Energy balance and economic analysis of multi-source sewage sludge drying and incineration

XU Peng; LU Yicheng

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202608022

Volume 44 Issue 8

Aug. 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2026 > 44(8): 231-237

XU Peng, LU Yicheng. Energy balance and economic analysis of multi-source sewage sludge drying and incineration[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(8): 231-237. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608022

Citation:

XU Peng, LU Yicheng. Energy balance and economic analysis of multi-source sewage sludge drying and incineration[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(8): 231-237. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608022

XU Peng, LU Yicheng. Energy balance and economic analysis of multi-source sewage sludge drying and incineration[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(8): 231-237. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608022

Citation:

XU Peng, LU Yicheng. Energy balance and economic analysis of multi-source sewage sludge drying and incineration[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(8): 231-237. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608022

PDF( 933 KB)

Energy balance and economic analysis of multi-source sewage sludge drying and incineration

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608022

XU Peng,
LU Yicheng

Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute(Group) Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200092, China

Received Date: 2025-06-29

Abstract

Abstract

Since China's first domestic sludge incineration project was completed and put into operation at the Shidongkou Wastewater Treatment Plant in Shanghai in 2004， this technology has been gradually adopted and promoted in key economically developed cities in China. However， as urban wastewater treatment facilities are often planned and constructed in a decentralized manner and employ diverse process technologies， the sludge characterization is changeable. In contrast， the planning and construction of sludge mono-incineration facilities are relatively concentrated， sludges with different properties have brought great impacts on the planning and site selection， project decision-making， engineering design， and economic stable operation of drying and incineration facilities. Taking the planning and engineering design of a sludge incineration plant in Qingdao as an example， the properties of sludge from major wastewater treatment plants in the urban area currently vary significantly due to differences in wastewater characteristics and treatment processes. Based on the data of sludge moisture content， organic matter content and other key indicators from each wastewater treatment plant， theoretical research was carried out to construct an energy balance calculation model. Based on this model， a set of sludge distribution plans was formulated， and a simplified cost calculation method for sludge with different properties was developed， which provides a reference for the differentiated pricing and rational allocation of sludge with multiple properties in sludge drying and incineration projects. Meanwhile， combined with the differences in sludge moisture content， and aiming at the two types of received sludge properties （conventional dewatering and deep dewatering）， a comparative analysis was carried out on the whole-process costs and carbon emissions from the sludge's origin to its final disposal from the perspective of "wastewater treatment plant + sludge incineration"， to provide support for the overall planning and process optimization of urban sludge treatment and disposal.
- sludge drying and incineration,
- energy balance,
- cost analysis,
- full-process analysis,
- carbon emissions

FullText(HTML)

References(10)

References

[1]	HU W J，ZHOU Y F. Study on mechanism of sludge mono-incineration for urban sewage treatment plant[J]. China Water& Wastewater，2019，35（10）：15-20. 胡维杰，周友飞. 城镇污水处理厂污泥单独焚烧工艺机理研究[J]. 中国给水排水，2019，35（10）：15-20.
[2]	HAO X D，CHEN Q，LI J，et al. Ultimate approach to handle excess sludge：drying and incineration[J]. China Water& Wastewater，2019，35（4）：35-42. 郝晓地，陈奇，李季，等. 污泥干化焚烧乃污泥处理/处置终极方式[J]. 中国给水排水，2019，35（4）：35-42.
[3]	DAI X H，ZHANG C，ZHANG L W，et al. Thoughts on the Development direction of sludge treatment，disposal and resource recovery under the background of carbon neutrality[J]. Water& Wastewater Engineering，2021，57（3）：1-5. 戴晓虎，张辰，章林伟，等. 碳中和背景下污泥处理处置与资源化发展方向思考[J]. 给水排水，2021，57（3）：1-5.
[4]	WANG C，ZHANG L，LIU L F，et al. Analysis of design，operation and multi-factor influences of wastewater treatment plants in Japan[J]. Water& Wastewater Engineering，2022，58（1）：19-32. 王聪，张莉，刘丽芳，等. 日本污水处理厂设计运行及多因素影响分析[J]. 给水排水，2022，58（1）：19-32.
[5]	German Environmental Agency. Sewage sludge disposal in the federal republic of germany[M]. Berlin：German Environmental Agency，May 2018. ISSN 2363-8311.
[6]	German DWA Set of Rules. Advisory Guideline DWA-M386E：Thermal treatment of sewage sludge—mono-incineration[M]. Berlin：German DWA Set of Rules，December 2011. ISBN 978-3-942964-95-1.
[7]	XU P. Energy balance analysis and engineering design application for municipal sludge drying and incineration[J]. Environmental Sanitation Engineering，2023，31（4）：41-45. 许鹏. 市政污泥干化焚烧能量平衡分析及工程设计应用[J]. 环境卫生工程，2023，31（4）：41-45.
[8]	China Urban Water Supply and Drainage Association. Technical guidelines for carbon accounting and emission reduction paths of urban water services system[M]. Beijing：China Architecture& Building Press，2022. 中国城镇供水排水协会. 城镇水务系统碳核算与减排路径技术指南[M]. 北京：中国建筑工业出版社，2022.
[9]	China Environmental Protection Industry Association. Technical specification for low-carbon operation evaluation of wastewater treatment plants（T/CAEPI 49—2022）[S]. Beijing：China Environmental Protection Industry Association，2022. 中国环境保护产业协会. 污水处理厂低碳运行评价技术规范：T/CAEPI 49—2022[S]. 北京：中国环境保护产业协会，2022.
[10]	CI H L，WANG X K，DONG B. Carbon footprint analysis of full chain of different sludge drying and incineration technology routes[J]. Water Purification Technology，2021，40（6）：77-82. 次瀚林，王先恺，董滨. 不同污泥干化焚烧技术路线全链条碳足迹分析[J]. 净水技术，2021，40（6）：77-82.