Thermal hydrolysis
Thermal hydrolysis is s a two-stage process combining high-pressure boiling of waste or sludge followed by a rapid decompression. This combined action sterilizes the sludge and makes it more biodegradable, which improves digestion performance. Sterilization destroys pathogens in the sludge resulting in it exceeding the stringent requirements for land application (agriculture).[1]
In addition, the treatment adjusts the rheology to such an extent that loading rates to sludge anaerobic digesters can be doubled, and also dewaterability of the sludge is significantly improved. The first full-scale application of this process for sewage sludge was for the city of Hamar in Norway in 1996. Since then, there have been over 30 additional installations globally.
30 Largest Thermal Hydrolysis Plants
| Plant | Capacity (TDS/A) | Commission Year | Thermal Hydrolysis Supplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Plains, Washington DC, USA | 130,000 | 2014 | Cambi |
| Davyhulme, Manchester, UK | 91,000 | 2012 | Cambi |
| Ringsend, Dublin, Ireland | 56,000 | 2002 | Cambi |
| Howdon, UK | 40,000 | 2010 | Cambi |
| Riverside, UK | 40,000 | 2009 | Cambi |
| Tees Valley, UK | 37,000 | 2008 | Cambi |
| Crossness, UK | 36,500 | 2013 | Cambi |
| Beckton, UK | 36,500 | 2013 | Cambi |
| Cardiff, UK | 30,000 | 2009 | Cambi |
| Tilburg, Holland | 29,000 | 2014 | Cambi |
| Esholt, UK | 26,400 | 2013 | Veolia |
| Santiago, Chile | 25,000 | 2010 | Cambi |
| Oxford, UK | 24,400 | 2010 | Veolia |
| Vilnius, Lithuania | 23,000 | 2010 | Cambi |
| Whitlingham, UK | 23,000 | 2008 | Cambi |
| Vigo, Spain | 22,000 | 2014 | Cambi |
| Afan, UK | 20,000 | 2009 | Cambi |
| Bruxelles Nord, Belgium | 20,000 | 2007 | Cambi |
| Cotton Valley, Milton Keynes, UK | 20,000 | 2007 | Cambi |
| NOSES, Aberdeen, UK | 16,500 | 2001 | Cambi |
| Lille, France | 16,400 | 2013 | Veolia |
| EGE Waste Treatment, Oslo, Norway | 15,000 | 2012 | Cambi |
| Turku, Finland | 14,000 | 2009 | Cambi |
| Oxley Creek, Brisbane, Australia | 12,900 | 2006 | Cambi |
| Stavanger, Norway | 11,800 | 2014 | Cambi |
| Crawley, UK | 11,300 | 2014 | Cambi |
| Monza, Italy | 10,200 | 2010 | Veolia |
| Chertsey, UK | 9,600 | 1999 | Cambi |
| Anersfoort, Holland | 9,000 | 2014 | SH+E Group |
| Växjö, Sweden | 8,600 | 2014 | Cambi |
References