High Performance Anaerobic Digestion
Parry, D., CH2M, USA
(free)
Abstract
Features from recent world-class projects are given as examples of high performance anaerobic digestion (HPAD): The thermal hydrolysis and digestion facility at Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Washington DC, the mesophilic digestion facility at the Atotonilco WWTP in Mexico City, Mexico, the multi-staged thermophilic digestion facility at the Shafdan WWTP in Tel Aviv, Israel, WERF co-digestion research and the Des Moines, Iowa WWTP, and the Encina WWTP pyrobiomethane facility in Carlsbad, California. The features and impacts of HPAD are discussed including organic loading rates, biogas production and beneficial use, dewatering and sidestream characteristics, and biosolids quality.
Keywords: Anaerobic Digestion, Organic Loading Rate, Thermal Hydrolysis, Thermophilic, Co-Digestion, Sidestream, Dewatering, Pyrolysis
Introduction
At the heart of biosolids processing improvements is high performance anaerobic digestion (HPAD). Digestion performance is improving by achieving more capacity from a given volume, reducing residuals and pathogens, producing more biogas, and improving dewatering and biosolids quality. The methods employed include fundamental digestion enhancements, raising the temperature to thermophilic, thermal hydrolysis, supplemental organics for co-digestion, and integrating thermal processes like low temperature pyrolysis with anaerobic digestion.
The features and impacts of HPAD are discussed including:
- Organic loading rates
- Biogas production
- Gas entrainment and volume expansion
- Dewatering and sidestream characteristics
- Biosolids quality and beneficial use
Features from recent world-class projects are given as examples of HPAD:
- The thermal hydrolysis and digestion facility at Blue Plains Advanced WWTP in Washington DC
- The multi-staged thermophilic digestion facility at the Shafdan WWTP in Tel Aviv, Israel
- The mesophilic digestion facility at the Atotonilco WWTP serving Mexico City, Mexico
- WERF co-digestion research and the Des Moines, Iowa WWTP
- The Encina Water Pollution Control Facility pyrobiomethane facility in Carlsbad, California
