Results of the evaluation of the semi-empirical model on the selection of optimal constructive and technological parameters for a granulated loading filter

Abstract

Topicality. A survey of the water use system at a state-owned enterprise processing agricultural products revealed the technological processes that cause biofouling of pipelines by colloidal inclusions (mainly phytoplankton conglomerates of blue-green algae). The implementation of measures that can protect existing technological structures against the ingress of significant masses of phytoplankton is an urgent task that can be solved with the help of mechanical filters. The efficiency of previous granulated loading filters depends very much on the properties of the filter loading. When filter loading is made of foamed polystyrene granules of food brands, phytoplankton retention is quite effective due to the physical adsorption of cyanobacteria conglomerates on the surface of these granules. Research results. By applying the semi-empirical model developed in IWPLR of NAAS, the optimal design and technological parameters of the filter with foam polystyrene loading were selected. That enabled to develop the design of a clarifying filter - a phytoplankton retainer for the treatment of circulating water at the enterprise Chervonoslobidsky distillery. In the lower part of the filter the lower drainage system in the form of a false bottom is placed, equipped with hole caps. It provides the source water entry for filtration and discharge of flush water during filter washing. The granules of the filter loading are kept from floating with the false bottom of the upper drainage, which is equipped with return filters - hole caps. Filtered water is collected in the abovefiltering space between the false bottom and the upper part of the filter body, from where it is delivered through a pipeline to the consumers. The application of the developed filter design allows reducing the construction costs and simplifies the filter design, which in turn increases its reliability and overall service life. The practical application of this filter provided the required degree of retention of cyanobacteria cells and conglomerates from the treated water. This filter design differs from the standard with a 1.5 times increased filter loading layer. This enabled to double the duration of a filter cycle and, at the same time, did not increase the volume of flushing water, i.e. operating costs. Conclusions. Based on the results of the developed semi-empirical model, the design and technological parameters of granular filters for recycling of wastewater from the distilleries were determined, which became the basis for developing a new filter design for water purification from cyanobacteria cells and colonies. The high efficiency of the developed design of the clarifying filter - phytoplankton retainer was experimentally proved. The use of the developed filter increases the economic efficiency of the circulating use of the wastewater from Chervonoslobidsky distillery by 1.3 - 1.5 times compared to the market offers of mechanical filters.