Sustainability Matters Aug/Sep 2014

contents

August/September 2014

4 Leading the way Dealing with contaminated sites in Australia

6

Preparing for climate change makes economic sense

14

Case Studies

22

Let’s talk about sludge

25

Research & development

29 The picture of a sustainable workplace 30

Pump feature products & services

35 Developing urban efficiency through collaboration 40 Resource centre

Legislation, governance, programs and industry links to help guide your sustainability development.

42 In my opinion Energy at the crossroads

D

espite the recent back tracking on the carbon tax by the Abbott Government, it still makes economic sense to incorporate sustainability into the daily operations and decision making of most businesses and industries in Australia. One reason is due to the emerging trend of investing in or purchasing goods from businesses that are adopting more sustainable practices.

Other reasons include cost factors associated with scarce resources and the threat of adverse environmental impacts.

CEDA (the Committee for Economic Development of Australia) has recently released a report titled ‘The Economics of Climate Change’. The report includes details on significant business risks associated with climate change that cannot be ignored. This is discussed further on page 6.

When industries work together, positive sustainable results can be achieved and this is demonstrated with a number of case studies and articles in this issue, for example: Wiley shows how it has improved sustainability for a meat processing company with an innovative biogas and water treatment plant on page 8.

Degrémont explains how it has been assisting the power sector with its water management on page 42.

Also, page 13 includes details of the first public private partnership (PPP) for the West Australian water industry, which is designed to provide a secure and exclusive source of potable water for around 100,000 rural and town services.

Carolyn Jackson sm@westwick-farrow.com.au

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Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 3

Leading the way

Dealing with contaminated sites in Australia

B

Professor Ravi Naidu, Managing Director and CEO, CRC CARE.

Even when contamination is known about and contained, its presence can prevent the development of otherwise productive real estate.

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y some estimates, Australia has as many as 160,000 potentially contaminated sites. Most of these are located in urban environments, with common examples including disused petrol stations and former industrial sites. Such sites are a major drain on cities and communities.

In the worst cases, exposure to harmful chemicals causes illness or even death.

Even when contamination is known about and contained, its presence can prevent the development of otherwise productive real estate.

Furthermore, because contaminants are not static, areas previously thought safe can become toxic over time. Take, for example, the current situation in the Adelaide suburb of Clovelly Park, where trichloroethylene (TCE) from former car and car-part factories has been detected in groundwater, soil and, more recently, at elevated levels in indoor air. Amid criticism that residents have not received timely information, the state government is in the process of evacuating dozens of households. The whole process of relocation along with containment or remediation will cost many millions of dollars (not including the legal costs associated with determining who - former site owners or the government - needs to foot the bill).

The need to deal with contaminated sites quickly and cost effectively is one of the major reasons that the federal government - along with state regulators and numerous industry partners - backed the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE) in 2005 and extended that support for nine years in 2011. By leading research at several universities and the CSIRO, the CRC is developing remediation technologies designed to solve the contamination problems that most vex industry and government.

One of the best examples is CRC CARE’s collaboration with the Department of Defence to clean up toxic aqueous filmforming foams (AFFFs) such as PFOS and PFOA - active ingredients in firefighting foam - at several Royal Australian Air Force bases around Australia, where

levels as high as 30,000 parts per billion (ppb) had been detected. CRC’s scientists, aware of the ability of clay-based materials to immobilise toxins, identified a clay type that is especially effective in trapping the AFFFs. By tailoring its mineral constituents, the researchers were able to fine-tune the clay’s properties to achieve full recovery of the AFFFs. In further laboratory trials, this modified clay, named matCARE, remediated both water and soil, reducing the concentration of PFOS, PFOA and other fluorinated surfactants to below 2 ppb - the level above which site owners must inform authorities. CRC CARE then designed the AFFF remediation technology as a portable, containerised treatment plant, commissioned them at the RAAF bases and trained local personnel to operate and monitor the facilities.

CRC CARE does a great deal of work on contaminated-site policy. The CRC made significant inputs to the 2013 update of the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure, or ASC NEPM, which ensures a nationally consistent approach to the assessment of site contamination. While the ASC NEPM has helped improve the way that contamination is assessed, approaches to remediation itself remain fragmented nationally, with each state setting its own policies and guidelines. CRC CARE is currently leading the effort to harmonise remediation of contaminated sites nationally, through the development of a National Remediation Framework (NRF). Designed to complement the ASC NEPM, the NRF will provide practical guidance to practitioners and regulators with the aim of supporting: ready transfer of best practice among jurisdictions; use of national expertise across jurisdictions (thereby improving overall standards over time); cost efficiencies; a common remediation language across jurisdictions; training efficiencies; and improved confidence and certainty.

Over the coming year, CRC CARE will be seeking industry and community feedback on draft NRM documents (see www.crccare.com/knowledge-sharing/ national-remediation-framework for more information).

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Preparing for climate change makes economic sense While the politics of climate change still remains a contentious issue in Australia, with the axing of the carbon tax by the Abbott government, there still remains a significant business risk associated with climate change that cannot be ignored.

T

he repeal of the carbon tax has been seen by many as a backwards step in terms of sensible economic and environmental policy. According to Dr Paul Burke, Research Fellow Crawford School of Public Policy, “The carbon price was doing its job: reducing emissions and contributing to government revenue. It was one of the best taxes the government had on its books,” he said.

But many feared Australia was going alone with its fight against climate change and it could jeopardise the Australian economy. Others now argue that Australia is one of the only countries scaling back its political action on climate change.

Australia not alone UN negotiations are underway to develop a new international climate change agreement that will cover all countries.

The objective of the COP21 in Paris in 2015 is to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, from all the nations of the world.

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The majority of the world’s major cities have disclosed that climate change presents a physical risk to the businesses operating in their cities, according to the Protecting our Capital report, written by not-for-profit organisation CDP, AECOM and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.

In the report, 207 cities around the world including Johannesburg, London, Melbourne, New York, São Paulo, Sydney, Tokyo and Wellington disclosed their climate change strategies and actions through CDP this year. Three-quarters of these cities disclose that extreme weather and other effects of climate change threaten the stability of their local economies, with damage to property and capital assets, transport and infrastructure destruction, and citizen wellbeing being among the most commonly reported risks.

“Melbourne and Sydney experience extreme temperatures during summers that put strains on essential infrastructure, such as electricity and transport networks,” noted Ben Smith, Associate

Director - Sustainability at AECOM. “Both the City of Melbourne and the City of Sydney are facilitating action on climate change because they recognise that future climate impacts on businesses will depend on measures taken by business, councils and state governments working in collaboration to manage these risks.”

Kerem Yilmaz, C40 head of research, added, “The need to understand and act upon climate risk is a growing priority.

That’s why these cities are taking steps right now to help create more climateresilient communities, economies and infrastructure.”

The CDP report also noted that last year a record number of financial institutions asked the companies they invest in to disclose their climate emissions, risks and actions.

Economics of climate change CEDA (the Committee for Economic Development of Australia) also recently released a report titled ‘The Economics of Climate Change’. According to the report,

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Green economics

Australia’s economy will be critically exposed on two significant economic fronts if we do not ensure an appropriate response to

© iStockphoto.com/kokouu

climate change.

if Australia does not respond to climate change with a scientific, evidence-based, appropriately funded policy, the economic consequences may be devastating.

CEDA Chief Executive Professor the Hon Stephen Martin said climate change is both an environmental and an economic issue and that “Australia’s economy will be critically exposed on two significant economic fronts if we do not ensure an appropriate response to climate change”.

The first consequence is the economic and social impacts of increasing extreme weather events. The second relates to capital flows and investment in Australia.

“The first area that leaves our economy exposed if we don’t take action relates to the consequences of increasing extreme weather events and the economic and social impact that these events have on Australia’s production capacity,” he said.

“We only have to look at the news in recent years, both at home and abroad, to see the devastation of these events - Cyclone Yasi, Black Saturday, the Queensland Floods, Hurricane Sandy,

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Hurricane Katrina and the repeated UK floods. “Where these events have occurred in Australia they have had a direct impact on industry and on the hip pocket of most Australians, from taxes used to fund drought relief packages to the Queensland flood recovery levy implemented in 2011.”

Professor Martin made reference to the town of Roma, Queensland, which has endured several significant floods in recent years. He noted, “If a levee to protect the town had been built in 2005, it would have cost $20 million. However, since 2008 $100 million has been paid out in insurance claims and since 2005 a repair bill of over $500 million has been incurred by the public and private sectors.

“Statistics show that the number of catastrophic weather events is increasing and the economic losses associated with these events are also trending up, which is why we need a national approach to address these risks,” he added.

“What Australia requires is a framework for assessing climate risks and considering possible actions that may lower those risks.”

The second area where Australia stands exposed economically to the effects of climate change relates to the availability of capital to fund its infrastructure and other critical needs.

“Australia is reliant on foreign capital to fund major projects, and new developments in international climate change policy are likely to impact international capital flow and investment decisionmaking,” Professor Martin said.

“Applying climate-related risk assessments when considering investment and financing decisions is an emerging trend globally. This trend is likely to have consequences for nationally significant industries in Australia, such as the resources sector, and associated asset values.”

There are global concerns about investing in carbon-intensive industries and this has already influenced the decisions of some major international banks. For example, in recent news German bank

Deutsche Bank announced that it would not invest in the coal port terminal expansion proposed at Abbot Point in North Queensland.

“Australian businesses and governments need to ensure they keep in step with international developments and have the options available to move to less carbonintensive industries and energy sources if we are to remain globally competitive,” Professor Martin said.

“We must invest in research and development to drive technological breakthroughs and have in place regulatory regimes for all energy sources, including nuclear, so that options can be taken up swiftly as technological breakthroughs occur.”

Renewable options In July, the Clean Energy Council released a report that included a comprehensive overview of Australia’s renewable energy and energy-efficiency sectors. The report found that renewable energy’s share of the Australia’s power generation rose to over 14% in the 2013 calendar year. According to Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green, “Last year saw another year of steady growth for solar power and wind energy in Australia, despite sustained uncertainty about the key policy settings for the sector.”

Investment in large-scale renewables has reportedly slowed in 2014 as a result of uncertainty surrounding the renewable energy target (RET) review and the possible axing of the CEFC and ARENA under the carbon tax repeal. The industry still awaits the results of the RET review, but both ARENA and CEFC have now been saved (although ARENA’s budget has been cut). While we are yet to see if Abbott’s Direct Action plan can provide a suitable alternative to the carbon tax, the economic reality is that a green economy (where profits are maximised and environment risk is minimised) should remain ‘business as usual’ despite the politics.

Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 7

Food manufacturer improves sustainability with biogas recovery Food manufacturing specialist Wiley has designed and constructed an innovative biogas and water treatment plant for JBS Australia. The innovation has resulted in improved sustainability and a reduced carbon footprint for the meat processing company.

The JBS Dinmore facility in the Queensland suburb of Ipswich processes 1675 beef cattle per shift and employs 1950 staff. Processing such a large volume of meat and by-products requires a significant amount of energy.

Prior to the project, the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) comprised four anaerobic lagoons (ALs) whose primary function was the removal of organic material suspended in the wastewater. There were also four natural gas-fired boilers on site producing steam for hot-water production and rendering operations.

