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Across the United Kingdom, water authorities are constantly seeking means to maximise performance on operations, meet environmental standards, and minimise downtime. There is a single cause behind all these objectives: temperature control.
Maintaining process temperatures is vital to the biochemistry driving anaerobic digestion within wastewater treatment. That’s where Andrews Sykes comes in. Our rental solutions for temporary boilers and chillers allow water treatment plants to ensure process stability via maintenance, seasonal fluctuation, or unexpected plant outages.
What Is Anaerobic Digestion?
Anaerobic digestion is a biological process that uses microorganisms to break down sewage sludge and organic waste without oxygen. This process produces biogas, which powers the treatment works, and a stabilised by-product ready for further treatment or safe disposal.
Maintaining the correct operating temperature of around 55 °C is important in keeping the microbes active. If below this, digestion slows down, gas formation reduces, and the overall treatment process becomes inefficient.
How Temperature Control Works in Wastewater Treatment
Continuous operation of the digester is essential for water authorities to ensure compliance, sustainability, and energy recovery.
During cold-weather or planned maintenance scenarios, digesters will self-cool over a period of days, delaying the return of biological activity. Temporary boilers will rapidly re-establish process temperature and allow systems to remain operational while permanent equipment is brought offline.
Before shut-downs or testing, temporary chillers offer rapid cooling of sludge, enabling safe, on-schedule entry for maintenance staff and reducing plant outage time.
Working in concert, boilers and chillers give operators the ability to control digestion, with throughput and operating stability throughout treatment works.
The Benefits of Effective Temperature Control
- Enhanced Process Efficiency
Consistent temperatures enable microbial action to remain at its optimum, with gas yield and treatment potential maintained.
- Less Downtime
Boilers and chillers accelerate heat and cool cycles, lowering maintenance time windows and getting back to full operation sooner.
- Lower Operating Costs
Quick temperature changes save time and lower fuel use and resulting renewable energy output loss.
- Infrastructure Protection
Controlled cooling prevents pressure from building on pumps, pipework, and digesters, protecting equipment from excessive temperatures or sudden fluctuations.
- Environmental Sustainability
Maintaining consistent digester conditions allows renewable energy production and supports water authorities to meet aggressive sustainability and carbon-reduction targets.
Boilers and Chillers Together for Maximum Effectiveness
With Andrews Sykes, you are able to have high-performance boilers (300 kW and above) and energy-saving chillers (100 kW and above) designed to endure the harsh operating conditions of wastewater treatment applications.
- Boilers provide the heat required to warm digesters up to operating temperatures after shutdowns to maintain operations in cold weather.
- Chillers provide controlled cooling before maintenance, eliminating long natural cooldown times and enabling quicker safe access.
Every system is backed by our nationwide network of engineers, offering rapid response, expert installation, and 24/7 technical support. Whether planned or emergency, our equipment is ready to keep your processes running at the right temperature.
Supporting the UK Wastewater Industry
With decades of experience, Andrews Sykes knows the intricacies of operational complexities of wastewater treatment. Our temporary heating and cooling solutions are specifically built to maintain digestion systems in optimal efficiency, compliance, and reliability to ensure operators can continue to provide performance and minimise unnecessary downtime.
We provide the expertise and equipment to achieve stability, safeguard assets, and facilitate sustainable energy recovery at small municipal plants up to massive industrial treatment facilities all over the UK.
Call 0800 211 611 or speak with our technical specialists and discover how we can keep your treatment works running efficiently.
FAQs
Why is temperature control essential in wastewater treatment?
Temperature directly impacts the biological activity inside digesters. When conditions fall below optimal levels, microorganisms slow down, reducing gas yield and overall treatment performance. Consistent temperature control keeps processes stable and energy recovery efficient.
Can boilers and chillers work together in the same process?
Yes. Boilers and chillers complement each other by providing both heating and cooling control. Together, they help maintain stable digester temperatures year-round, protect infrastructure, and enhance overall process reliability.
How quickly can Andrews Sykes deliver and install equipment?
With a nationwide network of depots and engineers, Andrews Sykes can deliver and install equipment rapidly often within hours. We provide full commissioning and 24/7 technical support to keep treatment works running efficiently.
