• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.5-13
• /
• 2022

The current environmental problem is that environmental pollution is accelerating due to the generation of large amounts of waste and indiscriminate consumption of energy. Fossil fuels, a representative energy production fuel, are burned in the process of producing energy, generating a large amount of greenhouse gases and eventually causing climate change. In addition, the amount of waste generated worldwide is continuously increasing, and environmental pollution is occurring in the process of waste treatment. One of the methods for simultaneously solving these problems is the energy recovery from and reduction of organic wastes. Sewage sludge generated in sewage treatment plants has been treated in various ways since ocean disposal was completely prohibited, but the amount generated has been continuously increasing. Since the sewage sludge contains a large amount of organic materials, it is desirable to recover energy from the sewage sludge and reduce the final discharged waste through anaerobic digestion. However, most of the excess sludge is a mass of microorganisms used in sewage treatment, and in order for the excess sludge to be anaerobically digested, the cell walls of the microorganisms must be destroyed first, but it takes a lot of time to destroy the cell walls, so high rates of biogas production and waste reduction cannot be achieved only by anaerobic digestion. Therefore, the pre-treatment process of solubilizing excess sludge is required, and the thermal solubilization process is verified to be the most efficient among various solubilization methods, and high rates of biogas production and waste reduction can be achieved by anaerobic digestion after destroying cell walls the thermal solubilization process. In this study, when pretreating TS 10% thickened excess sludge through a thermal solubilization system, a study was conducted on solubilization characteristics according to retention time and operating temperature variables. The experimental variables for the retention time of the thermal solubilization system were 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, and 120 minutes, respectively, while the operating temperature was fixed at 160℃. The soulbilization rates calculated through TCOD and SCOD derived from the experimental results increased in the order of 12.11%, 20.52%, 28.62%, and 31.40%, respectively. And the variables according to operating temperature were 120℃, 140℃, 160℃, 180℃, and 200℃, respectively, while the operating retention time was fixed at 60 minutes. And the solubilization rates increased in the order of 7.14%, 14.52%, 20.52%, 40.72%, and 57.85%, respectively. In addition, TS, VS, T-N, T-P, NH₄⁺-N, and VFAs were analyzed to evaluate thermal solubilization characteristics of thickened excess sludge. As a result, in order to obtain 30% or more solubilization rate through thermal solubilization of TS 10% thickened excess sludge, 120 minutes of retention time is required when the operating temperature is fixed to 160℃, and 170℃ or more of operating temperature is needed when the operating time is fixed to 60 minutes.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.41-49
• /
• 2016

This study is conducted to find out problems of the public food waste recycling facility and its improvement. Through a research on the actual condition, it is possible to analyze the problem of operation. Moreover, for this improvement, with analysis of the current state of recycling rate including its generation and the problem that can be shown from the real operation of the public/private food waste recycling facility, the results are as follows: It can be shown that the current amount of domestic food waste resource recycling is about 97 %. Almost every public recycling facility is analyzed to be economically infeasible and is not for recovery but to simple disposal. Especially, most of Biogas facilities appeared that amount of production and demand is not appropriate differed from enforcement design.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.662-669
• /
• 2019

Anaerobic digestion is a popular sewage sludge (Ss) treatment method as it provides significant pollution control and energy recovery. However, the low C/N ratio and poor biodegradability of Ss necessitate pretreatment methods that improve solubilization under anaerobic conditions in addition to anaerobic co-digestion with other substrates to improve the process efficiency. In this study, three pretreatment methods, namely microwave irradiation, ultrasonication, and heat treatment, were investigated, and the corresponding improvement in methane production was assessed. Additionally, the simplex centroid design method was utilized to determine the optimum mixture ratio of food waste (Fw), livestock manure (Lm), and Ss for maximum methane yield. Microwave irradiation at 700 W for 6 min yielded the highest biodegradability (62.0%), solubilization efficiency (59.7%), and methane production (329 mL/g VS). The optimum mixture ratio following pretreatment was 61.3% pretreated Ss, 28.6% Fw, and 10.1% Lm. The optimum mixture ratio without pretreatment was 33.6% un-pretreated Ss, 46.0% Fw, and 20.4% Lm. These results indicate that the choice of pretreatment method plays an important role in efficient anaerobic digestion and can be applied in operational plants to enhance methane production. Co-digestion of Ss with Fw and Lm was also beneficial.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.31-36
• /
• 2011

