Imperial Irrigation District – Imperial, CA
OWB Packers Diffused Aeration
Featured Project
Diffused Aeration System Enhances Performance and Nets OWB Packers $117K in Annual Energy Cost Savings and $150k in Incentives
Project Details
- Business: OWB Packers
- Category: Food & Beverage
- Location: Brawley, CA
- Project Type: Wastewater System Optimization
Project Partners
Project Overview
OWB Packers is a beef processing and packaging facility located in Brawley, California. Their operation is energy-intensive, with wastewater treatment being a major energy consumer. This project replaced surface aerators with a diffused aeration system, which enhances energy efficiency while improving wastewater treatment performance. The upgrade greatly improved oxygen transfer efficiency, enabling better wastewater treatment while substantially reducing energy consumption.
The Imperion team took pre- and post-installation energy measurements to verify the $117k in annual energy cost savings. By utilizing the Imperial Irrigation District Custom Energy Solutions Program, this project earned $150,000 in incentives, resulting in an impressive payback period of just 1.75 years.
The Imperion project team evaluated an energy-intensive step in the wastewater treatment facility and identified an opportunity to improve performance while reducing energy usage.
About the Diffused Aeration System
Aeration is an essential aspect of OWB Packers’ on-site wastewater treatment process, especially during the secondary treatment stage. It incorporates oxygen into the water to allow aerobic bacteria to convert ammonia to inert nitrogen gas. Aeration is crucial during the activated sludge phase, when bacteria feed on organic matter until flocs of matter and bacteria settle out and produce sludge. The sludge, along with its microorganisms, is recirculated to aid in the breakdown of organic materials in the water before discharging to the City of Brawley and/or final polishing and application to OWB Packers’ Bermuda grass field, which is located adjacent to the facility.
The initial system consisted of ten surface aerators – five 40 HP and five 75 HP to introduce oxygen into their water stream. This project replaced eight of the existing surface aerators with a diffused aeration system, which consists of 22 diffused aerators served by a single 75 HP positive displacement (DP) blower equipped with a VFD. As a result, OWB Packers could turn off four 75 HP and four 40 HP mechanical aerators.
