Application of Briquette Machines in Municipal Sludge Dewatering and Environmental Protection

With the rapid advancement of urbanization, the volume of municipal wastewater has been continuously increasing, leading to a corresponding rise in sludge production. Municipal sludge typically contains a high percentage of water, and if not properly treated, it can pose significant environmental risks. How to efficiently dewater sludge while minimizing environmental impact has become a major challenge for modern cities. The briquette machine, as an innovative and eco-friendly technology, has demonstrated great potential in municipal sludge dewatering and resource utilization.

1. Challenges in Municipal Sludge Treatment

Municipal sludge usually has a moisture content of 70%–80%. If disposed of without proper treatment, it not only occupies large amounts of land but also generates unpleasant odors and leachate that can contaminate soil and groundwater. Traditional dewatering methods such as belt presses and filter presses often suffer from high energy consumption, limited processing capacity, and large spatial requirements, making them less efficient for modern environmental demands.

2. Working Principle of the Briquette Machine

A briquette machine compacts loose sludge into solid, dense pellets through mechanical pressure and rolling force. Its main working principles include:

• Mechanical compression and dewatering: High-pressure rollers or screw extrusion squeeze out excess water from the sludge.
• Pellet formation and stabilization: The compressed sludge forms stable briquettes, reducing moisture evaporation and odor release.
• Facilitating resource utilization: The formed sludge briquettes can be further processed through incineration, composting, or used as alternative fuel.

3. Advantages in Municipal Sludge Dewatering

High dewatering efficiency

The briquette machine can reduce sludge moisture content from 70%–80% to approximately 20%–40%, significantly lowering drying and transportation costs compared to traditional methods.

Reduced storage and transportation costs

Due to their compact and dense structure, sludge briquettes occupy less space, making storage and transport more economical and efficient.

Lower environmental impact

The briquetting process is typically enclosed, minimizing odor emissions and reducing the risk of secondary pollution to air and soil.

Promotion of resource recovery

Processed sludge briquettes can serve as biomass fuel or be used in composting and construction materials, contributing to waste-to-resource conversion.

4. Practical Application Cases

• A wastewater treatment plant in Beijing, China: By using a briquette machine, the facility processes 50 tons of sludge per day. The dewatered briquettes are sent to a biomass power plant for energy recovery.
• Frankfurt wastewater treatment center in Germany: Integrating briquette machines with mechanical filter presses increased dewatering efficiency by 30%, reducing both transportation frequency and overall processing costs.

5. Future Development Trends

As environmental regulations become stricter, sludge treatment technologies are moving toward greater automation, energy efficiency, and resource recovery. Briquette machines are expected to integrate with smart monitoring systems, real-time moisture analysis, and automated material handling systems to enable fully intelligent and green sludge processing.

6. Conclusion

Efficient dewatering and sustainable treatment of municipal sludge are crucial for urban environmental protection. Briquette machines, with their high efficiency, eco-friendliness, and resource recovery potential, are becoming an increasingly important solution in sludge management. By adopting this technology, cities can not only reduce environmental pressure but also promote circular economy practices and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future.