An effective phosphorus, humus, and suspended solids precipitation method

Transcription

1 Saloy Ltd. An effective phosphorus, humus, and suspended solids precipitation method Emission catcher for the precipitation of phosphorus and organic matter (humus) Vertical separation pipeline for the removal of suspended solids September 2014

2 Introduction A non-electrical precipitation method for the reduction of environmental strains on water systems 1 (5) The water treatment equipment and method developed by Saloy Ltd. have been proven effective in treating drainage water in both agricultural and peat production year after year. Using iron sulfate, the emission catcher binds organic matter (humus) and phosphorus from drainage water. Connected to a sediment pond, the compact vertical separation pipeline reduces the amount of suspended solids in the water. Simultaneously, it operates as the sediment pond for the sludge precipitated by the emission catcher. The emission catcher is always connected to a sediment pond, in which the water is allowed to settle and the sludge to descend. The sediment pond, designed to reduce the amount of suspended solids, is about 2.5 meters deep, groundbased, and the bottom insulated with a plastic sheet. Adjoined to the sediment pond is the patented vertical separation pipeline, in which water flows up and down rapidly. An aggregate pump is used to collect the sediment sludge off the bottom of the insulated pond. The first emission catcher designed for peat production was installed in the summer of The first combination of an emission catcher and a vertical sediment pond was installed in April 2012 in Kyyjärvi, Central Finland. The Kyyjärvi peat production site is a part of the TASO-project, an environmental water preservation program developed in collaboration with three Finnish ministries. The second combination was installed at a peat production site in Kihniö, in December The removal rate of suspended solids at the peat production sites have an average of 70%. Emission catchers have also been installed at bog areas in Marttila, Southwest Finland, and Luumäki, Southeast Finland. The first agricultural emission catcher was installed in Iittala, Hämeenlinna, Southern Finland, in May At this site, the emission catcher was installed in connection to a traditional sediment pond, followed by wetland. The rate of removal of phosphorus in the first control sample was 91%. A combination of an emission catcher and a vertical sediment pond has worked to treat water in an agricultural ditch in Sauvo, Southwest Finland since March The Sauvo project is a part of the RAKI project lead by the Ministry of the Environment. The latest Saloy water treatment systems were installed in the spring and summer of 2013: - Pien-Saimaa, Taipalsaari Levänen: Emission catcher + traditional sediment pond - Lahti Vesijärvi: Combo (emission catcher + vertical separation pipeline + insulated sediment pond) As the Vesijärvi site features the newest equipment, it is an excellent location for a tour of the entire system. Emission catcher The emission catcher consists of a single vertical pipe, connected to a chemical container at the top, and a precipitation tank at the bottom. Below is a picture of the installation of an emission catcher at the peat production site in Kihniö, in December In addition to the one in Kihniö, emission catchers can be found at the peat production site in Marttila, as well as the agricultural sites in Pien-Saimaa, and Lahti. Measurements of the emission catcher: Height: 2.5 meters Diameter: 1.5 meters The emission catcher is buried underground. The aboveground parts are covered with an insulating board for wintertime. A chemical pipeline connects the topmost chemical container and the precipitation tank. The chemical, ferric sulfate, is mixed in inside the tank. By exploiting the natural gravitational pull, the emission catcher releases doses of granulated iron sulfate into the water. The purpose of the iron sulfate is to precipitate phosphorus and humus from the water. The dosage depends on the desired rate of removal (reduction). Typically, a dosage ratio of 1 : 20 m 3 (1 liter of chemical per liters of water) is used.

3 2 (5) On the left is a picture of the emission catcher in Marttila, Southwest Finland. For precipitation purposes, the emission catcher uses a granulated Ferix-3 ferric sulfate by Kemira, available in 1000 kg bags. In essence, all the municipal wastewater treatment plants in Finland use iron sulfate to treat water. The chemical container of the emission catcher holds up to two 1000 kg bags of the chemical, which is only consumed when water flows inside the system. One liter of the chemical costs approximately 0.48, and is enough to treat about liters of flowing water. The emission catcher is best suited for ditches with a flow rate of up to about liters / second. Because of its higher rate of removal (70%), the emission catcher is more effective in removing phosphorus and humus than wetlands. To illustrate, the one million euro Tuusulanjärvi wetland only reached a removal rate of 29% during the control period between January 1 st and December 31 st Vertical separation pipeline and insulated ground pond The vertical separation pipeline, in which water moves in rapid up-and-down motion, reduces the amount of suspended solids in the water. It is also used as the sediment pond for the emission catcher. The pipeline also connects to a 2.5- meter deep ground sediment pond. The system operates year-round. The image on the left is the part of the pipeline above water in a field ditch in the Lahti precipitation site. Inside the pipeline, water runs in rapid up-anddown motion. The vertical separation pipeline is directly connected to a 2.5-meter deep, ground sediment pond insulated with plastic. Both the emission catcher and vertical separation pipeline are low maintenance. The only work required is to fill up the chemical container of the emission catcher, and remove sludge off the bottom of the sediment pond. An optional alarm system can be installed in the chemical container that notifies the user s cell phone when a refill is needed. An aggregate powered water pump is used to remove sludge off the base of the hard-bottomed sediment pond.

4 3 (5) Principle chart of the complete, year-round Saloy system Pictures of Saloy Ltd. equipment at the most recent agricultural sites Below are pictures from the most recent Saloy water treatment locations. On the left is a picture from Vesijärvi Lahti, and on the right a picture from Levänen Taipalsaari, Pien-Saimaa. Both systems are of the newest design, with a combination of the chemical container and the precipitation tank in a single vertical pipe. As illustrated by the pictures, the Saloy Ltd. water treatment equipment can be conveniently placed and landscaped. Water sample results from Pien-Saimaa (RAKI-project, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment) The water sample results on the next page are dated between April and August This project is a collaborated effort with the Ministry of the Environment. The average reduction rate of dissolved phosphorus that suits as such as nourishment for algae has from April to August been up to 94 %, and the average reduction rate for total phosphorus has as well been excellent, 75 %. Nitrogen levels are reduced as a byproduct of phosphorus precipitation, and can thus be thought of as a nice bonus.

5 4 (5) Source: Saimaan Vesi- ja ympäristötutkimus Ltd Investment costs The treatment system developed by Saloy only requires a fraction of the surface area required by traditional ponds, and is simple and easy to set up. As its installation and investment costs are low, the system in its entirety is extremely cost effective. Prices (approximate), VAT 0%: - Emission catcher (chemical container and precipitant tank) ~ Vertical separation pipeline ~ Excavation work (case by case) ~ Please note that these prices are approximations - a final quote can only be given following a visit to the site in question. The emission catcher and the vertical separation pipeline are durable, perennial, and can be transported from one location to another. Saloy Engineering Ltd Road and water construction engineer Tapio Salminen founded Saloy Ltd in Between the years 1974 and 1978 Salminen worked in the Finnish Maritime Administration with a specialization in underwater construction. Since 2005 Saloy has focused on staving off blue-green algae, as well as treating agricultural and peat production runoffs of phosphorus, humus and suspended solids. The mechanical and chemical water treatment method developed by Saloy Ltd is: - Energy self-sufficient - Easy care - Efficient - Year-round - Has low investment costs and - Only takes up a fraction of the surface area required by other methods Contact information Tapio Salminen Antti Kivimaa CEO, Water engineer Senior advisor tel tel tapio.salminen@saloy.net a.kivimaa@gmail.com