Harnessing Sustainable Energy at Clarkson WWTP: The Role of GraniteFuel Engineering in Enhancing Biogas Upgradation
The Clarkson Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) serves as vital infrastructure for the local region of Peel, providing the essential service of treating and purifying wastewater. By effectively treating the wastewater generated by residential, commercial, and industrial activities, the Clarkson WWTP plays a critical role in safeguarding public health and protecting the environment. The plant uses advanced processes and technologies to ensure strict quality standards for wastewater treatment before discharge. The value of the Clarkson WWTP extends beyond wastewater treatment, as it helps prevent the contamination of water sources, reduces the risk of waterborne diseases, and contributes to the overall sustainability and well-being of the community. To provide these services, the wastewater treatment process requires a great amount of energy, so the plant is one of the largest consumers of electricity in the region – this requirement spurred the development of a waste to energy (W2E) system.
To meet energy needs, the Clarkson WWTP harnesses biogas as an energy resource. As organic waste is treated in the anaerobic digestion process, biogas is produced as a byproduct. This biogas, primarily composed of methane, is sequestered and utilized within the facility. Advanced biogas recovery systems at the Clarkson WWTP efficiently extract and harness the energy potential of biogas. The facility utilizes upgraded biogas as a renewable energy source to generate heat and electricity for on-site operations. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels, minimizes the grid impact, lowers the carbon footprint, and achieves plant self-sufficiency. Integrated biogas utilization promotes sustainability and enhances the WWTP’s economic viability by reducing energy costs and improving operational efficiency.
GraniteFuel: Biogas Conditioning at Clarkson Wastewater Treatment Plant
Purifying biogas, or biogas upgrading, produced by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is essential to optimize its energy content, protect equipment, comply with environmental regulations, meet end-user requirements, and ensure safety. Impurities in biogas, such as moisture, particulate matter, contaminants such as siloxanes, hinders combustion efficiency, damage downstream systems, violate emission limits, and pose safety hazards. Biogas purification maximizes energy efficiency, prolongs equipment lifespan, ensures compliance, meets specifications, and creates a safe and valuable resource.
GraniteFuel Engineering supplied the Clarkson WWTP with an advanced siloxane removal system to address frequent maintenance issues caused by siloxane build-up on their waste to energy (w2e) CHP system. The installation achieved exceptional reduction efficiencies, consistently exceeding 99% for siloxanes. This resulted in several benefits for the WWTP’s biogas utilization. By removing siloxanes, the system prevented fouling and deposits on critical CHP components, reducing maintenance needs and unplanned downtime. By removing siloxanes, the improvement of biogas efficiency optimizes CHP system performance, allowing for increased electricity and heat generation. As a result, the WWTP was able to fully leverage their biogas resources, leading to lower operational costs and improved overall efficiency.
