Insight into Greenhouse Gases Emissions and Energy Consumption of Different Full-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plants via ECAM Tool

Yuhe Tian, Shuang Liu, Zheng Guo, Nan Wu, Jiaqi Liang, Ruihua Zhao, Linlin Hao () and Ming Zeng ()
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Yuhe Tian: College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
Shuang Liu: College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
Zheng Guo: College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
Nan Wu: College of Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, China
Jiaqi Liang: College of Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, China
Ruihua Zhao: College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
Linlin Hao: College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
Ming Zeng: College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 20, 1-14

Abstract: Greenhouse gas (GHG) production is one of the urgent problems to be solved in the wastewater treatment industry in the context of “carbon neutrality”. In this study, the carbon emissions and energy consumption of typical wastewater treatment processes in China were evaluated, starting from different cities and water treatment plants. Tool of Energy Performance and Carbon Emission Assessment and Monitoring (ECAM) was used. By comparing the influent BOD 5 , it was found that the energy consumption for wastewater treatment was positively correlated with the influent organic load. The annual CH 4 emission of Xi’an WWTP can reach 19,215 t CO 2 eq. Moreover, GHGs are closely related to the wastewater treatment process chosen. WWTP B of Kunming used only an anaerobic process without continuous aeration, with an average monthly energy consumption of 8.63 × 10 5 kW·h. The proportion of recoverable biogas was about 90% in the GHG discharged by the traditional process. However, the anaerobic digestion-thermoelectric cogeneration process can make the recovery of the biogas utilization ratio reach 100%. Compared to the Shuozhou WWTP and WWTP A of Kunming, the Strass WWTP served the smallest population and had the largest treatment capacity, reaching the lowest energy consumption, consuming only 23,670 kW·h per month. The evaluation and analysis of ECAM provide data support and research foundation for the wastewater treatment plants to improve energy utilization and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Keywords: greenhouse gas emission; wastewater treatment; carbon; energy recovery; ECAM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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