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new energy
New Energy production is one of the four key businesses of Waterleau, next to water, air and waste treatment.
Waterleau has acquired substantial know-how in the production of green energy from both organic and non-
organic waste. Biogas from organic waste is obtained through anaerobic digestion, a series of processes in which
micro organisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen hence producing the methane or
biogas. This biogas can be used as fuel or in combined heat and power engines (CHP-unit).
Waterleau is a solution provider for all types of anaerobic digestion. The Waterleau BIOTIM and LUCAS reactor
range includes solutions for the production of green energy from every concentration of organic waste and load:
BIOTIM UASB
High volumetric loading rates can be reached in certain wastewaters. The BIOTIM UASB (Upflow Anaerobic
Sludge Blanket) reactor is the most commonly used system mainly because of its simplicity and robustness.
BIOTIM UAC
THE BIOTIM UAC (Upflow Anaerobic Contact) reactor is a hybrid reactor (combination of an UASB reactor with an
AC process ) for wastewater that shows no granule formation and requiring a longer hydraulic retention time.
BIOTIM CSTR
The BIOTIM CSTR is Waterleaus Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor. This type of reactor is typically used for
very concentrated waters and or for waters rich in solids. The reacting mixture being stirred, its properties are
uniformly distributed throughout the reactor.
BIOTIM solids
Waterleaus BIOTIM solids reactor is specially designed to treat sludge from municipal wastewater treatment
plants. Sludge from both primary and secondary treatment is mixed and heated to accelerate biological conversion.
BIOTIM wet AD
For the treatment of organic solid waste with a high moisture content such as kitchen and restaurant waste,
Waterleau has designed a BIOTIM wet AD reactor, based on CSTR technology.
BIOTIM dry AD
The organic content of dry solids in mixed organic household waste is relatively low. The BIOTIM dry AD
technology is specially designed to handle this type of waste successfully.
Brewery industry
Food & beverages
Dairy industry
Potato processing
Sugar industry
Bakery and yeast
Agro-industry
WATERLEAU HAS
DESINGED AND BUILT
MORE THAN 100 AD
REFERENCES IN THE
BREWERY INDUSTRY
Heineken, The Netherlands
Biogas production: 3 905 Nm/day
WATERLEAU COUNTS
MORE THAN 400
REFERENCES IN THE
ANAEROBIC TREATMENT OF
INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER
Castel, Togo
Biogas production: 2 600 Nm/day
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF SLUDGE FROM MUNICIPAL
WASTE WATER
Sludge, the semi-solid material left over from the sewage treatment process must be treated and disposed of
in a safe and effective manner. Next to sludge drying and incineration, Anaerobic Digestion is used for the
degradation of the organic matter thereby reducing the sludge volume. The methane generation is a key
advantage of the anaerobic process. The methane can be used in co-generators for producing heat and electricity.
WATER
PRIMARY
TREATMENT Water inlet
Screen
TERTIARY
TREATMENT Sand filtration
UV
Chlorination
Process MWTP Marrakech
In large wastewater treatment plants like Fez or Marrakech, the BIOTIM AD technology allows the production
of up to 70% of the plants energy needs while reducing the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. In
both wastewater treatment plants, the cogeneration solution meets the CDM (Clean Development Mechanism)
requirements of the Kyoto Protocol Office.
Fez, Morocco
Fez, Morocco
UP TO 70 % OF THE ENERGY
NEEDS OF A WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANT CAN
BE PROVIDED BY SLUDGE
DIGESTION
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF BIOMASS
KITCHEN AND RESTAURANT WASTE: BIOTIM WET AD
The solid part of the digestate can be either turned into a high standard fertilizer after drying in Waterleaus
HYDROGONE dryer, or mixed with structure material and composted into a commercial product.
The liquid fraction can be treated in an aerobic post treatment to remove all volatile carbon. The effluent of the
aerobic treatment is evaporated to produce a valuable fertilizer (NPK) concentrate.
Hong Kong
A CITY OF 2 MILLION
INHABITANTS PRODUCES
100 000 TONS OF KITCHEN
AND RESTAURANT
WASTE PER YEAR
In some regions, municipal waste is sorted and collected into different fractions. Waterleau has designed a state-
of-the-art BIOTIM dry AD reactor, capable of treating the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW). Its
composition is often heterogeneous and subject to seasonal fluctuations.
After removing the impurities (plastics, packing material) the screened material is first mixed with recycled
active anaerobic material and undergoes a first hydrolysis step. After hydrolysis in the pre-digester, the semi-dry
anaerobic pasta is digested in the BIOTIM dry AD reactor.
The semi-dry pasta coming from the digester can be dried in Waterleaus HYDROGONE dryer and turned into a
valuable dry organic fertilizer, or mixed with green waste (structure material) and composted into a commercial
product.
Belgium
Waterleau operates a Biowaste to Energy plant near Ypres, producing 24,000 MWe/ year from a mixture of
100,000 tons of bio waste (manure, chicken litter, crops, slaughterhouse and kitchen waste).
Nearly 75% of the biogas is produced from the mixture of crops, organic and kitchen waste, 25 % of the biogas
is produced from manure and litter. Due to its animal waste content, the process includes a hygienization phase,
before digestion (1 hour at 70C). Two lines with a capacity of 60.000 tons year each, include thermophilic and
mesophilic anaerobic digestion, allowing operation with high levels of N. Digestion occurs in a BIOTIM wet AD
CSTR reactor and post-digester.
The digestate is separated into a solid and a liquid fraction. The solid fraction is dried in a HYDROGONE dryer
producing 6.000 tons of organic fertilizer per year.
The liquid fraction of the digestate undergoes a BIOTIM aerobic treatment to reduce the remaining organic
pollution. After aerobic treatment, the effluent is sent to the evaporator. The non-volatile fraction consists of a
Potassium rich fertilizer. The volatile Nitrogen rich fraction can be either turned into an ammonia solution, or in a
20% (NH4)2SO4 fertilizer.
Valmas, Belgium
Ypres, Belgium
Meat processing is energy intensive and produces large amounts of bio waste. Slaughterhouse waste is protein
rich and has a very high energy potential. However its high fat and protein concentration can be toxic to the
anaerobic bacteria in the digester. Waterleau designed a smart process solution to decompose these types of
industrial food wastes.
Rumen contents are mixed (50/50) with concentrated bio waste to achieve a high but acceptable
N-level in the BIOTIM anaerobic digester.
The thermophilic process is beneficial for the anaerobic degradation of fats: the operation temperature of
55 C is well above the melting point of the vegetable fats .
The high temperature contributes to the disinfection, making the digested material ready for reuse.
The biogas is valorized in a cogeneration unit (producing green electricity and heat), both are re-used
on-site in the production processes.
De Rese, Belgium
THE DE RESE
SLAUGHTERHOUSE HAS
BEEN TREATING ITS
PROTEIN RICH WASTE FOR
MORE THAN 10 YEARS
MORE THAN 400 REFERENCES
IN ANAEROBIC DIGESTION,
EVERY SITUATION REQUIRES
A DEDICATED SOLUTION