HP Hood LLC is one of the largest dairy operators in the United States with 13 plants across the country. It has been producing high quality, delicious dairy products for more than 160 years.
Challenge
HP Hood’s plant in Winchester, Virginia, USA, was undergoing a planned expansion to its wastewater treatment system to keep pace with consumer demand. The dairy company needed a reliable cover solution for its new anaerobic wastewater treatment system.
Solution
Evoqua’s Geomembrane Technologies designed and installed a custom membrane floating cover system as part of HP Hood’s wastewater treatment upgrade. This cover was custom designed to fit its new anaerobic digester, which treats wastewater from the milk processing facility. The team also installed process piping inside the digester.
This is the third expansion that Evoqua’s Geomembrane Technologies has helped facilitate at HP Hood’s Winchester plant. Evoqua’s Geomembrane Technologies was originally selected to install a gas collection cover system for the dairy company’s anaerobic digester at the turn of the century and, as a result of a plant expansion, later returned to install a second cover system. As part of the most recent expansion, HP Hood’s oldest anaerobic digester was converted to a sequencing batch reactor (SBR), eliminating the need for one of the three covers.
Two Evoqua Geomembrane Technologies™ brand covers remain on site and continue to deliver operational savings.
Results
The Evoqua Geomembrane Technologies™ brand cover addresses odor concerns that may arise from the anaerobic treatment of the wastewater. By securely covering the digester with a gas collection cover system, HP Hood has taken proactive steps to protect the dairy company’s image in the City of Winchester.
The insulation value of the cover system improves efficiency for the digestion process, which helps the plant meet environmental regulations and reduce costly fines.
In addition to controlling odors and maintaining temperature, the cover also collects biogas, which can be burned in a combustion flare or used on-site to help reduce energy costs.
The team's versatility was proven throughout this project. From customizing the biogas collection cover system, to installing process piping, to performing maintenance on the existing cover system, all the challenges faced were overcome and completed on schedule and on budget.
