Digester Improvements for Efficiency and Energy

The Kenosha Water Utility identified the need to evaluate their existing digestion system. A Digester Gas Maximize Production&Utilization study was completed for Kenosha Water Utility's (KWU's) Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The planning study focused on the production and utilization of biogas as a valuable renewable resource. The study documents existing conditions and projects future conditions for a planning period ending in the year 2035. Alternatives were evaluated to meet KWU's goals and objectives of the study, resulting in development of a recommended plan. The recommended plan for biogas management includes upgrading the primary anaerobic digesters with mechanical mixing systems to increase biogas production, installing new cell lyses technology to render secondary sludges more digestible, thereby further enhancing biogas production, replacing the existing natural gas fired boilers with new digester gas fired boilers, and installation of a combined heat and power generation system. The estimated capital cost for these improvements is 5,730,000 million.