Orlando Selects Schwing Bioset over Anaerobic Digestion for Class AA Biosolids

 

Authored by Tom Welch, Southeast Sales Manager for Schwing Bioset, Inc., and Vic Godlewski Jr., PE, Wastewater Division Manager, City of Orlando

May10, 2016

The City of Orlando has been working for several years to move away from Class B land application of Biosolids.  The City explored use of an experimental technology that would almost fully oxidize Biosolids leaving very little residuals for disposal.  While investigating this experimental technology, the City delayed renovations to the anaerobic digestion systems at their Conserv II Water Reclamation Facility (WRF).  Ultimately it was determined that the oxidation technology was not yet commercially viable, at which point they could no longer postpone biosolids treatment improvements.  Orlando engaged the services of a Consulting Engineer to evaluate the digesters and prepare project cost estimates from simple renovation to Class A TPAD with sidestream treatment and combined heat and power.  The estimated project costs were over $40 million and climbing.  Since Orlando believes that the market is going to deliver better options than anaerobic digestion in the future, they began to look for interim options that could be implemented relatively quickly at low capital cost investment; improve their Biosolids treatment, potentially eliminate the need for land application, and not substantially increase O&M costs.  That was a tall order!

The City became aware of the Schwing Bioset process and immediately saw the potential it had to meet all of their requirements for both short and long-term implementation.  In addition, Schwing Bioset could offer conversion of the stabilized Biosolids to a licensed commercial fertilizer product.  The City staff visited current Bioset operations in St. Petersburg as well as other locations in Florida and were impressed with what they saw and with the simplicity of the process.  The City conducted an in-house feasibility study that considered Bioset and other technologies and concluded that Bioset was the preferred treatment process.

Schwing Bioset offered a Design Build approach that was very appealing.  However, due to the City’s procurement constraints this path was not available. To speed up project delivery the Bioset process equipment was purchased directly by the City and installation was competitively bid.

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As shown in the photos above, the Bioset equipment is currently being installed at the Conserv II facility and is scheduled for startup in the summer of 2016.  Schwing Bioset has a sister company, Biosolids Distribution Services (BDS), that manages Class AA Fertilizer Grade Biosolids in the state of Florida.  They have marketed in excess of one-million wet tons of Class AA fertilizer in the state of Florida over the last 10 years.  BDS will be managing the Biosolids produced at the Orlando Conserv II facility when the Bioset process becomes operational.

To learn more about our Bioset process or this project specifically, contact this blog’s author, Tom Welch, and/or visit our website here: SBI Bioset Process. For other inquiries, call 715.247.3433, visit our website, or find us on social media.

 

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