Installation of Active Carbon Odour Abatement System

ACWA AIR (UK) has completed a contract to design, manufacture, install and commission an Active Carbon Odour Abatement System for the Compost Centre on LondonWaste`s Eco Park.
To minimise emissions of methane (a potent greenhouse gas) a European Union Directive on waste disposal is currently forcing Local authorities to reduce the levels of biodegradable matter sent to landfill. The extraction and composting of "Green" (garden and park) waste from Local Authority waste streams not only reduces the input of biodegradable matter to landfill, but also helps operators to help deliver stringent waste recycling targets recently imposed by both EU and UK Governments.
The 30,000 tpa Compost Centre, is designed to treat a wide assortment of biodegradable materials, including grass cuttings, kitchen scraps and foliage from parks, gardens and green spaces around the various municipal areas. The treatment process transforms biodegradable waste matter into high quality compost for use in agriculture, allotments, parks and gardens – putting rich fibre and nutrients back into the soil.
The ACWA AIR odour abatement system is installed within a new totally enclosed maturing and compost storage building to extract odorous gases from the screening, separation and maturation processes. The odour is generally associated with the movement of maturing compost.
Typical gases entering the abatement system include: Small quantities of NH3 of less than 30Mg/m3; CO2 (from respiring bacteria);
water vapour and steam; bioaerosols and dusts.
H2S, which is extremely corrosive is unlikely to be discharged from the maturation process but can be produced by organic/anaerobic processes (only within the leachate) during temporary storage.
The abatement system comprises high level ducting and a forced draught extraction fan which moves and directs odour to a Vertical Deep Bed Filter (VDB) Low Profile arrangement which accepts an airflow of 45,0003/h.
The bespoke filtration system adsorbes the odorous compounds and is designed to cope effectively with the seasonal variation of gases discharged from the treatment process. When the active carbon filter media is fully laden with waste compounds it is discharged from the system and can be recycled with the composting waste.