Case Study of Potential Solar Industrial Process Heat Applications for Municipal-Wastewater Treatment Facilities Incorporating Anaerobic Digestion

摘要

Data for the Camp Creek sewage treatment plant in Fulton County, Georgia are used to assess the potential for solar process heat applications at the site. The sludge anaerobic digestion process accounts for the total process heat requirements of the plant. The potential for solar process heat in municipal wastewater facilities incorporating anaerobic digestion appears to be governed by geographic location and fuel costs. Solar energy may possess greater potential in areas with fewer heating degree days. It is concluded that a well-operated anaerobic digestion system is capable of producing enough methane gas to sustain a major portion if not all of the heating requirements of the digesters. If additional heating is required, conservation measures may be more cost effective than solar process heat. (ERA citation 07:042950)