Aerofloat designed and installed a wastewater treatment plant to manage high wastewater flows for the HDPE plastics processing plant in Altona North.
Circular Plastics Australia required a wastewater system to treat wastewater from its high-density polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics recycling systems in Melbourne.
It required a wastewater treatment solution that would meet Melbourne city’s strict trade waste requirements.
Aerofloat designed and installed a wastewater treatment plant consisting of its proprietary AeroDAF technology, alongside screening, pH correction and a dewatering system.
Aerofloat designed a system that would manage production growth at the site over time.
Aerofloat’s design allows for further water saving options for the Circular Plastics Australia site in the future if required.
The entire plant was automated to ensure low maintenance for operators.
Aerofloat has worked with Circular Plastics Australia on multiple ventures, the new Melbourne plant is expected to be operational in 2023.
Aerofloat has worked on multiple projects with Circular Plastics Australia, including the Altona North, Laverton North and Albury plants, providing effective wastewater and washwater solutions that meet each site’s specific needs.
Michael Anderson, GM of Engineering and Projects for Aerofloat said Aerofloat was able to meet the brief given its expertise in the industry.
“Aerofloat has won awards for its innovative design in this area and is now the industry’s go-to wastewater engineering company in Australia,” said Anderson.
The Altona North plant recycles polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics from the Melbourne community and required an effective solution to meet the strict Melbourne wastewater guidelines.
“Aerofloat’s wastewater treatment plant was required to treat 120m3/day of wastewater from Circular Plastics Australia’s plastics recycling production lines,” said Anderson.
Aerofloat installed an inlet pumping station and its patented AeroCirc DAF.
“The system offered solids screening, balancing and automatic pH correction as well as mechanical sludge dewatering to ensure compliant effluent for discharge to sewer,” said Anderson.
All wastewater from the plastics recycling facility is collected in a central inlet pumping station (IPS). Raw wastewater is pumped from the IPS to a balance tank via an inlet screening system, which includes a vibrating screen to remove larger particles.
“Aerofloat installed a 25m3 capacity polyethylene tank fitted with a blower for the blending, cooling and partial flow balancing of the screened wastewater. The purpose is for blending the various wastewater streams, hydraulic balancing, and the automatic adjustment of the pH to the optimal pH level for coagulation of the wastewater,” said Anderson.
Following the balance tank, wastewater is treated through two stainless steel AeroCircDAFs.
Waste float material is scraped off the top of the second AeroCircDAF and pumped into a 10m3 hopper bottom sludge tank. The sludge tank is periodically mixed using a blower and removable lance to prevent a thick crust from forming.
“Aerofloat’s entire system is PLC controlled, fully automated and housed in a stainless steel MCC. This ensures ongoing remote support for the Melbourne operators from our engineers even when not onsite,” said Anderson.
With significant production volumes at the sites, wastewater flows were expected to be equally high. Aerofloat’s system has met these volumes to ensure the project’s specifications were met.
“At the moment, ensuring Circular Plastics Australia meet their recycling volumes is the first priority, however we have set up the plants ready for additional water re-use. That will be something we can address in the future if they want to reduce their water output further.” Said Michael Anderson, General Manager, Aerofloat.
“We offer a competitive chemical supply package to the Altona North team, and with that comes a high level of support for operators.”
Aerofloat’s engineers have continued to work closely with the Altona North team long after project completion and ensure the site is regularly optimised to meet production growth at the site.
CASE STUDY Aerofloat deemed ‘top of the list’ when it comes to wastewater treatment by Beak & Johnston. The Need Beak & Johnston needed a
CASE STUDY Aerofloat was contracted to provide an upgrade to the existing plastics recycling wastewater treatment facility to meet growth at the site. The Need
Meat manufacturer Meyer Food Co. utilised Aerofloat’s AeroDAF to ensure compliancy for its meat processing facility.
CASE STUDY Aerofloat deemed ‘top of the list’ when it comes to wastewater treatment by Beak & Johnston. The Need Beak & Johnston needed a
CASE STUDY Aerofloat was contracted to provide an upgrade to the existing plastics recycling wastewater treatment facility to meet growth at the site. The Need
Meat manufacturer Meyer Food Co. utilised Aerofloat’s AeroDAF to ensure compliancy for its meat processing facility.
