One of the biggest European wood manufacturers saves 25k€/y by changing to Kurita treatment concept.

Background

The WWTP workers commonly face a vast range of variabilities during the operation. One source of this unpredictability is the fluent loads. A stable and safe plant WWTP operation requires
struggling this variability by using real-time automation and control which was not the case with the former treatment concept at the customer of this case study.

The wood production site could manage the WWTP thanks to the intensive workforce including;

• Manual sample control
• Time-consuming laboratory analyses
• Visual inspection of the discharge
• Unnecessary usage of “just-in-case” product dosages.

The lack of automation and the constant demand for hand working methods brings into the following points as a subject of concern:

• Too much workforce need for safe, smooth and stable plant operation.
• Products overdosage.
• High treatment program cost.

Besides, the customer is incinerating the sludge, and the volume of residues generated in the WWTP was a big concern for them. As part of the good practice protocol was requested to decrease the water content of sludge negatively affecting to reduce the heat generation process.

Objectives

• Optimization of the wastewater plant by operating at a wide pH range
• Reduction of the coagulant dosage.
• Reduction of operator time. Thanks to the automation it is not further needed the constant manpower on the plant operation.
• Keeping chemical oxygen demand (COD)
  level at the discharge water and sludge quality
  under control.
• Safe and stable plant operation.
• Reduction of treatment products consumption.