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Frederikshavn Water Utility

The municipal water utility “Forsyningen” located in Frederikshavn, Denmark has focused on the implementation of methodologies to better estimate and quantify greenhouse gas emissions from a number of different wastewater processes within their municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

Determining the Actual N2O Derived CO2 Footprint

The utility runs both recirculation and biofilm wastewater processes. Due to increasing uncertainty in using emission key numbers, the utility contacted Unisense Environment for assistance in determining the actual N2O derived CO2 footprint. As the foundation for the new initiative, the utility started out with monitoring N2O emission from a standard recirculation.

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First Data Analysis after Two Weeks

In order to save energy and increase the N-removal capacity, the utility operated the aerobic zone with intermittent aeration, allowing denitrification in the aerated zone depending on the ammonium levels in the tank. Unisense Environment installed two N2O Wastewater Systems, one placed in the anoxic tank and the other in the aerobic tank. To facilitate the understanding of the N2O formation, the utility logged N2O sensor data with all other plant data through a standard integration to the SCADA system.

Following a quick 2-point calibration procedure, the sensors started monitoring N2O levels. After a 14 day measuring period, the utility extracted a full data series from the SCADA system and sent the data to Unisense Environment for analysis. Using different data management tools, Unisense Environment documented the overall correlations and in particular the N2O production.

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Large Variations during a 14-day Measurement Campaign

From the 14-day period, it was clear that the variation in N2O emission was extensive. The main emission over the period was linked to two high load events that led to 53% of the total N2O emission during 42 hours out of the 14 days. Furthermore, low dissolved oxygen set points in the beginning of the campaign led to a significant increase in the N2O concentration, clearly stressing the correlation between low oxygen and N2O formation. During the analyzed period, the N2O formation in the anoxic tank was very low and only during a high ammonium period did the N2O concentration increase to 0.3 N-mg/L for 30 hours. In the aerated part, N2O was mainly produced during the anoxic phases introduced by the intermittent aeration and subsequently stripped to the atmosphere by the aeration.

Finally, emission calculations were performed using peer reviewed and validated models to assess the N2O emissions and derived CO2 equivalents. This was compared with the aeration power derived CO2 equivalents and presented to the management of the water utility as part of a 2-day consultancy service. The total carbon footprint from the period was calculated to be 10 ton CO2 equivalents with N2O derived CO2 accounting for 59% of the total emission.

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A Shortlist of Problems and Possible Solutions

From the short monitoring and data analysis campaign, a shortlist of problems and possible solutions was derived:

  • The N2O concentration and emission is highly variable
  • Dissolved oxygen control is important to avoid elevated N2O production and emission
  • Short periods of high ammonium loads should be avoided by balancing the influent load
  • Control strategies with COD enhanced denitrification can potentially diminish the N2O emission
  • Energy optimization using pause-aeration strategies must be coupled with N2O monitoring to avoid excessive N2O emissions.

With a small investment, the utility gained a real insight into the source and causes of its N2O derived emissions and can now act towards minimizing the climate impact from N2O.

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Tech Notes & References

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Tech Notes
References
Positioning of N2O Sensor_700x400
Tech Notes References
Positioning of N2O Sensors in Typical Biological Wastewater Treatment Processes

Two liquid phase N2O sensors accurately represent process dynamics and emissions in most common raceway and recirculation reactors.

Process Emissions Based on Emission Factors and Measurement_700x400
Tech Notes References
Nitrous Oxide Data Directly from Sensor to Sustainability Report

Learn how Kerteminde Forsyning applied nitrous oxide data to reduce the formation of N2O while maintaining low nitrogen emissions

N2O Sensor
Tech Notes References
N2O sensor matches 91% of measured off-gas emissions

Case Study: Full-scale comparison of N2O emissions determined by liquid sensors and off-gas measurement

Biofos_Avedøre_013_700x400
Tech Notes References
Direct Effect of Activated Sludge Concentration on N2O Emission and CO2-equivalents at Full-scale

Significant 3-fold increase in IPCC2019 wastewater N2O emission factor supported by Danish studies.

Figur 1_featured_700x400
Tech Notes References
Positioning of the N2O Wastewater Sensor

A case study from Kralingseveer WWTP in the Netherlands explores the influence of sensor placement.

N2O mechanisms
Tech Notes
National N2O Mapping and Reduction of N2O Emission through Advanced Online Control

Based on data from Danish WWTPs through advanced online-control.

Figure 1: Activated Sludge Tank
Tech Notes References
N2O Monitoring Highlights Potential for GHG Emissions Reduction

Learn about the results from N2O monitoring in the activated sludge tanks at Severn Trent’s Spernal sewage treatment plant

Denitrification
Tech Notes
A Tool for Carbon Dosage Control

Monitor the N2O concentration in the liquid and use N2O as a control parameter for carbon dosage in the denitrification process.

N2O Sensor Controls Emissions from Deammonification Processes
Tech Notes References
N2O Sensor Controls Emissions from Deammonification Processes

Learn how the water utility Aquafin controls emissions from deammonification processes using the the N2O Wastewater Sensor

Nitrous Oxide Measurement
Tech Notes
Nitrous Oxide Measurement as Key Step towards Climate-Neutral Wastewater Treatment

Greenhouse gas emissions at wastewater treatment plants are coming into focus as the water industry works to reduce its climate footprint

WWTP-Flensburg_credit-photo-Andreas Große
References
Identifying N2O at the Flensburg wastewater treatment plant

The investment costs had initially deterred us somewhat. However ...

Characterizing-N2O-emissions-from-WWTPs_fig3_700x400
Tech Notes
Characterizing N2O emissions from WWTPs

A study of three very different WWTPs in Denmark: Bjergmarken (125,000 PE), Holbæk (60,000 PE), and Hvalsø (11,570 PE)

Controller-Biofos_1400x800
Tech Notes
N2O Emissions from Danish WWTPs – a two year monitoring project

The available data show that the nitrous oxide emission varies in time and between wastewater treatment plants.

Trickling Filters Fig. 1
Tech Notes
Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Trickling Filters

Information regarding N2O emissions from trickling filters is limited, partly caused by the difficulties in capturing off-gases.

IPCC-2019-report
Tech Notes
IPCC Greenhouse Gas Emission Factors

Significant 3-fold increase in IPCC2019 wastewater N2O emission factor supported by Danish studies.