Problem: In designing a new anaerobic digestion and dewatering facility, the Michigan city of Grand Rapids also wanted to protect process equipment downstream of the new digester from struvite scaling, break the recycle loop of phosphorus back to the plant, and recover phosphorus for beneficial use. With limited space available and specific project requirements, the city needed a customized and multi-faceted solution.
Solution: Schwing Bioset met the challenges with a two-stage phosphorus management system using NuReSys technology. The first stage drives crystal formation downstream of anaerobic digestion, lowering struvite-forming potential and preventing dewatering equipment scaling. The second stage used on post-dewatering centrate adds struvite crystallization and harvests the struvite from the centrate stream for beneficial use.
Result: The system operates continuously with sidestream treatment, protecting the plant from struvite buildup. It reduces the phosphorus return load and creates a marketable product. 715-247-3433; www.schwingbioset.com
