Automation of Sludge Processing: Conditioning, Dewatering, and Incineration

摘要

The study developed and tested automated control strategies for municipal wastewater sludge processing. The strategies consisted of chemical conditioning vacuum filtration and incineration. The project was conducted at the St. Paul, Minnesota Metropolitan Waste Control Commission (MWCC) Seneca facility, a 24-mgd plant with parallel sludge processing trains. Several strategies were developed for controlling lime and ferric chloride addition and filter cake production rate. Each strategy was evaluated during approximately 500 hours of operation. The performance of each strategy are summarized for variability and cost. Automated strategies were developed for controlling incinerator hearth temperatures and air input. A description of the digital data acquisition and control system is included.