Dewatering technologies of sewage sludge

Prepared by:

M.Taha Mansoor

M.E Environmental Engineering

Coarse title:

EN-513 Industrial waste treatment

2022

Submitted to Mr.Mehmood Ali

Aims and Objectives:

These three thoughts may come to mind when you think of dewatering: what is the point of

dewatering? What exactly does dewatering entail? Why is dewatering required, then?

What Does Dewatering Have as a Goal? To reduce waste, sludge is dewatered to separate it into

liquids and solids. Sludge dewatering methods include centrifuging, screw pressing,

geomembranes, plate & frame and belt filter presses, among others.

There are further options available in addition to these. It is important to remember that

dewatering only separates the solid and liquid components to make handling the different phases

for final disposal simpler and more affordable. Dewatering is not intended to treat the sludge or

liquid. Both the solid and liquid parts of the sludge may include contaminants that need to be

handled individually after it has been dewatered.

What exactly does dewatering entail?

Sludge needs to be conditioned through either mineral chemical, such as iron salts and lime,

before the dewatering process can start, or organic substances like flocculants and coagulants.

The sludge is first condition and then thickened using centrifugation, flotation, a gravity belt or a

thickening drum/screw drum.

It is time to determine the best dewatering method when the conditioning process is finished.

The features, volume, timing, and disposal alternatives are only a few of the variables that affect

which sludge treatment procedure is best. Belt filters, centrifuges, and frame filter presses are the

three most widely used dewatering techniques.

Why is Dewatering Necessary?

The two main purposes of sludge dewatering is for waste minimization and to achieve overall

cost efficiency for disposal. Additionally, stabilized sludge can be handled more safely and can
reduce health hazards. Some sludge actually have a great beneficial reuse and can be land

applied. Generally, both the public and private sectors are required to dispose of sludge in a

manner that is approved by regulatory agencies and are in line with their own organizational

requirements and environmentally safe. Sludge dewatering is typically focused on reducing the

weight and volume of the sludge so that disposal costs - including transportation - are kept to a

minimum. Water removal is the primary means of volume reduction before sludge waste can be

treated or disposed.

Literature Review:

What Makes Dewatering Required?

Sludge dewatering is primarily done to reduce waste and increase overall disposal cost

effectiveness. Stabilized sludge also lessens health risks and allows for safer handling.

Some sludge can really be applied to the land and have a very positive utilization.

Generally speaking, both the public and private sectors must dispose of sludge in a way that is

permitted by regulatory bodies, complies with their own organizational needs, and is safe for the

environment. In order to keep disposal costs, including transportation, to a minimum, sludge

dewatering normally aims to reduce the weight and volume of the sludge.

Before sludge waste can be processed or disposed of, water must first be removed as a main

volume reduction method.

Different dewatering technologies:

1. Filter press technology:

One of the earliest mechanical dewatering equipment is the filter press.

Filter presses were first utilized by FAURE EQUIPMENTS to create ceramic pastes in the

ceramics sector.
FAURE EQUIPMENTS produced the first filter press in 1890. Since a long time ago, the

chemical, sugar, and beer sectors have also utilized filter presses.

Chamber plates are installed in traditional filter presses, however membrane plates filter presses

are growing quickly. The plates (materials, detachable membrane...), automation, safety, and

casing are where the new alterations are most prominent. Increased productivity, ease of use, low

maintenance, and remote control (membrane plates).

a) Conventional filter presses:

Filter presses are devices that allow you to pressurize a suspension of material to separate the

liquid from the solid. The dewatering process yields cakes. The liquid that is separated from the

sludge is called the filtrate. Filter presses have a wide range of uses today, including: Dewatering

of urban and industrial sludge the filtering process used in the chemical, food, ceramic,

pharmaceutical, and mining sectors.

b) Operating and design principles:

A hydraulic cylinder squeezes a set of chamber plates covered in filter cloth in a filter press

between an immovable supporting beam and an immovable frame. The pressured sludge is

pumped into a waterproof volume that is determined by the plates. The water tightness between

the plates at the surface of the joints is made possible by a hydraulic device. Utilizing a cylinder

The hydraulic unit maintains equilibrium between the pressure exerted by the feeding and the

plates' squeezing. Pump continuously while filtering. The liquids flow through the filter cloth

holding the filters when this pressure is applied. Solid constituents, either taps installed on each

plate or launders at the end of the filter are used to drain the filtrates.

The feeding pump must regulate its flow rate according to the pressure increase produced by the

formation of cakes in the chambers

At the end of the plate compressing process, the cakes formed between the filter clothes are

discharged by the backward movement of the supporting beam and the successive separation of

the plates. A plate shifting system fitted with trolleys allows the automation of this process.

Advantages:

• Easy maintenance

• Bigger volume capturing

• Long service life

• Low energy consumption

Disadvantages:

• Large amount of conditioning chemicals required

• High noise levels

• High capital equipment cost

• Batch process requires larger pumps

2. Sludge dewatering screw press:

a) Operating principle:

The spaces between the fixed and moving rings, the gradual narrowing of the screw's pitch from

the concentration zone to the dewatering zone, The thickened sludge was then moved to the

dewatering zone, where the gaps between the rings and screw pitch gradually close and the end

plate restricts the flow, encouraging the dewatering process.

b) Dewatering machine work flow:

1. A sludge conveyor moves the sludge to the inlet.

2. The sludge is properly mixed by the mixer before being transported to the flocculation tank

through the metering tank.

3. The sewage is taken to the screw press after large flocs have formed.

4. Flocs is transported by gravity from the concentration zone to the dewatering zone.

5. As the end plate's pressure increases and the spaces between moving and fixed rings close, the

sludge cake is finally discharged.

Advantages:

• Simple operation

• Automated

• Low maintenance required

• Less ventilation and noise potential

Disadvantages:

• Lower capacity

• Sensitive to type of feed

• High polymer use

• Lower solid capture

• Better for smaller size plant

3. Sludge dewatering centrifuge:

a) Operating principle:

Sludge dewatering centrifuges separate liquid and solid components of wastewater by rapidly

rotating a "cylindrical bowl." When wastewater is dewatered using a centrifuge, more water is

removed than with other techniques, leaving behind cake-like solid residue.
Less tank space is required to hold trash thanks to dewatering.

(b) Dewatering machine work flow:

Centrifuges work as continuous feed systems that discharge liquid over a weir while removing

particulates via a scroll conveyor.

Conical shape of bowl aids in lifting solids out of liquid so they can dry on an inclined surface

before being released.

Advantages:

• Lower capital cost

• Simple operation

• Easier and economical maintenance

• Low noise and vibration

• Lower power and chemical consumption

• Lower cake odor

Disadvantages:

• Higher capital cost

• Less power efficiency

• High polymer requirement

• High maintenance cost

Conclusion:

Though each sludge dewatering technology has its pros and cons but still filter press dewatering

technology is preferred over others because it other technologies are relatively newer and A filter

press is still recommended for applications which requires cleaner water and dryer solids for

transportation.
References:

• SSWM.info

• Liba.net

• Metchem.com

• Andritz.com

• Epa.gov

• Savetexaswater.org