Stamford Bio-Gas

The Stamford Bio-Gas project is located at the Stamford Water Pollution Control Authority (SWPCA) in Stamford, CT. The plant serves the City of Stamford and the neighboring town of Darien in removing and properly disposing of pollutants in the wastewater by the most practical and economic means, and then disinfecting the wastewater before it is discharged into the receiving water.

Wastewater residuals (sludge, biosolids) are produced in every wastewater treatment plant as part of the water purification process. Here at the SWPCA, we dry the sludge to create a Class A biosolid. The dried sludge is pelletized and is currently being used as a fertilizer. The SWPCA is taking the management of biosolids a step further, and is presently undergoing a research project to create energy.

Our goal of the bio-gas research project is to convert the sludge biomass into a renewable fuel gas to power gas turbines, and internal combustion engines (ICE) which in turn generate electricity. Waste heat capture for steam generation as well as hot water production is also being explored. The liquid sludge is presently being dewaterd, dried, and made into pellets. We also hope to provide a reliable, valuable and consistent fuel source that has the potential to impact impact electrical power generation as well as revolutionize and set a new standard for the economic and environmental management of waste sludge in the wastewater industry globally. With further research on creating bio-gas, we have the potential to

• Reduce our dependence on foreign oil
• Reduce the cost for energy and demand on current oil supply
• Secure energy generator system (protection from terrorism)
• Solve a waste management problem

The energy techonology we use is known as gasification. Gasification uses advanced thermal and chemical processes to convert carbon based portions of waste streams into a renewable fuel, which is then used to produce electricity, chemicals and/or liquid fuels. There are different forms of gasification, but the particular kind that we are presently using in our research and demonstration is known as downdraft gasification.