Water is an indispensable resource across the industries we serve, playing a crucial role in manufacturing, power generation, and resource extraction. However, the quality of your water can significantly impact the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of your operations. Not only should it be clean and safe, but it likely needs to be treated in a way so it is optimal for your specific industrial needs.
Operational Efficiency and Productivity
Untreated water can wreak havoc on industrial equipment. Dissolved minerals and impurities can cause scaling – a buildup of mineral deposits that can clog pipes – reduce heat transfer efficiency, and even cause equipment failure. Additionally, untreated water can be corrosive, gradually damaging metal components and shortening their lifespan.
Scaling and corrosion means costly downtime, unexpected repairs, and reduced production capacity. In power plants, scaling in boilers and cooling towers can significantly decrease energy efficiency and increase operating costs. With steel production, the water quality affects how furnaces and rolling mills are cooled, ultimately impacting the quality of the production.
Proper water treatment is a simple way to reduce the impurities in water that can cause scaling and corrosion, ultimately increasing the lifespan of your facility – which means less downtime and fewer visits from your friends at Motus Group.
Water Scarcity and Conservation
There is an increasing issue with water scarcity in most of the world, and the heavy industries take a lot of the brunt and criticisms for the water used. You both need to operate efficiently while significantly reducing your water footprint. Fortunately, water treatment processes are just one way you can reuse the water that cycles through your systems.
Reverse osmosis, filtration, and deionization remove impurities and contaminants from wastewater so it ca be reused in any number of other areas. It also decreases your facilities reliance on freshwater resources – something the public (understandably) cares a great deal about.
Across some industries, we are seeing the adoption of “zero liquid discharge” (ZLD), which aims to minimize or eliminate wastewater discharge through total recovery and treatment. As you can imagine, this effort is as noble as it is challenging, but the more industries explore the idea the better the technology becomes to help make it happen.
How Do Heavy Industries Treat Their Water?
There are a few treatment processes and technologies that industries use. To name a few:
- Coagulation and Flocculation: Chemicals are added to water to draw suspended particles together, making them easier to remove through sedimentation or filtration.
- Filtration: Water is passed through various filter media (sand, gravel, activated carbon) to remove remaining suspended solids and other impurities.
- Disinfection: Chlorine, ozone, or ultraviolet (UV) light are used to kill or inactivate harmful microorganisms in the water.
- Deionization: Dissolved ions are removed from water using ion exchange resins, producing high-purity water for sensitive industrial applications.
What process is right for your plant? The short answer: it depends. Where is your water coming from and going to? How are you going to use the water in your facility? What regulatory requirements do you need to stick to in your region?
Lots of questions, but we have the answers. The pros here at Motus Group are on hand to help you develop a water treatment process that is effective and sustainable. Give us a call, we’ll show you what we just got done installing.