U.S. Sludge & Odor Treatment Equipment Markets

Research Overview

Stringent Regulations Compel the Purchase of Sludge Treatment Equipment

As the debate regarding Class A versus Class B acceptance continues, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is increasingly concerned about the hazards associated with Class B sludge. Thus, manufacturers of sludge handling equipment are undertaking research to provide end users with products that are capable of meeting both Classes A and B requirements, with a push toward Class A exceptional quality (EQ) biosolids.

"As the 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 503 biosolids requirements become increasingly stringent, treatment equipment are likely to be installed, replaced, or retrofitted to ensure compliance," says the analyst of this research service. "It is expected that in the next few years, regulations from either the state or federal government are expected to drive the purchase of many new pieces of equipment for municipalities."

This Frost & Sullivan research analyzes the U.S. sludge and odor treatment equipment markets. It provides detailed insights into recent developments and trends. The study also discusses the prevailing market drivers and industry challenges and offers an overview of the market revenues and shares.

Public Concern Likely to Drive the Sales of Class A-Producing Equipment

Negative attention and growing public awareness of the risks associated with sludge and odor, particularly Class B sludge land application, are driving the sale of sludge and odor treatment equipment that can produce Class A EQ biosolids. Even as governmental agencies continue to determine the specifics of allowable quantities and classes of sludge, manufacturers are introducing products that are expected to remove the fears of the community. Hence, the need for a pathogen-free, vector attraction-reduced environment is likely to increase the sale of most types of sludge and odor treatment equipment, including digesters, dewatering devices, and final treatment remedies.

Energy-saving Alternative Technologies likely to Induce further Market Growth

"The top three states that have incredibly high rates for electricity include Minnesota, Illinois, and California," notes the analyst. "In that order, the combined biosolids management electricity costs for the municipalities in these states equate to $3.5 million, $2.4 million, and $1.8 million of a total of $7.7 million dollars."

In addition to rising electricity prices, the increasing incidents of blackouts are forcing municipalities to adopt technologies that ensure better energy efficiency. Thus, by delivering energy-efficient technologies along with effective cost cutting measures, are set to make the sludge and odor treatment equipment a booming industry.

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Benefits of this Service

• Analysis of the current and future trends in the U.S. sludge and odor treatment equipment markets, dividing it into seven segments
• Market analysis and projections for revenues and volumes until 2011
• Current structure of the industry, analysis of competitive factors, and review of major strategic opportunities in the market
• Provides major market drivers, restraints, and challenges

Market Sectors

Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following market sectors in this research:

By Product Type:

• Sludge digestion equipment
• Sludge dewatering equipment
• Sludge drying equipment
• Novel sludge treatment equipment
• Physical odor treatment equipment
• Chemical odor treatment equipment
• Biological odor treatment equipment

Technologies

The following technologies are covered in this research service:

