Managing Biosolids

Sept. 22, 2010

About the author: Terry Goss is process engineering manager for Kruger Inc. Goss can be reached at [email protected] or at 919.653.4596.

The City of Buffalo, Minn., Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) was faced with numerous challenges, including rising disposal costs, odor issues and an increase in plant capacity due to the expected increase in population (from approximately 15,000 to 30,000 by 2025). Furthermore, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 503 Class A disposal standards needed to be met, all within the limited site footprint.

Process Solution

The BioCon drying process removes moisture from biosolids via thermal drying. Dewatered sludge cake is pumped from a bin into the dryer cabinet through oscillating depositors that extrude thin ribbons through nozzles onto a slowly moving belt located inside the dryer. The ribbons provide a large drying surface area for safe and efficient drying at temperatures less than that of a conventional oven (less than 350°F).

Heat is transferred to the biosolids by circulating air between heat exchangers and biosolids ribbons. Moisture is removed from the drying air by continuously extracting a portion of the air from the dryer, transferring it through a condenser and back to the dryer. The temperature during the drying process decreases as the solids dry. The temperature is the highest when biosolids enter the dryer and the lowest when dry solids exit the dryer. Screw conveyers transport the solid material from the dryer to a solids hopper for utilization as fuel in the energy recovery system (ERS).

The processes allowed the plant to increase its biosolids capacity to 1,850 tons of dry solids per year. The ERS provides more than 80% of heat for the dryer from renewable fuels and reduces the biosolids mass by 95%.

Solutions Portfolio

Kruger’s solutions include BioEnergy drying and:

  • Digester energy exchange;
  • Engine heat recovery; and
  • ERS.

Benefits include up to 90% operational savings over disposal costs, Class A biosolids for beneficial reuse and a payback on investment in as little as three and a half years. These solutions are for plants with or without digestion, are environmentally friendly and can provide carbon credits and renewable energy credits to plants.

Success Story

The effectiveness of Kruger’s BioCon dryer and ERS systems allowed the Buffalo WWTP to reduce the amount of biosolids that can be safely and easily handled. This solution was executed in a small footprint that contains the odor and meets the Class A requirements while also saving the plant 70% to 80% of the required thermal energy, leading to a smaller carbon footprint.

Download: Here

About the Author

Terry Goss

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