Hydrothermal Processing in Wastewater Treatment Overview

Transcription

1 Hydrothermal Processing in Wastewater Treatment Overview James Oyler President Genifuel Corporation IR 2 Forum August 2015 Manhattan College Slide 1

2 Hydrothermal Processing (HTP) This process can help to solve some of the most challenging issues in wastewater management It converts wastewater solids into crude oil and methane It addresses wastewater solids, phosphorus, nitrogen, pharmaceuticals in water, and micro-nutrients It is a two stage process first oil, then gas Hydrothermal Processing operates in a very different way from many of today s wastewater processes Slide 2

3 Overview of Hydrothermal Processing HTP uses subcritical water and pressure to convert wet organics into crude oil and natural gas 350 C and 207 bar (3,000 psi) Process mimics the way fossil fuels were formed, but in 45 minutes rather than millions of years Highly efficient capturing more than 85% of feedstock energy and using only 15% for process Sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen, and micro-nutrients are naturally concentrated for recovery Five levels of scale-up already built and running Slide 3

4 Results Oil Liquefaction Stage Primary sludge ready to process Oil is formed and separates from water Phosphorus precipitates Oil from sludge

5 Results Water Gasification Stage Methane 40% of sludge solids are in oil, rest in water HTL Effluent Water All nitrogen as ammonia Clean Water

6 Why Does This Work At process conditions water changes from a polar molecule to a non-polar molecule Becomes an extremely powerful solvent for organics Lipids, proteins, and carbs are converted to oil Oil and water become completely soluble until cool Sulfur and phosphorus become highly insoluble, precipitate rapidly, and are recovered as dense ore from the oil stage All nitrogen is reduced to ammonia in the gas stage, recoverable by membrane or other method Slide 6

7 Solubility mg/kg 1000 Solubility of Calcium Sulfate in Water Temperature C Slide 7

8 Well Documented and Well Tested Developed by DOE at Pacific Northwest Nat l Lab over a 40- year period; published in DOE reports, peer-reviewed journals, white papers, extensive patents, etc. Slide 8

9 Extensive Testing with Many Feedstocks Waste Aquatic Ligno- Cellulosic Herbaceous Food Processing Chemical Waste Dairy Manure, Poultry Manure, Pig Manure, Municipal Solid Waste, Pulp and Paper Mill Waste, Plastic Bottles, Wastewater Sludge Water Hyacinths, Kelp (Marine), Red Algae (Marine), Green Algae (Brackish), Green Algae (Marine), Green Algae (Fresh), Diatoms, Cyanobacteria Wood Slash, Sawdust, Corn Stover, Poplar Fermentation Residuals, Wood Gasification Residuals, Cellulosic Fermentation Residuals Napier Grass, Sorghum, Sunflowers, Corn Stover, Marigolds Potato Waste, Corn Ethanol Bottoms (DWG), Grape Pomace (Wine Making), Cranberry Pomace, Digester Sludge, Kraft Paper Black Liquor, Cheese Whey, Coffee Grounds, Spent Distillers Grain, Vinegar, Olive Wash Water, Chicken Processing Waste, Fish Processing Waste, Gelatin Mfg. Waste, Rum Vinasse, Soda Pulp Wastewater, Soft Drink Factory Waste, Potato Processing Crumbs, Shrimp Waste, Potato Peels, Dairy Waste, Onions, Corn Canning DAF, Apple Pomace, Beer Waste Nylon Wastewater, Acrylonitrile Wastewater, Fatty Acid Waste, Metal Chelate Solution, Sodium Cyanide Waste, Polyol Wastewater, Vitamin Fermentation Broth, Paint Booth Wash, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Propylene Glycol, Carbon Tetrachloride, many other chemical compounds Slide 9

10 Commissioning Pilot Plant Now

11 The Sludge Problem and Opportunity Today Raw Sludge AD Remainder Sludge Cost! Tomorrow 1. Raw Sludge AD Hydrothermal No Solids! 2. Hydrothermal Slide 11

12 Testing HTP for Wastewater Treatment Plus 18 technical reviewers and steering committee members Slide 12

13 Test Program Status Metro Vancouver group has produced dewatered samples of primary sludge, secondary sludge, and post-digester biosolids PNNL doing multiple tests on all three samples Liquefaction to produce oil Gasification to produce methane from oil effluent Data analysis in progress Chemical analysis at all stages Mass balances and fuel yields Gas contaminant analysis (siloxane, H 2 S, etc.) Slide 13

14 Results from Other Feedstocks Measurement Value Oil as % feedstock solids (mass/mass) 35% to 40% COD of effluent water after gasification 200 to 400 mg/l Feedstock carbon recovered into fuels 85% to 90% % of energy produced to run the system 15% Siloxane and H 2 S levels in CHG gas Negligible Ammonia level in CHG water, before removal 1% to 1.5% Complex molecules remaining (pesticide, pharma) Negligible Operating conditions 350 C, 207 bar Preferred solids concentration 20% solids in water Slide 14

15 Next Steps in Implementation Successful LIFT tests will provide background for installation of pilot system at utility Work together to install system onsite Option one process biosolids Option two process raw sludge (needs dewatering) Need funding to bridge across to utility operation TDL level of 2 to 3 Slide 15

16 Future WWTP Process Flow with Hydrothermal Processing Pretreatment Primary Treatment Secondary Treatment Influent Grit Removal Settling Activated Sludge Effluent Water Centrate To Headworks Mechanical Dewatering 3% Solids Sludge ~20% Solids CHG Water to Headworks Electrical Generator Separations Biocrude Hydrothermal Processor CHG Gas Ammonia Alternative: Sell Oil and Gas Precipitate

17 Other HTP Benefits in Wastewater Plant Unified approach to wastewater processing Smaller size and space requirement than AD Less retention time and complete sterilization of solids and water drastically reduces odor risk More fuel energy recovered nearly all the carbon Economically attractive because of combined cost savings and sale of products Oil, gas, electricity, phosphorus ore, ammonia, micronutrients Slide 17

18 Hydrothermal Processing in Wastewater Treatment Thank you! Slide 18

19 Block Flow Diagram Slide 19

20 Combined Oil-Gas Hydrothermal Process Flow Pressurize & Heatup Precipitate Phosphorus Fertilizer 350ºC, 207 Bar Very small amount Commercial process HTL Input Feed Prepare Slurry Separate Oil & Water Bio-Oil Refine or Use As-Is Anything organic 20% solids, 80% water HTP = Hydrothermal Processing HTL = Hydrothermal Liquefaction CHG = Catalytic Hydrothermal Gasification Effluent Water CHG 60%/40% CH 4 /CO 2 ~ 40% of solids mass CHG needed to clean water Separate Gas/Water No sulfur Clean Gas Clean Water & Nutrients All plant nutrients Slide 20