• Aerobic Digestion: As the aerobic name implies, this method of digestion is accomplished with air or oxygen. In terms of the equipment used for this sludge digestion, a tank is constructed; however, no covers are utilized except for providing cover for weather-related purposes or for odor control. Mixers are also employed, but typically, air is injected into the tank unlike in gas systems more commonly found in anaerobic digestion. The impeller-type mechanical varieties are often found in aerobic tank systems. For auto thermal aerobic digestion (ATAD) systems and other thermal stabilization mechanisms, a heat reactor vessel is used to treat the sludge and the number included in revenue figures in those specific categories.
• Anaerobic Digestion: Anaerobic digestion is the treatment of sludge without air or oxygen. The sludge from primary clarifiers, aeration basins, and secondary clarifiers is pumped into the digester where it is heated and mixed. Microorganisms in the tank begin to break down the sludge and produce water and gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. The methane is contained and burned in a boiler and is subsequently used to heat the sludge in the digesters. The equipment used in anaerobic digestion typically consists of fixed, floating, or gasholder covers as well as mixers and some sort of heating mechanism.
• Belt Presses: The traditional belt press was designed with two tensioned belts. Sludge is passed over and under rollers of various sizes as it is sandwiched between the two porous belts. Water is filtered through the belts and comes out on the other side of the rollers. The belts then separate each going the opposite direction. The belts are introduced to a washing cycle to wash off the residual biosolids remaining on the press and they then loop back to repeat the cycle.
• Filter Presses: There are two types of these presses – the recessed-plate and diaphragm filter presses. Both have similar designs with different operating procedures. Filter presses in most cases are made of polypropylene squares that have a concave depression and a hole in the middle. Two of these squares or plates join together to create a chamber where solids are pressurized and liquids are squeezed out through a filter cloth lining in the chamber. Several of these plates are suspended from a frame (the size of which varies, depending on the required capacity) and a series of chambers is formed once the press is closed. Solids are pumped into the center hole to fill each chamber and, as pressure increases, solids are retained on the filter cloth while the liquid is passed through. The recessed-plate filter press is the more traditional version of the two and is a fixed-volume press that removes moisture from biosolids by adding more solids. Alternatively, the diaphragm filter press has either a hollow rubber diaphragm or a membrane behind the filter cloth as seen in the latest version of these presses. Water is pumped into the diaphragm until the maximum feed pressure is reached at which point the diaphragm expands to reduce the sludge volume.
• Centrifuges: There are three types of centrifuges available, the basket, solid bowl, and the disc-nozzle. However, only the basket and solid bowl are considered appropriate for dewatering sludge. Additionally, the solid bowl centrifuge design has undergone tremendous amount of improvements in the past few years in an effort to be more reliable, consistent, as well as mechanically friendly and it is therefore the typical centrifuge device of choice for sludge treatment operations. The most recent improvements of centrifuges have even allowed manufacturers to claim outlet consistencies of 35 percent. However, sludge consistency, and makeup are likely to be the deciding factor in actually achieving these solids.
• Dewatering Box/Container Filters: This dewatering device is called a container filter or a dewatering box and its purpose is to dewater municipal sludge. The dewatering box has traditionally been in direct competition with drying beds, but naturally competes with all other types of dewatering options. The key is that most end users are expected to place this device in the old drying bed. The container filter or dewatering box is a larger version of a trash dumpster and works on a gravity principle to dewater sludge once it is pumped into the container. A filter is inserted between the box/container with a space between the bottom of the filter and the floor for liquid drainage.
• Screw Presses/Rotary Presses: The screw or rotary press is a continuous dewatering device suited to handle high-fiber sludge such as pulp, paper, and food process wastes, but is now designed to handle municipal sludge dewatering.
• Dewatering/Drying-combination Units: The filter press chamber is filled with solids while pressure builds up to a point where terminal pressure is reached inside the chamber. During this process, the filter press plates are squeezed by a hydraulic ram, thus sealing the filter cloth on the diaphragm plates and subsequently, pressing the solids into the cloth.
• Adsorption: Adsorption uses the properties of solids such as activated carbon, silica, and alumina to adsorb other substances, such as odorous compounds. Activated carbon, for example, is used in packed beds through which the contaminated air is passed until the concentration of contaminants in the effluent from the carbon bed reaches a defined level. The carbon is then replaced or regenerated in situ or off site. Carbon adsorption is seen as a remediation technology in which pollutants are removed from air by physical adsorption onto carbon grains.
• Condensation: Condensation is a method for removing odor-using air, liquid, or liquid nitrogen cooling. Other claimed benefits for condensation systems are flexibility, simplicity, and suitability to continuous running at constant airflows. They are most suited to very high concentrations of odor and are comparatively energy intensive. Condensation equipment is being supplied to installations having the specific circumstances, which enable it to be selected as the most suitable technology. The market for condensation equipment is a niche sector and the time that it is taking to gain market penetration of any significance indicates that its potential is likely to be very limited.
• Oxidation: The oxidation system market is divided into two segments – regenerative thermal oxidation (RTO) systems, including regenerative catalytic oxidation (RCO) systems, and non-regenerative thermal oxidation (or recuperative) oxidation (NRTO) systems. During the last two years, the regenerative sub segment grew at the expense of the non–regenerative one. Change in the proportion of demand for regenerative and non-regenerative systems depends on their efficiency levels and prices, as well as the regulatory status of the contaminants. Similarly, change at the total level of the oxidation market is, among other factors, affected by changes in the price of compliance, tightening regulations, and the introduction of new technologies from competing air pollution control (APC) segments.
• Scrubbing: In the scrubbing process, contaminants within a gas stream are removed through the general gas-cleaning technique of intimate contact with a liquid medium or sorbent. The process, known as scrubbing, occurs within a reaction vessel that brings the gaseous and liquid streams into intimate contact, allowing the transfer of contaminants to the liquid, where they may stay in solution or are destroyed by chemical reaction. The polluted airflow is usually passed up through a reaction tower filled with inert solid granules, while a liquid in which the odorous compounds are soluble is trickled downward through the tower. Up to 99 percent of odors can be removed this way. Most manufacturers use proprietary absorbents, which are generally cheap, high molecular weight, nontoxic compounds with low vapor pressure, high flash point, and high thermal stability.
• Biofilteration Systems: Biofilteration systems are single or multiple beds and can be stacked and operated without replacement for at least five years. They have low initial and operating costs and are especially applicable for biological odor control. In bioscrubbing, a microbiological film is held within a reactor vessel in which the contaminants are oxidized within the biofilm and liquid that acts to moisten the biofilm and feed the microorganisms.

What's Included

• Detailed insights into the U.S. sludge and odor treatment equipment markets
• Drivers, restraints, challenges, and strategic recommendations
• Identification and analysis of top industry participants and competitive factors
• Market forecasts and opportunity analysis
• Aggregate industry revenues