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Accessibility & LanguageSludge Dewatering Process Optimisation
PROJECT OVERVIEW
This project focuses on analysing and optimising sludge dewatering processes in water and wastewater treatment plants using real-time operational data. It investigates how key process parameters influence dewatering performance and develops a data-driven basis for improved centrifuge control and efficiency.
WHY IT MATTERS
- Sludge dewatering directly impacts operational cost, energy use, and waste volumes in treatment plants
- Improving cake dry solids reduces sludge transport and disposal costs significantly
- Better centrate quality helps ensure compliance with discharge standards and reduces process recycle loads
- Real-time monitoring enables more stable and efficient centrifuge operation
- Supports development of automated and data-driven control strategies for treatment plants
- Improves overall sustainability and resource efficiency in water infrastructure
ABSTRACT
There are a number of parameters that affect dewatering efficiency. By measuring the feed dry solids, feed Flowrate, Diff Speed, Centrate suspended solids, bowl speed, scroll speed, torque and poly usage in real time, an automatic control can be programmed to maintain consistent sludge cake and centrate product.
Effective sludge dewatering is a critical component of wastewater and water treatment operations, directly influencing overall plant efficiency, operational costs, and environmental performance. The dewatering process aims to reduce the volume of sludge produced by separating the solid and liquid fractions as efficiently as possible. Achieving higher cake dry solids (DS%) leads to significant reductions in sludge transport and disposal costs, while maintaining optimal centrate quality ensures compliance with discharge requirements and minimises return loads to the treatment process.
The goals of these investigations are to:
- Demonstrate the importance of continuous centrate suspended solids monitoring for centrifuge control.
- Assess how changes in centrifuge operating parameters affect centrate quality and cake DS%.
- Identify operating conditions that improve solids capture, polymer efficiency and process stability.
- Evaluate the relationship between feed conditions, centrate suspended solids and cake DS%.
- Reduce sludge haulage costs by improving cake DS% while maintaining acceptable centrate quality.
- Develop a data-driven basis for future automated or semi-automated centrifuge control strategies.
Supervisor:
Dr Eoghan Clifford, Ph.D, Civil Engineering, University of Galway
Kieran Pfeiffer | Mechanical Engineer
Kieran Pfeiffer is a Mechanical Engineer with Ward & Burke and a PhD researcher in Engineering at the University of Galway. Kieran has over five years of experience in the water and wastewater sector, specialising in sludge treatment and dewatering technologies. As part of Ward & Burke, he has played a key role in the design, commissioning, optimisation and operation in the upgrades works of water treatment facilities and fabrication of the containerised centrifuges used in micro-tunnelling sites. Kieran is pursuing a part-time PhD at the University of Galway. His research focuses on the real-time monitoring and optimisation of decanter centrifuges. Through the application of continuous centrate monitoring, advanced data analytics and process control strategies, he aims to improve dewatering performance, polymer efficiency, and operational decision-making. His work bridges the gap between academic research and industry practice, delivering innovative, data-driven solutions.in Connect with Kieran
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