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STATE-OF-THE-ART O2 GENERATOR BREATHES
NEW LIFE INTO WASTEWATER TREATMENT
16th June 2003 — Air Products is launching a
new, more accessible range of compact wastewater treatment
systems based on portable oxygen generators. The new offering
comes at a time when the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive
is driving local improvement and investment in existing
wastewater treatment plants.
It is widely recognised that oxygenation in biological wastewater
treatment systems with high purity oxygen is one of the
most effective processes for treating aqueous waste, but
for some companies, the costs and practicalities of supplying
oxygen onsite can be prohibitive. The new Oxy-Dep™
VSA oxygenator avoids the need for bringing gas onsite,
but delivers all the process benefits of oxygen.
As the Oxy-Depä VSA system only makes oxygen when
it is required, it is much less demanding than a system
using Liquid Oxygen storage in terms of risk assessment,
site permitting and building regulations. The system is
available in two sizes: 150 and 500 l/min, capable of treating
approximately 250 and 800kg/day BOD respectively.
Commenting on the system is Dr. Peter Barratt, Commercial
Technology Manager of Environmental & Clean Technology
at Air Products:
"We've managed to develop a wastewater treatment
which has all the benefits of oxygenation but none of the
inconvenience. Because it is small and portable, the unit
is very desirable for those companies who are tight on space
or in remote locations. "
BAE SYSTEMS near Hull, who installed an Oxy-Dep VSA system
in their activated sludge plant in 2002, commented "Air
Products' technology has allowed us to significantly reduce
the ammonia discharge level from our existing wastewater
treatment plant, thereby providing us with peace of mind
without recourse to significant changes in the operation
of the plant."
The Oxy-Depä VSA system comprises a Vacuum Swing Absorption
oxygen generator (the VSA) integrated with a low energy
mixer/oxygenator.
The mixer is mast-mounted allowing easy installation and
access, without interrupting normal operation of the wastewater
basin. The VSA is based upon the robust lobe-type blower
technology typically found in conventional aeration systems.
Together they form an easily maintained package capable
of delivering dissolved oxygen to any wastewater basin or
oxidation vessel.
Peter Barratt explains the benefits further:
"Specific oxygen transfer rates of approximately 1kg/kWh
can be achieved in the basin environment. This is comparable
with air-based technologies, for which high clean water
test figures are usually quoted, but which operate at much
reduced efficiency in dirty water and at normal effluent
treatment temperatures.
"Up to 10kgCOD/m3/day can be achieved with oxygen-enhanced
systems; the rest of the treatment system is usually the
limiting factor. This allows simple and cost-effective "turbo
charging" of existing overloaded plants. New plants
can be designed with a much smaller footprint, especially
if advantage is taken of complimentary technology such as
membrane solids separation."
For sales enquiries please call 0800 389 0202 or e-mail Dr. Peter Barrat:
contact.
Alternatively log onto www.airproducts.com/vsa
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