Sludge storage lagoon biogas recovery and use

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6975520· OSTI ID:6975520

Muller, D; Norville, C ^[1]

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1. Memphis and Shelby County Div. of Planning and Development, TN (United States)

The City of Memphis has two wastewater treatment plants. The SWTP employs two large anaerobic digestion sludge lagoons as part of the overall sludge treatment system. Although these lagoons are effective in concentrating and digesting sludge, they can generate offensive odors. The SWTP uses aerobic digesters to partially stabilize the sludge and help reduce objectionable odors before it enters the lagoons. The anaerobic digestion of sludge in the lagoons results in the dispersion of a large quantity of biogas into the atmosphere. The City realized that if the lagoons could be covered, the odor problem could be resolved, and at the same, time, biogas could be recovered and utilized as a source of energy. In 1987, the City commissioned ADI International to conduct a feasibility study to evaluate alternative methods of covering the lagoons and recovering and utilizing the biogas. The study recommended that the project be developed in two phases: (1) recovery of the biogas and (2) utilization of the biogas. Phase 1 consists of covering the two lagoons with an insulated membrane to control odor and temperature and collect the biogas. Phase 1 was found to be economically feasible and offered a unique opportunity for the City to save substantial operating costs at the treatment facility. The Memphis biogas recovery project is the only application in the world where a membrane cover has been used on a municipal wastewater sludge lagoon. It is also the largest lagoon cover system in the world.

• Research Organization: Urban Consortium for Technology Initiatives (United States). Energy Task Force; Public Technology, Inc., Washington, DC (United States); Memphis and Shelby County Div. of Planning and Development, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-78IR05106
• OSTI ID: 6975520
• Report Number(s): DOE/IR/05106-2-Vol.2; ON: DE93005622
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320604* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIOCONVERSION
COVERINGS
DIGESTION
ECONOMICS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MEMBRANES
METHANE
MUNICIPAL WASTES
ODOR
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
PROCESSING
SLUDGES
URBAN AREAS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
WATER TREATMENT PLANTS