Thermal Energy Recovery from Wastewater at the TU Delft Campus

Bachelor thesis (2018)

Authors

O.S. van der Marel Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Contributors

J.P. van der Hoek Sanitary Engineering - CEG (mentor)
L.C. Rietveld Sanitary Engineering - CEG (graduation committee member)
Faculty
Civil Engineering & Geosciences, Civil Engineering & Geosciences
Copyright: © 2018 Omar van der Marel
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Published Date

02-11-2018

Language

English

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Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Abstract

In order to reduce the emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses, sustainable development is gaining in importance in the recent years. This is also the case for TU Delft. The sustainable advancement requires renewable energy sources that do not require fossil fuels. The wastewater flow is currently not utilised as a renewable energy source at the TU Delft campus. Thermal energy is 80% of the total energy embedded in wastewater. In order to increase the amount of green energy that is produced on campus, it is useful to analyse the possibilities regarding the thermal energy recovery from wastewater.
This study aims to give substantiated recommendations towards TU Delft, about how this currently dissipated flow can be used to generate energy. The main research question this research aims to answer is: “How can thermal energy recovery from wastewater contribute to the TU Delft campus?”
This main research question could be answered through literature reviews and three case studies, whereafter and implementation followed. First, an understanding of energy recovery from wastewater should be gained. Based on the conclusion that thermal energy carries the most potential in a wastewater flow, different technologies on different scales were defined. This lead to a toolkit that could be used in further analyses. It was used in the three case studies that followed. This provided further insight into how the technologies on different scales on university campuses can be implemented. Locations at the TU Delft campus have then been reviewed and potential interventions have been pointed out. The results showed that small and medium scale interventions at selected locations are possible. Projects on a larger scale would not be feasible on the campus.
Further research could be conducted to extend the toolkit and make a cost-benefit analysis (CBA). Installation and maintenance costs should be evaluated in order to make the recommendations economically feasible.