The increase in biogas production and other benefits resulting from SLG-F advanced sludge thickening and sludge conditioning prior to anaerobic digestion at Worcester STW: PAPER & PRESENTATION
Belcher, H.1, Gibson, M.2 and Martin, N.2, 1Severn Trent Water, UK, 2Orege, UK
(free)
Abstract
Anaerobic Digestion is the established technology for the treatment of wastewater sludges to produce biogas and the soil conditioning product known as biosolids. Recent focus for improving AD has been focussed on the acceleration or preparation of sludges to improve gas yields through the process.
At the 2021 European Biosolids & Bioresources conference Orege introduced their double application SLG-F advanced sludge thickening / sludge conditioning technology for boosting AD performance. Severn Trent and Orege agreed to a 4-month, 2-stage trial over the spring and summer of 2023 at Worcester STW to better understand the application of the technology at a commercial scale in the UK.
This paper presents the experience of Severn Trent Water including installation & commissioning, process performance data across the whole wastewater treatment plant and the increase in biogas production and CHP output recorded during the trial period.
The innovative sludge thickening / conditioning package plant incorporates the SLGTM (Solid-LiquidGas) process developed by Orege and has already been installed as plug-and play containerised systems to the UK water industry either to replace existing sludge thickening assets or on sites where previously no mechanical sludge thickening was carried out.
