MEMBER’S PRESS RELEASE: Severn Trent to optimise Anaerobic Process Control with AnaSense technology

Severn Trent (UK) has recently completed a successful introduction of a novel monitoring technology for anaerobic digesters at the Spernal Sewage Treatment Works (STW), located to the southeast of Redditch, treating most of central, northern and eastern areas of the town. The monitoring technology, called AnaSense®, was subject of an evaluation period of 6 months during which it was providing continuous data on critical process parameters of the anaerobic digester.

Although anaerobic digestion (AD) has only in the last decade gained increasing interest of the scientific and industrial community, Severn Trent has 60 years of experience in the operation of anaerobic digesters in the UK. Severn Trent’s own research for ways to further improve its existing facilities for processing excess sludge lead to the development of an advanced control strategy based on real-time process measurments, which premiered at the STW site.

Advanced control strategies based on AnaSense® data allow AD systems to operate at a higher process setpoint with fast feedback on any changes in the metabolic condition. This approach can lead the way to creating real “energy factories”: a higher loading rate means more biogas production means increased cogeneration, more carbon credits and possibly other local financial incentives.

AnaSense® performs simultaneous, automatic measurements of critical process parameters in the digestate, taking out the guess work of the daily management and control of the AD system. AnaSense® does not replace but complements the basic physical parameters such as pH, temperature and gas flow/composition.

According to AppliTek, who pioneered the AnaSense® analytical technology, the on-line analyzer has proven to be a robust control alternative in the typical operating problems of the dynamic AD process. While anaerobic digesters are usually perceived as self-regulating, operators often have difficulties in understanding and optimising the complex biochemical and microbiological reactions within their digester, not to mention preventing it from failing.

Visit www.applitek.com for more information.