Design Considerations

When approaching the design of an Algaesys plant there are a number of considerations that need to be taken into account in order to ensure that the plant will meet the project needs and that it is the most sensible solution for the project itself.

Key considerations are:

• Location

• Influent make-up

• Effluent quality required

• Flow rates (normal/peak/duration of peak)

Location is important for understanding the typical PAR levels (Photo Active Radiation) of the site and the available space and orientation for installing the plant. For the most efficient, and therefore sustainable operation, the plant is typically installed in a “greenhouse”-like structure to ensure the highest possible level of light reaching the bioreactors, while at the same time maintaining a stable environment for the bioreactors. The location also allows us to understand the ambient temperatures year-round, which is also a significant contributing factor to the speed of treatment.

Influent make-up is important as it gives us the levels of carbon, nitrogen, ammonia, phosphorus, pH and any contaminants that will need to be treated and that we require as feedstock for the organisms that will be doing the treatment work. Ideally, we would be looking for water testing to have taken place over an extended period, ideally at different times/days to ensure we have a good overview of the type and variation of the influent stream.

Effluent quality is required for us to be able to calculate the size of our plant, to understand the usage requirements of the water we are providing for re-use and to understand what the regulatory requirements may be for the site/use in question.

Flow Rates are required for the sizing of the plant itself, as well as the buffers that may be required for influent and effluent. Flow measurements should ideally be available for an extended period of time, not only to account for seasonal variations but also to provide an understanding of potential growth or reduction in capacity.

While we have a standard form to gather most of this information, we find that it is normally significantly easier to have a quick consultation to start with, as some use-cases have specific requirements and may require additional information in order to ascertain the suitability of our solution. We therefore encourage you to book an introductory meeting with one of our staff here in order to ge the ball rolling.