SK Ecoplant "AI Efficiently Manages Water Treatment Facilities and Incinerators"

by Park SeungUk

Published 23 Aug.2024 10:14(KST)

Automated Operation Through Advanced AI for Environmental Facilities

A view of the water treatment facility operated by SK ecoplant applying AI solutions. [Photo by SK ecoplant]

SK ecoplant announced on the 23rd that it has applied artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically operate water treatment facilities and incinerators. While existing AI only suggested appropriate operation methods to facility operators based on the situation, going forward, the AI will independently determine and execute operation methods without operator intervention.

According to SK ecoplant, from February to last month, they conducted in-house experiments at a wastewater treatment facility with a maximum daily capacity of 70,000㎥. As a result, through AI automatic operation, the energy consumption of blowers in the water treatment facility was reduced by approximately 37.2%.

Water treatment facilities supply oxygen via blowers to enable microorganisms that purify water quality to be active. Due to the 24-hour operation characteristic, it is difficult to adjust blower intensity each time, so the intensity is mostly maintained at a high level. Consequently, the electricity used for blower operation accounts for 30% to 40% of the total power consumption of the water treatment facility.

The amount of chemical injection also showed a significant reduction rate. During the same period, compared to the chemical injection amount before AI application, the chemical injection amount after AI automatic operation decreased by 25.3%.

This AI technology also reduces the amount of harmful substances generated during incinerator operation. AI sensors monitor temperature and pollutant generation in real time, influencing the appropriate amount of waste to be fed. When an operator places waste on the incinerator hopper, the AI independently determines the amount of waste to be fed and burns an appropriate quantity.

To improve incineration efficiency, the AI also autonomously adjusts the blower volume. This AI has been applied to one incineration facility under SK ecoplant’s subsidiary and is planned to be additionally applied to one more facility within this year.

As a result of advancing its environment business centered on AI digital transformation, SK ecoplant recorded environmental business sales of 776.3 billion KRW in the first half of this year, a 34.1% increase compared to the previous year. Operating profit also turned positive at 36.4 billion KRW.

SK ecoplant plans to further strengthen its AI-based competitiveness. It is currently pursuing the incorporation of semiconductor module company Essencore and a subsidiary of semiconductor industrial gas company SK Materials Airplus. Through this, it plans to expand its AI-centered value chain.

Seho Lee, Executive Director of Platform Business at SK ecoplant, said, "Water treatment facilities and incinerators need technological improvements to keep up with the times," adding, "We will advance these environmental facilities so that they can be recognized as preferred facilities, shedding their existing image."