Wiley was contracted to design, install and commission a more efficient effluent treatment system to capture and re-use biogas released by the anaerobic

digestion as an on-site renewable energy source. The project is claimed to be the first of its kind in the Australian red meat processing industry to retrofit an existing WWTP. The project’s key solutions included: • Construction of a 20 ML covered anaerobic lagoon (CAL); • Covering of two existing anaerobic lagoons (AL) with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to capture biogas, and then burn the gas through the boiler to provide energy for the plant; • Installation of a biogas train to pipe biogas from the CALs to a central flare and then to the existing 10 MW boiler;

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• Upgrade of WWTP with a new dissolved air flotation (DAF) unit.

The wastewater treatment system was improved through the installation of new pre-treatment equipment combined with CAL technology to optimise the generation of biogas for combustion in the existing natural gas-fired boiler plant which was modified to burn biogas.

The existing WWTP pre-treatment system was also improved by installing a new DAF unit. The DAF removes organic solids (waste fats, oils and greases, referred to as FOGs) which currently pass through the pre-treatment system and into the ALs. The DAF unit regulates the inclusion of FOGs in the wastewater that passes into the new CALs. The ability to regulate FOGs inclusion rates is essential to optimising biogas generation from the CALs. Two of the four existing ALs were fitted with high density polyethylene (HDPE) covers to enable the capture of biogas. The remaining two uncovered ALs were decommissioned and a new covered anaerobic lagoon (CAL) with a capacity of 20 ML was constructed.

Following construction of the CALs, a biogas train was installed to pipe biogas from the CALs to a central flare and the existing 10 MW boiler for co-combustion with natural gas. This required a new burner and control system for the boiler that would automatically prioritise the use of biogas over natural gas.

The result has led to not only an improved waste management system but also an 89% reduction in the facility’s annual greenhouse gas emissions and a saving of more than $1 million a year on natural gas costs.

Wiley was additionally recognised for its efforts at the Queensland Master Builders Association (QMBA) Brisbane Regional Awards, receiving the award for Innovation in Environmental Management Construction.

“This is an industry benchmark, demonstrating the reality of environmental processing solutions for heavy-emission producers.” said Graham Harvey, Wiley project director.

The technology and processes deployed as part of this project will provide addition learnings that will be applied across other JBS meat processing facilities in Australia of similar scale and nature. The project is both replicable and scalable within the red meat processing industry and other food processing industries that have a biological waste stream and a need to offset on-site energy requirements for heat and/or power generation.

Wiley & Co Pty Ltd www.wiley.com.au

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case studies Biogas projects turning waste into energy for agribusinesses The biogas sector is presenting huge potential for the meat and food processing industries to access energy at reduced costs.

Biogas-fuelled power stations supported by engineered anaerobic digestion systems are a major source of energy in Europe and North America. To date, biogas has played a minor role in energy production for food processors in Australia and New Zealand.

But this is changing.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is helping catalyse up to $40 million in new biogas energy infrastructure by providing finance to Australian biogas specialist Quantum Power Limited. These biogas projects will enable food processors and other agribusinesses to turn on-site waste streams into a valuable energy resource.

Quantum’s build-own-operate model makes biogas plants accessible without the need for upfront capital from the processor. As Quantum Power CEO Richard Brimblecombe explains, “We build plants that convert the business’s

organic waste to a bioenergy supply that is used to power its operations and the company agrees to purchase the generated power at a discount to gridsupplied electricity for a specified time.

This immediately reduces the business’s power bills and reduces costs associated with organic waste disposal. Our buildown-operate model effectively provides a 100% off-balance sheet financing solution for our clients.”

Generating on-site energy using renewable sources also delivers additional economic benefits by reducing network upgrades to satisfy electricity demand. It also provides significant opportunities for waste management. But perhaps the most impressive biogas prediction is that in the agriculture and meat processing industries alone, it is claimed that greenhouse gas emissions could decrease by two million tonnes a year for a capital investment of around $300 million.

“In many respects, biogas is a superior energy form to wind and solar, in that it’s not reliant on weather conditions for performance,” says Brimblecombe. “With biogas, you have the ability to produce a consistent power output, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There’s a real opportunity to develop the biogas market in Australia, particularly given we do have substantial livestock and food processing industries.”

Quantum PowerLimited www.quantumpower.com.au

Golden Circle improves solids capture An upgrade at Heinz Australia’s Golden Circle plant in Brisbane, featuring CST Wastewater Solutions’ high-efficiency rotary drum screening, is said to have sharply improved solids capture and reduced solids waste disposal volumes.

The screening technology was used by Golden Circle to replace a previous plant with 1 mm screening capacity. The new installation features a 0.5 mm rotary screen, complete with compactor. The complete installation was designed, supplied and installed by CST. The installation allows improved and greater removal of solids from the wastewater, with considerably better solids capture, said CST Managing Director Michael Bambridge.

“The compact, new, high-efficiency system also allowed the removal of a tall existing structure and hoppers, making solids handling more accessible for the plant operator, improving operational efficiency and enhancing OHS benefits by reducing solids handling,” he said. “The compaction unit also reduces, by up

10 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2014

to half, the volumes of solids to be transported. The design features all-stainless construction, including base frame, and is fully enclosed for OHS odour and aerosol control. Additional features include: • non-lubricated chains and non-metallic drive sprockets • upgraded running wheel design • no mechanical parts in contact with screened solids • corrosion resistant • designed to handle high fat and grease loadings • self-cleaning The internally fed rotary drum screen can use wedge wire or perforated hole drums. Wastewater passes into the internal feed tank before overflowing the weir onto the screen face of the drum. Solids are collected on the screen face, while the screened water passes through the screen face under gravity. Collected solids are discharged via the screen drum mouth. The internal feed tank controls inlet velocities and distributes the flow evenly onto the screen face.

“The full stainless screen design is highly versatile, accommodating either slot or hole configurations, depending on the application,” said Bambridge.

CST Wastewater Solutions www.cstwastewater.com

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Securing water supplies in WA

Š freeimages.com/profile/pflores

Representing the first public private partnership (PPP) for the West Australian water industry, the $300 million Mundaring Water Treatment Plant is designed to provide a secure and exclusive source of potable water for around 100,000 rural and town services in West Australia’s Wheatbelt and Goldfields regions.

The project is the latest and largest upgrade to the iconic Goldfields and Agricultural Water Supply Scheme which has been operating since 1904. The PPP model was adopted to maximise technical input from the private sector while providing the owner with a commercially competitive capital and operational cost. It is a first-class example of what can be achieved when a large number of parties providing different services are brought together for a single purpose.

Funded and built on behalf of the Water Corporation of WA by the Helena Water consortium, the design and construction of the plant was wholly funded by

private-sector finance. ATJV (a joint venture company owned equally by ACCIONA Agua and TRILITY) and GHD were the designers for the project, with ATJV and Brookfield Multiplex responsible for all construction and commissioning activities.

Located on an historic, redeveloped 13.6 hectare site near Mundaring Weir, 30 km east of Perth, the project comprises a fully commissioned 165 ML/day (expandable to 240 ML/day) water treatment plant and pump station.

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Reliable and consistent delivery of water to the right quality and of the right volume is at the very heart of this project. The contract requires that the drinking water produced meets specific parameters at five different stages of the treatment process, which is monitored using 14 online parameters, via 65 separate automatic online sample measurements.

At all stages, the implementation team was independently challenged on whether delivery could be better achieved using more sustainable design or techniques. This process ensured the project was delivered using innovation and the latest technology in the most sustainable way possible. As an example, the equipment selection process included whole-of-life cost analysis to ensure the longevity of the asset life, whilst realising energy consumption efficiencies.

During construction, re-use of existing pipelines was incorporated wherever possible. To enable this to take place without compromising reliability of water delivery, an extensive existing pipeline condition assessment was undertaken. Construction of a watertreatment plant on five separate levels on the side of a steep hill inherently comes with its safety challenges. All foreseeable issues were addressed via construction management plans which were strictly enforced. Where unforeseeable circumstances were encountered these were quickly identified, assessed and new procedures adopted to eliminate safety risks.

The project objectives have been surpassed and the facility and integration work was constructed and commissioned in around two years. The project has also achieved all its stakeholder key objectives, and in many areas surpassed expectations.

Liaison and involvement of the local community at all stages of the project was and remains essential. The effectiveness of meeting this objective was assessed via regular meetings with the community representative group, at which feedback was encouraged.

Officially opened in March 2014, ATJV will now operate and maintain the plant and pump station for 35 years.

TRILITY Pty Ltd www.trility.com.au

Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 13

case studies UF membrane system for UK water treatment facility United Utilities UK selected Evoqua Water Technologies to design, supply, install and commission a modular MEMCOR ultrafiltration (UF) membrane system at its Rochdale treatment works in greater Manchester. Evoqua worked with United Utilities and its contractor KMI Plus to meet the site’s regulatory and capacity challenges, as well as provide a costeffective and sustainable solution.

The project was required to not involve civil works and use the existing building on Clay Lane, which meant the new membrane plant needed to be compact. The closure of United Utilities’ Haweswater Aqueduct for maintenance also placed time constraints on the project as it meant the site would need to be working at full capacity by the time of the closure to prevent any disruption to local supply.

At the heart of the redevelopment was Evoqua’s MEMCOR UF membrane system, a pressurised, pre-engineered membrane system with a modular building block configuration. The system incorporates automated processes including backwashing to remove built-up

solids from membrane surfaces at regular, operator-adjustable intervals - as well as in-built cleaning and membrane integrity testing to ensure a consistent and efficient operation, regardless of feed quality.

The membrane system’s vertical hollow fibre membrane configuration is sealed at both ends to separate the feed side from the filtrate side of the membrane module. Fibres are made with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer, which provides optimum strength and durability. Its integrated backwashing, which offers high feed recovery due to the lower volumes of filtered water being used during the process, eliminates the need for separate pumps.

Before installing the membrane technology, Evoqua performed a pilotscale trial to demonstrate the capabilities of the system and ensure it would deliver the quality of water needed to supply the local area. The trial confirmed the system’s ability to adapt to the works’ raw water quality and deliver constant high-quality water. The full installation was completed within 14 months. The simple design of the system enabled Evoqua to install platforms around the works, making every area of the system easily accessible for operators. Clay Lane is now capable of treating 16 ML of drinking water each day.

“By working closely with Evoqua, we were able to identify the most cost and operationally effective route to improve our Rochdale works,” said United Utilities Project Manager Danny Brennan.

“Considering the scale of the redevelopment and the added time pressures, we’ve been able to create a high-performing, sustainable treatment plant efficiently and cost effectively.”

Evoqua Water Technologies Pty Ltd www.evoqua.com

Richmond Marketplace makes energy savings Property fund manager ISPT is the owner of Richmond Marketplace, home to a variety of retailers. Many of these retailers have their own sustainability targets to meet, but with ISPT owning the property, there is limited incentive for tenants to invest in energy-efficiency measures.

Forum Group’s powerPerfector voltage power optimisation (VPO) technology works with both landlords and tenants to help reduce energy costs and carbon within commercial buildings.

The energy cost for the communal areas is met by the tenants by way of a fixed service charge. The centre will see the benefit of the energy-saving implementations, which they can pass on to the tenant once the cost of capital has been recouped, by the way of reduced rates or delays to planned rate increases.

