Could salt water desalination be the future for countries in dire need of water?

Destilación por membrana con energías renovables

The ocean constitutes 70% of the earth’s surface & accounts for 96% of the water on our planet. But the problem is, this water cannot be consumed as it is solvated with salt.

Word is circulating around that the world is rushing toward a future with declining water resources & the report is all gloom & doom. The numerous lives threatened are astonishing & the available solutions are confined.

Desalination is the method of turning salty water from the ocean into drinking water. So, with 700 million people missing access to potable water & more places facing serious droughts, could desalination of seawater be the magic spell? Yes, desalination is a case of modernization by necessity.

There are a lot of countries that have a dire need for water, especially the gulf nations. Some countries also have barely any freshwater or groundwater sources. These countries are currently relying on the desalination of seawater to meet their water needs. The United Nations predicts that by the year 2025, around 14% of the world will depend on desalination to meet their need for water.

Now let’s take a look at how efficient seawater desalination can be a solution in the future for countries with dire need of water.

1. How desalination works?

Desalination is the method of purifying salt water into drinkable fresh water. Basically, converting ocean water into potable freshwater sounds pretty good.

There are a lot of ways to weed out salt from water. Distillation & reverse osmosis are the most frequent ways to desalinate saline water. Reverse osmosis water-purification pushes water by way of small filters, dropping salt behind. Distillation on a wide-scale involves boiling water & collecting water vapor over the process. Both methods require a large amount of energy, infrastructure & are expensive.

2. Alternative scenarios for expensive desalinate methods

There are 2 alternative price scenarios for the advancement of desalination technology. The first undertakes continued evolutionary enhancement in treatment price resulting from a moderate government-sponsored research plan centered on improving present technologies.

Parallel with this research plan; government allowances continue in order to permit utilities to render water to meet territorial growth in demand.

The 2nd scenario undertakes an R&D program to build revolutionary progress to meet a treatment price target that is equivalent to the current conventional cost of treatment. The cost of customary water treatment methods declines to about 0.50 dollars per thousand gallons.

In case a municipality is going to meet rising water demands by utilizing water from flawed sources rather than nearby untouched sources, then the prices must be comparable to customarily treated water costs.

Also, the aimed price must be achievable, & in the case of desalination of seawater, it is. However, it’s unlikely to be achieved by the simplistic extension of currently accessible membrane technologies. This objective is a stretch goal that will need the development of uprising technologies. If a sensible research program is introduced, there is longing for some uprising kinds of improvements. This is the path to be followed.

3. What advantages desalination of seawater will bring?

The ocean has 2 unique qualities as a water source – it is drought-proof & is basically limitless. Over half of the world’s population inhabits urban centers bordering the sea or ocean. Seawater desalination allows a logical solution for the permanent, long-term management of rising water demand.

Here are the advantages of efficient seawater desalination:
• Provides people with fresh as well as drinkable water
• Provides water to the farming industry
• Safe water quality (not hazardous or dangerous to any living creature)
• Uses time tested technology (the method is certified & effective)
• Helps preserve prevailing freshwater supplies
• Independent of altering factors
• Unlimited seawater as a source
• Plants are securely located
• Helps with the protection of habitat

4. How healthy can be desalinated seawater?

Desalination of seawater not only weeds out salt from water but also removes damaging metals, chemicals, & bacteria that might be in the water source. It gets rid of bacteria by physically barring them through the usage of chemical processes.

Membranes nowadays have openings big enough for water to go through but modest enough for multiple other molecules to get caught like single-cell organisms such as paramecium & bacteria.

Desalinated seawater means that water treated can be more healthy than freshwater. As a matter of fact, some peoples with chronic, fatal health problems, such as specific genetic disorders, depend on this type of filtration as a mode to reduce the amount of infection in peoples who get sick very easily & are susceptible to germ exposure. 

Not only desalination of seawater is a great way to develop drinkable water, but it is also a method to ensure the health & longevity of peoples who consume it.

Conclusion

Desalination is habitually the sole mean to provide potable water to countries in dire need of water. However, desalination should not be looked at as a last chance. Instead, it must be viewed as a terrific, viable, & cost-effective method to the water scarcity necessities.

