Water Reclaim and Recycling
An Explanation of Water Recycling Systems
In some parts of the country the water authorities are having to restrict water use either by refusing to supply water for vehicle washing or to increase the size of the mains supply. Water authorities are becoming particular concerned with the quality of the effluent discharge and placing strict control and discharge limits. In certain circumstances where consent is not given a water recycling system can permit the installation of vehicle wash systems as the water is recycled.
Benefits of a Water Jet Wash Recycling System
The main benefits of using a water recycling system are that it can permit washing during water shortages. The unit complies with environmental agency requirements, and reduces pollution. As most of the water is reclaimed it does in fact save money. The water recycling system enjoys low maintenance cost and we provide national service in the unlikely event of a breakdown. The super jet jet wash recycling system is especially made for using with pressure washers, and is available in twenty litres per minute and thirty litres per minute capacities.
Flybe Challenge
Morclean have provided Flybe Aviation Services with an Aeroplane Washing System to clean planes in situ on the airfield at Exeter Airport.
It had to be self contained, buried underground to ensure safety and use a Reclaim Unit to recycle the water because the mains drain was too far away.
Specialist advice was also sought over the aviation approved chemicals which the aircraft industy are compelled to use.
This was a slightly unusual request as Morclean usually supply Vehicle Washing Systems but they were happy to rise to the technical challenge and meet the clients needs.
Hopkinson Transport
Stavely based Hopkinson Transport recently approached
Morclean for the installation of a specialist jet wash and water reclaim system. Hopkinson's Transport carry plastic pellets for Hydro Polymers, and their vehicle fleet needs to be washed inside and out. Morclean have installed a automatic jet wash system, an internal rotating cleaning head for the cleaning of the road tankers inside, and a specialist water reclaim system. The water reclaim collects the water from the underground interceptor, and removes solids and contaminates and chemical from the water. An extra filter fitted to the outside of the machine also removes the residue of plastic pellets that may work the way through the system.
Morclean 100/P Pump Out Vac - an Explanation
The Morclean 100/P is a two motor (2000 watts) industrial vacuum cleaner. What is unique about this product is it all contains a pump out facility for discharging liquids after they have been sucked in a container. As the vacuum container fills and the water level rises, a discharge pump is activated to pump the water away either to a suitable drain, container, IBC, or tanks.
The benefit is that you can maintain continuous suction while the water is being discharged, especially useful for in conjunction with a Vacu-boom system. The collected liquids can also be discharged to a Morclean water reclaim system or recycling unit, and a vacuum system as the added benefit have been able to access awkward to reach or difficult areas where a traditional pump cannot be used.
In order to reclaim water using the Vacu-boom system the 100/P Morclean pump out vac maintains a continues suction so that the Vacu-boom can be left in place for long periods. This is especially used for plant machinery or aircraft, that cannot be washed when placed next to or near foul drainage, or where the resulting wash water is hazardous or harmful to the environment.
Morclean ensure compliance with EA Regs
Balfour Beatty approached Morclean for specialist advice because they were extremely concerned about complying with Environment Agency Regulations. Morclean have installed a vehicle wash area for 200 plus vans at their Exeter site which discharges the water safely and within the
regulations.
Morclean IBC Vac - Inventing the Impossible
Morclean were recently approached by Arvin Meretor, a Midlands based clutch and brake manufacturer. Arvin Meretor had two particular products contained within vessels that had to be discharged, pumped out, or taken away. The only practical way to empty this liquid is by using a vacuum cleaner, but the liquid in both tanks amounted to a total of approximately 1000 litres.
What was really required was a 1000 litre vacuum except Morclean were quite confident there was no such machine in the market place. In order to recover water in this way with such a large vacuum capacity, the problems presented were two fold. Firstly a vacuum unit on a standard 240 or 415 volts supply, cannot convey the air across such a large capacity container ie 1000 litres. A 1000 litre capacity container has a dimension of 1 metre cube. On the other hand, if a large induction motor and vacuum system were used on a traditional container, this would in fact cause the container to implode.
