Muddy Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (USA)

Background

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities provides high quality water, wastewater and solid waste services to approximately 361,000 residential, business and industrial users. Because of their commitment to responsible use of resources, reliable delivery and stewardship of the environment, the department wanted to cut power costs and increase the efficiency of its Muddy Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Located on the southern border of Forsyth County and permitted for 21 million gallons per day of residential and industrial wastewater, the plant sought a solution that would allow it to increase efficiency, achieve environmental compliance, and reduce long-term power costs.

Solution

At the heart of the newly installed cogeneration facility is a single Jenbacher* J416 gas engine running on sewage gas. The combined heat and power (CHP) solution produces 1.1 MWe of power.

Muddy Creek relies on excess thermal energy created during the engine’s operation to promote its wastewater treatment processes. The facility’s efficient and economical method of energy conversion achieves lower energy costs through the use of process gas instead of purchasing gas from utilities. For additional savings, the plant is now able to coordinate interconnection with the local electric utility to export power when possible.

Results

Following installation in March 2020, the Muddy Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant has been living up to expectations—delivering greater efficiency, reduced power costs, and meeting environmental compliance for gas emissions from the facility.

Customer advantages

• Cost saving. Cogeneration systems usually save users about 40% when compared to separate power and heat generation. Muddy Creek saves even more through the use of process gas and by exporting excess power to the local utility.
• Reliable. The system has achieved the expected availability level since its installation.
• Efficient. The plant uses waste heat created during engine operation to generate overall CHP plant efficiencies of more than 90%.
• Compliant. The plant’s new CHP system helps the plant to reach environmental gas emission targets.