Siemens to provide system for treating flue gas desulfurization scrubber wastewater at an Eastern U.S. Power Plant

The wastewater treatment system will remove suspended solids and heavy metals from the scrubber waste stream so the water can be safely discharged. Siemens’ scope of supply on the new physical/ chemical wastewater treatment system for this project includes system design, equipment supply, project management, system start-up, staff training, and system commissioning. When completed in 2012, the system will be Siemens’ 14th FGD scrubber wastewater treatment system installed at a U.S. power plant.

Scrubbers are used in numerous U.S. power plants to meet emissions standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and/or state agencies. Flue gas systems frequently use limestone-forced-oxidation (LSFO) scrubbers to convert SO2 in the flue gas to gypsum, which can be recycled and sold for wallboard manufacturing, cement additive, or agricultural applications, thus turning a waste stream into a usable resource.

The system from Siemens will include an equalization tank, reaction tank, chemical feed systems, clarifier, gravity sand filters, sludge holding tanks, and recessed chamber filter presses. The equalization tank receives the waste stream and attenuates the flow to eliminate spikes in flow rates and concentration. The reaction tank’s purpose is to de-saturate the wastewater and prepare the wastewater for clarification. A chemical to enhance flocculation is added to the reaction tank. Next, the wastewater flows to a clarifier in which polymer is added to cause the suspended solids to coagulate and settle. Solids from the clarifier are directed to sludge holding tanks prior to dewatering in the filter presses. The treated water from the clarifiers flows to gravity sand filters for final treatment, and is then ready for discharge.

The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the world's leading supplier of production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. With integrated automation technologies as well as comprehensive industry-specific solutions, Siemens increases the productivity, efficiency and flexibility of its customers in the fields of industry and infrastructure. The Sector consists of six Divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility and Osram. With around 222,000 employees worldwide Siemens Industry posted in fiscal year 2008 a profit of EUR3.86 billion with revenues totaling EUR38 billion.

With the business activities of Siemens VAI Metal Technologies, (Linz, Austria), Siemens Water Technologies (Warrendale, Pa., U.S.A.), and Industrial Technologies, (Erlangen, Germany), the Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities. Using its own products, systems and process technologies, Industry Solutions develops and builds plants for end customers, commissions them and provides support during their entire life cycle. With around 31,000 employees worldwide Siemens Industry Solutions achieved an order intake of EUR 8.415 billon in fiscal year 2008.