Techno-economic feasibility study of electricity generation from industrial wastewater treatment system

Abstract

This paper reports a techno-economic feasibility study of electricity generation from an industrial wastewater treatment system. First, a small model of an electrical generation power system, 0.70 m. width, 3.68 m. length, and a height of 1.55 m. was designed and assembled. Four Micro hydro turbine generators were tested at flow rates ranging from 500 to 2,000 LPH similar to effluent from industrial wastewater treatment plants. Experimental results showed that type 1 impulse turbine (3 watts) can generate electricity of 1.27 Watts at a maximum flow rate of 1,000 LPH. Whereas type 2 Pelton turbine (50 watts) can generate maximum electricity of 10.35 Watts at a flow rate of 1,300 LPH. Type 3 Water wheel turbine (100 watts) can generate maximum electricity of 0.32 Watts at a flow rate of 2,000 LPH while type 4 Impulse turbine (100 watts) cannot operate within the experimental flow rate range. Then, an economic analysis of electricity production from the wastewater treatment system at a flow rate of 29 m³/h found that installing a 1 kW power generating set has a payback period of 1.3 years. Therefore, this research demonstrated that generating electrical current using wastewater from treatment plant is technically and economically viable option and deserves consideration. This study can be used as a guideline for using industrial wastewater treatment systems to produce electricity and improve plant sustainability.