Water recycling technical information
Water recycling systems are enjoying an expanding market at present due to the savings they can offer in the present climate of water privatisation, stricter effluent discharge consents, and rising effluent charges. Also the drought of 1989 brought many vehicle wash operators to a standstill due to the water authorities ban on the use of water for the washing of vehicles.
Accent has been placed on a more compact design with lower running costs and lower capital costs, to make water recycling even more cost effective to the customer.
Please note failure to use the correct wash chemicals will detriment the plants ability to remove impurities and consequently the vehicle wash will start to leave vehicles streaked after washing.
Process Description
When washing a vehicle the water is supplied to the jet wash via a booster pump fed from the water storage tank, a level sensor within the internal carbon tank is activated when water is supplied to the pressure washer which starts the sump pump and draws water from the below ground sump tank and passed over a wedge wire screen which will remove the polypropylene balls and deposit them into the blue bin next to the unit, the water is then forced through two 20' in-line cartridge filters before being spread over the surface of the activated carbon filter bed.
The water is gravity fed through the carbon (hence the low flow) and through the internal strainer into the wash water storage tank below.
The water is then ready for re-use.
The sump pump in turn activates a dosing pump which does Aluminium Sulphate directly into the inlet of the below ground interceptor/sump pump.
The Aluminium Sulphate helps to form large blocks of dirt which will settle out in the interceptor. Being an acidic chemical the aluminium sulphate also acts as a neutralising agent.
Automatic backwashing is achieving with the use of a small air blower which introduces air at a set time into the bottom of the filter bed and lifts the carbon to stop it from blocking during use.
The interceptor should be at least the ST 3250 however although a higher initial cost would be incurred, a larger interceptor would save on future chemical consumption.
Vehicle Wash Water Recycling System
The treatment plant consists of a single storage tank mounted on a common base plate complete with internal activated carbon filter tank, dosing pump, sump pump, booster pump and air blower. All pumps and controls are water proof to I.P.55.
Skid Mounted Tank
Fabricated in grade 304 stainless steel.
Activated Carbon Filter - Gravity Fed
Activated carbon filters are designed to remove residual detergent, emulsions, chlorine and organic molecules from the water.
Activated carbon is able to remove these impurities due to reactions which take place at the water/carbon interface. Activated carbon has been treated to vastly increase its surface area, the resultant substance has a surface area of hundreds of square metres per gram.
The carbon will eventually be saturated by contaminants and will require replacing.
Pipework
All connecting pipework and fittings are PVC class E solvent wedded in accordance with procedures stated by the manufacturer.
Electrical Equipment
The panel contains a single starter for the sump pump and a control circuit linked to float switches and level controllers in the tanks.
The panel controls include an automatic backwash system and lamps for sump pump running and tripped, power on and filter backwash.
Plant Operation
The plant is designed to operate fully automatically once installed. The plant will automatically deliver clean water to the jet wash.
The plant is switched off using the door interlocked isolator on the control panel door or at the customers mains isolator. Plant should not be turned off at night, due to heaters (where fitted) and backwash which require a 24 hour supply.
The backwash time clock needs to be set to run for 30 minutes during the night, a solenoid and valve have been installed on the outlet of the wash pump to enable the system to drain of if this is required due to excessively dirty vehicles (this will only be active when the air composer is running) the flow can be adjusted using the valve. The operator can adjust the frequency of the backwash time clock if he wishes the plant to backwash at a different time or for a different duration.
If the plant stops of its own accord and the sump pump overload trip light comes on, the unit can be reset by pressing the black start button on the motor starter contained inside the control.
If water is lost off the wash pad then an automatic mains water top up solenoid valve will open to replenish the system (this is controlled by a float switch fitted below the Activated Carbon Filter).
If the system the mains water top up valve will operate and enable the user to continue washing. The excess water will flow to drain via the interceptor / sump pump tank overflow.
Installation and Commissioning
Installation involves the following operations
Check that the client has connected the following:
On extremely busy or dirty sites the drain solenoid will need to be connected to a suitable drain (using 1/4 reinforced hose).
Routine Maintenance
The client is required to perform the following routine maintenance procedures to ensure the continued trouble free operation of the equipment.
Daily Maintenance
Perform the following tasks on a daily basis:
Weekly Maintenance
Perform the following tasks on a weekly basis:
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Morclean Ltd, Speedwell Industrial Estate, Staveley Chesterfield, Unted Kingdom S43 3JN
T: +44 (0)1246 471147 F: +44 (0)1246 471277 Email: click here