10 Technology news
Filtration+Separation January/February 2016
Online cost of grit calculator
to predict efficiency savings
Hydro International has launched
an online tool to help water
and wastewater treatment
plant operators to assess the full
operating cost impact of grit
deposition and abrasion on their
plant efficiency.
The Cost of Grit Calculator draws
on real-world data collected from
operating plants to predict the
likely savings to treatment plant
efficiency that can be gained for
any operator installing a high-
performance grit removal system,
using the guiding principles of
Advanced Grit Management.
The simple-to-use calculator
requires input of a small number
of values to generate, within
minutes, an estimate of the annual
and lifecycle savings that could be
made by removing more grit at the
headworks.
Having set the operating plant
capacity and the preferred
equipment lifetime cost into
Biomimetic membrane could cut
water purification costs by 30%
Researchers from the National
University of Singapore (NUS)
Environmental Research Institute
(NERI) have engineered a
biomimetic membrane that can
purify water at low pressure,
thus reducing energy costs. This
technology could potentially
reduce water purification costs by
up to 30%.
Led by Associate Professor Tong
Yen Wah, from the Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular
Engineering at NUS, the team
has fabricated a highly efficient
aquaporin-incorporated water
treatment system. Also known as
the water channels in living cell
membranes, aquaporins have been
found to be the functional unit of
nature's water purification systems.
With the presence of aquaporin,
www.filtsep.com
the system, users can input
estimated or known costs of their
downstream plant maintenance
activities. These include the
periodic cleanout of grit basins,
aeration basins, or anaerobic
digester tanks, for example, as well
as replacement and refurbishment
costs for equipment such as
pumps, centrifuges or membranes.
Where operators are unable to
provide values, averages are
suggested based on actual costs
from operating plants in the USA.
www.hydro-int.com
Within minutes, the calculator provides
an estimate of the annual and lifecycle
savings that could be made.
mangrove plants which have
adapted to survive in salt water
are able to filter between 90-95%
of the salt at their roots, while the
human kidney is able to purify up
to 150 litres of water daily.
Unlike conventional biomimetic
membranes which tend to be
quite fragile, the novel membrane
exhibits high mechanical strength
and stability during water filtration.
This makes it suitable for industrial
applications in water treatment
and desalination.
The team is currently in discussions
with an American-based company
to develop a pilot-scale module
to test the feasibility of the
membranes in the next two years.
http://news.nus.edu.sg
New biofiltration system ensures
wastewater compliance
ACWA Services has installed
new biofilters at the Pencaitland
Maltings Plant near Edinburgh, one
of five plants operated by major UK
maltster Bairds Malt.
With an annual malt production
capacity of 47,000 tonnes, the
majority destined for the distilling
industry, the Pencaitland Maltings
Plant uses significant quantities
of water in the steeping and
germination processes. Minimising
its environmental impact is crucial
and the new biofiltration system
plays a key role in reducing the
pollutant load in wastewater
discharged from production
processes. ACWA designed
the system to reduce the BOD
(Biological Oxygen Demand) load
by more than 90%, which has
directly reduced the plants trade
effluent charges.
ACWA Services was responsible as
principal contractor for all aspects
of the project including the
decommissioning and demolition
New controller
eliminates manual filter
leak inspections
FilterSenses B-PAC (Baghouse
Performance Analyzer &
Controller) diagnostic controller
is claimed to reliably detect and
locate filter leaks.
The company says the B-PAC also
seamlessly integrates intelligent
filter cleaning, pressure control,
The B-PAC G3 diagnostic controller.
of the existing biofilters which had
reached the end of their useful life
and the design, supply, installation
and commissioning of the new
biofiltration solution.
This incorporates two identical
biofilters complete with structured
media and effluent distribution
systems ensuring the effluent is
evenly distributed through the
biofilters to promote biological
growth and hence effective
treatment, recirculation pumps,
together with electrical and
minor civil works. The project was
completed in eight months.
www.acwa.co.uk
Bairds Malts new wastewater system
built by ACWA Services.
particulate monitoring, auxiliary
sensing (such as fan amps,
temperature, airflow) and a wide
range of control functions into a
single, easy-to-use system, which
can operate as a standalone
controller or networked with
existing PLCs and DCS systems.
FilterSense says the benefits
include reduced maintenance
costs, lower compressed air use,
energy savings and maximum
product recovery.
It is claimed B-PACs are used as a
superior comprehensive solution
for EPA MACT, Title V and other
compliance regulations.
www.filtersense.com