Objective
The aim of this project is to demonstrate the functioning of a new anaerobic-aerobic purification process called "Unitank", which ensures good purifications and biogas production performances at low cost and requires less space than the conventional processes. This system was developed by Artois-Piedboeuf Interbrew in co-operation with the University of Leuven (K.U.L.).
The construction of the aerobic UNITANK plant passes off in according with the established planning. The plant started up at the same time as the beet campaign during the last week of september. After a period of adjusting of the working conditions of the plant, a period of three weeks of intensive testing of the different influent and effluent parameters was started to verify the guarantee of the constructor.
- The UNITANK system gives entire satisfaction; the quality of the effluents meets the requirements of the discharge permit;
- the system is composed of rectangular tanks, most of them built one against another, they form a very compact entity;
- the biogas produced by the anaerobic reactor is burned in one of the boilers of the refinery : so about 60000 Nm³ of biogas is recovered per annum;
- In campaign about 1000 m³/day of the effluent of the UNITANK SSU N are reused for process purpose.
The UNITANK system, which is supplied by Seghers Engineering NV Rotselaar (B) is a compact and modular wastewater treatment system for municipal or industrial influents. To meet the various effluent requirements for different types of wastewater, one to four Unitank modules are applied. Typical process options are :
- single stage or two stage aerobic treatment
- anaerobic treatment
- fysico-chemical treatment
- biological nitrogen and/or phosphorous removal
The unitank systems are easy to construct reflecting low capital and operational costs. The unitank flexibility and reliability guarantees a stable process with high removal efficiencies. The installation has an important capacity of purification of the sugar refinery waste waters. Another important conclusion is that the UNITANK system is capable of significantly reducing nitrogen pollution of waste-water and transforming it to unharmless Nitrogen gas.
The characteristics of sugar refinery waste water vary greatly between the beet campaign and the remainder of the year.
- After being stored in lagoons, the waste water is treated in a first phase in an anaerobic reactor (UNITANK anaerobic system). The methanisation reactor is a combination of an up-flow system and a contact process. The reactor is divided into two hydraulically connected units equipped with a three-phase (gas-liquid-solid) separator and a chute for discharge of the effluents.
The two units can function simultaneously of in turns, which increases the system's flexibility. The production of biogas with a 75-80% methane content should reach 8.000 N cubic metres a day during the beet campaign and will be half during the rest of the year.
On a yearly basis, the energy generation will be equivalent to 12,500,000 thermal kWh/year. During the beet campaign, the effluent is recycled for the washing and transport of the beet.
In a second step, the residual pollution will be removes in an aerobic UNITANK system which biological Nitrogen removal.
This system is composed of four rectangular tanks built next to each other, so that the total system becomes very compact.
The treated effluent can be partially recycled and partially discharged to the river.
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Coordinator
3300 Tienen
Belgium
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