This study investigates the cumulative energy demand (CED) of different systems for the management of urban wastewater, following the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment. In a hypothetical case study for an urban area (5,000 inhabitants), all relevant processes for wastewater collection and treatment and the construction of infrastructure are described in a substance flow model. The conventional system requires 1,250 MJ/(pe*a), with the operation contributing 45%, the infrastructure 7%, and the system expansion (production of mineral fertilizer and electricity) 48% to the total CED. The separation systems have a CED of 930–1,182 MJ/(pe*a) depending on their configuration. Results of the impact assessment show that recovering energy from the organic matter of toilet wastewater and household biowaste in a digestion process can decrease the cumulative energy demand by 13–26%. Energetic benefits of mineral fertilizer substitution are relatively small compared to the energy recovered from organic matter. Decisive parameters for the energy analysis are the amount of biowaste which is co-digested with toilet wastewater and the energy demand of the vacuum plant.
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Research Article|
January 01 2012
Energy analysis of conventional and source-separation systems for urban wastewater management using Life Cycle Assessment Available to Purchase
C. Remy;
1Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin gGmbH, Cicerostr. 24, D-10709 Berlin
E-mail: [email protected]
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M. Jekel
M. Jekel
2Department of Water Quality Control (DWQC), Technical University of Berlin, Secr. KF4, Strasse des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin
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Water Sci Technol (2012) 65 (1): 22–29.
Article history
Received:
March 09 2011
Accepted:
July 06 2011
Citation
C. Remy, M. Jekel; Energy analysis of conventional and source-separation systems for urban wastewater management using Life Cycle Assessment. Water Sci Technol 1 January 2012; 65 (1): 22–29. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2011.766
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