avk-esg-2024-25 - Flipbook - Page 26
WASTEWATER: A GLOBAL
CHALLENGE WITH UNUSED
POTENTIAL
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the leading environmental agency of the UN,
reports that approximately 42% of all household wastewater is not treated properly,
damaging ecosystems and human health. Source: UN
At the same time, wastewater can generate
biogas, heat, and electricity. It can produce
about five times more energy than is required
for its treatment – enough to provide electricity
for around half a billion people per year.
Source: UNEP, 2023.
AVK develops, manufactures, and markets
products specifically designed to handle the
substances in wastewater.
CASE
Suzhou Industrial Park sets new emission
standards with AVK’s advanced valve
solutions
As part of China’s commitment to sustainable
development, Suzhou Industrial Park, in the
Jiangsu province, was selected to be one of
the first national carbon-peaking pilot parks
in 2023. Covering an area of 278 km² and
home to 1.37 million people, the park includes
the Suzhou No.1 Wastewater Treatment
Plant, which has recently been upgraded and
equipped with 367 new valves from AVK.
Carbon-peaking pilot park: Suzhou No.1
Wastewater Treatment Plant sets an
example
With a treatment capacity of 200,000 cubic
metres per day, Suzhou No.1 Wastewater
Treatment Plant is the sole wastewater
treatment facility in the northern part of Suzhou
Industrial Park. Currently, an expansion project
is under construction, with an expansion
capacity of 150,000 cubic metres per day. It
adopts the advanced process of pre-treatment,
enhanced multi-stage aerobic oxidation (AO),
high-efficiency sedimentation tank, V-shaped
filter, and sodium hypochlorite disinfection.
After the completion of the current expansion
26 | AVK Group Sustainability report 2024/2025
project, the total treatment capacity of the
wastewater treatment plant will rise to 350,000
cubic metres per day.
Comprehensive application, enabling
efficient and energy-saving operation
AVK has provided a wide-ranging valve
solution for the current expansion project,
including multiple series of products such as
gate valves, butterfly valves, knife gate valves,
plunger valves, and penstocks, totalling 367
units (DN80-1200). These valves are applied
in various key processes, covering more than
90% of the total number of valves installed
at the plant, ensuring stable operation of the
wastewater treatment system.
AVK has supplied electrical actuated metalseated valves, ranging up to DN1000, that
have been installed in connection with the
sedimentation tanks. The valves have been
designed using special copper alloy seats to
secure optimal sealing.
On the pipeline connecting the aeration tank
to the primary sedimentation tanks, large
diameter knife gate valves (DN1000-1200)
have been installed. The knife gate valves were
selected because of their ability to work in high
solid particle wastewater. AVK plunger valves
were selected for the aeration processes and
equipped with remote actuation to allow for
precise air regulation, which is essential for
maintaining optimal process conditions.
AVK’s solution supports the industrial
park in building a zero-carbon future
AVK’s solution supports the implementation
and efficient operation of the expansion project
of Suzhou No.1 Wastewater Treatment Plant,
enhancing its protective role in the Taihu
Lake Basin and the Wusong River. This is
just the starting point of the new practices of
this wastewater treatment plant. The project
is undergoing a comprehensive low-carbon
transition, turning wastewater into a resource
by converting by-product sludge into fuel for
thermal power plants. At the same time, a
4.482 MW distributed photovoltaic system
is being installed, expected to generate 4.39
million kWh annually and reduce carbon dioxide
by approximately 2,632 tonnes per year.
