni WWPT (125.000 PE) was 531.357 euro.
The cost for introducing disintegration of return sludge was 90.000 euro. Kema Tronic worked with 3 engineers, 1 PHD in sanitary engineering and 1 technician.
The cost for introducing disintegration of return sludge was 90.000 euro. Kema Tronic worked with 3 engineers, 1 PHD in sanitary engineering and 1 technician.
Evidence of success
This technology has increased the renewability of wastewater treatment plant (wwtp), in terms of energy usage and production. Wwtp becomes a producer of energy instead of consumer. In summer, 80% of the plant energy need is ensured from internal production.
Also, the final sludge quantity and the resources required have been reduced with more than 50% and all associated costs with transport and final landfilling have decreased. The polyelectrolyte required for dewatering has decreased with 15%.
Also, the final sludge quantity and the resources required have been reduced with more than 50% and all associated costs with transport and final landfilling have decreased. The polyelectrolyte required for dewatering has decreased with 15%.
Potential for learning or transfer
Wastewater consumes considerable amounts of energy (generated essentially from fossil fuels) for efficient treatment, but contains nearly 10 times more energy than required for treatment, just by organic matter incorporated.
At EU and global level, the energy stored in wastewater is renewable energy that has to be recovered, to reach at least zero energy balance of the wastewater treatment plant-wwtp.
The Romanian and other EU wwtps must embark on this complex but achievable road towards energy self-sufficiency, building public-private partnership and applying for EU funds.
This approach can be easily adapted by new and existing wwtps, to facilitate transition to circular economy (CE), in the benefit of local communities, by:
• Reducing its energy consumption and sludge production
• Increasing its energy production. Sewage sludge is renewable, negative-cost organic material that is well suited for renewable energy production
• Reusing produced energy and treated water/ sludge
At EU and global level, the energy stored in wastewater is renewable energy that has to be recovered, to reach at least zero energy balance of the wastewater treatment plant-wwtp.
The Romanian and other EU wwtps must embark on this complex but achievable road towards energy self-sufficiency, building public-private partnership and applying for EU funds.
This approach can be easily adapted by new and existing wwtps, to facilitate transition to circular economy (CE), in the benefit of local communities, by:
• Reducing its energy consumption and sludge production
• Increasing its energy production. Sewage sludge is renewable, negative-cost organic material that is well suited for renewable energy production
• Reusing produced energy and treated water/ sludge
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Kema Tronic LTD
Romania
Nord-Vest
Contact
superior counsellor international relations