ISPT has implemented a range of sustainability measures to improve the performance and efficiency at Richmond Marketplace, including: • the provision of a new building management control system; • the provision of variable speed drives on all pump and fan motors; • carbon monoxide monitoring and fan control for the car park ventilation; • efficient air-conditioning services; • car park, mall and back-of-house lighting upgrades.

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The centre installed three of Forum Group’s VPO units on the three communal supplies covering lighting and heating ventilation and cooling (HVAC) loads. The 105, 150 and 830 kVA units have led to a reduction in electricity use of 11.4% on average, saving $34,117 every year. The power quality has also been markedly improved, with an average reduction in reactive power of 42.7% and an average improvement in power factor of 6.85%.

Forum Group www.forumgroup.com.au

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case studies Solar power keeps agricultural manufacturer competitive Yingli Green Energy, the solar PV manufacturer known as Yingli Solar, has supplied Burder Industries with a 355 kWp solar PV system through its distribution partner, EnviroGroup. Burder Industries is a regional manufacturer that produces customised tractor and earthmoving equipment for the agricultural industry.

Burder Industries competes directly with imported equipment for the agricultural industry that is produced overseas at a lower cost, and thus needed to reduce its operating costs to increase competitiveness and protect local jobs in the regional area. As a large user of electricity, the company saw solar power as an effective solution to reduce costs.

Its facility in Wangaratta, Victoria, has now been equipped with 1420 250 W YGE High Efficiency Polycrystalline Yingli Solar PV panels. The installation will generate approximately 467 MWh of solar energy per year and it is expected to provide for 90% of the company’s daily energy consumption.

“While making the switch to solar has been a large capital investment for our business, we see it as a wise investment decision,” said Adam Fendyk, General Manager, Burder Industries. “Turning to solar power will be critical to the long-term success of our business as it will enhance our domestic competitiveness and the longevity of our operations.”

Solar power will reduce the company’s electricity costs by over 70% each year and provide a 25-year hedge against future electricity price increases. This will reduce Burder Industries’ carbon footprint by up to 607 tonnes annually; the equivalent of taking 145 cars off the road. The company’s investment in solar PV is expected to generate an IRR of over 25% annually.

“Solar power is a vital for energy-intensive companies like Burder Industries as it will help to reduce their operating costs and carbon footprint,” said Daman Cole, Managing Director for Yingli Green Energy in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

“A quality solar photovoltaic system plays a vital role in ensuring their investment in solar pays off over the expected lifetime of a system and reduces their potential of experiencing bill shocks.” EnviroGroup, a specialist provider of renewable energy products and systems, managed all aspects of the project including solar power system design, installation, high-voltage connection design and upgrade, 500 kVA substation sourcing and installation, grid connection and metering. Fendyk said EnviroGroup “surpassed our expectations, completing a neat and professional installation within a short time frame, without disruption to our business operations”.

Yingli Green Energy Australia Pty Ltd www.yinglisolar.com

Compressor consolidation leads to efficiency gains Arrium, a mining and materials company with approximately 10,000 employees, has consolidated the servicing and maintenance of its numerous compressors to just one supplier in a bid to reduce operating costs and improve compressed air supply up-time.

Atlas Copco, which won the tender process, has now positioned one of its service technicians in Whyalla, South Australia, to service both Arrium’s OneSteel manufacturing plant in Whyalla and Arrium’s iron ore mining operations in the Middleback Ranges some 60 km south of the town. OneSteel Contract Manager Stuart Boath, who also supports Arrium Mining’s side of the business, explained that the three-year contract with Atlas Copco includes routine servicing and maintenance of the company’s over 50 compressors, from various suppliers, at both sites. “Atlas Copco put together a compelling proposal that was not only cost effective but also offered us a range of other benefits that we couldn’t ignore,” he said.

“To start, Atlas Copco carried out a comprehensive site audit of all our air compressors to find out where they were, what models we had and their age and condition.

“Then we put together a service schedule, which the local technician follows, moving through our plants carrying out the servicing under the agreed frequencies.”

Boath explained that there’s a known scope of service work, with frequencies ranging from once to four times a year, depending on the criticality of the machines.

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“While we have a complete spread of different types of compressors, Atlas Copco has shown it has an excellent working relationship with other brands and is able to carry out any warranty work on them as needed.

“We can’t afford to have any downtime; compressed air is a critical part of our operation. And with Atlas Copco moving a technician to Whyalla, we are no longer exposed to the extra cost of travel and accommodation.” Boath said the three-year contract with Atlas Copco has been in place for around 12 months and he is very happy with the service provided. “The feedback has all been positive,” he said.

Craig Russell, Atlas Copco’s aftermarket sales representative based in Adelaide, said the company’s fully trained technicians can service and maintain all types and makes of air compressors.

“We are able to optimise all the air equipment a company might have, to make it as efficient as possible,” Russell said.

Atlas Copco Compressors Australia www.atlascopco.com.au

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case studies Solar power for health supplement manufacturer When health supplement marketer Homart Pharmaceuticals relocated its manufacturing facility, its electricity bills tripled as a result of operating in larger premises. Bollson Energy was appointed to design and install a high-quality and financially viable solar PV system to reduce Homart’s reliance on electricity from the grid.

“We have seen a significant interest from businesses taking to solar having experienced bill shock from rising electricity prices,” said Bollson Energy Chief Operating Officer Wayne Xiong.

“Homart Pharmaceuticals is a great example of a business who were looking to reduce their operating costs and they were confident about the benefits of solar both for their bottom line and to reduce their carbon footprint.”

SolarMax, through Bollson Energy, delivered seven 15 kW 15MT2 inverters to Homart Pharmaceuticals for a 100 kW rooftop solar PV system in Rydalmere, NSW. The MT series inverters are easy to install, designed to last and have a maximum efficiency of up to 98%.

SolarMax products are accredited by the Clean Energy Council.

Homart was also equipped w i t h S o l a r M a x ’s r e m o t e monitoring platform MaxWeb. This allows users to access the SolarMax web portal, which provides a real-time display of performance data such as input and output voltages, input and output currents, frequency, device temperature and yield.

The solar PV system will generate an average of 140 MWh of solar power annually, saving Homart Pharmaceuticals up to $23,000 a year and reducing its reliance on electricity from the grid. The system is expected to reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 144.2 tonnes every year and deliver an internal rate of return (IRR) of 26% per

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annum. “Our solar PV system has only been up and running for two months but we’ve already seen our electricity bills reduced by up to 25% a month,” said Homart Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Jeffrey Yeh. “This has really helped our business stay competitive. As a manufacturer and exporter, solar power has increased our global competitiveness and, at the same time, reduced our impact on the environment.”

Sputnik Engineering Australia & NZ Pty Ltd www.solarmax.com/au/en/

Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 17

Moisture analyser plays a key role in sustainable energy A key energy company in Germany has chosen Michell Instruments’ Promet IS process moisture analyser to monitor moisture levels in biomethane before it is injected into the grid to ensure that it meets the correct quality standards.

Biomethane is a renewable source of energy that is produced from the breakdown of organic waste such as municipal waste, sewage, green waste, etc. The organic matter is converted into biogas using anaerobic digestion processes that use microbes in absence of oxygen. The biogas produced by this process then requires further treatment before it can be used as a biomethane fuel.

The biogas is saturated with moisture immediately after production and it also has other undesirable components such as CO2 and other gases. Therefore, before it can be used as a fuel away from the production site, it needs to be scrubbed of the contaminants and dried. When it is destined to be upgraded to biomethane and injected into the grid with natural gas, precise measurements of moisture are vital as it will need to meet tight quality standards.

The advantages of biomethane are: it is sourced from organic matter that is readily available, which is a benefit for regions that don’t have access to natural resources such as coal and wind; the production of biomethane is claimed to be better for the environment as it basically uses the energy which is released during the natural decomposition of organic matter; and it can be used as

18 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2014

an alternative source of energy for many fossil fuel and natural gas applications.

Many biogas plants use the biomethane on site to produce electricity or heat. For transmission into the local distribution network in Germany, the biomethane needs to meet the moisture levels permitted by the DVGW G260 Code of Practice. For distribution networks, this is 200 mg/m3 at less than 10 bar(g) pressure (267 ppmV).

The Promet IS was selected for this task because it has a proven track record of monitoring moisture during the processing of natural gas, as well as for quality checks of gas in the network and transmission pipeline. The unit has an accuracy of ±1°C dewpoint and measures reliably in pressures up to 450 barg. It is certified for hazardous areas around the world, including ATEX, FM, CSA, IECEx as well as GOST. Michell Instruments designs and supplies sampling systems fully equipped with filtration and sample conditioning to ensure reliable measurements and prolong the life of the sensor.

The Promet IS Process Moisture Analysers are heavyduty, industrial hygrometer systems for measurement of high-pressure, process gases and vaporised liquids on natural gas platforms and terminals, petrochemical plants and industrial gas manufacturing facilities. The product combines the latest Michell Instruments moisture sensing technologies with sample conditioning system design engineering capabilities to provide a reliable and easyto-operate, multichannel, online instrument for both flammable and non-flammable gases.

The Promet IS uses Michell Instruments’ ceramic moisture sensor, which is highly resistant to contamination and provides long-term stability in process applications.

All Impedance instruments use Michell Instruments’ Advanced Ceramic Moisture Sensor technology. The Impedance hygrometers are rugged, low-cost, industrial measurement instruments for reliable moisture analysis from trace levels to ambient air conditions. They can be used in a wide range of gases, including hazardous area applications (flammable or explosive gases), and with many corrosive gases.

The sensors are also part of Michell Instruments’ sensor exchange program, which can reduce the cost of ownership. With the exchange program, a freshly calibrated sensor is sent out and swapped for the old sensor that is due to for recalibration, keeping process downtime to a minimum. Where traceability is needed, Michell Instruments provides a fast and efficient calibration service, with traceability to national standards.

AMS Instrumentation & Calibration Pty Ltd www.ams-ic.com.au

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OALab is one unit with your choice of up to 6 sensors in one device, controlled online or from locally.

Compact and modular, it meets all water sensor system needs from a single source – at a single glance. www.inspiring-answers.com

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case studies Flexible infrastructure solutions for data centres Companies in the data centre sector often require increased storage capacity at short notice, with operators expecting a high level of responsiveness from vendors and contractors. Computer Room Solutions (CRS) is an Australian company involved in the design, development and commissioning of data centre infrastructure.

The contemporary range of CRS racks and cabinets are designed and made in Australia to local and international manufacturing standards. The racks and cabinets are compatible with all standard 19″ servers, UPS units, data storage, backup devices, environmental and cable management systems.

Most data centres are developed within a building that has already been constructed, or after all the plans have been finalised.

CRS works with facilities management staff, builders and contractors to fit the data centre design around existing mechanical, electrical and other services within the structure. The company provides computerrendered models of all proposed solutions in a variety of formats.

“We want to ensure that every client knows exactly what they are getting so there are no surprises or oversights,” said CRS Managing Director Brendan Dessent, with the models allowing the customer to see exactly how their data centre will fit within the as-built environment.

Each rack or cabinet can be customised with a range of compatible accessories and options to produce individual solutions for each project, or custom designed to suit the requirements of the design brief. Dessent said the company’s

20 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2014

racks and cabinets are designed with maximum use and functionality in mind.

“Listening to customer feedback and our own R&D programs, we have developed industry-specific clip-in, or ‘tool-less’, features, such as our vertical 19″ rail adjustment, cable management systems, power distribution units and shelving systems,” he said.

