Wastewater Treatment and Renewable Energy Technologies for Rural Communities in Scotland
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Technology Scan: Wastewater Treatment and Renewable Energy Technologies for Rural Communities in Scotland Published by CREW – Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters. CREW connects research and policy, delivering objective and robust research and expert opinion to support the development and implementation of water policy in Scotland. CREW is a partnership between the James Hutton Institute and all Scottish Higher Education Institutes supported by MASTS. The Centre is funded by the Scottish Government. This document was produced by: Katina Tam The James Hutton Institute Craigiebuckler Aberdeen AB15 8QH Scotland, UK Please reference this report as follows: Tam, K. (2013) Wastewater Treatment and Renewable Energy Technologies for Rural Communities in Scotland. CREW report 2013, CD2013_20. Available at www.crew.ac.uk/publications Dissemination status: Unrestricted All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, modified or stored in a retrieval system without the prior written permission of CREW management. While every effort is made to ensure that the information given here is accurate, no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or misleading statements. All statements, views and opinions expressed in this paper are attributable to the author(s) who contribute to the activities of CREW and do not necessarily represent those of the host institutions or funders. Cover photograph courtesy of: Katina Tam, James Hutton Institute Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 2 2.0 TECHNOLOGIES FOR TREATING WASTEWATER .................................................................................... 2 2.1 ATLANTIC WATER FRESHWATER GENERATOR .................................................................................................. 2 2.2 ENDOSAN ................................................................................................................................................. 3 2.3 AQUALOGIX DRINKING WATER PROCESSOR ..................................................................................................... 4 2.4 DUTCH RAINMAKER .................................................................................................................................... 5 2.5 AQUALOOP ............................................................................................................................................ 6 2.6 BIOMATRIX WATER POND BASED PREFABRICATED SYSTEMS ............................................................................... 7 2.7 BIOMATRIX WATER LAND BASED MULTI-STAGE RECIRCULATING WETLAND .......................................................... 9 2.8 LIVING MACHINE ..................................................................................................................................... 10 2.9 MICROBAC PACKAGE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS ........................................................................................ 11 2.10 SEPTIC WIZARD ....................................................................................................................................... 13 2.11 AQUACRITOX .......................................................................................................................................... 13 3.0 TECHNOLOGIES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION .................................................................. 14 3.1 CLEARFLEAU ANAEROBIC DIGESTION ............................................................................................................ 14 3.2 WILLOW SYSTEMS .................................................................................................................................... 15 .......................................................................................................................................................................... 16 4.0 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................................... 17 4.1 LIMITATIONS OF THIS REPORT ..................................................................................................................... 17 4.2 NEXT STEPS ............................................................................................................................................. 17 5.0 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Executive Summary Background to research This report responds to a CREW call down request submitted by Scottish Water to carry out an initial review of technologies for treating water and wastewater, and for producing renewable energy from water in rural Scottish communities. The technologies included in this report are either on the market or are close to market. Objectives of research 1. To identify and summarise water and wastewater treatment systems that utilise reclaimed effluent for drinking water, toilet flushing, irrigation, and other purposes. 2. To identify and summarise renewable energy systems that utilise water, wastewater, and waste products. Key findings We include details of eleven technologies that reclaim rainwater and wastewater for household and community uses: Atlantic Freshwater Generator utilises a heat plate exchanger and concepts of evaporation and condensation to produce freshwater. EndoSan disinfects domestic water as an alternative to chlorine. Aqualogix Drinking Water Processor uses ultrafiltration and activated carbon for purifying water. Dutch Rainwater uses wind turbines to produce water. AQUALOOP may be installed in households for greywater recycling, wastewater treatment, and surface and groundwater treatment. Biomatrix Water Pond Based Prefabricated Systems uses a cascade floating platform system for treating wastewater. Biomatrix Land Based Multi-Stage Recirculating Wetland utilises biofilms and principles of wetland ecologies for treating wastewater. Living Machine is similar to Biomatrix and builds natural ecosystems for treating wastewater. Microbac Biomass Wastewater Treatment markets bioreactors and membrane bioreactors. Septic Wizard uses principles of vermifiltration to treat wastewater. AquaCritox uses principles of super critical water oxidation to treat wastewater and to produce energy. We include details of three technologies that generate renewable energy from waste and wastewater: Clearfleau markets anaerobic digestion systems for biogas and electricity production. A willow systems project is investigating wastewater treatment and biofuel production from willow crops. AquaCritox uses principles of super critical water oxidation to treat wastewater and produce energy. Independent evaluation of each technology is required to fully understand each of the products and their suitability to use in rural communities in Scotland. Key words: wastewater treatment; renewable energy; sustainable rural communities Page | 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION This report responds to a CREW call down request submitted by Scottish Water to carry out an initial review of technologies for treating water and wastewater, and for producing renewable energy from water. The technologies included in this report are either on the market or close to the market. This scan feeds into Scottish Water’s strategic vision to develop Sustainable Rural Communities. This report is presented in two parts: 1. Technologies for treating wastewater: an overview of eleven technologies that reclaim rainwater and wastewater for household and community uses. Relevant case studies are presented for certain technologies, where information was available. 2. Technologies for producing renewable energy: an overview of three technologies that generate renewable energy from waste, water, and wastewater. Relevant case studies are presented for certain technologies. The information presented in this report is sourced directly from the company or product websites, or is taken from product brochures and leaflets. The data presented is based on the research conducted by the companies, and has not been verified externally. 2.0 TECHNOLOGIES FOR TREATING WASTEWATER 2.1 Atlantic Water Freshwater Generator Company: Atlantic Water Location: Newmachar, Aberdeenshire Technology status: On the market Output: Potable The Atlantic Water (AW) Freshwater Generator uses a flat surface heat exchanger or a shell and tube heat exchanger for producing drinking water standard freshwater from water and contaminated water sources. Water is passed through the generator and is evaporated, while condensation of the steam subsequently produces freshwater (Atlantic Water, 2013). Further information on the operation of a standard freshwater generator is available through Alfa Laval, which markets a similar generator called AQUA Freshwater Generator. Water flows through the bottom evaporator section of a heated plate pack and is evaporated at 40-60°C. The vapour rises between the plates into the separator section of the plate pack, which causes residual droplets to fall into the bottom of the generator. The pure vapour enters the top condenser section of the plate pack and the vapour is condensed into freshwater, which is released by a freshwater pump (Alfa Laval, undated). The AW Generator