“The general trend for breweries is to purchase packaged/modular treatment plants that are assembled on-site with relatively small footprints,” Scott said. “The systems reduce both total suspended solids (TSS) and BOD. These plants typically are activated sludge processes followed by microfiltration. Proper equalization must have both complete mix and some aeration to prevent the water from becoming septic.”
Scott added, “Too much aeration in the equalization tank can trigger the biological process, which is undesirable. Sludge holding tanks also need mixing and aeration. Historically, this has been accomplished by traditional fixed grid diffuser systems with external noisy blowers. We can replace traditional positive pressure systems with the BER and TRN models of Tsurumi aerators, which in most cases self-aspirate and eliminate the need for expensive blowers. The installation of the free-standing BER/TRN aerator is easier to install and more economical. They are also available on guide rail systems for long rectangular shaped tanks.”
The TRN submersible aerators were installed in fall of 2018 and have been running successfully since. Cilurzo is taking a conservation-minded approach in the disposal of the wastewater at the new Windsor facility. He sees the treated effluent as an opportunity to save resources with an added bonus of reducing cost. Rather than draining the treated effluent to return to the town of Windsor, it is filtered through high-temperature treatment and reused in the brewery for internal cleaning of the machinery. Treated, recycled water from the town of Windsor is also used for landscape irrigation at the facility.
In addition to the current practices, the brewery plans to expand its use of treated wastewater over time. In anticipation of a regulation change, plumbing has been done to the toilets so that nonpotable water is used in the restrooms. When this becomes legal, the brewery will add a valve to use the recycled water in the toilets and urinals. The recycling of treated effluent provides many environmental benefits such as enhancing wetlands, decreasing wastewater discharges to the municipal wastewater treatment plant, preventing pollution and increasing flows of the clean, treated water to sensitive ecosystems.
Tsurumi’s TRN submersible aerators are of great value, easy to install and simple to maintain. The self-aspirating units are efficient, as most of the mechanical energy from the motor is converted into water turbulence. Tsurumi provides a benefit to smaller wastewater treatment and industrial wastewater facilities with tighter budgets, enabling them to take control of their own wastewater.
TRN offers features such as patented oil seal technology with an extra-large oil chamber, potted cable entry and a dynamic air barrier seal principle, which ensures the double mechanical seal never comes in contact with the water during operation. The wet end modularity allows for easy maintenance compared to the one-piece design of the competitions’ aerators. Lastly, the TRN provides the added benefit of achieving mixing/aeration at great depths.
