Algal blooms : Sensitive areas & impacts on SWRO plants operation

Vincent Robert

3rd ALADYR Seminary Antofagasta 2nd of October 2012

Algal blooms : Sensitive areas & impacts on SWRO plants operation 1 2 3 4 5

Algal blooms : qualification & quantification Geographical areas affected by algal blooms Impacts on SWRO plant operation & availability SeaDAF TM : a suitable pre-treatment step for seawater applications Conclusion

1. Algal blooms : qualification & quantification

Algal blooms : qualification & quantification

Algal blooms : qualification & quantification

Characteristics of the main phytoplankton groups
Diatoms : 90 % of the total phytoplankton ! 2m 2mm ; silicate external envelop eutrophic areas

Dinoflagellates : 50 500 m ; mobile; predominant in tropical & subtropical oceans but also present in temperate & subarctic areas Prymnesiophycees : 4-8 m - mobile; present everywhere ; colonies produce high amount of foam

Cyanobacterias : prokaryote ; 0,2-2 m ; present everywhere

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Algal blooms : qualification & quantification

Blooms quantification

Chlorophyll A in situ monitoring Laboratory Cells count ( number/ml or /l ) Chlorophyll A remote monitoring using satellite sensors ( Modis, SeaWIFS, MERIS ) Chlorophyll A is a global parameter used to quantify blooms as present in every cell. !! Chlorophyll A measurement is site specific

Algal blooms : qualification & quantification

> Principle of the satellite remote sensing : SENSOR

~ 1km resolution
SS DO

Phytoplankton

Algal blooms : qualification & quantification

Satellite (Modis) remote analysis

Average chlorophyll A concentration ( g/l ) - North Indian Ocean Oct 2009

Algal blooms : qualification & quantification

Satellite ( Modis ) remote analysis Average chlorophyll A concentration ( g/l ) - North Indian Ocean Dec 2008

Algal blooms : qualification & quantification

Satellite ( Modis ) remote observation 11 days Average chlorophyll A concentration Puerto Coloso Feb 2004

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Algal blooms : qualification & quantification

Laboratory Analysis chlorophyll A concentration Puerto Coloso Feb to June 2005
Seawater
SW Chlorophylle/Avrg SW Chlor. SW Turb. SW SDI SW SDI

4.00 3.50 3.00 SW Turbidity & Chloroph. 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00

40.0 35.0 30.0 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0 -5.0 -10.0 -15.0 -20.0 -25.0 -30.0 -35.0
17/5/05 27/5/05 16/2/05 28/3/05 17/4/05 27/4/05 16/6/05 26/2/05 18/3/05 26/6/05 16/7/05 7/4/05 7/5/05

-40.0

6/6/05

8/3/05

6/7/05

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Algal blooms : qualification & quantification

Chlorophyll A remote monitoring and real cells count
> Measurement examples : Site A ( Arabic sea ): 5 350 000 cells/l Site B ( Atlantic ): 17 000 000 cells/l Site C ( Atlantic ) : 19 200 cells/l 4,8 g chlor.A/l 7,1 g chlor.A/l 3,0 g chlor.A /l

Satellite remote analysis are consistent with laboratory analysis

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Algal blooms : qualification & quantification

Chlorophyll.A historical data

Algal bloom risk assessment :

Frequency/duration of the blooms

Algae treatment step implementation

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2. Geographical areas affected by algal blooms

Geographical areas affected by algal blooms

> Upwelling & phytoplankton development Deep waters are rich in nutrients ( NO3, PO4, Silica) Climatic/current warm conditions

Main predisposed areas to upwelling African Atlantic Coast (Mauritania, Namibia) North West Indian Ocean (Oman, Somalia) South American Pacific Coast (Peru, Chile)

Main areas affected by upwelling

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Geographical areas affected by algal blooms

> DEGREMONT- Main SWRO References

Stars indicate plants that may be subject to algal blooms

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Geographical areas affected by algal blooms

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Geographical areas affected by algal blooms

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Geographical areas affected by algal blooms

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Geographical areas affected by algal blooms

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3. Impacts on SWRO plants operation & availability

Impacts on SWRO plants operation & availability

" Algal blooms problematic : Most of the SWRO plants are not equipped to face Algal blooms events Exception for the most recent plants Resulting load of algae & SS can not be absorbed in filters alone Resulting fouling potential of SW requires high coagulant dosing rates to produce a pre-treated water quality in accordance with membrane suppliers specification

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Impacts on SWRO plants operation & availability

" Example 1:

Algal bloom event : from September 2008 to March 2009 No specific algal treatment step 32 days of production loss during the overall period

Direct Impact on Availability of the SWRO plant : 91 %

Global Availability of the SWRO plant : 85 %

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Impacts on SWRO plants operation & availability

" Example 2 : Algal bloom event : 24th of August 15th of September (23 days) No specific algal treatment step 30 % lack of production during the 23 days period

Resulting Global Availability of the SWRO plant : 93 %

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4. SeaDAF TM: a suitable pre-treatment for seawater applications

SeaDAF TM: a suitable pretreatment for seawater applications

" Description of the SeaDAFTM process
Compact with velocity around 25m/h Reduce filters back wash Sludge pre-concentrate reducing sludge treatment Strong and easy operation Efficiency > 97% even in diluted water

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SeaDAF TM: a suitable pretreatment for seawater applications

Beginning in the Taweelah (UAE) pilot plant in 2002 ..

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SeaDAF TM: a suitable pretreatment for seawater applications

Following in Puerto Coloso (Chile) pilot plant in 2004 ..

Pretratamiento Piloto - 20 / 30 m3/h

AquaDAF

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SeaDAF TM: a suitable pretreatment for seawater applications

Then with the construction of Puerto Coloso (Chile) First industrial seawater reference

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SeaDAF TM: a suitable pretreatment for seawater applications

..to Al Dur ( Bahrein ) SWRO plant in 2011

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Conclusion

Conclusion

> Algal blooms are recurrent depending of geographical areas, > Dissolved Air Flotation is highly recommended as primary treatment, > Dissolved air Flotation can handle heavy algal loads > Dissolved air Flotation is a very simple and robust pre-treatment step
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Many thanks to :
Jean Pierre Maz & Olivier Raillard (Safge) Dominique Corbisier (DRI-Laborelec) Sophie Bertrand (Degrmont) .. For their participation to this work

Questions?