This year's WEFTEC expo was brimming with new innovations and state-of-the art technologies. Keep your finger on the pulse of the water/wastewater industry with this compilation article presenting what we saw during our time in New Orleans in 2018. Click the links below each heading to view more in-depth stories about the products on display.
SUEZ acquires Optimatics, announces new tech
SUEZ has acquired the Optimatics water networks optimization company, which offers software that enables network managers to identify the best way to allocate economic resources in meeting their performance targets.
The company’s OPTIMIZER software combines hydraulic modeling tools and other analytical methods to test thousands of operating scenarios in only a few hours. With this approach, users can achieve efficiency gains from 10 to 30 percent, according to the company.
Read more about the software here.
New drive for ABB designed to improve performance and flow
ABB introduced the ACQ580 variable-frequency drive (VFD) designed to enhance system performance, simplify commissioning and operation, and optimize efficiency in water and wastewater facilities. The drive also improves flow and reliability in pumping and aeration.
Created specifically for the municipal market, the VFD includes features such as a pump clean function that dislodges debris from impellers and a sensorless flow calculation that provides accurate flow measurement without a flow meter.
A soft pipe fill mode reduces water-hammer damage, and a quick-ramp feature protects submersible pumps. The drive is compatible with ABB Ability condition monitoring services, which enable users to get real-time data about the status and performance of monitored equipment from any location.
JWC offers an improved iteration of its Channel Monster grinder
JWC Environmental unveiled its Channel Monster FLEX sewage grinder at WEFTEC 2018. The grinder is designed for high flow and easy service in the field. The unit consists of a FLEX grinder and a solids diverter with a perforated screen connected by a FLEX frame.
The modular grinding system has the latest technology for wastewater solids reduction while providing flexibility to service the grinder and solids diverter separately. An Exacta-Lock adjuster allows for fine distance adjustment between the grinder and screen to minimize solids bypass.
The FLEX version builds on the Channel Monster reputation for high flow capacity while efficiently capturing and shredding rags, rocks, wood and other solids so that the materials can pass through pumps, pipes and process equipment.
Centrisys offers compact centrifuge and new secondary clarifier tech
Centrisys/CNP showcased its innovation in biosolids management and dewatering. The exhibit included the CS6-4 dewatering centrifuge, the company’s smallest centrifuge to date.
The unit is designed to bridge the gap between benchtop studies and full-scale installations. It continuously treats flows from 4 to 10 gpm, providing an alternative to conventional laboratory centrifuges that processes samples in batches. The CS6-4 provides scalable solid-liquid separation data to move research and development projects forward.
Xylem launches underdrain with 360-degree backwash capability
Xylem highlighted its Leopold Type 360 underdrain — a bolt-down underdrain system for greenfield projects and rehabilitation of water treatment filtration projects. It includes an innovative 360-degree backwash capability designed to boost efficiency by up to 20 percent.
The bolt-down solution is engineered for reliability with an uplift resistance of over 15 psi. The design includes slots and orifices around the entire underdrain to help clean the filter media from every angle during the backwash process. This eliminates media dead zones that can develop due to gaps in backwashing coverage.
AtlasCopco highlights new and redesigned energy efficient blowers
AtlasCopco offered an addition and updates to its line of energy efficient, oil-free-, low-pressure blowers.
New to the line is the ZL positive displacement lobe blower with ratings from 0.75 to 450 hp, pressures up to 15 psig and air flows from 20 to 5,700 cfm.
Redesigned models include the ZS positive displacement screw blower in ratings from 25 to 500 hp, pressures up to 18 psig and air flows from 160 to 5,500 cfm; and the ZB turbo direct drive centrifugal blower with ratings from 150 to 350 hp, pressures up to 19 psig and air flows from 1,100 to 7,000 cfm.
Clearas offers biological treatment system for nutrient removal, recovery
Clearas Water Recovery introduced an Advanced Biological Nutrient Recovery (ABNR) system at the WEFTEC Show that maximizes recovery of excess nutrients, increases dissolved oxygen and produces no chemical byproducts.
