Reverse osmosis (RO) systems offer power plant owners and operators a reliable and well-proven water treatment solution. However, designing and caring for an RO system requires a thorough understanding of a plant’s water supply and the technology’s capabilities. Part one of this series will review the importance of water samples and pilot studies as plant engineers begin to design an RO system to match [...]
Expansion of the volume of ethanol exported to the rest of the world is critical to profitability and expansion of the industry. Exports continue to set records (927 million gallons in the first seven months of 2018) but can be limited by challenges created by inconsistency in quality specifications and the methods used to guarantee them. U.S. Water has stepped forward in the last two years to help our [...]
Boiler feedwater is comprised of two very important, and increasingly expensive resources, steam condensate return and city (or well) makeup water. The condensate is valuable due to low electrical conductance, purity and high temperature. The makeup water is valuable because it is being overused and under conserved in many parts of the country, making the cost of water rise in almost all parts of the United States. [...]
In the Power industry, every minute is critical. A smooth plant start-up is vital to operations, and directly linked to lay-up procedures. A thorough understanding of critical lay-up and start-up strategies & procedures, paired with a proper corrosion control protection program can prevent unscheduled downtime, reduce operating costs and increase plant reliability. In the gas fired combined cycle market, [...]
Food & Beverage (F&B) facilities make products that are intended for human consumption, therefore food safety is always an area of major concern. For over a century, compliance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have been a driving force in the F&B processing industry, and it’s their regulation that guides [...]
It’s increasingly obvious to me that the gap in the general understanding of technology is continuously increasing with those that are not working in the space every day. I am referring to industrial technology versus the general consumer technology market. The consumer technology market has made our lives easier, simplifying tasks and adding entertainment with intuitive technology that most [...]
Every day in the U.S., more than 355 billion gallons of water are withdrawn from surface and ground water sources to serve industry and the public, according to a 2010 report from the U.S. Geological Survey. As the strain on water sources steadily increases, it is critical for all water users to work towards water conservation. The primary drivers towards water recycling and reuse practices are environmental [...]
A water softener system is one of a facility’s the best methods of defense against scale formation due to hard water on heat transfer surfaces, such as heat exchangers and boilers. In addition to a savings in energy, water and chemical costs, a well maintained softener can extend piping and equipment life. Some of the most common issues an operator may experience when maintaining water softener equipment is [...]
Monitoring and controlling a boiler’s internal treatment program is one of the best ways to prevent system downtime and avoid major repair costs. Common equipment problems, such as corrosion, scale and deposition can result in over $60,000 in repair costs and 2-3 days of downtime. Implementing a boiler automation program offers facilities the system protection and reliability required to run efficiently and [...]
Chemical feed skids offer reliable and consistent dosing of chemicals into process applications. When designed correctly, chemical feed skids have the ability to increase system productivity by maximizing operating costs and reducing chemical costs. Available in hundreds of configurations, U.S. Water's chemical feed skids are customized to meet each facility's unique application and specifications. There [...]
As water and energy costs increase, government regulations tighten and environmental stewardship initiatives progress, facilities must continue to enhance their system efficiencies. Reverse Osmosis (RO) equipment is becoming more common in water treatment systems. Unfortunately, even with high quality feed water, RO membrane scaling and fouling is inevitable. Regular cleaning and servicing of your RO system and its [...]
There is a lot of talk in the technology market about the Internet of Things (IoT). But, what does that mean and how does it affect water treatment technologies? As people living in a modern world, technology is the center of nearly everything we do. Human nature constantly drives us to improve our “things” through newly engineered technology. The Internet of Things (IoT) is about using technology to [...]