08. May 2020

Process belts: Efficient sewage sludge treatment

The amended German Sewage Sludge Ordinance (AbfKlärV) prohibits spreading of sewage sludge from sewage plants with a capacity of more than 50,000 or more than 100,000 population equivalents in the medium term. In addition to this, it stipulates phosphorus recovery as an obligatory process for all sewage plants serving more than 50,000 residents. Monoincineration is considered a realistic process for handling this. Upstream sewage sludge dewatering and drying plays a key part in this regard, as the sewage sludge must exhibit a dry matter content of at least 20 percent. Co-incineration even requires a dry matter content of more than 90 percent.

During preparations for economic thermal utilization, process belts for pre-dewatering, filter belt presses and belt dryers from GKD make a key contribution to efficient sewage sludge dewatering and drying. Their dewatering performance and particle retention in the filter belt presses determine the dry matter content that can be achieved. Whether all-rounder type 1003 or type 5090 for high pressures: all GKD screen belts for sludge dewatering excel through a high degree of transverse stability, weave types and materials that are matched to the applications, as well as strong, flat PAD seams. These features together guarantee maximum protection from damage that might otherwise be caused by external mechanical influences. The spiral fabrics from GKD also secure a consistently high throughput and dry matter content, while impressing with excellent longitudinal and transverse stability. They also offer another option in the field of sludge dewatering to help ensure that the best customer-specific solution can be found for the wide range of applications and different on-site conditions.

Woven screen belts and spiral fabrics from GKD therefore offer ideal conditions for a long service life and hassle-free operation.
GKD dryer belts – up to eight meters wide and 200 meters long – guarantee cost-saving and environmentally friendly sewage sludge drying. They offer protection from electrostatic charges at temperatures up to 150°C in high-temperature dryers or up to 110°C in low-temperature dryers. Depending on the application, they are produced from polyester or PPC and incorporate bronze wires that are interwoven in the running direction. Thanks to application-specific and, where necessary, even individual thermosetting, the dimensionally stable belts are matched precisely to the respective environmental conditions.