Modeled after traditional activated sludge processes, the system harnesses microbiology in a photobioreactor that accelerates photosynthesis and the consumption of carbon dioxide and excess nutrients. Advanced microfiltration then filters out high-quality water from return activated algae, which returns to the beginning of the process.
The solution is an advanced non-chemical treatment that achieves high performance, removing phosphorus and nitrogen to near non-detect levels while also reducing other contaminants in wastewater. As a modular and bolt-on system, it scales to any footprint and integrates with existing treatment infrastructure.
Danfoss introduces compact, cost-effective AC drive
Danfoss displayed the VACON X5 HazLo AC drive with a design that gives water and wastewater facilities an application solution in a compact and cost-effective unit.
The drive has a robust design with safety yellow colored metal covers to protect against bumps and misuse or full stainless steel enclosures.
Because there is no additional box in which to place the drive, cooling is not an issue. This allows for high mounting flexibility and affordable installation cost.
The drives are available in frame size T3 and T4 for applications from 40 to 100 hp. They are designed to keep operating in harsh environments and are built from the ground up to survive tough conditions while remaining simple to use. They are certified for Division 2 hazardous locations.
Flottweg launches new design in decanting centrifuges
Flottweg showcased the Xelletor decanter centrifuge, which uses innovative technology to improve dewatering performance, reduce polymer consumption, save energy, and maximize capacity.
The key to the device’s dewatering performance is a deeper liquid pool inside the centrifuge, translating to greater volume and higher throughput. The deeper pool enables production of solids that are drier on average by two percentage points (for example, 27 percent versus 25 percent for conventional technology.
Nidec presents two new vertical frame motors
Nidec Motor Corporation spotlighted the TITAN II WPI and WPII 449 frame vertical motors, available in HOLLOSHAFT and solid shaft constructions. The new motors keep the high-thrust capability of the company’s legacy U.S. MOTORS brand. They offer a redesigned upper bracket for improved environmental protection.
The 449 lower bracket has been redesigned to allow stiffer attachment of the motor to the pump head. This raises its reed critical frequency (RCF) by 12 percent on average. Multiple p-base options (20, 24.5 and 30.5 inches) enable alteration of the RCF for the best variable-speed pumping system design to stay out of the resonance region.
Fluence launches submerged MABR for treatment plant upgrades
At the recent WEFTEC expo in New Orleans, Fluence featured the SUBRE submerged membrane aerated bioreactor (MABR) technology as an efficient and cost-effective upgrade for existing wastewater treatment plants with conventional activated sludge processes.
The system is designed to achieve high removal of total nitrogen and total phosphorus even in basins not designed for that purpose, and without reducing the basins’ treatment capacity. The Fluence MABR is built for low-energy treatment of municipal wastewater.
It uses a spiral-wound, self-respiring membrane sleeve to provide aeration by diffusion. The membrane module at the heart of the system performs simultaneous BOD, nitrogen and phosphorus removal in a single pass.
Mueller introduces hydrant with pressure monitoring, leak detection
Mueller displayed a Smarter Hydrant that in addition to fire protection monitors water system pressure and detects leaks in the distribution system around the clock.
Jones J-4038 and J-3038 wet-barrel fire hydrants can be equipped with a Hydro-Guard pressure monitoring sensor installed in the dome top and an Echologics distribution leak detection node as the nozzle cap.
The sensor monitors system pressure and can alert personnel via cellular communications within minutes if a spike occurs. Data is logged for analysis and can be stored for up to two years on a secure web server.
Hydro International presents fluidized-bed grit washing system
Hydro International recently exhibited the Hydro GritCleanse fluidized-bed grit washing system at WEFTEC — a system which significantly reduces volatile solids content to produce cleaner and drier grit. Cutting volatile solids grit reduces weight, volume and water content, significantly reducing odors and saving money on landfill costs.
The system retains 95 percent of grit 106 microns and larger and discharges washed grit with less than 5 percent volatile solids, according to the company.