The flexibility of the designs allows customers to realise immediate benefits through reduced running costs and also take advantage of improvements to energy efficiency in the long term, thus minimising emissions and reducing cooling and energy costs. The company’s design staff will understand the space, cooling and efficiency issues inside a customer’s data centre, comms room or office.

CRS specialises in hot/cold-aisle containment systems. Installations can be designed and fabricated with or without a raised floor, utilising both in-row coolers and computer room air-conditioning (CRAC) units. CRAC units are replacing standard air conditioning in data centres as they are more dynamic systems that monitor and maintain the temperature, air distribution and humidity instead of just blowing cold air.

According to Dessent, the company has an ability to respond to feedback and current industry requirements, working with clients “to design an appropriate solution that meets their immediate needs but is flexible enough to be as futureproof as possible”.

Computer Room Solutions (CRS) www.crsolutions.com.au

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The removal of sludge is one of the most critical challenges in the creation of good-quality effluent f rom wastew ater treatment plants.

In this article, Ben Metman from Control Components explains why, and how measuring and monitoring sludge can provide optimum efficiency for the process.

While no two WWTPs are identical, the push to improve efficiency through automation and improved process control is a common theme.

Let’s talk about sludge

A

side from lessening the environmental impact of human waste, modern wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) have embraced advances in science and technology that allow significant, positive inputs, such as energy for the plant (eg, biogas such as methane) and in some cases even revenue streams from processed biosolids (eg, nutrient-rich fertiliser for farming).

In order for these advanced systems to work effectively, one of the most crucial parameters for plant operators to monitor is the total solids or sludge as it moves through the plant.

Why is sludge measurement so important?

Although the composition and concentration of sludge varies throughout the treatment pathway (primary, secondary and even tertiary stages), understanding the settling characteristics of sludge is critical if the plant is to optimise control.

Primary sedimentation, biological stages, secondary treatment, effluent quality and subsequent sludge handling are all greatly affected by how well the settling has been achieved and, importantly, monitored.

By measuring sludge levels in both primary and secondary sedimentation tanks, operators may be able to ensure sludge extraction pumps are used efficiently and excess poorly settled sludge doesn’t wash out into effluent paths.

By measuring sludge levels, operators can study sedimentation characteristics of suspended solids in the plant; understand sensitivities due to disturbances; and manage sludge levels to allow sufficient buffering for incoming hydraulic load variations.

During periods of high hydraulic loading (eg, after a storm), poor-quality or slowly settling 'fluff' sludge is at risk of removal. This will cause more rapid clogging of sand filters, which increases

22 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2014

the need for backwashing, thereby increasing pump loads and electricity usage. If sand filters are not present, it could lead to expensive failure of effluent quality.

Further sludge-handling processes such as thickeners and dewatering equipment will all perform better when fed with higher-concentration total solids sludge. More diluted, lower-concentration sludge will require the increased dosing of expensive polymer dosing in thickeners, increase heating costs of digesters and require more chemical and mechanical processing in dewatered stages; not to mention increased pumping costs required to send increased reject water volume from these steps for reprocessing.

By measuring the actual height of a given total suspended solids concentration in sedimentation tanks, an operator can ensure they only extract and waste the desired higher concentration of sludge, leaving lower concentrations to remain for additional sedimentation.

Why automate?

While no two WWTPs are identical, the push to improve efficiency through automation and improved process control is a common theme.

Aside from obvious labour savings, relying solely on manual sampling means that thorough analysis of plant characteristics and trends is limited to the frequency of sampling. In a WWTP with continuous, automatic measurement of critical process variables, there is a wealth of feedback which creates a robustness of system control, capable of rapidly identifying disturbances or operational problems.

Sludge blanket level measuring In the early 1980s, Cerlic first patented near infrared (NIR) transmission of light (optical) sensors for measuring suspended solids concentrations. Unlike existing turbidity sensors, NIR sensors are im-

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Wastewater treatment

mune to changes in particle shape and reflectivity and don’t require colour compensation or other indirect assumptions to measure concentrations. With NIR technology, only particles over a certain size (40 µm) will block the transmission of the specific wavelength (880 nm) - this means sensors can provide a direct measurement of suspended solids concentration in mg/L, parts per million (ppm) or % TSS (suspended solids concentration).

In 2008, the CBX sludge blanket meter was specifically designed to accurately measure the level of floating fluff (unsettled sludge) and sludge level, along with the full sludge profile within a sedimentation tank.

How the sludge blanket meter works Following an input signal such as the passing of a rake, the sensor is automatically lowered into the sedimentation tank as it continuously measures the suspended solids concentration as a function of the sensor depth (up to 10 m).

Like a yoyo, the optical sensor is then retracted back into the CBX enclosure.

As the cable and sensor are retracted they are automatically sprayed clean with pressurised water to prevent the need for manual cleaning by operators.

Unlike ultrasonic sludge blanket sensors that have their echo calibrated to a certain density which is indirectly related to the level of sludge, the CBX is programmed by operators with TSS concentrations that correlate to the desired fluff and sludge concentrations required to prevent suspended solids extraction in effluent and optimise sludge concentration for extraction. As the sensor is lowered, it directly reads suspended solids concentration, reporting back (4-20 mA or Profibus DP) the level at which each of the target concentrations has been found.This means that changes in fluff, sludge density and the presence of tank scrapers don’t impede readings or introduce the need for further

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filtering correction (such as averaging).

As real-time depth versus concentration is measured, both the sensor’s local display and a WWTP SCADA control system are able to plot a full sludge profile through the entire tank - see Figure 3.

Testing the advantages In order to evaluate the CBX and assess its performance in measuring suspended solids concentration and sludge level, Cerlic, in conjunction with the Swedish EPA, engaged Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) to provide an independent evaluation and report.

The evaluation included three test studies - lab, pilot-site and full-scale WWTP comparison against two commonly used ultrasonic sludge blanket level sensors.

Results of the lab and pilot-scale tests In lab testing, the sensor was exposed to a range of different sludge scenarios including typical secondary sludge with 2 h settling time, mixture of returnactivated sludge (RAS) and old sludge with 30 min and 1 h settling, RAS with no settling, pure biological stage sludge with 18 h settling and a mix of wellsettled biological sludge with RAS left to settle for almost 4 h.

While the different sludge types presented different measuring challenges, such as a large floating sludge layer and stratified sludge layers with clear phase between each, the report concluded the CBX performed well against lab sampling in each case. The report found that the automated sludge blanket measurement

was accurate on each of the different kinds of sludge, homogenous or heterogeneous. For optimal plant process control, the report recommended the use of the full sludge profile rather than just independent sludge and fluff levels, as it clearly indicated the presence of striated or floating sludge layers associated with plant overload or process failure which could therefore alert operators to earlywarning signs of issue.

The pilot site at Sweden’s Hammarby Sjöstadsverk research plant was used to not only provide more realistic trial conditions for the CBX, but to assess its capability to measure plant/operational issues such as increased flow (stormwater), increased sludge removal (controller failure) and stopped sludge removal (pump failure).

The report indicated that the CBX once again was found to be a reliable and accurate sensor for measuring sludge blanket level. Researchers commented on the ease of sensor calibration against lab samples and testing against clean water for zero reference. It was recommended to make use of the blind zone variable to prevent the sensor from reading the concentration of top sludge and scum layers.

After the trial, it was noted how easily the sensor could be set up and operated, including the fact that the sensor never needed to be manually cleaned due to the effectiveness of the automated self cleaning. The inclusion of a rake input switch to trigger the sensor’s sampling run was noted to alleviate any concerns of potential damage in sedimentation tanks with scrapers.

Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 23

Wastewater treatment Results of the full-scale test The specific aims of the seven-week trial at Käppala WWTP were to test for the viability of replacing weekly manual sludge level sampling with a continuous online measurement and to specifically compare the performance of two different ultrasonic sludge level sensors to that of the CBX. It was found that, following correct configuration, all sensors were capable of reading sludge level under normal conditions and showing sludge level decreases with excess sludge removal.

The ultrasonic sensors had difficulty, however, with the varying nature of unsettled fluff and therefore needed to have compensation for changes.

In comparison to the two ultrasonic sludge level sensors it was found that the CBX: • directly measured suspended solids concentrations as a function of depth

Figure 1: Sensor display showing full sludge blanket profile.

research & development

Figure 3: From top left, clockwise: a floating sludge layer, a high-fluff layer, a somewhatsettled sludge and a well-settled, most likely primary sludge level.

the scraper or a false reading from the bottom of the tank.

The researcher noted that in general the CBX was the more reliable and consistent sensor.

In summary Figure 2: CBX system.

throughout the tank (this meant that, especially in profile mode, all characteristics of the sludge could be analysed); and • was not affected by scrapers as was the case with the ultrasonics.

Interestingly, while all sensors could see the removal of sludge, only the CBX realised that too much sludge had been removed from the tank, resulting in an empty tank. The ultrasonic sensors reported a remaining sludge level, most likely due to the disturbing effect of

By using an effective sludge blanket sensor such as the CBX, plant operators can increase the robustness of their process control system, allowing greater ability to respond to and predict operational issues, while assisting in the optimisation of various sludge-handling stages.

The IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute report on the performance and potential of Cerlic CBX was authored by Christian Baresel, Magnus Rahmberg and Zoe Fotiadou and dated September 2013.

Control Components Pty Ltd www.controlcomponents.com.au

Bauxite residue research

Researchers from The University of Western Australia (UWA), working with Alcoa of Australia, are finding ways to transform bauxite residue into healthy soils. Their work has been published in the journal Ecological Engineering.

Bauxite residue - a by-product in the production of alumina - is typically highly alkaline and saline, and contains very little organic matter, nutrients or microorganisms. The research team, led by Dr Natasha Banning from the UWA School of Earth and Environment, evaluated amendments with the potential to improve the residue’s rehabilitation potential and its capacity to support plants. The team also investigated how microorganisms behave in bauxite residue sand and their influence on nutrient availability such as nitrogen.

“The effects of textural (carbonated residue mud or soilderived clay), organic (raw-state or mature compost) or combined textural-organic amendment of the bauxite residue sand fraction on key physical, chemical and microbial properties and growth of

24 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2014

annual ryegrass were studied in a glasshouse trial,” the researchers explained. Two watering treatments were used to assess the efficacy of amendments under nutrient- or water-limited growth environments.

“Adding green waste compost to bauxite residue sand improved plant growth, because it increased the amount of water stored in residue sands,” Dr Banning said. “The compost also added nutrients for the plants to use and increased the amount of microorganisms in the residue.”

“This collaborative research will help Alcoa to develop bestpractice strategies for rehabilitating these areas,” Senior Research Scientist at Alcoa Dr Ian Phillips said. “Importantly, if we can work out ways to increase the rate of in-situ remediation of our residue deposits, then we can reduce our long-term environmental impact.”

This understanding of rehabilitation performance can be applied globally to other residue storage areas under a wide range of environmental conditions.

