Escambia County Utilities Authority (ECUA), Pensacola, Fla., has awarded Andritz-Ruthner Inc. of Arlington, Texas, a contract to supply a sludge drying plant for its wastewater treatment facilities. The facility will create biosolids granules which can be used as a soil conditioner.
The new plant uses Andritzs steam-heated fluid bed drying technology which has a proven record of success in Europe, and will be the first of its type to be installed in the United States. The sludge is dried in a fluid steam bed, with steam being recirculated in a closed loop. In this way, emissions are minimized. The plant will comprise two drying lines, each rated for 7,607 lbs./hr of water evaporation. It will convert approximately 150 tons of sewage sludge with 25 percent dryness per day into 30 tons of granules with 95 percent dryness.
ECUA selected Andritz technology because it ensures absolutely safe and odor-free operation ? a crucial criterion as the plant will be located in downtown Pensacola. In addition, the dryer will help reduce nitrogen oxide emissions which contribute to Floridas ozone problem. It replaces the existing sludge incinerators, two aging multiple hearth furnaces.
The scope of the contract includes the process technology, engineering design, supply of equipment, commissioning as well as process automation and control. The Andritz contract is part of a design/build contract won by Black & Veatch of Kansas City, Mo. Black & Veatch will assume the detail engineering and erection of the plant. Construction was to begin in January 2000, full operation is anticipated by the end of summer 2000.