Waste not: The tech that can produce big energy savings for waste treatment plants

Nov. 20, 2015
One company switches out its guide-vanes for controlling air flow with VFDs.

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Ever feel like your tax dollars are going to waste? Well, that's because they are. Literally.

In communities across the United States, water and wastewater treatment energy consumption accounts for as much as 25% of the municipal budget. And, according to Tom Jenkins, owner and president of the wastewater treatment consulting company, JenTech Inc., 50% to 75% of that money goes to running the blowers that provide air to the bacteria that metabolize waste during activated sludge biological treatment.

This week at the Automation Fair event held by Rockwell Automation in Chicago, Jenkins presented a solution at the Water Wastewater Industry Forum that has proven to recoup a significant portion of that money: switching out the guide-vanes for controlling air flow with variable-frequency drives (VFDs) instead.

To learn more about wastewater, read “Water Forum: Cut blower energy 10% with VFDs” from Control.

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