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research & development Fungi can clean polluted soil A Finnish researcher has found that fungi can be harnessed to clean pollutants. Winquist grew fungi on pine bark (a good growing polluted soil which cannot be cleaned using traditional composting. medium for fungi) over four to six weeks. The fungi were then taken Erika Winquist, of Aalto University, explained that soil to a treatment plant, where the mycelia of white rot fungi were that has been polluted by organic allowed to grow in the polluted soil. pollutants such as oils can be treated White rot fungi grow naturally on by composting; however, this is not wood. As they grow in the soil, they effective against many other organic break down the compounds with pollutants such as polyaromatic lignin-like structures that pollute it. hydrocarbons and dioxins. The The soils examined were from old compounds are found in areas where sawmill sites that were contaminated sawing is carried out and where there with polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH is distribution of fuels, waste treatment compounds) and dioxins. In laboratoryand various kinds of industry. scale tests, the best results showed In Finland during 2005 and 2006, 96% of PAH compounds and 64% of almost 3 million tonnes of excavated, the dioxins were broken down in three contaminated soil was transported Image shows how the fungus growing on the bark is placed months. into the soil in layers. Image credit: Aalto University. into landfill sites and other treatment The research was carried out in plants. A more sustainable practice would be to clean the polluted cooperation with the University of Helsinki and the Finnish soil, but putting it into landfill is easy and cheap, and other methods Environment Institute. Funding was provided through the Symbio have limited use. For example, burning the soil in an incinerator program run by Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology destroys the organic pollutants, but the process is expensive and and Innovation, as well as by the companies working with the there is insufficient incineration capacity in Finland to treat all program. Research into the environmental applications of fungi the soil. continues to be carried out at the University of Helsinki, and However, said Winquist, fungi could be used to expand Ekokem Oy, one of the companies involved in the research, has bioremediation for the destruction of the more enduring organic acquired the rights to the cleansing method.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 25

research & development Microbes to clean up nuclear waste and generate biodiesel Researchers from Michigan State University (MSU) have bacterium to pair with Geobacter,” Reguera said. “We matched developed a concept that will allow biodiesel plants to them up like dance partners, modifying each of them to work eliminate the creation of hazardous wastes while also seamlessly together and eliminate all of the waste. removing their dependence on fossil fuels. The study has “[The bacteria] feast like they’re at a Las Vegas buffet. been published in the journal Environmental Science and One bacterium ferments the glycerol waste to produce Technology. bioethanol, which can be re-used to make biodiesel from MSU microbiological Gemma oil feedstocks. Geobacter removes Reguera, a co-author on the study, any waste produced during glycerol developed patented adaptivefermentation to generate electricity. engineered bacteria called Geobacter It is a win-win situation.” sulfurreducens. Geobacter are The microbes are the featured naturally occurring microbes that component of Reguera’s microbial have proved promising in cleaning electrolysis cells, or MECs. These up nuclear waste and in improving fuel cells do not harvest electricity other biofuel processes. as an output - rather, they use a small “Geobacter shield themselves electrical input platform to generate from uranium by producing hairhydrogen and increase the MEC’s like filaments that attract and bind efficiency even more.

Allison Speers, MSU graduate student, works on a fuel cell the uranium very strongly,” Reguera Through a Michigan Translational that can eliminate biodiesel producers’ hazardous wastes said. “The bacterial hairs are fully Research and Commercialization and dependence on fossil fuels. Image by Kurt Stepnitz. charged with electricity, just like grant, Reguera and her team are a live electrical wire, and zap the now developing prototypes that can uranium. And what happens next is simple chemistry - the handle larger volumes of waste. She is also in talks with MBI, soluble, dangerous uranium is immobilised onto the wires an enterprise operated by the MSU Foundation, to develop as a mineral. This prevents its spread and protects us from industrial-sized units that could handle the capacities of a exposure.” full-scale biodiesel plant.

Reguera, along with lead authors and MSU graduate “Traditional approaches see producers pay hefty fees to students Allison Speers and Jenna Young, evolved Geobacter have toxic wastewater hauled off to treatment plants,” Reguera to withstand increasing amounts of toxic glycerol. They then said. “By cleaning the water with microbes on-site, we’ve searched for partner bacteria that could ferment it into ethanol come up with a way to allow producers to generate bioethanol, while generating by-products that ‘fed’ the Geobacter. “It which replaces petrochemical methanol. At the same time, took some tweaking, but we eventually developed a robust they are taking care of their hazardous waste problem.”

26 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2014

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research & development Water treatment using UV light Researchers from the Fraunhofer UV light exclusively in the region of Institute for Interfacial Engineering and 172 nm - ie, extremely energetic photons.

Biotechnology IGB (Fraunhofer IGB) As soon as these photons enter water, they have developed a photochemical reaction split the H2O molecules, forming highly system in which water can be treated at reactive hydroxyl radials as a result. high flow rates by UV light without having “These hydroxyl compounds have an to add chemical catalysts. even higher reaction potential than atomic There are numerous harmful substances oxygen, for example,” said Siegfried Egner, in wastewater that should not find their head of the Physical Process Technology way into the environment, yet many resist department at IGB. “They are therefore being broken down by biological wastewater treatment plants. Bacteria commonly employed in the biological treatment stage have no effect on persistent substances, which include highly stable hydrocarbon compounds. This results in cleaning agent residuals, pesticides and pharmacological s u b s tances reaching environmental waters.

Fraunhofer IGB researchers, together with international industrial partners, have developed a chemical reaction system that breaks down resilient and harmful 172 nm UV radiation element. © Fraunhofer IGB. molecules thoroughly and efficiently, without having to add chemicals like hydrogen able to decompose even very stable peroxide. The researchers are essentially hydrocarbon compounds contained in utilising the ‘self-healing’ power of water harmful residues.” aided by photolysis (ie, photochemical The process takes place in the immediate dissociation). vicinity of the UV emitter - a rectangular, The principle of photolysis is based on flat glass element that is positioned in the splitting water molecules using photons. reactor vessel. When power is applied to The shorter the wavelength of light, the element, the hydroxyl radicals form a the higher the photons’ energy. The thin reactive boundary layer only about researchers used light sources that emit 50 µm deep surrounding the external

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surface of the glass. In order to be sure no harmful particles escape untreated, the water must be controllably and verifiably directed through this boundary layer.

Not only must the researchers ensure entire contents of the reactor vessel is treated, they also require certainty that every single hydroxyl radical formed is also used for a chemical reaction. This is because the extremely reactive hydroxyl radicals are extremely short-lived; if no ‘fresh’ molecules are found to react with during this time interval, the energy of the hydroxyl radicals goes unused.

The experts have been successful in controlling the movement of the water so that all of the reactor vessel contents are reliably and highly efficiently treated.

A sensor system located at the discharge port monitors the water for harmful substances and the water is discharged only once impurities fall below a maximum permitted value. The entire unit is fully automatic and programmable - for instance, it can be switched on and off depending on the electrical power rates on offer.

The researchers presented a prototype of the technology, with a throughput of 2.5 m3/h, at this year’s IFAT trade show in Munich. www.igb.fraunhofer.de/en.html

Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 27

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research & development New technology to treat mining wastewater CSIRO has developed cost-effective technology, called Virtual Curtain, which can treat mining wastewater and reduce sludge by up to 90%.

Dr Grant Douglas, a senior principal research scientist at CSIRO, said the technology has been used for the first time at a commercial mine, where it was used to remove metal contaminants from wastewater.

“The Virtual Curtain technology was used to treat over 50 ML of contaminated water,” Dr Douglas said. “After treatment, the majority of this water was then released safely to the environment.”

Virtual Curtain uses hydrotalcites, which are minerals sometimes found in stomach antacids, to simultaneously trap a variety of contaminants - including arsenic, cadmium and iron - in one step, thus simplifying mine wastewater treatment.

Dr Douglas and his team developed the technology after discovering that hydrotalcites could be formed by adjusting the concentrations of common wastewater contaminants, aluminium and magnesium to an ideal ratio and then by increasing the pH. “By using contaminants already present in the wastewater, we have avoided the need for expensive infrastructure and complicated chemistry to treat the waste,” he said.

“If required, the treated water can be purified much more efficiently via reverse osmosis and either released to the environment or recycled back into the plant, so it has huge benefits for mining operators in arid regions such as Australia and Chile.”

The technology is a departure from the conventional lime-based treatment methods which have been used in the mining industry for many years, producing “only a fraction of the sludge” according to Dr Douglas.

“Reducing the amount of sludge is beneficial because the costly and timely steps involved to move and dispose it can be reduced,” he explained.

The new treatment in progress to remove a range of metal contaminants.

The mine pit following the release of the treated water.

Furthermore, he said, the technology can produce an ore-like material, “high in metal value, which can be reprocessed to increase a miner’s overall recovery rate and partially offset treatment costs”.

“In using the new technology, an opportunity exists for mining companies to extract and adopt a wealth-from-waste philosophy, and in so doing, also reduce their wastewater treatment costs and environmental footprint,” he said.

The licensed technology can be applied to a range of industrial applications and is available through Virtual Curtain Limited. www.csiro.au

www.bintech.com.au 28 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2014

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When Canon Australia made the decision to relocate from its 25-yearold headquarters to a brand new building in Sydney’s Macquarie Park, it was always known that sustainability would play a key role in the transition.

T h e c o m p a n y ’s sustainability manager, Janet Leslie, clearly had her work cut out for her.

The company’s eventual aim is to achieve a 5-Star Green Star rating for interior fitout, a 4-Star Green Star rating for base building and a 5-Star NABERS rating.

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The picture of a sustainable workplace

L

Lauren Davis eslie stated that the company originally had two buildings one for Canon and one for its research company CiSRA - neither of which ranked highly in terms of sustainability. She recalled, “The CiSRA one, I think, had a NABERS rating of two, and ours had none.”

When Canon conducted meetings with staff to find out what they wanted from the new building, Leslie says the topic of “living green” cropped up again and again. With this in mind, the company implemented a range of sustainability measures into the new building, among them water-efficient fixtures, energy-efficient computer screens and motion-activated lights.

Canon is also employing its own products throughout the building, such as its electronic filing system. Leslie noted, “All of our reports, all of our emails and everything just gets filed into the system, so you don’t need to print them out.” Even old paper-based documents can be scanned and sent into the system, and tagging ensures everything is easily retrievable.

Printing has also been reduced through the use of dual-screen set-ups at desks.

Though this might seem counterintuitive in terms of sustainability, Leslie explained that the (optional) use of a second screen means employees can more easily consult several documents at once, rather than comparing a printout on their desk to a report on the screen, for example. Printing and other waste disposal is further discouraged by Canon having taken bins away from people’s desks.

“I was really expecting an outcry,” admitted Leslie of the latter measure, “but it’s been fine.” Overall, these solutions have seen a 43% reduction in storage space.

Meanwhile, in the company’s foyer one will find a wall made out of eWood - a long-lasting wood substitute made out of recycled ink and toner cartridges. Leslie

explained that as part of the Cartridges 4 Planet Ark program, Canon customers can place their old cartridges in Planet Ark recycling bins, from which they are taken to Close the Loop in Melbourne and turned into the innovative substance. Not only does the material contain 95% recycled content, but it is also 100% recyclable.

“We used to send some of our cartridges back to China to get re-used, but to be honest, by the time you collect them and ship them and all the rest of it, it’s much better to recycle them here into other materials,” Leslie noted.

Sustainability is encouraged on the way to and from the workplace as well, as the new building is located close to public transport and contains its own cycling facilities. It is due to this and a deal with the Macquarie Park Transport Management Association, Leslie said, that fewer employees are driving to work.

