Saudi Aramco: The Future of Oil and Gas - GineersNow Petroleum Saudi Aramco, The Future of Oil & Gas Industry | Page 5

…for sludge treatment…
In 2011, ElPozo Alimentación once again
placed its trust in VWT for the remodeling of
the wastewater pretreatment to deal with
higher organic loading resulting from the
increase in the activity production, which
went from 8,000 to 12,000 pigs processed
per day. The work also included enlarging
the sludge line through the construction of
two 3,050 m⁳ anaerobic digesters and the
installation of a cogeneration system for
the production of 800 kW of electricity for
self-consumption at the WWTP and 400 kW
of thermal energy to heat the sludge during
the digestion process, without the need for
any other fuel. The digesters also enable a
reduction of 45% in sludge volumes, with
consequent cost savings in sludge treatment
and final disposal.
… and for energy valorisation
At the end of 2014, with the aim of
maximizing the use of the biogas produced
in the anaerobic digesters, VWT undertook
the task of modifying the gas line at the
industrial WWTP to enable the excess biogas
produced at the plant to be exploited. Some
of the biogas is used to heat the sludge in
the digesters and the remainder is sent to a
new boiler to generate 5,000 kg/h of steam.
The scope of the contract also encompassed
extending the piping network, and installing
a new gas flare as well as a new biogas
desulphurization unit including VWT’s
Sulfothane™ technology, as a preventive
measure to protect the facilities against
corrosion.
Towards a circular economy
In addition to energy valorization – and
consequently, a reduction of the carbon
footprint of the factory - ElPozo Alimentación
and VWT have also undertaken a number of
water reuse initiatives. These actions have
enabled the reduction of water consumption
per pig processed, achieving one of the lowest
ratio sector in Europe.
Veolia Water Technologies has become
the leading partner for companies which,
like ElPozo Alimentación, are committed
to sustainable development. VWT offers
such companies solutions ranging from the
treatment of process water, wastewater and
sludge to solutions aimed at reducing water
consumption and increasing energy efficiency,
in order to promote and work towards a
circular economy. ●