HVAC CRITICAL IN MEETING ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS OF NEW £50 MILLION SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS

Everyone wants clean beaches, but no one really wants a sewage treatment works as a neighbour.  The answer from Anglian Water is a low-rise, high-tech and totally enclosed works.  This features advanced ventilation systems from Senior Hargreaves and treatment and odour control technology from process specialist Purac.  Mowlem civil engineering was the main contractor for the revolutionary building and infastructure at the new Lowestoft Wastewater Treatment Works.

Built on a former holiday camp, the works service Lowestoft, Blunderston, Corton and part of Hopton and also handles seasonal industrial effluents from local food processors.  It has a capacity suitable for a population equivalent of 405,000.  The £50 million project encloses all plant within a low-profile dome of 14,000 square metres.  This has a maximum height of 10 metres so that visual impact is minimal.

Under the dome each key process area has its own building within which the most critical processes have their own ventilated enclosures.  This triple barrier system provides maximum environmental protection.  Ventilation plays a key role.  It captures and controls odour, dissipates plant heat and ensures that there is no odour and minimal noise detectable at the site perimeter.

Anglian and Purac were keen to use advanced technology and make this a key reference site for others seeking clean and green solutions.  They sought project partners who could provide special expertise.  In Senior Hargreaves they found a ductwork contractor with extensive water industry experience and special knowledge of the needs of totally enclosed sewage treatment works.

Fresh air is provided through two major air handling units delivering 59.2m3/s total.  Distribution to working cabins, control rooms and general areas is by aluminium circular ducts, suspended by cable hangars from the light weight roof.  These ducts will acquire a thin film of protective oxide that will give long term natural protection from the harsh environment.  Ductwork is fabricated in a variety of sizes up to two metres in diameter at points of entry.

General extract from the building totals 50.2m3/s with an additional odour control extract of 860m3/s.  Some of this process extract is constructed from GRP because of the corrosive nature of the gasses.  Specialist suppliers have provided wet catalytic scrubbers to remove odour from the exhaust streams.  These outlets are also attenuated to minimise the external transmission of noise.  

The new works is currently undergoing commssioning and will be fully in use by January 2002. 


More information:
Mark Barry, Senior Hargreaves, Tel. +44 (0)161 764 5082 Fax. +44 (0)161 762 2336
E-mail: m.barry@senior-hargreaves.co.uk Web: www.hargreaves-ductwork.co.uk

September 24, 2001