Just a few months after settling into the new building, Canon has adjusted to the changes admirably - and there are more changes to come. “We’ve still got some other plans,” revealed Leslie, referring to the future implementation of an environment committee, a herb garden and composting facilities. The company’s eventual aim is to achieve a 5-Star Green Star rating for interior fit-out, a 4-Star Green Star rating for base building and a 5-Star NABERS rating.

Until then, Canon’s employees can enjoy a sustainable working environment which is tailored for their individual needs. Staff are provided with a choice of spaces depending on their style of work - such as assigned desks for focused workers and open areas for more collaborative workers - as well as a choice of devices. Every space and every employee has been accounted for, in line with the company’s philosophy that one size doesn’t fit all.

“I think it’s cheered everybody up,” Leslie said. “People are just happier to be here.”

Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 29

n pump feature products

Wastewater pumps

Dry prime dewatering pumps Australian Pump Industries has launched its latest range of dry prime dewatering pumps. The range includes a 3, 4 and 6″ dewatering pump and is said to simplify the complex design of other manufacturers, making maintenance easier.

The Aussie Auto-Prime range delivers high efficiencies and good solids handling capabilities.

It offers the ability to automatically re-prime from a completely dry state and is engineered to meet the requirements of professional contractors, miners, local government and quarry operators.

Gorman-Rupp Ultra V Series self-priming centrifugal sewage pumps are highperformance and high-efficiency pumps that are mounted high and dry (up to 7.6 m) above wet wells to deliver a safer operating environment for operators and lower costs to asset owners.

Using the self-priming sewage pumps, confined spaces issues can be eliminated. The self-cleaning wear plate system reduces choking from stringy materials such as rags, reducing downtime and cost. Servicing is performed quickly by one operator (not two, three or four), including internal clearance adjustments (done in under 5 min) to keep pumps at their peak operating efficiency for the life of the installation. Corrosive and/ or abrasive wastewater can be managed by the various materials options available, including stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, hard iron and high chrome iron. Built-in safety features protect operators and equipment from damage, making the pumps a safe option. Used extensively in sewage treatment plants and sewage pumping stations around the world, the pumps are said to have a proven track record for reliability, safety and reduced life cycle costs.

Hydro Innovations www.hydroinnovations.com.au

Axial-flow propeller pumps

The robust pumps all include 316 stainless steel impellers and volutes. The front cases are highgrade SG400/12 cast iron. The back plates are constructed from 431 grade stainless steel. The pumps are fitted with a rugged ‘ball type’ check valve, with a polyurethane seat and ball that’s easy to replace.

The 6″ pump, the AP150, boasts flows to 7200 L/min. The 4″ version achieves a maximum head of 40 m (vertical lift). All models feature good self-priming characteristics with the ability to lift water up to 8.5 m. The compressor prime design means the user can dry prime the pump without any manual filling of the suction line or the use of a priming tank.

The design utilises a jet of compressed air that passes through the Venturi-type nozzle to evacuate air from the pump casing and suction line.

This makes for fast and continuous priming even when the pump is operating in snore mode. This means users can ‘set and forget’ the pump for site dewatering.

The pumps’ Perkins water-cooled diesel engines are fitted with an electric auto-start and come with shutdown protection. The units come with an integrated fuel tank and corner tie-downs. All welding jobs are completed to IAW AS 1554.1 and the chassis is pressure tested to IAW AS 1692.

Australian Pump Industries Pty Ltd www.aussiepumps.com.au

30 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2014

KPL axial-flow propeller pumps are suitable for flood control and other heavy-duty pumping applications. The pumps offer hydraulic efficiency of up to 87%, lightweight design and no clogging.

The company’s Turbulence Optimiser is an expandable rubber ring mounted on the perimeter of pump volute. As water flow and pressure increases, the ring expands and adapts to the pipe, reducing turbulence and efficiency losses. The device has the further effect that misalignment and production tolerances of the column will no longer affect efficiency. The pump is designed for high flow at low head. With a flow capacity of up to 700 m3/min at up to 9 m head, the product is suitable for flood control as well as other applications, such as raw water intake, stormwater control, wastewater treatment pumping stations, recirculation pumps, aquaculture, water supply cooling systems and amusement parks. The high-precision, one-piece propeller matches precisely the application. This resolves the potential malfunctions that can occur when having to adjust blades, and there is nothing that can work loose. The backswept design means rags and solids glide off the propeller, resulting in less clogging. Each pump is individually engineered to suit user requirements and is available in a wide range of variants. Maintenance is reduced, for example with the back-swept shape of the propeller, making the propeller effectively self-cleaning. An easily replaced wear ring, cable compartment inspection hole and cartridge shaft seal keeps downtime low. For installation and when the pump needs to be lifted, the balanced lifting handle ensures that no damage is done to the pump. The double mechanical shaft seal is a single-unit cartridge with a back-to-back shaft seal system, providing a sustainable sealing solution with easy replacement in the field, without the need for special tools. Other features include a cable entry seal; cable inspection lid; high-quality bearings; CFD optimised axial volute; and sensors for pump monitoring during operation.

Grundfos Pumps Pty Ltd www.grundfos.com

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

pump feature products n

Water leak detector The Series WD3 Water Leak Detector, from Dwyer Instruments, protects equipment from water damage by detecting the presence of water in drip pans in air handler units; under raised floors in data centres; or on floors around sump pumps and drains.

Water is detected once it reaches a level that bridges the two conductive strips on the bottom of the housing. Depending on the model, audible and/or visual alerts provide local indication of the alarm condition and an internal switch will give remote indication or control to prevent further build-up of water.

For applications where power is not available, the Model WD3-BP-D1-A is battery powered using a coin-cell 3 V lithium battery. Otherwise, either AC or DC supply voltages can be used to power the water detector. The sensing height can be adjusted to as low as 1/32″ using the adjustable mounting bracket.

Dwyer Instruments (Aust) Pty Ltd www.dwyer-inst.com.au

Actuators K-TORK Actuators + Controls are versatile, modular and available in both double-acting and spring-return configurations. They are used to operate ball, butterfly and plug valves, and other 90° rotating mechanisms.

The vane actuator is a true rotary actuator that does not require the conversion of a linear motion to a rotary motion.

For use in filtering and pumping processes, the actuators reduce routine, preventive and emergency maintenance, and are simple to troubleshoot if necessary. They provide accurate control and shut-off to ensure clean drinking water and safe effluent used for irrigation and to replenish lakes, rivers and reservoirs.

Rotork Australia www.rotork.com

Pressure management system Demand Driven Distribution is a pressure management system that combines precise measurement of the network pressure and pump control at the pumping station according to these measurements. This avoids the issues that can arise with other systems that use, eg, pressure reducing valves. The system is said to reduce energy consumption, water loss from leakages and total water consumption.

The system measures the pressure in the network using a number of batterydriven data loggers that transmit the measured and logged values to the Demand Driven Distribution controller via the GSM network, using just one SMS per sensor a day. The measured data are then used in a smart adaptive control approach that controls the pumping station, keeping the pressure in the network at the desired value, without analysis and reconfigurations of the system to obtain proper operation.

To avoid the pumping station creating pressure transients, pressure ramping is carried out in the controller using the soft pressure build-up function. Other benefits of the product include comfort; reduced burst frequency; less maintenance in pipes network; water resource management; and less load on the wastewater treatment plant.

Wastewater design systems Bentley Systems has announced its SewerGEMS, SewerCAD, CivilStorm and StormCAD V8i (SELECTseries 4) products for the analysis and design of wastewater and stormwater systems. The releases provide hydraulic and operational capabilities for an increased depth of information modelling that empowers users to evaluate and compare a wider range of network considerations.

Users are able to evaluate every aspect of existing systems and compare possible new designs. Simulations can predict everything from flooding to hydrogen sulfide formation, and then assess the effect of alternative designs to alleviate problems. Users can benefit from the products’ support of AutoCAD 2015, giving them the ability to model from within the latest AutoCAD version.

SewerGEMS users can leverage SCADA systems and data loggers through SCADAConnect, supporting calibration and operational efforts; and model hydrogen sulfide formation to decrease the risk of pipe damage, prevent odour complaints and improve safety.

SewerGEMS, SewerCAD, CivilStorm and StormCAD users can trace and display the surface water flow direction across any terrain, ensuring proper location of inlets and other drainage infrastructure; import MX drainage files easily and efficiently; automatically assign elevation data to manhole elements for faster model building and updating; and explicitly model headwalls and endwalls for culverts more efficiently.

SewerGEMS and CivilStorm users can design stormwater ponds more quickly and easily using PondMaker. SewerGEMS, SewerCAD and CivilStorm users can utilise ILSAX hydrologic calculations.

Grundfos Pumps Pty Ltd

Bentley Systems Pty Ltd

www.grundfos.com

http://www.bentley.com/en-AU/

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 31

n products & services

Digital flowmeters Exair’s Digital Flowmeters provide a way to monitor compressed air consumption and waste. With the addition of six extra sizes, the company makes it easier to measure consumption and identify trends at all of the critical areas or individual legs of a compressed air system.

Measuring compressed air is the first step towards identifying high compressed air use areas, compressed air leaks and optimising air use. Regular monitoring of compressed air usage makes it possible for companies to save thousands of dollars per year in compressed air waste by identifying leaks or inefficient air products. Airflow values expressed in SCFM or m3/h are available.

Digital flowmeters for schedule 40 iron pipe are ready to ship in sizes ½, ¾, 1, 1½, 2, 2½, 3 and 4″. They are CE and RoHS compliant and can also be ordered for schedule 80, 10S or Type L copper pipe. A USB data logger and included software can be preinstalled or purchased separately. Summing remote displays, which make it easy to monitor compressed air consumption from a convenient location, are also available.

Compressed Air Australia Pty Ltd www.caasafety.com.au

Electromagnetic current meter The OTT MF pro handheld current meter is a user-friendly, low-maintenance electromagnetic current meter, designed specifically to simplify in-stream discharge measurement.

Step-by-step instructions guide the user through the flow profiling process and, with the ability to log velocity and enter depth information within the meter, field time is cut in half. Discharge calculations (based on ISO and USGS methods) are graphed in real time and collected flow data is conveniently downloaded to a computer via the USB connection, eliminating the need for manual post-site visit data transfer and calculations. The electromagnetic sensor is detachable, has no moving parts and is virtually maintenance-free, unlike mechanical meters. Electromagnetic sensors are suitable in low-flow stream conditions and their readings are not affected by large amounts of organic matter like mechanical and acoustic meters. The meter is a practical choice for discharge measurement in a variety of environmental applications.

Aqualab Scientific Pty Ltd www.aqualab.com.au

E-waste recycling bin The E-Waste Recycling Bin has been designed in collaboration with local councils to provide both a consolidated collection bank for key e-waste recycling items and, importantly, an educational tool to help promote e-waste recycling. E-waste is the fastest growing waste segment in Australia, with a comparably low recycling rate, yet a huge proportion of e-waste content can be recycled, which minimises the need to mine for raw materials. The E-Waste Recycling Bin features a modern casing which holds a stainless steel plate with tailored apertures and full colour graphics. The plate can be customised with specific messages or waste streams.

Each stream has a different collection bin which can be easily accessed for emptying.

Source Separation Systems Pty Ltd www.sourceseparationsystems.com.au

32 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2014

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

products & services n Water data management software

The 8292 series Trafag Ex pressure transmitter features thin-film-on-steel sensor technology and has a wide pressure measuring range from 0.. +2000 bar.

