Drying Beds Design

This chapter is prepared for transferring the US environmental technologies to developing countries. It covers the subjects of (a) sludge drying bed process description, including traditional sludge drying beds and paved drying beds; (b) common modifications, including open or closed drying beds, wedge-wire drying beds, vacuum-assisted drying beds, and planted drying beds; (c) technology status; (d) applications; (e) limitations; (f) performance; (g) design criteria for the unplanted open drying beds, the closed drying beds, the planted drying beds, and the ten state standards; (h) environmental impact and restriction; (i) cost estimation; and (j) seven design, and application examples including agricultural application of drying bed systems for manure disposal; determination of service population of an existing drying bed system; drying bed process improvement to meet future needs; anticipated drying bed performance; drying bed operation and maintenance and standard operating procedures; consideration of unplanted drying beds system; and consideration of planted drying beds system.