Biosolids and Manure Dewatering With a Hydraulic De-juicing Press

This paper presents the dewatering trials results for a Bucher press hydraulic de-juicing press. The Bucher press is a hydraulic press, consisting of a cylinder equipped with a flexible drainage system and a piston, drainage elements which are fitted filter sock. The Bucher press is widely used in Europe and Northern America in food processing applications. The experience in Europe indicates that these units are able to achieve dewatering efficiencies similar to the centrifuge equipment, but at a fraction of the centrifuge power requirements. This paper presents the dewatering trials results for a Bucher press hydraulic de-juicing press. The performance of the hydraulic press was tested at two wastewater treatment plants during year 2004. At the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) Regional Plant Number 1 (RP-1) the press was tested side-by-side with the existing belt filter presses on digested biosolids as well as digested manure. The press was, then, tested at the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Authority (BBARWA) for dewatering undigested oxidation ditch sludge.Side-by-side testing results with belt filter press indicated that hydraulic press can improve the biosolids and manure cake solids content by more than 25-percent compared to belt filter press. The hydraulic press chemical conditioning requirements were similar to belt filter press.