Project Details

Project Delivery

Project Results

Discussion

Situation

The Antarctic plays a crucial role in global climate research. Numerous research stations from various countries are manned there all year round, with wastewater treatment posing a particular challenge under extreme climatic conditions. The British research station therefore approached PPU Umwelttechnik GmbH with a request for a mobile wastewater treatment plant that is suitable for year-round operation in the Antarctic.

Problem

The engineers faced several challenges.

Extreme temperatures of up to -35 °C required specially adapted materials and technical components, as conventional wastewater treatment plants are not designed for such conditions. Logistics also posed a major hurdle. As deliveries are limited, the wastewater treatment plant had to be transported on the only container ship that set sail from England to Antarctica in October 2024. The sea voyage took around four to five weeks, so punctual delivery was essential in order to make the most of the long daylight phases of the Antarctic summer for installation and commissioning.

In addition, the installation had to be carried out by untrained personnel, which is why the treatment plant had to be easy to handle. To ensure this, the research team received comprehensive training at the main plant of PPU Umwelttechnik GmbH in Bayreuth.

Solution

As the company specialises in mobile containerised wastewater treatment plants, the British research station opted for an individually optimised solution. The engineers developed a special adaptation to cope with the extreme conditions. This included reinforced insulation of all water-bearing components, intelligent pipe trace heaters and sensors that continuously monitor the wastewater temperature and automatically activate heaters when required. In addition, numerous spare parts were supplied to enable independent repairs and maintenance on site. The researchers completed a training course lasting several days in Bayreuth to familiarise themselves with the detailed structure of the system and the control technology.

Wastewater is treated using the tried-and-tested ClearFox® FBBR process. The entire wastewater treatment plant was installed in two 20-foot ISO sea containers. The first container contains an aerated buffer tank and a fixed-bed biological reactor for cleaning to effluent class C. The second container contains another fixed-bed biological reactor for further cleaning to effluent class N, a lamella clarifier, a sludge collection tank, a UV disinfection system and the central control unit.

Thanks to excellent planning and close coordination with the client, PPU Umwelttechnik GmbH was able to fulfil all requirements and meet the strict deadline. The wastewater treatment plant was delivered to Antarctica on time and successfully installed. This innovative solution ensures that the British research station can guarantee sustainable and efficient wastewater treatment even under extreme conditions.