Are you looking for a team to help you with the efficient desalination process? Here at Keiken, we know better about the necessity of efficient seawater desalination & that’s why we provide the best water treatment services to our customers. For further details about our service, give us a ring at +34 91 057 72 54 or write to us at info@keiken.es.

Activated sludge in water treatment pilot plants: the basics

Parámetros de control de un sistema de fangos activos

For industrialists that own a water treatment plant, it is important to get access to a treatment process that is cost-effective as well as efficient. While activated carbon is at the prime of its popularity, more and more industry owners are using activated sludge for water treatment pilot plants.

Well, before we go any further, let us know more about activated sludge!

What is Activated Sludge?

Activated sludge is a biologically integrated floc that is comprised of protozoa and bacteria. This sludge is used mostly in the treatment of wastewater with the use of aeration feature. In most cases, the general treatment arrangement is such that it removes the carbonaceous pollutants.

The process makes use of a sturdy aeration tank into which the oxygen or air is injected into the mixed concoction. Now, this is eventually followed by the settling tank, which is generally referred to as the final clarifier. This allows the wastewater’s biological floc to properly settle down. This is how the treated clear water is separated from the sludge.

What is the purpose of the activated sludge?

When discussing the purpose of activated sludge in the water treatment pilot plant process, we need to understand what counts as efficient for water treatment plants. In the industrial wastewater treatment or sewage treatment plants, the use of activated sludge for the process brings down the overall cost input while enhancing the efficiency with better results.

The prime purpose of the activated sludge is to oxidize the carbonaceous biological matter as well as the nitrogenous matter to ensure the resulting water is clean.

Whether you house a conventionally activated sludge for your wastewater treatment plant, a site design that is specific to your filtration need is a must-have. The activated sludge maximizes the oxygen transfer process and adds-in to the efficiency factor while providing fine aeration bubbles & deep mixing features.

Apart from this adding in the features such as horizontal direction mixing & deep mixing can help utilize the maximum space with better mixing patterns. Further, it helps maintain high mixed liquid concentrations in the suspension for better filtration.

Why should you choose an activated sludge wastewater treatment process?

When deciding on whether or not you should choose activated sludge for your wastewater treatment process, you need to be sure of your decision. Here are some reasons to help you decide whether activated sludge is the right option for you.
• Ensures deep mixing feature for better treatment
• Brings high efficiency in the transfer of oxygen
• Minimal stripping of the volatile contaminants in the wastewater
• Eliminates any aerosol generation
• Easily accessible with simple maintenance

Process Description: Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment

This particular process makes use of the aerobic micro-organisms know to digest the organic matter present in the sewage while clumping together in the flocculation pattern while they do the same. Further, the process generates a liquid that is completely free of any organic material or suspended solids.

The flocculated particles can later be removed after they settle on the surface post the digestion process. In general, the arrangement of these sludge particles for removal of the carbonaceous pollutants is as follows:

• Aeration Tank:
At this stage, the air/oxygen is added or rather injected into the liquid mix.

• Settling Tank:
Also termed as a secondary settling tank or final clarifier, this particular component of the waste-water treatment process is designed to allow the sludge blanket or biological flocs to settle down. This helps in a careful separation of the sludge from your treated water.

However, keep in mind the fact that treatment of phosphate or nitrogenous matter involves additional procedures where the liquid is managed in such a way that it generates an anoxic zone to ensure that phosphates solubilize in a reducing environment & the nitrogen oxides get reduced to the ammonium ion.

Also Read: Pilot Plants: The Key to Energy Efficiency in Water and Waste-Water Facilities

Why is efficient wastewater treatment important?

While wastewater treatment is important, it needs to be done in an efficient way to help you save time, money, as well as labor. Issues around the uncharted consumption of energy have been growing with time. This is with regard to the production costs as well as higher energy consumption and poor regulation of emissions.

In order to ensure that your company doesn’t face any losses in terms of wastewater plant management, having access to efficient wastewater treatment is important. The key is to focus on the reduction of emissions while opting for automated processes in the long run. With an efficient process in place, you contribute a lot to the environment as well as shorten the runtime of the business processes.

Conclusion

Well, now that we have listed out everything that is to know about this process for wastewater treatment, we hope you would understand how efficient it is. With such efficient processes in place, you can give so much back to the environment while benefitting your company in a rather direct manner.

