Case Study for Customer Location CA50:
Reservoir or Lake Use:
Municipal wastewater treatment system for the city, population 5,500.
System Overview and Reservoir:
Cell 1: 1.6 acres, 10 ft deep, 3.2 million gallons, loading is 903 lbs of BOD/acre day, has 40 hp of grid aeration that was operating 24 hours per day. Cell 2: 2.27 acres, 8 ft deep, 5.3 million gallons, has 20 hp of grid aeration that was operating 24 hours per day. Flow rate: 0.8 MGD, with 100% of the flow to Cell 1, then to Cell 2, then to Cell 3 (Perc Pond). System has continuous discharge. Detention time in cell 1 = 4 days; Cell 2 = 6.6 days.
Reported Problem Before SolarBee Installation:
High energy costs to maintain 24-hour per day grid aeration.
SolarBee Installation:
Date: April 2002. Cell 1: 1 SB2500 with 24-hour electrical kit. Cell 2: 1 SB2500 with 24-hour electrical kit.
Results:
The customer was immediately able to reduce the run time on aerators, and saved about 30% energy savings in Cell 1 and 75% energy savings in Cell 2, totaling $37,000 per year on electrical savings. City applied for and received a state Energy Commission (EC) Grant base on removing all 60 hp from peak load. The EC report on the measurement and verification of results is available. In February 2003, a SB10000 was installed in Cell 1, while the SB2500 from Cell 1 was moved to Cell 2, for a total of 2 SB2500s in Cell 2. Estimated energy savings in 2003 have also been realized in subsequent years. The customer reports all is going well, and they are happy with the performance of the units and resultant energy/cost savings.
Photo shows SolarBee 2500 in cell - note ripples on pond.
Updated: 04/10/2007
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