After extensive research, Morclean have devised a system that runs on a standard 230 volts supply, and uses two 1000 Watt motors to create a vacuum across a 1000 litre container. The vacuum can be plugged into a conventual 230 volts socket while having a massive 1000 litre capacity. This system does have to be used with a fork lift truck or pallet truck, and the water contained within the container can then be taken to discharge, water reclaim or water recycling. While strictly speaking this is one of our range of specialist vacuum cleaners, the IBC vacuum is ideally used in conjunction with water reclaim and recycling, or in conjunction with a Vacu-boom system.
Reclaim your Water
Morclean announce a new range of water reclaim and water recycling plant. Designed for use with drive through lorry or bus wash, the units can reclaim up to 90% of water used.
South Gloucester Bus & Coach Company
Based in Bristol the South Gloucester Bus & Coach Company run a fleet of single and double decker buses. The entire fleet arrives back at the depot in the evening and is washed using a Morclean three brush roll over vehicle washing system - recently installed. As part of the process Morclean included a water reclaim system, to be used in conjunction with the brush wash. South Gloucester Bus & Coach enjoy the benefits of being able to wash during water shortages and they fully comply with environmental agency requirements. The water reclaim system saves them money as 95% of the water is sent back to the wash system.
Vacu-Boom Explained
Vacu-boom can be used where water retention is temporary or other insulations can not be put into place. The Vacu-boom is made in sections and can be easily clicked together for prompt operation. The basics are that the boom is clicked together laid on the floor which forms a seal, and a barrier to retain water. The Vacu-boom is connected to a Morclean 100/p vacuum cleaner (see right) and the vacuum system also adheres to the floor surface.
In conjunction with this the vacuum cleaner continues to draw water from the vacu-boom into the vacuum cylinder. The result is a temporary seal between a wet and dry area enabling temporary washing of vehicle, plant aircraft etc. The Vacu-boom can either be laid on a sloping surface as a 'C' shape or completely connected to form a circular loop. In either case on reasonable flat surface the Vacu-boom will prevent water loss or discharge of contaminated water to foul drains.
Wash Water Goes Back to the Sea
Gosport Marina, based in Southampton, have recently purchased a Super Jet water reclaim system from Morclean for use in conjunction with their boat cleaning operation at the Marina. High pressure water is used to clean the underside of boats coming into the Marina, and the resulting water could not be discharged back into the sea. Our water reclaim system was installed to recover all the wash water and remove any debris via 20 micron pre-filters and internal activated carbon filters. The clean water is then discharged back to the high pressure cleaning system, complying to the water authorities regulations.
Water Settlement and Water Reclaim
The wash water taken from a wheel wash or similar installation can simply be settled in large settlement tanks or in some cases sent to a settlement lagoon. This is perfectly acceptable when the wash water is not spotlessly clean, especially in opencast, waste transfer stations, quarries and construction suites. When wash water really does need to be clean, the only successful method of doing this is with a water recycling system.
The basics are that the vehicle or plant is washed, and the water drains away via a silt trap to an underground interceptor. The water then wears through the underground interceptor in the traditional way. We then take the water from the third stage of the interceptor (the cleanest water) and a suction pump delivers this to our water reclaim unit. Depending on the system the water is either pre filtered through 20 micron filters, or is hydrocycloned to remove any solids. Then an activated carbon filter removes the detergent and the water is then stored in a header tank, ready to be discharged back to the wash unit.
Water authorities in some parts of the country are restricting the use of water or refusing to supply water for vehicle washing. Using a water recycling system actually permits the use of a vehicle wash, when water authorities in certain areas are concerned about the effluent discharge. A full water reclaim system complies with environmental agency requirements. A water reclaim system actually saves money and permits washing during water shortages.