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An exergy analysis for a wastewater treatment plant—an estimation of the consumption of physical resources
Author(s) -
Hellström Daniel
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143097x125173
Subject(s) - exergy , biosolids , wastewater , environmental science , sewage treatment , organic matter , environmental engineering , waste management , nutrient , population , energy consumption , engineering , ecology , medicine , biology , electrical engineering , environmental health
The objective of this article is to exemplify how an exergy analysis could be used to estimate the consumption of physical resources at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The exergy analysis has been performed for Luleå WWTP in Northern Sweden. About 60 000 population equivalents are connected to the WWTP, which has mechanical and chemical treatment. Flows included in the analysis are the wastewater heat, precipitants and other chemicals, organic matter and nutrients in the wastewater and biosolids, and electricity used for operation and maintenance. One conclusion is that the value of the heat is overestimated in a conventional energy analysis. Also, the organic matter probably represents the largest technical exergy flow. It is not clear how the exergy value of nutrients should be estimated.