Other features include an output signal of 4 - 20 mA and accuracy ±0.3%, FS typical NLH @ +25°C (BSL through 0). The G¼″ process connection comes as standard and other options are available up to +600 bar. Above 600 bar, M18x1.5 process connection with conical seal is available. EN175301-803-A 90° electrical connector to IP65, M12x1 Binder 723 and MIL-C 26485 are also available.

The maximum media temperatures are from -40 to +120°C (T4) and the instrument has approvals to IECEX and ATEX.

Hach Water Information Management Solution (WIMS) software helps users see the complete picture of their water or wastewater systems so they can make operational decisions with confidence.

The water data management software secures data collection, streamlined reporting, user-defined alerts and powerful charting, graphing and mapping tools. It is suitable for managing and reporting data to the EPA, state and other regulatory agencies.

Process data is stored into a central, secure database for easy monitoring, analysis, reporting and predictive modelling. The data can be accessed locally or via a secured web interface, ensuring audit trails and historical records are safe and available for easy viewing.

The software has over 100 industry-specific formulas and verification engines to quickly and accurately perform complex calculations with the click of a button. Such built-in equations help provide consistent and accurate results based on EPA requirements.

Intelligent alerts and modelling tools help resolve, predict and prevent disruptions. The data management software will flag problems so users know exactly where they occurred. Data and information is automatically verified and compared.

The modelling tools allow users to develop what-if scenarios and perform search queries on their data.

Personalised dashboards let users monitor key data and show the information required. This allows quick access to reports, graphs and entry forms and provides shortcuts to other parts of the software. Pre-programmed EPA and state report templates create business and regulatory reports instantly. The software enables users to receive automatically scheduled reports on screen, printed or emailed.

Dart Instruments

Hach Company

www.dartinstruments.com.au

www.hachpacific.com.au

Ex pressure transmitter

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 33

n products & services

Optical sensor for automated photometric titrations Many titrations are often performed manually because regulations require a titration to continue until the colour changes; in other words, the endpoint must not be indicated by a pH electrode or a metal electrode. Such titrations can now be automated with an optical sensor, the Metrohm Optrode.

The optrode features eight different wavelengths for a wide measuring range. It is 100% solventresistant due to a glass shaft and is easy to handle. The photometric sensor can be used for many applications.

Typical applications include: photometric titrations in accordance with USP and Ph Eur (nonaqueous); determination of carboxyl end groups (non-aqueous); TAN/TBN in accordance with ASTM D974 (non-aqueous); chloride in silicone products (non-aqueous); sulfate determination; Fe, Al, Ca in cement; water hardness (total hardness and Ca/Mg); chondroitin sulfate in accordance with USP. The optrode can be used on both new and existing Metrohm titration systems, as well as on titrators from other manufacturers.

PID controller series Red Lion Controls has announced the PXU series of proportionalintegral-derivative (PID) controllers. The series is designed for machine builders, systems integrators and commercial equipment manufacturers. It is said to enable tighter control over a wide range of processes, including temperature, flow and pressure, from a single model.

Capable of being deployed in precision process applications within the food and beverage, plastics, packaging, energy, gas, heat-treating, commercial and medical industries, the series offers 1/16, 1/8 and 1/4 DIN size models to provide a range of space-saving options.

One model fits all temperature and process PID applications with the universal inputs that support thermocouple, RTD, 0-10 VDC and 4-20 mA (0-50). Easy set-up and commissioning is possible via the on-demand auto-tuning programmable front panel push-buttons and/ or the company’s free Crimson configuration software. The enhanced bezel design provides larger, easy-to-read displays for better visibility from long distances and the optional RS485 communications allow integration with PCs, PLCs and HMIs.

MEP Instruments Pty Limited

Control Logic Pty Ltd

www.mep.net.au

www.control-logic.com.au

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www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Developing urban efficiency through collaboration Joe Craparotta Vice President - Energy Business*

City dwellers make up more than 50% of the world’s population.

Current urbanisation trends show that in the next 40 years, 70% of all people on the planet will be living in cities.

W

ith such explosive growth pending, cities face unique challenges including congestion, pollution and rising energy costs - all the while competing with each other for business, investment and tourism.

While growth-related pressure on cities is high, the demand is likely to continue in the years ahead unless governments and various infrastructure providers collaborate to create cities ready to meet the challenges of the future.

Data and information is now

Creating smart cities

readily available and

The definition of a ‘smart city’ varies, however explanations usually describe the concept as a city infrastructure that integrates social and environment capital, ie, intelligent information management, efficient energy use and resource distribution.

accessible, but it needs to be optimised and analysed to be of any use

© iStockphoto.com/hadynyah

for smart city planning.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Modern cities have been built by people with an engineering background - but often the bigger picture of life has not been taken into account in order to truly embrace the concept of a smart city.

To develop a smart city, collaboration becomes essential. Everyone - municipal governments, the private sector and citizens - needs to be a part of creating and voicing a shared vision for their cities future if they are to develop a smart cities model.

Like with all smart infrastructures, choosing the right technology is essential in developing smart cities and achieving long-terms benefits. When used in developing a smart city, technology can maximise energy efficiency and monitor and track resource distribution. However, technology does not exist in a vacuum and needs strong data to make it relevant.

Data on a city, including population, infrastructure patterns and trends, can be gathered from real-time sources and these insights can then help to inform the technology used in the design of the smart city.

Around 90% of the world’s data was created in the last two years. Data and information is now readily available and accessible, but it needs to be optimised and analysed to be of any use for smart city planning. This kind of analysis can only be undertaken by technology specialists and there needs to be a crossover between services, utilities and government industries to make it effective.

Discovering the true value of the data available also requires different government organisations to look and consider the information across the board, not in silos. It is the connection between the government departments and the infrastructure they manage where the most amount of value and efficiencies

Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 35

Urban efficiency can be gained. Analysing big data on its own will not achieve the outcomes desired unless it is analysed holistically, taking into account the total objective of a smart city.

Although we are seeing general changes in the way technology is being used, a new generation of young people who are open to the idea of using data to improve the ways cities run are rising to the forefront of city development. These people often live and work alongside an older generation, who are driving the decisions and are often not as open to this way of thinking.

This shows that the collaboration of the human element in the design of a smart city is just as important in the design as the collaboration of the technology and the data that can make everything work together. Within a smart city the partnership between government and private enterprise is imperative in capitalising on the shifting trends of generational change. Access to data is the first step, which then leads to un-

locking the maximum efficiency gains through data analysis. Also, partner selection is important from a design and execution perspective. Partners who provide value and experience and touch on key elements of a smart city such as transportation, water, energy and smart buildings, can guide governments into making low-risk, high-value decisions.

The path from here

increasing population verses the development of a sustainable city - the concept of smart cities must be addressed. For the smart city of the future to be successful, the model must be underpinned by integration; collaboration is key. If cities like Sydney are to compete with cities in the region and also globally, then we will need to see further investment in smart cities technology to attract larger corporations to the country.

In order to address the conflicting challenges that face the cities of the future - an

Schneider Electric Pty Ltd www.schneiderelectric.com.au

36 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2014

*Joe Craparotta has had 20 years of IT industry experience and has seen many of the technological convergence shifts. He was a founding partner of Indicium Technology Group and in 2005, moved to Commander Communications where he spent three years in the Enterprise space of converged voice and data. In 2008, Craparotta moved to APC where he would move into the next evolution of his career - data centres and infrastructure. At this time, APC had just been acquired by Schneider Electric.

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

products & services n Inductive conductivity meter Bürkert’s family of Element analytical meters is being expanded to include an inductive conductivity meter that can be customised to the individual requirements of different applications. The Type 8228 features one or two 4-20 mA analog and transistor outputs. The sensor finger is optionally available in versions made of PP, PVDF or PEEK. Users can operate the meter with or without the removable display, which can be used to program multiple devices.

Using an inductive measuring principle, there are no sensor elements exposed to the process media - the coils of the inductive conductivity sensor and the temperature gauge are completely embedded in the sensor finger. The device is therefore suitable for use with aggressive media and in difficult process conditions. The product is also highly versatile, with a large measurement range 100 µS/cm-2 S/cm. This results in a broad area of applications, reducing the requirements for warehousing of different devices and spare parts. Expenses for maintenance, operation and management of measuring equipment can be reduced.

The integrated temperature gauge enables temperature compensation, ie, conversion of the conductivity values based on a reference temperature. The temperature reading is available as a second process variable in addition to the conductivity and can also be output as a 4-20 mA signal. This eliminates the need to set up a separate measuring point.

The inductive conductivity meter is intended for use with difficult applications, eg, with contaminated and dirty process water treatment, or in PPEK/PPA for CIP applications. The unit is suitable for general application.

Compostable, re-usable bags Around 36,700 tonnes of plastic bags are deposited in Australian landfills every year. But even the popular ‘green’ re-usable shopping bags are made of polypropylene, a non-renewable fossil fuel-based plastic which is so durable that it is also used to make car bumpers.

Compost-A-Pak Shopping Bags are a suitable alternative, made of third-grade, non-eating corn sourced from international regions with high rainfall to minimise irrigation. The shopping bags are 100% Australian certified compostable, so users can be confident they will break down when exposed to composting environments, leaving no harmful residue. The nutrients can then be returned to the soil. The bags can even be custom printed so users can promote their own environmental messages.

Burkert Fluid Control Systems

Source Separation Systems Pty Ltd

www.burkert.com.au

www.sourceseparationsystems.com.au

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 37

n products & services

Ultrasonic level transmitter for liquids The Series ULL is a direct-install level transmitter designed for non-contact measurement of liquid levels. The product uses ultrasonic technology paired with automatic temperature compensation to provide reliable and highly accurate measurements (0.25% of max range) in virtually all conditions. The unit features automatic ambient temperature compensation, and sophisticated algorithms are used to overcome acoustic interferences and false echoes.

An integrated LCD screen and four push-buttons allow for quick and easy programming on a simple menu structure.

Diagnostic capabilities and a fail-safe output signal make the device a suitable choice in critical applications.

The Kryosec refrigeration dryers from Kaeser Compressors deliver good drying performance in ambient temperatures up to 50°C, yet are highly efficient and compact.

The compressed air dryers provide dependable drying with minimal pressure differential, even under tough operating conditions, for compressed air flow rates from 0.35 to 2.2 m3/min. Their performance is made possible not only through the generously dimensioned heat exchanger and refrigerant liquefaction surfaces, but also by dedicated cooling air flow. These features, combined with low-maintenance design, ensure highly efficient operation.

All models meet applicable machinery safety requirements (EN 60204-1), including a lockable on/off switch and an integrated power supply isolating device. Their high-quality construction and compact design make them suitable for localised installation on production and processing machines requiring compressed air treated to exacting quality standards. With minimal space requirement and wall-mounting capability, the dryers are versatile.

Dwyer Instruments (Aust) Pty Ltd

Kaeser Compressors Australia

www.dwyer-inst.com.au

www.kaeser.com

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Emerson’s Rosemount 5300 Guided Wave Radar (GWR) level transmitters are certified to IEC 61508 for safety instrumented functions up to SIL 3. Companies in the oil and gas production, refining, petrochemical, chemical and power industries can benefit from the accuracy and flexibility of the series for safety-critical level applications such as overfill prevention and dry pump protection. The series provides all the benefits of continuous level measurement, including the actual product surface location - confirming that the level sensor is functioning correctly. The high- and low-level alarms are set up locally or remotely during the installation and configuration process.

