Clearfleau designs, builds and operates on-site treatment systems that facilitate the generation of renewable energy from liquid bio-waste in the brewing and drinks, dairy processing, food manufacturing, bio-fuels and other industrial sectors. Clearfleau’s systems will deliver a competitive advantage to your business, adding value to your liquid waste by feeding renewable energy (heat and power) back into the production facility.

Our systems include anaerobic digestion and other processes for effluent treatment, including solids and nutrient removal. Digestion is a well established process for bio-waste treatment where micro-organisms that thrive in an oxygen-free environment convert suspended (volatile) solids into biogas.

Cost effective digestion of solids suspended in liquid effluents is challenging due to levels of biomass concentration and the need to ensure good contact between the biomass and the anaerobic bacteria. This is achieved in our anaerobic treatment plants with effective mixing and extended solids retention.

Clearfleau’s high-rate Anaerobic Digestion process offers new options for effective liquid digestion. Our plants can be combined with other established technology to provide an innovative, cost effective and environmentally responsible approach to handling liquid bio-waste.

Our experienced process design engineers make use of established components to optimise the cost savings on your site and we will adapt the design of the plant to your particular waste stream.

Clearfleau designs and builds on-site anaerobic treatment plants tailored to your liquid effluent stream and offers a range of Support Services which can be delivered either on a stand-alone basis or as part of the progressive delivery of a project.

Typically a turnkey project is progressed as below, following initial discussions and agreement with you that our technology is of interest:

Initial Assessment - Clearfleau will assess your liquid effluent stream and the treatment options:

Your effluent composition data is confirmed, based on a comprehensive questionnaire, by our process engineering team
We visit the site to review requirements and site issues and determine operational criteria
If necessary, effluent samples are analysed to verify composition and biogas potential
From the information provided and the effluent data, a preliminary assessment of plant performance and revenue generation is developed for discussion
If this assessment is of interest and meets site performance objectives, we will agree how to proceed. This could be either:
- to conduct trials in the laboratory as a basis for a firm proposal
- run extended trials on our mobile trial unit (SSPP) which can be installed on site to evaluate process effectiveness and provide scalable data for final plant design
- provide a firm proposal for design and build.
Project Design/Procurement - a full anaerobic treatment plant design is finalised and, following approval, procurement is instigated.

Clearfleau’s experienced design team develop the process to meet agreed operational criteria
Our engineering team which comprises process, mechanical and electrical engineers, work with you to finalise the design and plant specification, based on the detailed engineering drawings submitted for your approval
Following approval of the finalised design, we procure the necessary plant and equipment prior to the construction phase.
We support any planning application requirement and can manage this entire process on your behalf
Plant Construction - Once the design/procurement is finalised, Clearfleau oversees the installation of the plant, taking responsibility for all aspects of delivery including the establishment of site-based facilities for our delivery team:

Clearfleau’s in-house project management team supervise all aspects of the build, ensuring design specifications are adhered to within designated timescales
Our team of contractors will build and install the entire plant and related equipment
The project team will undertake plant commissioning and train the operations team
The plant is only handed over after agreed performance targets have been satisfied
If required, we will also continue to monitor the plant and help to optimise outputs

Clearfleau provides a comprehensive range of support services for your on-site effluent  management  needs.

Support services, in addition to the design and build of effluent treatment plants, include:

• Process Evaluation
• Feasibility Studies
• Conceptual Design
• Front End Engineering Design (FEED)
• Planning, Regulatory and Permitting Support
• Technology Evaluation
• Finance / Operate Support 

Process Evaluation

Problems can originate in the liquid effluent treatment process at any time from more than one source. These problems may be subtle but need to be identified and corrected rapidly to avoid significant costs through loss of treatment efficiency or environmental compliance issues.

Clearfleau provides a full inspection service to evaluate and diagnose the source of problems. Documented recommendations detailing the best, most cost effective solution to any problem identified will be provided with, where necessary, follow-up support.
 

Feasibility Studies

Following an initial assessment of your waste streams and, before the decision to implement a project is made, Clearfleau can undertake a feasibility study. This is particularly valid when there is a need to assess multiple and often complex scenarios.  For example, issues like layout, cost or payback, where there are a number of potential effluent streams to be treated.  Such a study can be a valuable tool to present viability of a bio-waste projects to stakeholders or to support an investment decision.

A feasibility study also presents the opportunity to evaluate the viability of high rate Anaerobic Digestion (AD) compared with alternative process routes / technology solutions.  Other process steps in support AD solution can also be evaluated either upstream (for example, feed stream concentration using membranes) or downstream (for example, grey water recycling).

The Feasibility Study will normally consider 4 main technical areas:

• Process
• Technical
• Commercial
• Environmental

It can also include:
Process and feedstock assessment / expected plant performance / assessment of budget investment costs (±30%) / financial analysis to assess incentive payments, economic viability and payback / basic plant  piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) and layout / carbon reduction/ report and presentation material. 

Conceptual Design

A design concept provides an excellent foundation for subsequent stages and the basis for developing several scenarios for discussion as well as agreeing the best viable option or options to move to the next stage (FEED).

Typical deliverables could be:
Process and feedstock assessment / expected plant performance / plant  piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) / plant layout options / finishes schedules / review of utilities and working environment requirements / main process equipment list with data sheets /  strategy for long delivery items / list of test activities required / provisional programme for project completion / cost estimate (±20%) / financial analysis to assess economic viability and payback / report and presentation material. 
 

Front End Engineering Design (FEED)

Having identified a preferred concept, at this stage:

• The design is frozen. Cost savings on capital and asset life cycle are identified, flexibility is introduced,  safety and environmental issues are incorporated , legislatory and planning requirements are reviewed.

Deliverables may vary according to specific client requirements but would normally include:
Review of plant services / preliminary specifications and data sheets for key equipment / general arrangement drawings / process flow diagrams / plant  piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) / services pipework and utility line drawings / preliminary services outlet schedules / basic piping schematics / plant and building elevations and plans / execution programme for the complete project / a cost estimate for capital sanction, usually ±10% / detailed financial analysis to assess economic viability and payback / report  and presentation material which may include models. 
 

Planning, Regulatory and Permitting Support

Clearfleau can support its clients by providing advice on planning, regulatory and permitting issues, liaising on their behalf with the local planning authorities and bodies such as DEFRA and the Environmental Agency (EA).  Also support with registration for incentives FIT and RHI. 

This support can be provided as an initial phase of a Front End Engineering or Detailed Design to include provision of all appropriate layout and elevation drawings, technical support comprising:

• Stand-alone documents for the permit / planning application
• Statement of community engagement
• Attendance at all necessary meetings
• Overall project management.  
   

Technology Evaluation

Working with Government, EU Agencies and industry bodies, such as AEA’s renewables team, Campden Food RA or the EA, Clearfleau can support our clients to:

• Evaluate potential applications for high rate AD
• Look at on-site integration with other technologies such as hydro or biomass heat.
• Provide design and operational advice relative to non-conventional AD systems
• Support the development and adoption of low carbon or ‘cleantech’ strategies   

Finance / Operate Support

Particularly where clients wish to preserve cash in their business, which can be utilized for other means, Clearfleau can propose alternative sources of finance and different operational and ownership models for either the total project or a portion of it. These models are tailored to client’s specific needs and include:

• Hire or Leasing – for in-house operation. The recommended route for equipment, such as CHP Units, where technology is evolving and flexibility in terms of capacity or output may be required
• Build Own Operate – where a partner company that Clearfleau can introduce is granted the right to develop, finance, design, build, own, operate, and maintain a project.