Optimization of sludge conditioning and dewatering using sludge network strength and residual polymer concentration

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Dewatering plays a key role in reducing the cost of sludge treatment and final disposal. However, optimization of sludge conditioning and dewatering continues to be a challenge due to continuous changes in sludge characteristics and solids concentration during operation. Ideally, polymer dose should be checked and optimized on a real-time basis but the majority of treatment plants still use operators to manually adjust the polymer dose by checking cake solids. This usually leads to overdosing of polymer typically by 30-40%, which not only increases polymer cost but also decreases cake dryness, and thus disposal costs. In addition, excess polymers discharged to environment have toxic effects on aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, there is a major need for reliable systems that can achieve real-time optimization of polymer dose at wastewater treatment plants. Current technologies typically rely on solids concentration of incoming sludge or turbidity of the effluent, which are not ideal in capturing important sludge characteristics and predicting dewatering performance. An innovative approach to conditioning and dewatering optimization is needed.