Supplier news

Weltec offers sludge treatment optimization package

Biogas plant manufacturer and operator Weltec Biopower of Vechta, Germany, is offering a retrofit package for anaerobic sludge treatment, designed to optimize the energy potential of sewage plants with a population equivalent of 20,000 to 30,000.

Weltec notes that sustainable sludge treatment strategies are vital, particularly in light of the fact that many countries plan to discontinue the use of sludge as fertilizer and that the sludge is an energy resource.

“With this possibility to generate power for their own consumption, sewage plants can cut their energy costs by up to a quarter,” says Hajo Schierhold, sales manager of Weltec Biopower. “Additionally, the heat produced by the cogeneration unit can be used directly and inexpensively to heat buildings and the digester in order to accelerate the entire fermentation process,” adds Schierhold.

The unit’s digesters are designed to provide intermediate storage of the fermentation gas as an energy source for the cogeneration (CHP) supply, according to Weltec. Carbon compounds are converted to methane in the stainless steel bioreactors, the company says.

CR&R selects Eisenmann for AD project

Recycling and waste processing company CR&R Environmental Services, headquartered in Stanton, Calif, is in the design and engineering phase of a new anaerobic digestion (AD) system in Perris, Calif.

The system utilizes a high-solids AD technology from Eisenmann Corp., based in Crystal Lake, Ill.

The system is permitted to process more than 80,000 tons of organic waste per year in phase one and is expandable to process more than 300,000 tons per year in three additional phases, making it one of the largest AD projects in the U.S.

The company reports that biogas produced in the process will be upgraded for use in a vehicle fuel for its fleet. CR&R says it will integrate the new plant into existing operations. Feed for the new system will include green yard waste and food waste which will be processed to produce biogas.

“After a worldwide search, Eisenmann’s horizontal plug flow system stood out as the only technology that was able to provide the highest possible conversion rates for the broadest range of feedstocks,” said Mike Silva, CR&R organics processing project leader. “This flexibility and reliability is essential for the economic success of the project.”

Eisenmann’s system is fully automated and continuously monitors and optimizes the digestion environment and feed rate. The CR&R plant will feature four parallel primary digesters. Following the preprocessing stage, each individual digester vessel is automatically fed through conveyors and dosing bins. Each digester is equipped with a slow-moving horizontal agitator to ensure proper mixing of the feedstock, maximizing exposure to biological colonies and facilitating gas release from the homogenized material. Produced biogas is stored in a flexible, double-membrane gas storage roof within the post-digester.

The biogas is directed from the post-digester to an upgrading unit provided by Greenlane Biogas Ltd., Burnaby, British Columbia.

Bluesphere collaborates with Alfa Eco

Bluesphere Corp., an Israel-based company that develops, manages and owns waste-to-energy (WTE) projects, has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary has signed a joint venture agreement with Alfa Eco Corp., based in New York, to develop turnkey and build, own and operate WTE projects. Each company will have a 50-percent stake in the joint venture.

Through the joint venture, Alfa Eco will build, own and operate projects with all required components in place, while Bluesphere will arrange full financing and act as the project integrator on the projects.

Alfa Eco is a private business group that consists of direct investment funds owning and managing assets in a range of industries.

“We are very pleased to form this joint venture corporation with Alfa Eco, a company which has resources and relationships that can support the development of numerous joint waste-to-energy projects in partnership with Bluesphere,” says Bluesphere CEO Shlomi Palas. “Our ability to establish joint ventures, project financing and long-term revenue contracts with energy industry leaders such as Alfa Eco is a testament to Bluesphere’s capabilities and reputation in the waste-to-energy market.”

Bluesphere generates electricity from biogas derived from organic waste and sells it to electric companies through power purchase agreements.

Eriez offers fast shipment for 32 feeder models

Eriez, based in Erie, Pa., has introduced its Feeders Fast service as part of its popular EriezXpress quick-ship program. Through the program, it is offering 32 Eriez feeder models with stock components for shipment within five days from the order date for customers with approved credit.

With available tray sizes beginning at 80 square inches and ranging up to 504 square inches and capacities as high as 22 tons per hour, Eriez says the Feeders Fast models can meet a variety of application needs.

Feeder models in the program include a variety of the company’s Model A, Model C, Model HS (Hi-Speed) and Model HD (High Deflection) feeders.

More information on EriezXpress 5-Day Feeders Fast is available at www.eriez.com/Products/Index/Feedersfast.

Cirque Energy, Northrop Grumman to develop gasification unit

Cirque Energy Inc., Detroit, has entered into a joint development agreement with the defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp., Falls Church, Va., to develop what the two companies are calling “a deployable gasification unit.” Cirque is a sustainable energy development company focused on distributed generation projects and waste stream optimization.

Cirque Energy already has created a conceptual Deployable Gasification Unit (DGU) on behalf of Northrop Grumman. The DGU is designed to convert byproducts or wastes generated at military installations, natural disaster locations or commercial or industrial sites into electricity and recoverable heat. The units use low temperature, starved air gasification technology coupled with conventional reciprocating engine technology.

The two companies are now working to produce the first working DGU prototype for testing and demonstration for military, government and commercial customers. Cirque expects the prototype to be complete in 2014.