Veolia Introduces Package Exelys — Four Standard Continuous Thermal Hydrolysis Plants

Veolia Water Technologies launches Package Exelys™, a standard range of continuous thermal hydrolysis units for small to medium sludge digestion plants. Thermal hydrolysis is a well proven pre-treatment technology for sludge digesters which increases digester throughput, pasteurises the sludge, enhances biogas production and reduces the final biosolids volume for disposal. Veolia’s Exelys heats dewatered sludge to 165°C and holds it for 20 to 30 minutes. What differentiates Exelys is that it is a continuous rather than a batch process. This means that the reactor volume is used for 100% of the time by comparison with a batch reactor which, because of the fill-react-discharge cycle, effectively operates at only about 30% utilization, and with less concentrated sludge. As a result, the Exelys reactor can treat over 3 times the amount of sludge solids compared to a similar sized batch reactor. Continuous operation means that the steam demand is constant, which improves boiler efficiency and, since Exelys can handle higher sludge concentrations than batch systems, the steam demand per tonne of dry solids is lower.

The Package Exelys range has four standard plants with dry solids capacities up to 30 t/day. The plants have all the features of the Exelys process but are assembled at works off site on skids and include feed sludge heating and steam injection equipment. Package Exelys is designed as a “Plug-and-Play” system, fully tested before leaving the factory, minimising site installation and commissioning time. An optional waste heat recovery boiler can be added to recover the heat from the hydrolysed sludge.

For more information visit the 19th European Biosolids and Organic Resources Conference & Exhibition, 9 – 11 November, Manchester Town Hall, Manchester, UK or www.veoliawatertechnologies.co.uk/waterandwastewater/municipal/Sludge-Treatment/Continuous_thermal_hydrolysis_Exelys/

About Veolia group
Veolia group is the global leader in optimized resource management. With over 179,000 employees* worldwide, the Group designs and provides water, waste and energy management solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries. Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, preserve available resources, and to replenish them.

In 2014, the Veolia group supplied 96 million people with drinking water and 60 million people with wastewater service, produced 52 million megawatt hours of energy and converted 31 million metric tons of waste into new materials and energy. Veolia Environnement (listed on Paris Euronext: VIE) recorded consolidated revenue of €24.4B* in 2014. www.veolia.com.