Civil Engineering Research Seminar - January part 2
APPLICATION OF AN INNOVATIVE PROCESS FOR ENHANCED BIOGAS PRODUCTION & SLUDGE DIGESTION CHARACTERISTICS
- When?
- Thursday 17 January 2013, 13:00 to 14:00
- Where?
- Univeristy of Surrey Block AA Floor 03 Meeting Room 40
- Open to:
- Staff, Students
- Speaker:
- Achame D Shana
- Admission price:
- No charge
Abstract:
Over the last 16 years, different sludge pre-treatment processes have been retrofitted to existing sewage sludge treatment plants in order to improve anaerobic digestion treatment process efficiency. Some of these pre-treatment technologies, notably the thermal hydrolysis process (THP), have greatly increased the sludge throughput and allowed more efficient utilisation of treatment assets without adversely impacting on the biology of sewage sludge anaerobic digestion process. Whilst the digester throughput is increased by utilising the THP process, the biogas yield has not increased significantly or the expected increase in volatile solid reduction (VSR) has not been realised. In an attempt to improve the impact of THP on the process performance, a new sludge treatment process configuration was developed which consists of an intermediate step of thermal hydrolysis (ITHP). Overall, the results obtained from laboratory scale digestion investigations showed that the sludge composition degradation rates in the ITHP process configuration was enhanced as evidenced by continued proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and fibres degradation rates achieved during the second MAD stage of the ITHP digestion process configuration. In the ITHP process, the carbohydrates and fibres degradation was faster than the lipids and proteins in the ITHP process. However, the additional protein degradation achieved was significant and may be one of the reasons for the enhanced sludge digestion process efficiency achieved in the ITHP digestion process configuration.
Bio:
Achame has a BSc in Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering from Plovidive Agricultural University in Bulgaria and Masters Degree in Soil science from The University of Reading. From 1998 to date Achame has worked in Thames Water in several roles; first as a research scientist in R&D department working mainly on sewage sludge treatment processes. Examples of Achame’s work are the development of Acid phase sludge digestion process which was implemented at one of Thames sites, continuous secondary digestion, implemented in 8 sites and has also had a major involvement in the early development of Thermal hydrolysis sludge pre-treatment process in Thames.
For the past three years Achame has been Operation’s process technical lead in Thames water working on process optimisation, trouble shooting, performance monitoring as well as keeping a close involvement in various innovative R&D based research work. Achame is currently doing his collaborative PhD programme under the suspicion of Dr. Sabeha Ouki at Surrey University. His research focuses on the development of innovative technology for enhanced sludge digestion process and generating sustainable renewable energy from waste.