Abstract
Global climate and
environmental goals require innovative approaches to resource efficiency
and emission reduction, especially in energy-intensive industries such
as printed circuit board production. This master's thesis examines
resource-saving and energy-saving process routes for wastewater
treatment with the aim of contributing to the decarbonization and
circular economy of the company AT&S Austria Technologie &
Systemtechnik AG. In the course of this master's thesis, the company
site in Nanjangud, India, is specifically examined. In India, the acute
water and wastewater issues intensify the need for sustainable
solutions. By implementing heat recovery using a hydraulic separator and
heat pump, waste heat losses of refrigeration machines can be reduced,
and natural gas consumption for steam boiler operation can be completely
replaced through waste heat utilization. This leads to a reduction in
natural gas consumption by 70% and an annual saving of 579 tons of CO₂
emissions, thereby reducing direct emissions from 11% to 3%. The
integration of nanofiltration, membrane distillation and crystallization
increases the energy efficiency of wastewater treatment and enables the
recovery of clean salts for reuse in other industries. Despite
challenges in data acquisition and system design, the results show
significant potential for energy savings and emission reductions.
Recommendations include more precise system design through detailed
measurements. Future research should focus on utilizing the still
available unused waste heat potential. This work provides practical
approaches to optimizing processes in the printed circuit board
industry, considering ecological and economic aspects.
Translated title of the contribution | Evaluation of resource-saving and energy-saving process routes for the treatment of wastewater from printed circuit board production |
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Original language | German |
Qualification | Dipl.-Ing. |
Awarding Institution |
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Supervisors/Advisors |
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Award date | 20 Dec 2024 |
Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Bibliographical note
embargoed until 27-10-2029Keywords
- Decarbonization
- Circular economy
- Wastewater treatment
- Printed circuit board production
- Desalination