The Kent Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) treats municipal sewage sludge by anaerobic digestion. Methane generated from digested sludge fuels combined boiler/shell-in-tube heat exchangers which sustain the process by maintaining sludge at a temperature that supports the growth of bacteria which digest the sludge. The combined boiler/heat exchangers, being integral to the digestion process, have exceeded their useful life and require replacement. Additionally, the existing digester control building, constructed in the 1960’s, is considered a “Classified Location” due to the potential presence of combustible gas from the digestion process. The Classified building does not meet modern fire and electrical code requirements.
CTI was selected to specify a replacement boiler/heat exchanger system while modernizing the digester control building to meet code requirements. A split boiler/heat exchanger was recommended to remove the boiler from the Classified control building. A new Unclassified boiler building was sited to house the boilers while new tube-in-tube heat exchangers were specified in the existing control building. The new boiler building includes a separated electrical room which allows electrical equipment from the digester control building to be relocated to the Unclassified location to satisfy electrical code requirements. Additional improvements included the replacement of digester gas handling and gas safety equipment. This project approach brings the digester building into code compliance with minimal impact to digester operations.
Client
City of Kent, OH
Project Cost
$4.1M (Est.)
Funding
Local
CTI Personnel on project
Rick Reed, PE
Zak Kaczor, PE
Ken Price, PE
CTI Engineers has been providing practical, but innovative, solutions to engineering challenges using nature’s inspiration to enhance and protect the natural world since 1991.
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