Wastewater heat recovery in sewer systems from wastewater treatment plant operational point of view

Christoph Hofer

závěrečná práce studenta vyššího odborného studia

Abstract:

Wastewater in the sewer system is still an unused energy source in Austria. The first project of"wastewater heat recovery in front of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)" was notimplemented until the year 2012. Building on this technology it is now intended to implementthis method in the future since it is a promising new technology. In order to fulfill the EU 2020targets. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and increased energy efficiency and morerenewable energy must be achieved. However, if heat is removed which is generated in the sewersystem process, negative effects can arise in the context of the actual cleaning performance ofthe wastewater treatment facility.In this respect the objective of this master thesis has been to create and develop a method, how itis possible to detect a general suitable WWTP in Austria in the context of wastewater heatrecovery in the sewer system. The first part of the thesis focused on technical and legalfundamentals of different German-speaking countries with regard of wastewater heat recovery.The second part dealt with data validation and performance evaluation of a WWTP. The last partof the thesis will evaluate the detection and general suitability of a WWTP with respect towastewater heat recovery in the sewer system. Since the experience of Austria is quite limited inthis area it has been analyzed applicable wastewater recovery efforts in Switzerland during thepast thirty years. Afterwards all parts have been combined to develop a theoretical method. Thistheoretical method has been applied on one national case study. According to the application ofthe method it has been determined that the developed method is applicable, consistent and validresults have been obtained. Further through the detection of a general suitable WWTP, it hasbeen determined that the case study is not a suitable WWTP.

Abstract:

Wastewater in the sewer system is still an unused energy source in Austria. The first project of"wastewater heat recovery in front of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)" was notimplemented until the year 2012. Building on this technology it is now intended to implementthis method in the future since it is a promising new technology. In order to fulfill the EU 2020targets. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and increased energy efficiency and morerenewable energy must be achieved. However, if heat is removed which is generated in the sewersystem process, negative effects can arise in the context of the actual cleaning performance ofthe wastewater treatment facility.In this respect the objective of this master thesis has been to create and develop a method, how itis possible to detect a general suitable WWTP in Austria in the context of wastewater heatrecovery in the sewer system. The first part of the thesis focused on technical and legalfundamentals of different German-speaking countries with regard of wastewater heat recovery.The second part dealt with data validation and performance evaluation of a WWTP. The last partof the thesis will evaluate the detection and general suitability of a WWTP with respect towastewater heat recovery in the sewer system. Since the experience of Austria is quite limited inthis area it has been analyzed applicable wastewater recovery efforts in Switzerland during thepast thirty years. Afterwards all parts have been combined to develop a theoretical method. Thistheoretical method has been applied on one national case study. According to the application ofthe method it has been determined that the developed method is applicable, consistent and validresults have been obtained. Further through the detection of a general suitable WWTP, it hasbeen determined that the case study is not a suitable WWTP.Keywords: wastewater heat recovery, unused energy source,

Keywords

wastewater heat recovery, unused energy source, energy optimization potential, energetic analysis, WWTP Freistadt

Keywords

wastewater heat recovery, unused energy source, energy optimization potential, energetic analysis, WWTP Freistadt

Language used: Czech

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 21. 3. 2016

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Markéta Miháliková, Ph.D.
• Reader: Hana Jiráková, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Master programme / field:
Natural Resources and Environment / Natural Resources and Environment