Are you in need of a professional team to help you enhance the efficiency of your wastewater treatment plant? At Keiken Engineering, we give you access to a reliable team that helps you analyze the processes going on within the plant and improvise on the same in a cost-effective manner. To know more about our services, give us a quick call at +34-910-577-254 or write to us at info@keiken.es.

How to choose LED lights for promoting energy efficiency for Industry

Keiken, cálculo de la huella de carbono

When it comes to choosing a lighting system for industrial premises, a lot of things goes into play. Proper lightning is needed for efficiency, safety of the employees as well as energy efficiency for industry. Today, industries are pay a lot of attention on becoming energy efficient. There are many ways this feat can be achieved and one of them is using the LED lights.

LED lights are considered as one of the best lightning systems for home and commercial areas. They can in fact help industries become more energy efficient. But choosing the right LED lights is equally important. There are many types of LED lightning system is available for the industrial premises. Choosing the right option is important for meeting both the requirements of efficient lighting and energy efficiency is very important.

What are LED Lights?

As per the Wikipedia – “A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor light source that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photons) is determined by the energy required for electrons to cross the band gap of the semiconductor. White light is obtained by using multiple semiconductors or a layer of light-emitting phosphor on the semiconductor device.”

Using LED lights comes with many benefits and one of them is energy efficient for industry. LEDs offer lower energy consumption, they are long-lasting, durable and come in compact sizes. They are faster and more efficient than the incandescent light sources. They come in many forms and can be customized to meet the lightning needs of any industrial space.

The Need for LED Lights and Energy Efficiency

There is an urgent need for LED lights in the industries as they are one of the largest consumers of energy. Traditional lightning consumes more energy and emit CO2. This not only affects the energy and cost efficiency of the industry, but it also affects the environment too. This is one of the important reasons why industries today need LED lights. It not only reduces the cost, but it also reduces CO2 emission. It is a better option as it doesn’t not harm the environment as the other lightning system do.

Industries need a lighting system like LED to ensure safety of the employees, their productivity and efficiency of the whole premises. This is ensured by LED lights. They are efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Read More: LEDS: A KEY MEASURE OF ENERGY EFFICENCY

Choosing the Right Lightning System for Industrial Premises

1. Quality is Paramount
When it comes to choosing the right lightning system, quality is paramount. LED is one of the best types of lights for industrial areas. They have better CCT, CRI, illuminance levels, uniformities than other types of lighting system. This is one of the reasons why LED is considered to be the best option. Make sure to choose LED lights that are well-suited for the needs of your industry.

2. IP Rating
IP or Ingress Protection is an important consideration for choosing a LED light. The IP is a rating that defines its ability to protect the light fixture from element, such as moisture and dirt. For the most types of industries, the IP rating is somewhere between IP65 and IP69. Higher the number, better is the IP level of the LED light. It is important to choose an LED light with the right IP rating as too much or too low can be dangerous. Make sure to get Energy Audits to find the right lightning solution for your industrial premises.

3. Chemical Resistance
Chemical resistance is another important consideration for choosing LED light for the industrial areas. If your industry is chemical based or similar to that, you need LED lights that have high chemical resistance. The chemicals can affect the efficiency of the LED light and sometime cause discoloration. It is important to choose LED lights that have chemical resistance even in the industries that are not chemical based. Finding the right match is important if you want toe enjoy the efficiency of the LED lights and ensure higher energy efficiency for industry.

4. Lifetime Ratings
It is important to consider the lifetime ratings of the LED lights and their maintenance needs too. Two things ensure the efficiency of the LED lights – quality of heat dissipation and quality of components. It is important to choose LED lights that are able to properly remove the heat generated. Extended lifetime ratings for LED lights means they will have less maintenance requirements and will eventually help in cost reduction. Reduced energy consumption is the advantage you will get here.

The Bottomline

LED lights are important for better energy efficiency for industry. Choosing the right LED light is equally important. It can help reduce the cost, increase efficiency and help industry become more energy efficient. Make sure to hire the right team for Energy Audits as it can help industries find the right solution.

Keiken Engineering specializes in energy efficiency for industry. We offer energy audits and LED light solution to a wide range of industries so that they can reduce cost and become more efficient. Contact us at info@keiken.es or call us at +34 91 057 72 54