A big thank you for supporting JIPl at the Water Expo in Hamilton. It was a successful event with a great turnout and we really enjoying seeing you all there. If you have additional queries or would like any more information on any of our products exhibited, please feel free to contact us.
Due to all the interest in our range of mixing and aeration equipment, we thought we’d share with you an exciting press release.
Wastewater Treatment in Breweries – INVENT’s Process Engineering Solutions
Erlangen, July 17, 2017
The wastewater from breweries is biologically and chemically heavily contaminated, the most important parameters being the biochemical oxygen requirement and sulphides that, when
inadequately aerated, can lead to odour problems (hydrogen sulphide). The German federal government’s central wastewater processing agency stipulates strict maximum permissible values for the direct discharge of a brewery’s wastewater. Indirect discharge facilities are subject to different permissible values, depending on the specific communities. In any case, compliance with the permissible values is highly relevant for wastewater treatment plant operators in breweries.
Many restrictions need to be observed when treating a brewery’s wastewater. The wastewater has a high concentration of easily degradable organic compounds (BSB5), disinfectants have been used and the pH value fluctuates considerably, as acidic and alkaline cleaning agents are alternated during the CIP (Cleaning In Place) processes. The occurring loads of harmful substances are diluted in the mixing and equalization tanks and levelled out with regard to the pH value. The water level in the equalization tanks fluctuates greatly and wastewater from a brewery tends to develop odours due to its high temperature (> 35 °C) and easily degradable components. Detergents (surfactants) from the CIP processes are often the reason for a reduced and insufficient oxygen transfer to the wastewater as a result of very low oxygen transfer factors (alpha values). These alpha values very much depend on the choice of aeration system that is applied. Additionally, wastewater from a brewery often contains diatomaceous earth, which is carried over from the filtration process and is fine-grained and highly abrasive. It causes great wear and tear of the current mechanical equipment in the activated sludge tank, clogs pores of aeration membranes, and causes abrasion of mechanical aerators.
The INVENT HYPERCLASSIC® Hyperboloid Mixer
This mixer is an optimal choice for use in mixing and equalization tanks due to its suspension and homogenization characteristics. Because of the installation of the mixer close to the bottom of the tank its operating performance is not influenced by fluctuating water levels. Sedimentary deposits, e.g. of diatomaceous earth, are reliably eliminated in the mixing and equalization tanks so that odours cannot occur. The INVENT HYPERCLASSIC® excels in energy-efficient operation as well as high operational safety. Due to its robust construction, the amount of maintenance and operational costs are both low.
An optimal solution for the oxygen transfer to the activation tanks in a brewery is the INVENT iCBA®, a non-wearing stainless steel aerator. The arrangement and number of air outlet ports are optimized with the help of modern CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) methods. Detailed knowledge of fluid mechanical ratios in aerated tanks as well as targeted planning of the aerators’ arrangement allows for consistent aeration. This results in high oxygen transfer efficiency and an energy-efficient and reliable operation.
When compared to other surface aerators, submerged or membrane aerators, which struggle with corrosion and rotor damage as well as a too low oxygen transfer, the INVENT iCBA® offers energy conservation of up to 30% and significantly higher operational safety. It is possible to successively exchange current systems with the INVENT iCBA®.