Flow is introduced tangentially into a conical clarifier, forcing the grit to contact the vessel walls, creating drag forces and establishing a rotary flow pattern. Incoming grit settles into the low-velocity boundary layer at the inside wall of the vessel. The structured, laminar flow pattern allows retention of fine and slowly settling grit particles, while the interior baffle prevents short-circuiting.
Ovivo introduces solution for digitizing treatment plants
Ovivo presented the WaterExpert solution for digitizing a water or wastewater treatment plant. The offering combines asset management, maintenance management and real-time data monitoring into a single platform.
The asset management capability lets users track the status of information and predict the lifecycle of critical assets. It can help users prolong asset life and plan capital investments. A knowledge capture system and library makes it easy to digitize manuals and standard operating procedures.
HUBER grit technology maximizes capture of grease and small particles
HUBER Technology highlighted the Grit Trap GritWolf compact grit and grease removal system. This aerated grit trap is designed to reliably remove the grit from the wastewater flow while also capturing particulate lipophilic substances (grease) to keep floatable particles from settling or overflowing in downstream treatment systems.
Fine grit with grain size of 75 µm micrometers or above is difficult to capture in conventional aerated longitudinal grit traps because rising air counteracts the continuous sedimentation of small particles, according to the manufacturer. This means long, wide and high-volume structures are required.
The Grit Trap GritWolf consists of an aerated chamber and a separate unaerated chamber. In the first smaller chamber, the wastewater is exposed to fine-bubble aeration. Floatable particles rise to the water surface where they accumulate forming agglomerates. A paddle system removes these from the grit trap surface just before the outlet.
Valmet offers new total solids content transmitter
The Valmet TS microwave-based solids content transmitter is designed to combine cost-efficiency with the extreme accuracy of microwave technology. The transmitter meets the needs of wastewater treatment plants without compromises in accuracy, according to the manufacturer.
In wastewater processes, microwave technology for total solids measurement has the advantages of start-up and calibration within a few minutes, no reaction to changes in solids composition and thus reliable single-point calibration, and absence of moving parts.
Applications include sludge pumping from primary and secondary clarifiers and for feed to thickeners. Sludge pumping control based on reliable total solids measurement helps optimize sludge quality early on in the process – vital for the entire solids handling procedure.
IEC presents affordable clarifier and tank covers
Industrial & Environmental Concepts introduced clarifier and tank covers in custom designs as affordable and durable alternatives to aluminum, steel and fiberglass domes. They can be used on any tank where rainwater, temperature loss or odors need to be managed.
The Flexible Clarifier Covers, offered in gray or green, can be used on clarifiers and tanks of all sizes. They are made of industrial-grade, UV-protected geomembrane and have an expected service life of 15 to 20 years with minimal maintenance. Each cover is custom designed for local wind, rain and snow load conditions.
Spencer features energy efficient high-speed turbo blower
Spencer Turbine Co. offered a new AyrJet high-speed, high-efficiency, single-stage turbo blower as an air and gas handling solution for the water and wastewater treatment industry.
Designed for energy efficient and continuous-duty aeration applications, the compact footprint AyrJet Series 215 has a 215 hp motor and provides flows to 5,400 cfm. The unit has a direct-drive, oil-free, permanent magnet motor and an integrated variable frequency drive with PLC controls and built-in vibration and temperature monitoring.
Rockwell offers tools for device analytics, plant team collaboration
Rockwell Automation introduced tools to enable treatment plant teams to make quick and sound decisions.
FactoryTalk Analytics for Devices and a FactoryTalk TeamONE app are off-the-shelf subscription offerings that require minimal configuration and can help team members solve common maintenance problems and minimize unplanned downtime at a minimum. They help improve reaction time for maintenance teams and assist decision makers with health and diagnostics analytics for devices and systems.
The FactoryTalk TeamONE app is focused on reducing mean time to repair, while the new Standard Edition adds an alarm module, enabling teams to collaborate with live alarm details and enabling users to easily view all active alarms. They can also view, share and post details, improving team collaboration by adding context to alarm information. Alarms requiring immediate action can be shared with specific team members or posted to the entire team.
