title: Energy potential and alternative usages of biogas and sludge from UASB reactors: case study of the Laboreaux wastewater treatment plant.
abstract: This work assessed the energy potential and alternative usages of biogas and sludge generated in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors at the Laboreaux sewage treatment plant (STP), Brazil. Two scenarios were considered: (i) priority use of biogas for the thermal drying of dehydrated sludge and the use of the excess biogas for electricity generation in an ICE (internal combustion engine); and (ii) priority use of biogas for electricity generation and the use of the heat of the engine exhaust gases for the thermal drying of the sludge. Scenario 1 showed that the electricity generated is able to supply 22.2% of the STP power demand, but the thermal drying process enables a greater reduction or even elimination of the final volume of sludge to be disposed. In Scenario 2, the electricity generated is able to supply 57.6% of the STP power demand; however, the heat in the exhaust gases is not enough to dry the total amount of dehydrated sludge.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs s/n, Campus Universitário, Viçosa MG 36570-000, Brazil E-mail: andrerosa@ufv.br; andrerosa.p@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, Alicante 03080, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Conesa
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, Alicante 03080, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fullana
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Escola de Engenharia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6.627-Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: G C B
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Serviço Autônomo de Água e Esgoto (SAAE), R. Nossa Sra. do Carmo, 148, Itabira, MG 35900-046, Brazil.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Escola de Engenharia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6.627-Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: C A L
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Chernicharo
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D019149:Bioreactors; D001938:Brazil; D005740:Gases; D006358:Hot Temperature; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005740:Gases; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater