Towards Water and Energy Self-Sufficiency: a Closed-Loop, Solar-Driven, Low-Tech Laundry Pilot Facility (LaundReCycle) for the Reuse of Laundry Wastewater

In the scope of this study, a pilot facility for the recycling of laundry effluent was developed and tested. With the aim to enable nearly complete energy and water self-sufficiency, the system is powered by a photovoltaic plant with second-life batteries, treats the wastewater within the unit and c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Circular economy and sustainability (Online) 2021-11, Vol.1 (3), p.1037-1051
Main Authors: Buehler, Devi, Antenen, Nadine, Frei, Matthias, Koller, Christoph, Rousseau, Diederik P. L., Schoenborn, Andreas, Junge, Ranka
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied Science
Earth and Environmental Science
Engineering Economics
Environment
Environmental Economics
Logistics
Marketing
multidisciplinary
Organization
Original Paper
Science
Sustainable Development
Waste Management/Waste Technology
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Summary:In the scope of this study, a pilot facility for the recycling of laundry effluent was developed and tested. With the aim to enable nearly complete energy and water self-sufficiency, the system is powered by a photovoltaic plant with second-life batteries, treats the wastewater within the unit and constantly reuses the treated wastewater for washing in a closed cycle. The technology for wastewater treatment is based on a low-tech approach consisting of a physical/mechanical pre-treatment and biological treatment in trickling filter columns. The treatment process is operated in batch mode for a capacity of five washing cycles per day. During five weeks of operation water quality, energy consumption and production, water losses and washing performance were monitored. The system recovered 69% of the used water for the washing machine while treating the wastewater to the necessary water quality levels. The average COD removal rate per cycle was 92%. Energy analysis was based on modelled data of the monitored energy consumption. With the current set-up, an internal consumption rate of 80% and self-sufficiency of 30% were modelled. Future developments aim at increasing water and energy self-sufficiency and optimizing the water treatment efficiency.
ISSN:2730-597X
2730-5988
DOI:10.1007/s43615-021-00077-2