A new sludge treatment project is currently on a trial run in Yangquan, in Shanxi province. [Photo/yqnews.com.cn]
Yangquan city in Shanxi province has recently piloted a sludge treatment project to improve its local urban and rural environment.
With an investment of 75 million yuan ($11.18 million) the project, operated by Shanxi Hepo Power Generation Co in Xiayan village, treats 200 tons of sludge each day and serves two sewage treatment plants in the city.
It reduces the moisture content of the sludge to about 30 percent through a thermal steam drying process -- by using saturated steam, as well as power and water provided by Shanxi Hepo Power Generation Co.
The treated dried sludge is then sent to the power plant's boiler for blending and disposal, which greatly improves sludge recycling, alleviates the local burden of sludge disposal and helps reduce pollutant discharges.
They added that the project is of great value to the low-carbon clean development of the coal-fired power industry and for an improvement in the urban and rural environment in Yangquan.