Increased Anaerobic Digester Capacity
MicroSludge speeds up the rate of anaerobic digestion to significantly lower the retention time needed for WAS conversion to biogas. In addition, MicroSludge greatly reduces the viscosity of thickened WAS, enabling TWAS with higher solids concentration to be pumped and mixed using the equipment that is already in place at a WWTP. Together, faster digestion and thicker sludge fed to the digester provide the potential for significantly increased digester throughput. Getting more digester capacity without building more digesters can save WWTPs large capital costs, on-going operating costs, and land acquisitions for plant expansion.
Reduction in Sludge for Disposal
MicroSludge liquefies WAS and this increases the rate and the extent that the biodegradable portion of WAS is anaerobically digested to biogas. Note that some of the MicroSludge liquefied WAS is not converted into biogas yet remains in the liquid phase. Consequently, the overall reduction of residual sludge for disposal is due to both anaerobic digestion and WAS solubilization of non-degradables. While the biodegradability and solubilization of WAS vary from plant to plant, MicroSludge helps to maximize the reduction of particulate solids of WAS to minimize residual sludge for disposal. Learn more...
Increase in Biogas Production
MicroSludge liquefies WAS to increase its bioavailability for anaerobic digestion to biogas. Although the biodegradability of WAS varies from plant to plant, MicroSludge helps to maximize both the rate and the amount of biogas that is produced from WAS.
Reduced Load on Heat Exchangers for Digester Heating
MicroSludge disrupts TWAS at 12,000 psi, and this increases TWAS temperature by 36 to 45 F° (20 to 25 C°). This MicroSludge process heat significantly reduces the external heat load needed to maintain anaerobic digester temperature.
Reduced Energy for Mixing and Pumping
MicroSludge greatly reduces the viscosity of TWAS. This can lower the electrical energy needed to pump sludge and mix digesters.
Operation Flexibility
MicroSludge provides faster and stable anaerobic digestion of thickened WAS, with or without co-digestion of primary sludge. By adding to the capability for increased digester throughput, WWTPs gain some operational flexibility. For example, with MicroSludge WWTPs can feed additional wastes such as food processing wastes or restaurant wastes to its digesters to provide a sustainable waste management practice for neighbouring industries, while earning tipping fees and revenue from increased biogas energy. Also, WWTPs can take advantage of increased digester capacity with MicroSludge, and take digesters off line for maintenance without disrupting operations.
MicroSludge provides WWTPs with operational flexibility while occupying just a small footprint. It is fully automated, skid-mounted, and modular.
Lower Costs
Capital Costs: For wastewater treatment plants that need more anaerobic digestion capacity, MicroSludge provides an immediate payback by enabling digestion of thicker WAS while needing a shorter time for stable digestion. MicroSludge costs far less than building additional digesters.
Capital Costs: For wastewater treatment plants that need more anaerobic digestion capacity, MicroSludge provides an immediate payback by enabling digestion of thicker WAS while needing a shorter time for stable digestion. MicroSludge costs far less than building additional digesters.
Operating Costs: MicroSludge results in more biogas and less residual sludge for disposal. On-going savings are due to: reduced sludge disposal costs, more revenue or lower natural gas costs from increased biogas, and lower digester heating and mixing costs. Learn more...
Environmental Benefits
By causing anaerobic digesters to operate more efficiently, MicroSludge is an enabling technology that converts waste to energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more...
Because MicroSludge is internal to the WWTP, no special or additional environmental permits are generally required, reducing the possibility of regulatory delays. Learn more...
Improved WWTP Infrastructure Security
Increased on-site energy generation with MicroSludge reduces the risk of disruption of critical operations during power grid failures.
