Effluent treatment plants consume a significant amount of energy, accounting for between 1% and 3% of global energy output. Modern facilities use 20-45 kWh per population equivalent (PE) connected.
Let’s see how much power is consumed by effluent treatment plants.
Where is power consumed in an effluent treatment plant?
Untreated effluent is converted into Treated Effluent with the help of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). Most effluent treatment plants are massive, complex operations that treat a million gallons or more per day. All of this results in high power consumption.
In the effluent treatment system, the treatment procedure consumes the most energy. Aeration is the most energy-intensive aspect of treatment, accounting for more than 70% of the energy required, in municipal secondary stage wastewater treatment facilities. In traditional wastewater treatment procedures, sludge conditioning and dewatering operations consume a significant amount of energy, accounting for approximately 10% of total wastewater sector energy consumption.
Although, preliminary and primary treatment use less energy than traditional secondary treatment, tertiary treatment can use as much energy as secondary treatment, depending on the type and quantity of pollutants to be eliminated, as well as the desired and regulated effluent quality.
Need of reducing the ETP’s power consumption
Energy costs for effluent treatment plants have risen over the last two decades. The increase can be attributed to a number of factors, including increased effluent requirements, improved nutrient removal, improved bio-solids treatment, ageing, inefficient wastewater collection systems, and rising electricity rates. All of this effort necessitates a significant amount of energy consumption.
The effluent treatment sector, as one of the largest energy consumers, has developed a variety of technologies to improve energy efficiency, but there is no single recommended scenario for energy self-sufficiency in practice.
When it comes to providing public wastewater services, energy is frequently the second most expensive operating cost after labour. As a result, improving energy efficiency is one of the most efficient ways for ETPs to reduce costs, while maintaining long-term operational viability.
To reduce power consumption, the following steps should be taken:
1. To reduce the costs of effluent treatment, optimal design should be prioritized from the start. Pumping is used by many treatment plants to transport wastewater from multiple sources to the ETP, which raises pumping costs. Gravity is preferred for transporting wastewater from the point of origin to the screening area.
2. Water homogenization is critical for producing a consistent effluent for subsequent treatment. The greater the retention time, the better the mixing of the wastewater, and thus reducing the cost of neutralization and additional chemical coagulation.
3. To reduce the overall cost of a wastewater treatment plant, simply pump the wastewater from the homogenization tank to the main treatment system, and gravity should handle the remainder of the flow up to the secondary clarifier, with all tanks designed for overflow from one system to the next.
4. Chemical consumption should be optimized through numerous laboratory trials, and instead of using expensive chemicals, try to use one of the industries' leftover materials (acids and coagulants), as the neutralization and coagulant treatment chemical. Many pollution control boards have approved it as a recycle and reuse option.
5. Determine the most effective sludge management options.
Best manufacturers and service providers of effluent treatment plants in India
Finding the best wastewater treatment plant for your needs can be challenging, but a straightforward answer is provided by Netsol Water. If you have any questions about effluent treatment plants and their power consumption, please contact our team right away. Our team is an expert in effluent treatment and can help you tailor a solution to your specific requirements.
Our company offers excellent quality effluent treatment systems, manufactured through technically advanced process. These are highly demanded in various industrial sectors.