Modern Pumping Today November 2024 - 13

A
round 359 billion cubic
meters of wastewater is
produced globally each year.
As well as municipal wastewater, a
broad range of industrial processes
produce wastewater, such as
chemical manufacturing, food
processing and powerplants.
If the effluent water is going
to be discharged back into the
environment, it must be treated to
comply with regulatory requirements
and prevent damage to ecosystems
and human health. Alternatively, many
industrial companies want to reuse
their wastewater to minimize their
environmental impact, reduce costs
and overcome water shortages. For
this purpose, the wastewater must
be treated so that it is suitable for
its new purpose, such as industrial
cooling water.
Wastewater treatment providers
are facing the challenge of effectively
handling a variety of treatment
chemicals, as well as external factors
such as increasing demand and the
drive for sustainability.
DISINFECTION AND
NEUTRALIZATION
Chemical disinfection involves the
use of oxidizing chemicals, such
as sodium hypochlorite. However,
oxidizing chemicals off-gas, causing
gas to be present in the fluid. This
gas can block a diaphragm pump
by preventing correct operation of
the ball valves. Wastewater treatment
providers can overcome this by
selecting peristaltic pumps, which
push any gas present in the fluid
through the pump without causing
any maintenance issues.
Sustainability is driving the use
of higher concentration chemicals
to minimize transport costs and
emissions, as well as reduce the size
of dosing systems. However, high
concentration chemicals, such as
sulfuric acid used in neutralization,
can be hazardous if not contained
after a pump failure. Therefore, it is
important that plant managers select
a pump that is compatible with high
concentration chemicals and prevents
chemical exposure to the operator.
High concentration chemicals
require a very accurate and
repeatable pump to maintain process
capability. Peristaltic pumps with
low pulsation and no ball valves
result in parts per million (ppm)
concentrations with very low
standard deviations, minimizing
chemical usage and maximizing
process quality.
COAGULANTS AND
FLOCCULANTS
Regulations around preventing
eutrophication are driving the
removal of phosphates from
wastewater. Ferric chloride,
commonly used in this process,
reacts aggressively with metal
pumps. By selecting a pump
with a plastic case, wastewater
treatment providers can ensure their
equipment is compatible with ferric
chloride systems.
Furthermore, in diaphragm
pumps, ferric chloride can pose a
threat of solid content becoming
stuck under the ball valves that are
keeping the pump open. If both
valves become stuck, then the pump
can start to siphon, and the fluid
will travel in the opposite direction
as it can flow out of the pump. This
creates inaccuracy as the fluid is
leaking out. By selecting a peristaltic
pump that does not require any
valves, these challenges can be
avoided completely.
Polymers are commonly used
for dewatering of sludge and
solids removal from water. Solids
removal helps to clean the water
for reuse, while dewatering sludge
minimizes bulk, which can reduce
costs associated with storage and
disposal by up to 75 percent. Efficient
polymer activation is essential
in increasing the efficacy of the
polymer and minimizing usage. The
WWW.MPTMAG.COM
MPT
NOVEMBER 2024 | 13
http://WWW.MPTMAG.COM
Modern Pumping Today November 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Modern Pumping Today November 2024
