MASONTOWN, PA, Dec. 3, 2007 -- Siemens Water Technologies was selected by the Washington Division of URS Corporation to provide a system to treat wastewater from a Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) scrubber being constructed at Allegheny Energy's Hatfield's Ferry Power Station near Masontown, PA. The system will de-saturate the wastewater and remove suspended solids and heavy metals from the scrubber waste stream so the water can be safely discharged. The project is scheduled to begin operation by the end of 2009.
Scrubbers are used in U.S. power plants to meet emissions standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). New regulatory programs call for further reduction of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from coal-burning power plants. Flue gas systems frequently use limestone-forced-oxidation (LSFO) scrubbers to convert SO2 in the flue gas to gypsum, which can be sold for wallboard manufacturing, cement additive, or agricultural applications, thus turning a waste stream into a usable resource.
The proper design of wastewater treatment systems and the selection of materials of construction are critical. Both of these key items can have a major impact on the treatment plant's operation and reliability. Siemens Water Technologies will provide the new physical/chemical wastewater treatment system on an equipment design-supply basis and provide start-up, training and commissioning services.
The wastewater system will include storage tanks, reaction tanks, chemical feed systems, a clarifier, gravity sand filters, and filter presses. An equalization tank receives the waste stream and equalizes the flow to eliminate spikes in flow rates and concentration. Next, two reaction tanks in series continue the treatment process to de-saturate the wastewater, reduce heavy metals, and prepare the wastewater for clarification. The treated wastewater then enters the clarifier, where suspended solids are coagulated and settled. Solids from the clarifier are dewatered in the filter presses. The remaining treated water is sent to a gravity sand filter for final treatment prior to discharge.
This is Siemens Water Technologies' seventh physical/chemical FGD wastewater treatment project at U.S. power plants. FGD scrubbers have also been installed on power plants in Europe and China. Hatfield's Ferry Power Plant, at 1,710 megawatts capacity, is Allegheny Energy's second-largest power plant, capable of meeting the average electricity needs of some 1.4 million homes. The plant began operation in 1969.
Allegheny Energy, headquartered in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is an investor-owned electric utility with total annual revenues of over $3 billion and more than 4,000 employees. The company owns and operates generating facilities and delivers low-cost, reliable electric service to over 1.5 million customers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia.
The Washington Division of URS Corporation provides the talent, innovation, and proven performance to deliver integrated engineering, construction and management solutions for businesses and governments worldwide.
Siemens Water Technologies delivers cost-effective, reliable water and wastewater treatment systems and services to municipal, industrial, commercial and institutional customers worldwide.
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