Digesting bio-sludge for Sydney WaterSiemens Water Technologies has
been contracted to provide Sydney Water with a 'bio-sludge' digester which
will assist in cleaning local waterways.
The term 'bio-sludge' is used to classify rubbish and debris captured in
metropolitan waterways. As the debris decomposes, methane gas is released
which is odorous for local communities and is believed to be one of the
causes of global warming.
Siemens Water Technologies Business Development Manager, Rhett Butler,
said the Siemens Water Technologies solution, called a Dystor bio-gas
holder, is to be installed later in 2006 at North Head in Sydney and will
allow Sydney Water to store and digest the bio-sludge in what looks like a
futuristic dome.
"The system is an 18-metre diameter cable-restrained membrane of woven
design which provides high tensile strength, long fabric life and is
resistance to abrasion and ultra-violet rays," said Mr Butler.
"The system also provides an environment for the anaerobic, or
oxygen-free, digestion of the bio-sludge as well as storage of the produced
methane gas."
The membrane is sealed tight at the digestion tank walls to prevent
environmental odours and the entire system can store up to 1,500 cubic
metres of methane gas which could potentially be used to generate
electricity to heat plant buildings or to run engines which drive pumps and
blowers or could be traded on the national electricity market.
The Siemens membrane system has a number of advantages over conventional
steel or fibreglass gas holders with floating covers. One advantage is the
system can hold up to three times as much gas as conventional systems. Other
advantages include reduced maintenance and lower capital and installation
costs.
Furthermore, there is no requirement for painting of the membrane or
maintaining or replacing the floating cover rollers and slide guides. The
flexible membrane also allows much greater travel than rigid cover systems.
Siemens is a preferred automation provider to Sydney Water. In addition
to the awarding of the bio-gas holder process technology, Siemens IAC has
been selected to provide a totally integrated automation, or TIA, solution
for the North Head site.
"Siemens is pleased to have Sydney Water recognise the benefits of
our TIA concept which will involve programmable logic controllers or PLCs,
drives and Simocode technology," said Mr Butler.
For more information contact Rhett Butler on +61 2 9491 5415 or by Email.
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