Sand Filters
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Types of Sand Filters
1. Rapid Sand Filters: Water flows quickly through a sand bed, trapping suspended solids.
2. Slow Sand Filters: Water flows slowly through a thick sand layer, allowing biological activity to remove contaminants.
3. Pressure Sand Filters: These filters force water through a sand bed enclosed in a pressurised vessel.
4. Continuous Sand Filters: Uses a moving sand bed to allow continuous filtration without stopping for backwashing.
5. Dual Media and Multi-Media Filters: Layers of different media (e.g. sand, anthracite, gravel) enhance filtration efficiency.
6. Pneumatic Backwashing Filters: Uses compressed air scouring before and during water backwashing to clean the filter media
7. Sand-Activated Filters: Incorporates chemically treated or biologically active sand to enhance contaminant removal.
How Do Sand Filters Use Compressed Air?
General Usage:
Compressed air primarily automates backwashing processes or maintains flow and pressure within the filtration system. Pneumatic components, such as valves and actuators, are standard in ensuring efficient and controlled operation, thereby reducing manual intervention.
Industry Sectors
Water | Agriculture | Food and Beverage | Pharmaceuticals | Oil and Gas | Power Generation | Textile Manufacturing | Swimming Pools and Aquatic Facilities | Chemical Manufacturing | Mining
Benefits of Installing Expel for Sand Filters
Reduces Energy Costs
Expel compressed air filters prevent contaminants from affecting the rotameter, ensuring accurate readings and avoiding fines and penalties.
When false readings occur, operators may adjust the rotameter to compensate, resulting in increased energy consumption due to excessive backwashing and pumping.
By maintaining reliable monitoring and minimising unnecessary adjustments, Expel improves the efficiency of sand filter systems and reduces energy usage, particularly in older plants without air dryers.
Stops Pneumatic Valve and Actuator Failure
If pneumatic valves and actuators on sand filters malfunction due to compressed air contamination, it can lead to backwashing failures, aeration issues, and system downtime. Damaged actuators controlling air injection can disrupt aeration, leading to compacted media and reduced oxygen levels, which impact filtration and biological treatment.
Optimises Efficiency
Hydrocarbons from oil emulsion fluids can be introduced into the sand filtration system if sand filters have compromised pneumatic components. In industries like water treatment, hydrocarbons can interfere with water chemistry, affecting pH levels that degrade sand filter performance and increase the risk of non-compliance with regulatory standards.
Ensures Regulatory Compliance
The UK government has imposed stringent penalties on water companies for failing to manage suspended solids post-sand filtration. The fines per site, regardless of size, can be up to £250,000.