De Pere wastewater plant is first U.S. install of high-efficiency blower
DE PERE, WI, Nov. 9, 2004 -- The first U.S. installation of the highly energy efficient HST Integral turbo-compressor began operation at the De Pere Wastewater Treatment Facility in De Pere, Wis. This $4 million project is intended to upgrade the main power supply of a large portion of the treatment facility and upgrade its old air compressor system that supplies air for the activated sludge biological treatment system. Goals of this project are to increase efficiency of the aeration system as well as reliability of power supply. Another major benefit of this project is reduced maintenance of the air supply system.
The De Pere Wastewater Treatment Facility is currently designed to provide tertiary treatment services for the City of De Pere and several surrounding communities. Energy costs to operate the plant's existing five (5) 450 horsepower blowers is approximately $170,000.00 per year. The new HST blower system will optimize control of the process while realizing a savings in power costs of $40,000.00 to $50,000.00 per year.
The HST Integral turbo-compressor, furnished by ABS Pumps, Inc. of Meridan, Ct, is a high-speed centrifugal air compressor that uses an integral motor and compressor with a variable speed drive to match air compressor output with demand. The motor and compressor are a single rotor design that operates at speeds up to 25,000 rpm, which is possible since there are no bearing or friction components in the compressor. A magnetic bearing system maintains the proper clearances around the rotor so that it does not touch the motor stator. This means that no oil is required for lubrication and no bearings are needed in this compressor, eliminating the maintenance requirements normally found in standard air compressors.
At this time, the only HST turbo-compressor installations are in Europe, making this the first installation in the United States. HST Integral, the manufacturer of the turbo-compressor, is located in Lappeenranta, Finland, and is a subsidiary of ABS Pump Company. The U.S. division of ABS is located in Meridan, CT. Crane Engineering Sales, headquartered in Kimberly, WI, is the Wisconsin representative and service center for the HST compressors. The design engineer for this project is Robert E. Lee & Associates of Green Bay, WI.
The City of De Pere Wastewater Treatment Facility is dedicated to provide its' customers with the best service and low cost treatment, while maintaining harmony with the environment. In order to maintain quality treatment and protect mechanical function, the facility manager, Michael Kersten, has been replacing outdated/failing equipment and renovating treatment systems over the last seven years, all without increasing their treatment costs. The facility, utilizing computerized control/surveillance of operations and staffed by a complement of 23 personnel, has been the recipient of the USEPA Regional Award for excellence in operations and maintenance, and the WDNR Brogan Award for excellence in environmental achievement. Other recent awards include the National Energy Watch Award, the Clean Bay Backer Award, and the Brown County Conservation Alliance Award.
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