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Gasification of primary microsieved biosolids for the cogeneration of heat and electricity

Pothoulaki Aikaterini

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Summary

Growing concerns have arisen about the effectiveness of wastewater treatment in combination with the exponential growth of the world population. In the context of wastewater treatment, it creates an unavoidable by-product, biosolids or sewage sludge, which requires treatment before it can be released into the environment. Anaerobic digestion, a complex biological process recognised for its usefulness in energy production, is used as the main means of treating biosolids. However, an alternative option to address the environmental impact of biosolids is thermochemical treatment. Processes such as pyrolysis, gasification, and incineration, which exploit the considerable thermogenic potential of biosolids, are an alternative way of producing energy or other valuable products.This thesis focuses on the technology of biosolids gasification. Emphasis is placed on mass and energy balance calculations to comprehensively examine the design, construction, and operational aspects of a gasification-energy production plant operating within the Rethymno WWTP. This plant, which is an element of an innovative pilot waste treatment and biosolids management system, has a capacity of 5,000 m3/d of incoming waste. The system uses a series of sequential processes to separate the biosolids through micro-screening, drying, and gasification to create synthesis gas and then use an internal combustion engine (ICE) to generate heat and electricity. The energy needs of the entire system are largely covered by this energy production.The theoretical calculations of thermal energy balances show that there is sufficient energy production to meet the plant's requirements. However, the operating principle of this dryer requires higher amounts of energy, resulting in a slightly negative thermal energy balance. The result is, of course, positive with minor adjustments to variable parameters, which indicates the possibility of operating the plant in a thermally autonomous way.

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