PONTIAC CLINTON

RIVER WATER

RESOURCE

RECOVERY

C H A L L E N G E

The Pontiac Clinton River Water Resource Recovery Facility recently completed the construction of a new Thermal Hydrolysis Pretreatment (THP) system, a newer and innovative process that involves conditioning of the sludge under high heat prior to anaerobic digestion. However, when operating at the designed sludge loading, they developed foam in the digester. At times up to five feet of foam which would risk overflow and put stress on seals and transfer tubes. 

Because of this, the WRC had to lower the solids loading in the digester from its design capacity to prevent foam overflow. This caused the team to fall behind on the solids they were able to process. 

S O L U T I O N 

Haviland retrieved digester samples and performed bench scale antifoam

testing in order to determine what chemical agent would solve the foam

problem. The antifoam was then brought on-site for a demonstration. The antifoam was dosed at a high rate in order to achieve saturation, then with additional onsite support, the dosage was able to be brought into a maintenance dose.  Since lowering, the dosage has been able to be maintained at a low level that will be sustainable for the long term. Since adding the defoaming agent provided by Haviland, the WRC has been able to raise solids loading back to 10%, allowing the WRC to maintain digest output. 

 C A S E  O V E R V I E W 

        CHALLENGE

•         Excess foam in the anaerobic digester
•         Risked overflow and stressed seals on transfer tubes
•         Forced to maintain a solids loading below design capacity

        SOLUTION 

•         Bench scale screening of multiple antifoam agents 
•         Antifoam put online
•         Follow up support to dial in a low dosage

C U S T O M E R  F E E D B A C K 

Brian Welch, Oakland County WRC Water Resource Recovery Supervisor 

"Everything is prompt. Customer service is quick to answer problems. When we had trouble with our initial dosing, everyone was quick about coming back and going in the field to look at it. We haven’t had issues. I’d recommend using Haviland for any other products.”

Kenneth Burch, WRC Industrial Pretreatment Supervisor

"Haviland tested defoaming agents and worked out calculations to find the correct solution.”

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