BACKGROUND: Disposal of slurry animal manure produced by an anaerobic slurry-type barn method is not easy since the animal slurry contain high moisture content which makes solid-liquid separation a difficult process. However, recently, the interest about anaerobic digestion process as an environment-friendly waste disposal method has gained a wide interest because it can treat highly organic matter contained by the piggery slurry, decrease the odor after treatment, and enable the effective recovery of the methane gas which is a valuable energy resource. The objectives of this study were to identify the solubilization characteristics and to improve the anaerobic digestion efficiency of piggery slurry through full-scale anaerobic digestion experiments. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a full-scale continuous anaerobic digestion operation, the adaptability of single anaerobic digestion and its digestion efficiency were also evaluated in the farm field. The actual pH range and alkalinity concentration of piggery slurry used during the operation were comparatively higher than the concentrations of pH and alkalinity in the digestion tank which were stable at 7.5~8.0, 4,008 mg/L (as$CaCO_3$), respectively. The removal efficiency of organic matter (TCOD) by anaerobic digestion was 75~90% and methane gas production amount was at 0.33 L/L/day, a little higher than that of ordinary animal manure. CONCLUSION(s): Our findings showed higher recovery of highly purified methane and greater efficiency of anaerobic tank digestion since its methane gas content was at 65~70%.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.69-84
• /
• 2023

Despite the continuous installation and regular inspection of waste treatment facilities, complaints about excessive incineration and illegal dumping stench continue to occur at on-site treatment facilities. In addition, field surveys were conducted on the waste treatment facilities currently in operation (6 type) to understand the waste treatment process for each field, to grasp the main operating factors applied to the inspection. In addition, we calculated the material·energy balance for each main process and confirmed the proper operation of the waste disposal facility. As a result of the site survey, in the case of heat treatment facilities such as incineration, cement kilns, and incineration heat recovery facilities, the main factors are maintenance of the temperature of the incinerator required for incineration and treatment of the generated air pollutants, and in the case of landfill facilities Retaining wall stability, closed landfill leachate and emission control emerged as major factors. In the case of sterilization and crushing facilities, the most important factor is whether or not sterilization is possible (apobacterium inspection).In the case of food distribution waste treatment facilities, retention time and odor control during fermentation (digestion, decomposed) are major factors. Calculation results of material balance and energy resin for each waste treatment facility In the case of incineration facilities, it was confirmed that the amount of flooring materials generated is about 14 % and the amount of scattering materials is about 3 % of the amount of waste input, and that the facility is being operated properly. In addition, among foodwaste facilities, in the case of an anaerobic digestion facility, the amount of biogas generated relative to the amount of inflow is about 17 %, and the biogas conversion efficiency is about 81 %, in the case of composting facility, about 11 % composting of the inflow waste was produced, and it was comfirmend that all were properly operated. As a result, in order to improve the inspection method for waste treatment facilities, it is necessary not only to accumulate quantitative standards for detailed inspection methods, but also to collect operational data for one year at the time of regular inspections of each facility, Grasping the flow and judging whether or not the treatment facility is properly operated. It is then determined that the operation and management efficiency of the treatment facility will increase.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.13-20
• /
• 2011

The high fuel flexibility of Micro Gas Turbine(MGT) has boosted their use in a wide variety of applications. Recently, the demand for biogas generated from the digestion of organic wastes and landfill as a fuel for gas turbines has increased. We researched the influence of firing landfill gas(LFG) on the performance and operating characteristics of a micro gas turbine combined heat and power system. $CH_4$ and $CO_2$ simultaneous recovery process has been developed for field plant scale to provide an isothermal, low operating cost method for carrying out the contaminants removal in Land Fill Gas(LFG) by liquid phase catalyst for introduce into the green house for the purpose of $CO_2$ rich cultivation of the plants. Methane purification and carbon dioxide stripping by muti panel autocirculation bubble lift column reactor utilizing Fe-EDTA was conducted for evaluate optimum conditions for land fill gas. Based on inflow rate of LFG as 0.207 $m^3$/min, 5.5 kg/$cm^2$, we designed reactor system for 70% $CH_4$ and 27% $CO_2$ gas introduce into MGT system with $H_2S$ 99% removal efficiency. A green house designed for four different carbon dioxide concentration from ambient air to 1500 ppm by utilizing the exhaust gas and hot water from MGT system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.523-533
• /
• 2000

A two-phase anaerobic reactor with submerged membrane system was developed for increasing acidogen concentration and methane recovery. The membrane used was mixed esters of cellulose of $0.5{\mu}m$ pore size and $0.8m^2$ of effective surface area. The methanogenic reactor comprised of UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) and AF (Anaerobic Filter). COD removal efficiency was 70~80% and the methane content in the biogas increased up to 90% for the submerged membrane system in the anaerobic reactor. As the cake resistance of membrane caused a serious problem, stainless steal prefilters (40, 53, $63{\mu}m$) and air backwashing methods were applied to minimize the cake resistance effectively. Among the tested prefilters. the $63{\mu}m$ prefilter showed the best performance for reduction of cake resistance and a successful long-tern operation. By cleaning with alkali first and acidic solution later. the permeate flux decreased by long term operation was recovered to 89% of that with a new membrane.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 1995