Proof testing is required at regular intervals to confirm that the overfill and empty tank protection functions result in the desired system response. These conditions can be simulated either locally using a HART-compliant master or remotely using Emerson’s AMS Suite software. By removing the need to perform traditional wet tests, which require the tank to be under- or overfilled, the cost and risks associated with proof testing are reduced. The series is a two-wire GWR for challenging level and interface measurements on liquids, slurries and solids. The Direct Switch Technology (DST) function increases measurement reliability and capability. In addition to improving the signal-to-noise ratio, DST enhances the ability to handle disturbing factors, longer measuring ranges and lower dielectrics, even with a single probe. Maintenancefree operation improves uptime, and advanced configuration and extensive diagnostic information is available through the RadarMaster and EDDL-based user interface.

Emerson Process Management www.ap.emersonprocess.com

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

Government | Enterprise | Transportation | Mining | Utilities | Public Safety

FREE EXHIBITION ENTRY

Sydney 18 – 19 June 2014

to qualified industry professionals with pre-registration

Australian Technology Park Highlights: Rod Gilmour Chairman, NSW Telco Authority

Training Workshops (included in conference package):

Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM Commissioner NSW Rural Fire Service

• Advanced radio over IP • Mobile broadband & LTE for critical communications • Ensure network migration success with change management

Inspector (Ret.) Lance Valcour O.O.M. Chair, Law Enforcement Information Management, International Association of Chiefs of Police Digital partner:

In association with:

Exhibitors include:

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Magazine partner:

Organised by:

Supporting associations and media organisations:

In conjunction with the NSW ARCIA networking dinner, 18 June @ Dockside, Cockle Bay Wharf

Interested in exhibiting or sponsoring?

CALL PAUL OR NARELLE ON

+61 2 9487 2700

www.comms-connect.com.au

Resource centre

Case Study Overset

w

Legislation, governance, programs and industry links to help guide your sustainability development.

Australian Sustainability Week Australian Sustainability Week will be held from 15-16 October 2014 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. The ‘mega event’ will showcase all aspects of sustainability, with four shows in one.

All-Energy Australia 2014 All-Energy Australia is a business-tobusiness conference and networking forum hosted alongside an exhibition showcasing renewable energy, clean energy, sustainable transport and energy efficiency. The event features five energy zones - solar, wind, energy efficiency, energy storage and future grid - which aim to facilitate a more streamlined experience for visitors and exhibitors alike.

This year’s event will feature over 200 exhibitors from 13 countries, filling over 3600 m2 of floorspace. It will offer seven concurrent conference sessions featuring more than 150 international and local speakers. On the evening of the first day, a free networking event will allow colleagues and clients to gather in a relaxed, informal setting to broaden their network and strengthen existing relationships.

Website: www.all-energy.com.au/ Australia’s Sustainability in Business Conference & Exhibition 2014 Australia’s Sustainability is a conference aimed at industry and business looking to harness the real value of sustainable practice adaptation and understand more of the ‘how’ instead of the ‘why’. The conference will take

When: 15-16 October 2014 Where: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

attendees on a journey through their complete product and supply chain life cycles and identify the points along this cycle where sustainable practices can be applied in order to achieve significant impacts on their triple bottom line: people, planet, profit.

The event will look at the core fundamentals needed for a company’s sustainable future and how sustainable innovation can help drive companies forward to improve their profitability and social responsibility while reducing their impact on the environment. Through case examples and panel discussions, delegates will walk away with international perspectives and the knowledge to pinpoint the areas where sustainability can transform their business and provide ROI. Website: www.australiansustainability.com.au

paper and packaging, brewing, manufacturing and healthcare) and water in agriculture (including aquaculture, viticulture, livestock rearing and food processing). All delegates will receive a complimentary water map of Australia.

Website: http://www.inter-water.com.au/

Inter-Water Australia 2014 The inaugural Inter-Water Australia, hosted by Inter-Water Events, brings together innovative ideas in water management with a free-to-attend conference and exhibition. The event is aimed at the users of water in industry, commerce and the urban environment, as well as the water supply industry. It is designed to change the mindset about water by sharing sustainable water technologies; providing a forum showcasing all aspects of water technology, infrastructure and innovation; and delivering thought leadership on key issues such as the impact of climate change and growing water scarcity on the use and supply of the world’s water.

Focus areas of this event will be water in cities, water in industry (including mining,

Waste Expo 2014 Waste Expo will showcase the latest technologies, services and solutions across all areas of waste management, recycling and sustainability. Entry is free and open to delegates across sectors including government, corporate, hospitality, transport and healthcare, for whom waste management, recycling and sustainability solutions are increasingly vital.

The event will play host to a wide range of free seminars and education sessions in the purpose-built Waste Summit area. Attendees will have the chance to learn from industry experts and benefit from recent case studies, technologies and methods.

Website: http://www.wasteexpo.com.au/

AWRE 2014

The Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo 2014 will allow attendees to meet with over 100 commercial suppliers at the waste and recycling trade show, discover the latest trends and services, and learn from government and industry leaders during the seminar program.

The AWT Pavilion will showcase advanced technology solutions, including anaerobic digestion, waste to energy (WtE), pyrolysis and more. The E-Waste zone features exhibitors of e-waste services and innovations in landfill. The trade show will also include an Innovation Zone.

Date: 9-10 October 2014 Venue: Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park Website: www.awre.com.au

40 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2014

www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

2014 EcoForum Conference & Exhibition The Australasian Land and Groundwater Association (ALGA), a professional association with over 1000 members, is hosting EcoForum from 29-31 October at Jupiter’s Casino on the Gold Coast.

Conference masterclasses will cover topics such as the amended NEPM, asbestos, stakeholder engagement, optimisation of laboratory services and sustainable remediation.

The conference plenary speakers are Professor Tim Flannery and Mr Russell Sirabian (from the US Battelle scientific discovery and technology innovation organisation). There will be 30 technical themes presented by international and Australasian keynote speakers, covering

topics such as site assessment and highresolution characterisation, regulatory and legal issues, unconventional gas, ground gas, groundwater, advanced remediation technologies and remediation case studies.

EcoForum builds on ALGA’s successful forumstyle events with interactive panel Q&As to discuss the topics and material presented, share knowledge and identify areas requiring attention to progress our industry.

The EcoForum exhibition floor is already sold out. With over 25 exhibitors showcasing the latest industry innovations, it will be a good opportunity to connect with industry suppliers and network with industry professionals.

Bringing together professionals from the contaminated land and groundwater remediation

industry, EcoForum will be attended by land managers, industry, government, contractors, consultants, the legal profession, laboratory staff and researchers.

When: 29-31 October 2014 Where: Jupiter’s Casino, Gold Coast, Qld Who: Australasian Land & Groundwater Association (ALGA) Ltd www.landandgroundwater.com Website: www.ecoforum.net.au Contact: Elisabethe Dank, secretariat@ landandgroundwater.com

ENVIRO’14 ENVIRO’14, hosted by the AWA and WMAA, will be held from 17-19 September at Adelaide Convention Centre. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Pathways for better business’, developed to bring business operators together with policy makers, researchers, futurists and designers to consider tomorrow’s sustainability practices, resource realignment initiatives and recycling technologies. Tours and professional development workshops will be held on the first day of the event, along with a welcome reception in the evening, and the conference and exhibition will be held in parallel over the second and third days.

The trade exhibition offers businesses the opportunity to showcase their latest equipment and services to attendees, while the conference will feature a wide range of speakers including keynotes Jonathan Trent, Ben Hewett, Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis, Dick Pope and Jon Dee. The ENVIRO’14 Gala Dinner will be held on 18 September at Adelaide Oval, where the winner of the 2014 ENVIRO Innovation in Sustainability Award will be announced. Standard registration is open until 2 September. Late fees apply from 3 September onwards.

When: 17-19 September 2014 Where: Adelaide Convention Centre, SA Who: AWA and WMAA

Website: www.enviroconvention.com.au/index.html Contact: program@enviroconvention.com.au

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Aug/Sep 2014 - Sustainability Matters 41

In my opinion

Water sector working with industry

D Stuart Gowans, General Manager Business Development at Degrémont.

There is a definite link for both the power and water sectors to try to maximise efficiency and sustainability.

egrémont, a subsidiary of water and waste management company Suez Environnement, has just signed a contract with Delta Electricity to operate and maintain the water reclamation plant at Vales Point Power Station in New South Wales. Sustainability Matters talks to Stuart Gowans, General Manager - Business Development at Degrémont, to find out more about the company’s expansion into the industrial sector in Australia.

The power industry requires a significant amount of water for cooling processes and high-purity water for boilers; therefore, finding more sustainable water solutions has been a high priority for the industry for many years.

“Globally, Degrémont has been assisting the power sector with its water management for quite some time,” says Gowans.

“In Australia, the company has principally been focused on municipal water.

However, the company is now leveraging on its global capabilities and experience in the industrial space, particularly the power sector, to expand into this sector in Australia.

“There is a definite link for both the power and water sectors to try to maximise efficiency and sustainability,” says Gowans.

He says there are two key areas where the water sector can help the power industry and they are: to maximise the efficiency of the initial water supplied to the plant and efficiently re-use the water that is used within the plant.

“So whether the initial supply of water is from seawater, groundwater, surface water, effluent, etc, we can treat that water, minimising the chemicals and power used to produce that water as efficiently as possible.

“When it has been used in the process of generating power, instead of it going to waste, such as blowdown from the cooling process, we can take that water and retreat it for re-use back in the process again. It’s all about trying to maximise the efficient use of every drop of water that is taken into the power plant.”

The Degrémont project with Delta Electricity began in June and will run

42 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2014

for an initial term of two years. It will encompass the delivery of new membranes, supply of chemicals and overall operation, remote monitoring and management of the facility. The works will support the continued positive sustainable impact of the water reclamation plant, which has significantly reduced the volume of fresh water required to run the power station since its introduction in 2009 by purifying effluent from the Mannering Park sewage treatment works. The treated effluent is purified with microfiltration and reverse osmosis, which is then fed into the ion exchange system to produce high-purity water for the boiler at the power plant.

“As the base technologies are well established at the plant, what Degrémont is bringing to the project is its experience in optimising the efficiency of membrane processes,” says Gowans.

He says the Suez Environnement group spends upwards of $100 million on R&D annually. It also has a membrane lab in its Paris R&D facility, so it is constantly looking at ways to maximise the life of the membranes and minimising the energy used. This includes looking at various types of membranes available and improving the efficiency of the operating regimes for example, minimising how often the membranes are cleaned and replaced, and minimising the amount of chemicals used in this process.

Degrémont has also developed a new innovation in the microfiltration space called Smartrack. Gowans explains that, “Under normal circumstances, a microfiltration system is specific to a type and manufacturer of membrane. However, with our system, you can change to various different manufacturers and type of membrane during the life of the project.”

He says this gives the system more flexibility as it can be more easily upgraded with different membrane types as new innovations come to market.

“Energy and chemical use are such key parts of both the sustainability and the commercial cost of an industrial operation. It is something we are very focused on and we are constantly pushing for new innovations,” concludes Gowans.

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