Anglian Water's Advanced Wastewater Treatment and Energy Conversion

Overview

• Location: Great Billing Wastewater Center, UK
• Technology Partner: Veolia
• Processes: Monsal Advanced anaerobic digestion, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) gas engine
• Objective: Convert wastewater sludge into valuable products, generate renewable energy

Process Details

Sludge Handling

• Source: Imported sludge cake from nearby plants, combined with indigenous sludge
• Transport: Via trucks
• Blending: To achieve consistent material for digestion

Advanced Anaerobic Digestion Process

• Initial Heating: Sludge temperature raised to 42°C (108°F)
• Final Heating: Temperature increased to 55°C (131°F) to neutralize pathogens and produce enhanced biosolids
• Hydrolysis: Biological hydrolysis process optimizes sludge for digestion

Digestion

• Environment: Absence of oxygen
• Outcome: Breaks down sludge to create biogas
• Benefits: Increased treatment capacity, higher volatile solid conversion rate, improved gas retention
• Performance: Sludge treatment capacity increased threefold

Energy Conversion

• Biogas: Methane-rich gas used for renewable electricity and heat
• CHP Gas Engines: Convert biogas to electricity and heat
• Self-sufficiency: Plant generates sufficient renewable electricity to meet its own demand
• Surplus: Excess electricity exported to National Grid
• Recovered Heat: Supports advanced digestion process

Post-Digestion

• Digestate: Dewatered and used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for land application

Applications and Benefits

• Applicability: Suitable for both existing and new wastewater treatment plants
• Energy Efficiency: Transforms plants from energy users to energy producers
• Environmental Impact: Reduces reliance on external energy, provides sustainable waste management solution