nection to the cable. Data exchange is with an igus CFBUS cable with a PUR outer jacket and those cables are designed specifically for use in energy chains. They also include an abrasion-resistant outer jacket and special interior stranding. Changing the game The wastewater treatment systems are just one of the innovations in the rapidly expanding field of using solar power to solve problems in many industries. In the wastewater industry, treatment plants have been equipped with photovoltaic systems to supply the facility with its electricity require- ments. The solar-powered sludge turners can add another layer of renewable energy to the equation. There are, however, many more applications related to civil engineer- ing that are using energy emanating from the sun. In Austria, Ecotherm Austria developed a steam-generating solar boiler. A series of moving mirrors mounted on the roof of a building direct sun rays onto a collecting pipe filled with water. The process produces CO2 neutral steam. A far less complex system is a rubbish bin developed by a company in Finland that compacts waste with solar energy. The system reduces operating costs and ecological footprint, and ensures that waste is com- pressed in a ratio of 6:1. Like the SOLSTICE®, the products include components from igus. The company’s self-lubricating products are durable, withstanding the effects of extreme temperature, wind, water, and dust. The company has more than 17 years of experience in the solar sector, and its range of products – energy chains, bushings, cables, and more – have been proven in multiple projects that rely on solar power. Complex issue Wastewater management is not an issue that will grasp the attention of most members of the community. It is messy, complicated and is hardly The HUBER Sludge Turner SOLSTICE® units work in greenhouses, and the turner travels on rails and repeatedly rearranges the sludge on the ground. During the movement, the sludge is dried by solar energy. The system takes a solid mixture that is 78 percent moisture and water and 22 percent dry solids and converts it to 75 percent dry solids. Photo: igus
the topic of most dinner table conversations. It is an important issue, es- pecially in an era where everyone is more conscious of the environment. “It is important that municipalities and utilities have the information they need to treat and manage biosolids,’’ Wayne Cascio, acting as- sistant administrator science in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in the awarding more than $5 million in funding for research to determine the health and environmental risks from pollut- ants in biosolids. “These grants will help us leverage resources and knowledge to ensure the latest science is being used to protect public health and the environment.” Sanford is well aware of the issues. In 2014, a sewage processing com- pany abruptly closed its doors and filed for bankruptcy. The closure required Sanford to pay an additional $10,000 per month to haul sew- age biosolids offsite. As the world seeks more systems that rely on renewable energy, how- ever, more solutions such as the HUBER Sludge Turner SOLSTICE® will be developed to help in the fight against climate change. “As a company that is working in the environment, we are always look- ing for solutions,’’ said André Großer, HUBER SE Product Manager. “We not only want to make water clean, but we also want to reduce our reliance on electric energy. We are developing the process and we are on the right track. In any project, we are concerned about the environmental impact and look for the best practices to protect our environment.” An important component of the HUBER Sludge Turner SOLSTICE® units are energy chains manufactured by igus. The energy chains include the company’s chainflex cables, which provide reliable data transfer and energy supply for the sludge turners. Photo: igus
THOMAS RENNER writes in engineering, construction, architecture, and other trade industry topics for publications in the United States and Canada.
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csengineermag.com
DECEMBER 2021
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