Village of Algonquin
Algonquin, IL
Intern: Brian Katamay
University of Illinois at Chicago
The Village of Algonquin is a northwestern suburb approximately 40 miles from
downtown Chicago. Algonquin's public works department manages a five MGD rated
wastewater treatment plant and three separate ground water treatment plants.
Since the wastewater treatment plant's initial construction, it has seen many
renovations. The most recent development was the addition of a biological nutrient
removal process for the enhanced removal of phosphorous thereby increasing treatment
capacity to current levels.
Within the waste water treatment facility, the intern was tasked with looking into
the mechanical systems, energy demand and consumption, process issues and
inefficiencies, as well as the bio-methane output of the anaerobic digesters.
Results:
The intern accomplished the following tasks:
- Evaluated and recommended upgrades to the lighting system
- Detailed wastestreams of potable water usage
- Optimized the ultraviolet disinfection system to reduce labor, energy use, and
part costs while still maintaining proper sterilization levels.
- Going through mechanical systems, listed ways to improve motor efficiencies,
further automate operational schedules, increase power transfer, and reduce energy
consumption.
- Cataloged new mixing technologies for better process control in future plant
expansions
- Worked with the project engineer to refine process control within the facility
and amended specific operational issues associated with the aerobic and anaerobic
digesters.
- Quantified the amount of gas being produced by the anaerobic digesters and the
gas quality.
- Researched the various methods and technologies available for the biogas utilization,
as well as increasing the total amount of gas being produced by the facility
- Corrected data collection and process calculations used to determine various test
parameters.
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