What are industrial water treatment systems & how do they work
Water treatment is the process of filtering water to generate clean & safe water, for the purpose of reducing contamination of seas and rivers. The main purpose of this process is to obtain clean water with the right characteristics to serve the intended purpose. Consequently, the process varies accordingly; for example, water filtration for industrial purposes differs greatly from water filtration for regular drinking water. For industrial water filtration, the process is more complex and it even varies from industry to industry, depending on the requirements. In this article, we discuss the different aspects of industrial water treatment systems and why you need them.
Top water treatment systems in demand
1. Raw water treatment systems
Raw water treatment is the treatment of any natural water, such as lake water, rain water, river water, well water, and groundwater. Raw water is treated for industrial uses such as product formulations and human consumption (at restaurants), if it is properly filtered.
This usually takes place through 7 steps:
- Intake
- Clarification
- Disinfection
- Lime Softening
- Ion Exchange
- Distribution
- Membrane Filtration
2. Boiler feed water treatment systems
This treatment system protects boiler unit components and piping from scaling and corrosion caused by certain contaminants such as dissolved solids, suspended solids, and organic material. Proper boiler feed water treatment systems help prevent the expensive maintenance fees, increased fuel consumption, and boiler failure.
Typically, a boiler feed water treatment system follows these steps:
- Makeup water intake
- Filtration
- Softening
- DE alkalization
- Reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF)
- Primary ion exchange (IX)
- Deaeration or degasification
- Polishing
- Distribution
3. Cooling water treatment systems
Cooling water treatment systems protect cooling tower components from damage caused by contaminants to avoid costly plant downtime later, reduced productivity, and excessive maintenance or equipment replacement costs over time.
The impurities in the water are filtered through a series of steps:
- Makeup water intake
- Filtration
- Softening
- Chemical addition
- Side-stream filtration
- Post-treatment
4. Wastewater treatment systems
This system will ideally protect the environment, human health, and a facility’s equipment, process, or products from the contaminants of spent streams, which will typically include biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrates, phosphates, pathogens, metals, TSS, TDS, and synthetic chemicals.
Water is treated of those impurities through the following steps:
- Clarification
- Disinfection
- Softening
- Special processes
- Distribution
4 Reasons why you need industrial water treatment systems
- Removes impurities, bacteria, and chemicals
Industrial water treatment ensures the control of pollutants in water, which affect marine life, land, and humans, and consequently will damage our ecosystem.
- Maintains equipment
Many impurities in the water often erode the equipment and wear it down, which leads to high, excessive maintenance and equipment replacement costs in the long run.
- Improves efficiency
Improving water quality doesn’t only ensure safety, but it also improves equipment performance as less damage that requires excessive maintenance occurs.
- Prevents damage to pipes and systems
Filtering the water helps maintain the equipment, pipes, and systems as there are less impurities and harmful chemicals causing damage and allows for safe passage of the water through the system.
Industries that require water filtration systems
Industrial water treatment systems are used by a vast number of different industries for a variety of purposes. Even though the goal is one – clean water – the process may differ from one industry to the other. Some may be more complex than the others according to the filtration requirements and use. Here are some of the most prominent industries that require water filtration systems:
- Agriculture & Horticulture
- Chemicals & Pharmaceutical
- Food & Beverage
- Industrial Water Supply
- Oil & Gas
- Power Generation
- Tourism & Hospitality
Taking Responsibility
There are so many benefits of water filtration, such as protecting the ecosystems, reducing the risk of disease, and improving the processes of different industries. It is an important step in maintaining sustainable practices and protecting our environment. It is definitely an ethical responsibility to efficiently and effectively treat water, which more companies need to hold accountability for.
