Wastewater off-gas to electricity: A look at energy recovery using the internal combustion engine
- Eckenfelder Inc., Greenville, SC (United States)
Historically, publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) have not been regulated for air pollutant emissions. Federal, state, and local regulatory agencies have placed increased scrutiny on POTW volatile organic compound (VOC) and hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions. In fact, the USEPA is developing Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards for publicly owned facilities that receive and treat sewage and wastewater from residential, commercial, and industrial generators. Once promulgated, this standard will require POTWs to limit and control HAP emissions. One option available for the control of HAP emissions from wastewater facilities is the use of the internal combustion (IC) engine-generator systems to convert wastewater off-gas to energy. Single or multiple IC engines can be arranged to utilize wastewater off-gas in place of natural gas and diesel fuel to produce electricity. The electricity generated can then be used to power the treatment facility or sold to the local utility. These systems utilize an otherwise wasted energy resource while significantly reducing HAP and VOC emissions from the wastewater treatment process. This paper will discuss the principles of using the internal combustion engine for energy recovery and examine the technical and economic benefits involved with their use at POTW facilities.
- OSTI ID:
- 353601
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970677--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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