World’s Biggest Thermal Hydrolysis Waste-to-energy System
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Technology
The world’s biggest thermal hydrolysis waste-to-energy system has just revved up its engines this week at the Blue Plains wastewater treatment plant on the banks of the Potomac River, making the District of Columbia — that would be the capital of the US — home to the only facility of its kind in all of North America
The first of its kind in the United States, D.C.’s new thermal hydrolysis system can generate electricity from the wastewater treatment process. In DC Water’s own words, it can turn poop into power.
The $470 million project, which broke ground in 2011, was unveiled Wednesday.
Thermal hydrolysis uses high heat and pressure to “pressure cook” the solids left over at the end of the wastewater treatment process. This weakens the cell walls of the solids, making energy easily accessible to the organisms in the next stage of the process, called anaerobic digestion.
The methane these organisms produce is captured and fed to three large turbines to produce electricity. Steam is also captured and directed back into the process.
The process will provide enough clean, renewable energy to power about one-third of DC Water’s Blue Plains treatment plant, the largest advanced wastewater treatment plant in the world.
“This is yet another example of the District leading the nation in the adoption and implementation of sustainable practices,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser.
“DC Waters Blue Plains facility is converting waste to clean water and a nutrient-rich soil byproduct, producing energy and helping to put the District on the path towards a zero waste future.”
Source: CBS DC
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