Enhanced stabilisation of sewage sludge through thermal hydrolysis – three years of experience with full scale plant

Abstract

The first full-scale plant for sludge disintegration through Cambi thermal hydrolysis was started up in Hamar, Norway at the end of 1995. It is the first plant with a new design where sludge is directly heated by live steam. During the last three years the plant worked with an availability of over 99%.

Prior to hydrolysis the sludge is dewatered and the digester is fed with 10-12% DS, saving more than 50% of digester volume compared with a conventional process. The degree of stabilization is around 60% measured as rate COD-conversion into biogas. The stabilised sludge, which is guaranteed free of pathogens, is an attractive product to agriculture and has a high fertilizing effect.

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