Starting with a product in mind – biosolids management design based on beneficial use goals

Biosolids generators across the United States are beginning to reevaluate their processing and management programs, to consider new technologies and products. As part of this, they are considering new regulatory requirements, more flexible outlets, and the concept of biosolids as a product. Their focus is no longer technology centered, but rather on product quality and the best use for it. As part of their Long-Term Biosolids Master Planning effort, Howard County Department of Public Works fulfilled their goal of selecting a solids processing technology that reduces volume and generates a Class A exceptional quality biosolids product that could be use locally in agricultural or non-agricultural markets. In this case, product quality characteristics were important in entering local markets. Key aspects of the selection process are discussed, including establishing County goals, identifying and surveying local beneficial use markets, selecting a solids management alternative, and ultimately selecting the dryer technology fulfilling the County's objective.

Single Particle Interaction Properties: Investigations on the Coefficient of Restitution and Coefficient of Friction

Understanding granular flows has always been important for predicting natural phenomena such as rockslides and soil erosion, as well as industrial processes such as coal-based fossil fuel systems and solids processing. As such, it becomes important to understand granular flows from both a classical granular flow and tribological perspective. Inherently important in the study of granular flows is the study of the individual particle level interactions, which define the global behavior of the flow. The current work examines both the coefficient of restitution (COR) and coefficient of friction (COF) for various material combinations. COR and tribological experiments are performed on various sphere and plate (disk) materials, such as low carbon steel, tungsten carbide (WC), and NITINOL 60.