Andritz RheoScan measures the actual sludge viscosity during the thickening stage in real time. The new system adjusts the polymer dose needed to match changing flow rates and sludge conditions automatically and accurately. Andritz Separation says this means cost savings of up to 40% for polymer consumption and an increase in plant reliability. The patented Andritz technology operates without requiring supervision. Andritz RheoScan can be applied to belt filter presses and gravity belt tables in all types of municipal and industrial sludge processing facilities. Installations at customer plants have shown that the payback period is mostly less than one year. Installations in wastewater treatment plants with digestion processes show an additional gas yield due to the optimized polymer dosage.