This study was carried to investigate the biodegradability of phenol in the wastewater with the two sludge blanket-packed bed reactor in series. Each reactor had a dimension of 0.09 m i.d. and 1.5 m height and consisted of two regions. The lower region was a sludge blanket of 0.5 m height and the upper region was a packed-bed of 1 m height. The packed bed region was charged with ceramic raschig rings of 10 mm i.d., 15 mm o.d. and 20 mm length. The reactors were operated at 35$\circ$C and the hydraulic retention time(HRT) was maintained 24 hours. The synthetic wastewater composed of glucose and phenol as major components was fed into the reactor in a continuous mode with incereasing phenol concentration. In addition, the nutrient trace metals($Na^+, Mg^{2+}, Ca^{2+}, PO_4^{3-}, NH_4^+, Co^{2+}, Fe^{2+}$ etc.) were added for growing anaerobes. The phenol concentration of the effluent, the overall gas production, the composition of product gas, the efficiency of COD reduction and the duration of acclimation period were measured to determine the performance of the anaerobic wastewater treatment system as the phenol concentration of the influent was increased from 600 to 2400 mg//l. Successfully stable biodegradation of phenol could be achieved with the anaerobic treatment system from 600 to 1, 800 mg/l of the influent phenol concentration. The upper level of influent phenol loading was high enough to meet most of the practical requirement. The duration of acclimation increased with the phenol loading. At steady state of the influent phenol concentration of 1800 mg/l, the treatment performance indicated the phenol reduction efficiency of 99%, the COD reduction efficiency of 99% and the gas production rate of 37 l/day. At the influent phenol concentration of 2400 mg/l, however, the operation of the treatment system was noted unstable. While the concentration of methane in biogas decreased with increasing the influent phenol loading, the carbon dioxide was increased. However, the concentration of hydrogen was varied negligibly. The concentration of methane was high enough to be used as a fuel. As a result, it is suggested that anaerobic phenol wastewater treament was economical in the sense of energy recovery and wastewater treatment.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.295-301
• /
• 2015

A theoretical analysis was carried out to examine the concentration behavior of methane from a biogas using a polysulfone membrane. After the governing equations were derived for the cocurrent flow mode in a membrane module, the coupled nonlinear differential equations were numerically solved with the Compaq Visual Fortran 6.6 software. At the typical operating condition of mole fraction of 0.7 in a feed stream, the mole fraction of methane in the retentate increased to 0.76 while the normalized retentate flow rate to the feed flow rate decreased from 1 to 0.79. When either the mole fraction of methane in a feed increased or the pressure of the feed stream increased, the methane mole fraction in the retentate increased. On the other hand, it was found that as either the membrane area decreased or the ratio of the permeate pressure to the feed pressure increased, the methane mole fraction in the retentate decreased. In case that the stage cut increased, the methane mole fraction in the retentate increased while the recovery of methane slightly decreased.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.521-537
• /
• 2012

This article reviews the papers published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering during 2011. It is intended to understand the status of current research in the areas of heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation, and indoor environments of buildings and plant facilities. Conclusions are as follows. (1) Research trends of thermal and fluid engineering have been surveyed as groups of fluid machinery and fluid flow, thermodynamic cycle, and new and renewable energy. Various topics were presented in the field of fluid machinery and fluid flow. Research issues mainly focused on the rankine cycle in the field of thermodynamic cycle. In the new and renewable energy area, researches were presented on geothermal energy, fuel cell, biogas, reformer, solar water heating system, and metane hydration. (2) Research works on heat transfer area have been reviewed in the categories of heat transfer characteristics, pool boiling and condensing heat transfer, nanofluids and industrial heat exchangers. Researches on heat transfer characteristics included heat transfer above liquid helium surface in a cryostat, methane hydrate formation, heat and mass transfer in a liquid desiccant dehumidifier, thermoelectric air-cooling system, heat transfer in multiple slot impinging jet, and heat transfer enhancement by protrusion-in-dimples. In the area of pool boiling and condensing heat transfer, researches on pool boiling of water in low-fin and turbo-B surfaces, pool boiling of R245a, convective boiling two-phase flow in trapezoidal microchannels, condensing of FC-72 on pin-finned surfaces, and natural circulation vertical evaporator were actively performed. In the area of nanofluids, thermal characteristics of heat pipes using water-based MWCNT nanofluids and the thermal conductivity and viscosity were measured. In the area of industrial heat exchangers, researches on fin-tube heat exchangers for waste gas heat recovery and Chevron type plate heat exchanger were implemented. (3) Refrigeration systems with alternative refrigerants such as $CO_2$, hydrocarbons, and mixed refrigerants were studied. Heating performance improvement of heat pump systems were tried applying supplementary components such as a refrigerant heater or a solar collector. The effects of frost growth were studied on the operation characteristic of refrigeration systems and the energy performance of various defrost methods were evaluated. The current situation of the domestic cold storage facilities was analyzed and the future demand was predicted. (4) In building mechanical system fields, a variety of studies were conducted to achieve effective consumption of heat and maximize efficiency of heat in buildings. Various researches were performed to maximize performance of mechanical devices and optimize the operation of HVAC systems. (5) In the fields of architectural environment and energy, diverse purposes of studies were conducted such as indoor environment, building energy, and renewable energy. In particular, renewable energy and building energy-related researches have mainly been studied as reflecting the global interests. In addition, various researches have been performed for reducing cooling load in a building using spot exhaust air, natural ventilation and energy efficiency systems.