Utvecklingsbyraan

Scientific objectives and approach: There is a large need to develop technologies to optimise thickening/dewatering management systems at sewage plants with the objective to optimise the treatment of sludge. The need from the market is a technique which can: - measure the electric charge of the particles in the flocks; - analyse the contents of the flocks, determine the optimal volume and compound of chemical additives; - detect the presence of hazardous pollution; - have a direct surveillance and communication with the monitoring of the treatment. Problems to be solved: All over the world there is a need to purify and re-cycle waste water in order to improve the balance of water resources. In many parts of Europe, and also all over the world, there is lack of water of good quality at a reasonable price. An important part of waste water treatment plant is the sludge handling. In this project we focus on trying to improve the thickening and dewatering of sludge by a more sophisticated system to regulate these systems. In most kind of thickening/dewatering systems chemicals (polyelectrolytes) are added to form particles into flocks. The result is depending on amount and kinds of chemicals added. The sludge mixture is normally overdosed with chemicals to compensate for possible changes in the sludge mixture. Both over - and under dosing gives a faulty results. In most cases all adjustments, of the chemical additives dosage, are made by knowledge acquired from experience and without direct control or measuring. At certain intervals, or when the result is not satisfactory, samples are sent to laboratories for tests. The test results are used to adjust the mixture and quantity of chemicals. Expected Impacts: The core group is developing an equipment/technique which will measure and control the chemical additives in sewage plants and thereby fulfil the above-mentioned needs. However, in the developing work has arisen some technical problems regarding the optical detecting and analysis method, which impede - stop the project, despite that the core group partners are specialised in this field and have thorough knowledge in these techniques. This RTD project is started to increase the knowledge in detecting and analysing sludge, and to solve the technical problems concerning how to optimise the de-watering functions. At many SMEs in the EC there are needs for knowledge in new optical techniques to detect and analyse contents in sludge, soil and similar products like our group of SMEs are developing in this RTD project.