Maximising digester performance with HUBER Rotary Screw Thickeners

Hydroflux is playing a small but vital role in the operation of the Luggage Point Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The plant is part of the Western Corridor Recycled Water (WCRW) Project – one of the largest recycled water schemes in Australia.

“High performance sludge thickening is a key process in producing biogas from sewage sludge,” says John Koumoukelis, a Director of Hydroflux HUBER.

As part of a recent upgrade of the plant, Hydroflux HUBER provided three model RoS2 Size 4L units to replace some of the plant’s older conventional drum screen technology.

The machines effectively thicken the primary sludge generated in the primary clarifiers. This thickened sludge from the HUBER units is then pumped to the digesters. These in turn feed cogeneration units at the plant where biogas is produced from sewage sludge and this biogas then is then used to generate electricity.

“A wastewater treatment plant can use large amounts of electricity to pump and treat sewage, so turning sludge into biogas enables a plant such as this to turn waste into electricity for use in the plant – a cost saving and something that is of benefit to the environment,” says Mr Koumoukelis.

“Given that the raw sludge at the plant is thickened to six per cent dry solids, the end result is that there is a volume reduction of around 85 per cent on the raw primary sludge.

“Good sludge thickening is required as a prerequisite for the efficient further treatment within digesters. Without this thickening, the digesters would be fed with water as opposed to solids, and digesters needs to solids to produce biogas.”

The three model RoS2 Size 4L units that Hydroflux HUBER supplied to the Luggage Point WWTP each have the capacity to process 80 kL/h of primary sludge.

“Each of these fully-enclosed units deliver high performance, reliability, low energy usage, full 316SS construction and are low maintenance,” says Mr Koumoukelis.

“The installation at Luggage Point means there are now over 1000 HUBER thickeners installed worldwide including many in Australia.”

About Hydroflux HUBER

Hydroflux HUBER, a member of the Hydroflux Group, is a business dedicated to providing world-leading wastewater technology and processes to Australian water authorities and councils. Hydroflux HUBER’s goal is to provide high-performing, energy-efficient equipment and technology for maximising life cycle value and reducing operational costs. For more information visit www.hydrofluxhuber.com.au.

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