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Energy efficiency has become the order of the day as nations have begun to understand that the fast depleting energy resources must be saved as much as possible. This has made it an important facet of discussion, in any construction and utility plan. Energy efficiency is all about using less and making more and it has become a major talking point in waste water management in the present day. Sewage treatment through zero power consumption has become the order of the day. When we talk about making use of less energy, it refers to the deployment of energy efficient processes and equipments. On the other hand, making more is to enhance the production of digester methane which on common terms is bio energy production. Sewage treatment through zero power consumption is about having an ideal net zero energy waste water treatment facility and not about zero power consumption in the literal sense. In common language, it is the energy content of waste water exceeding the energy required for its treatment. These plants will need a utility connection but the utility bill will be close to zero or zero as there is an equal or exceeding power production to the consumption. Energy efficiency has become a focal point in the sewage water treatment plant design and operation. With new technologies being invented in the recent times, every treatment plant is keen on having the latest technology in practice when they choose to upgrade their plant. The installation process is being carried out in retrofits. The main reason for the implementation of the zero power consumption plan is to have sustainable green investments that are beneficial for the community and society as a whole. Bio gas can be produced with the help of the waste stream in a sewage treatment facility and the same can be burned to generate heat and electricity. This conversion is done through anaerobic digestion. Having a digester and a waste stream on the same treatment facility offers the probability to have a renewable energy system that can handle the power demand of the plant. In the previous years the waste stream conversion was done through aerobic digestion which produced carbon-di-oxide and then later is converted into methane which is used as bio gas. Using anaerobic methods enables the organic matter in the wastes to be converted into methane which reduces the energy load used up for the aeration process and also enhances methane production. This thereby enables to use the saved energy thereby reducing power consumption. It must be noted that the aeration process uses up about 50% to 60% of the plant’s energy consumption. Sewage treatment through zero power consumption has been made possible by increasing the concentration of the waste stream into the anaerobic digester facility. Using biological means to achieve this has been found to be very effective. It’s nothing but just letting the bugs do their job – using manipulative techniques that can get the micro organisms going. This way there may not be any necessity to treat it separately for concentration. Also it is advantageous because there is no need to utilize any additional energy for the same. Aerated-anoxic treatment is another technology that is being put into good use to minimize energy requirements in the sewage treatment units. It involves a bit of aeration treatment only that it does not require the presence of positive dissolved oxygen. This is advantageous because it helps in simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. This does not leave any residual dissolved oxygen and hence helps a great deal in getting oxygen into the system. Nil residual oxygen means that there is no excess oxygen being pumped thereby consuming less energy than usual. On a broader perspective there are other things that can help in minimizing energy consumption in a waste water treatment plant and hence achieving sewage treatment through zero power consumption. Highly efficient advanced blowers, state of the art fine bubble diffusers, installing variable frequencies on motors and pumps, premium efficiency motors, etc., are some of the other changes that can help in increasing energy efficiency in a sewage treatment plant. A combination of all these things will ensure an increase in energy production while reducing the consumption required for the same. For additional information about energy production, a quick peek into www.besten.in can help.
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