TYPE OF PROJECT: Secondary Research Project

COLLABORATION: Nahia Anitua (Degree in Chemical Engineering, UPV)

DURATION: 12/12/2022 – 12/03/2023

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT:

In the analysis of the optimisation of the coagulation-flocculation process analysed at CATABB, the study has focused on evaluating the effectiveness of the treatments, not going deeper into aspects of efficiency (consumption of reagents, energy, etc.) that could influence the decision on the reagent to be used. Due to the economic factor of aspects such as: the cost of energy, the cost of the different reagents, the cost of using water in backwashes, etc., it is considered necessary to complement these studies with an analysis of efficiency to support the decision to use alternative coagulants to alumina sulphate.

For each coagulant analysed, it is assumed that the running time of the sand filters will be increased so that the sand filters will be cleaned due to saturation pressure drop, instead of the currently established 24 h setpoint.

Calculation of the economic implications of the increase in head losses (electricity consumption of pumps and washing blowers, consumption of washing water, consumption of reagents, etc.) will be carried out.

The objectives of the project are as follows:

-To establish a direct relationship between the use of a certain coagulant and the sand filter race.

-Correlation between the increase in filter run and savings for each coagulant analysed.

– Generate a database from CATABB’s experiences in which the economic aspects to be taken into account when deciding to invest in a higher-cost coagulant than the current one are compiled.