DELOACH BLOG

Requires an application commonly referred to as either “Degasification” or "Decarbonation" and it requires the use of a piece of water treatment equipment called either a “degasifier” or a “decarbonator”.

Both of these are similar in nature and are designed for Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) removal from the incoming water. A properly designed decarbonator can remove 99.99% of the free carbon dioxide gas that is present in the water stream. One of the primary reasons for utilizing a decarbonator or degasifier for the removal of carbon dioxide gas is the raise the pH of the water without the need to add caustic. resulting in high-purity water.

The other reason is the remove the CO₂ prior to treating the water with Ion Exchange which utilizes Anion or Cation resins to reduce the regeneration cycles for the resin beds. High concentrations of CO₂ consume the ion charge within the resins and require more frequent regeneration cycles. The difference between anion and cation resins is that one is positively charged (anion) and the other is negatively charged (cation), cation resins, attract positive ions with their negative charge.

The term decarbonation describes the process of the removal of suspended gas or the conversion of carbonic acids into free Carbon Dioxide. Carbonic Acid (H₂CO₃) is stable at normal ambient anhydrous conditions. However, Carbonic Acid decomposes when not stable and in the presence of any water molecules to form carbon dioxide (CO₂).  The Carbonic acid breaks down when present in water and it is converted to a gas based upon certain conditions. It is common to have CO₂ present in water requiring a decarbonation process when utilizing certain types of water filtration such as membrane filtration with reverse osmosis or it can be present when the need to adjust pH is required. When removing (CO₂) the process is often referred to as “Decarbonation”, when removing (H₂S) Hydrogen Sulfide the process is often referred to as “Degasification”. 

Topics: water treatment issues, degasification, pH levels of water, aeration, iron oxidation, water treatment, water plant, bicarbonate, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), pH levels, Decarbonation, ION Exchange Resin, dissolved gases, De-Aeration, wastewater, carbon dioxide, oxygen, decarbonator, degasifier, gases, carbonic acid, H2S Degasifier

The Basics of Water Decarbonation

and the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2). The need to remove (CO2) is essential in most Aquaculture, Municipal, Industrial, and Food & Beverage Processes To understand you must familiarize yourself with Henry’s Law.

Henry's Law defines the method and proportional relationship between the amount of a gas in a solution in relation to the gas's partial pressure in the atmosphere. Often you will see and hear various terms like degasification, decarbonation, aeration, and even air stripping when discussing the removal of dissolved gases and other convertible elements from water. Understanding the impacts that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) can have on both equipment and aquatic life provides the basic reasons why the need to decarbonate water, exists. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) can exist naturally in the raw water supply or be the result of ph control and balance. In either case, the process called Decarbonation or Degasification provides the most cost-effective and efficient manner to reduce or tally remove (CO2) from the water. In addition to Carbon Dioxide (CO2), water can contain a variety of other contaminants that may impact the removal efficiency of the Carbon Dioxide. A variety of elements as well as dissolved gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide (CO2). A full analytical review of the water chemistry is required to properly design and size the “Water Treatment” process.

Breaking the bonds in water releases a dissolved gas

such as carbon dioxide (CO2) you must change the conditions of the vapor pressure surrounding the gas and allow the gas to be removed.  There are many variables to consider when designing or calculating the “means and methods” of the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2). When I refer to the means and methods. I am referring to the design of a decarbonator and its components. The means equals the size and type (Hydraulic load) of the decarbonator and the “method” equals the additional variables such as the cubic foot of airflow (CFM) and “Ratio” of the air to water to accomplish the proportional condition needed to remove the carbon dioxide (CO2).

Topics: water treatment issues, degasification, pH levels of water, aeration, iron oxidation, water treatment, water plant, bicarbonate, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), pH levels, Decarbonation, ION Exchange Resin, dissolved gases, De-Aeration, wastewater, carbon dioxide, oxygen, degasifier, gases, carbonic acid, H2S Degasifier, removal of CO2 from water

The need to remove harmful water elements, such as Hydrogen Sulfide H2s and Carbon Dioxide CO2, from water in the pisciculture and aquaculture market is extremely important.

To achieve maximum results, the industry utilizes a treatment technology called “Degasification” and controls the pH precisely to maximize results. When utilizing equipment such as the DeLoach Industries degasification systems, the hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide levels can be removed to 99.999% ug/l.

pH control with water degasification in water treatment is very important for aquaculture and the pisciculture market. In addition, there are a host of other organic and inorganic elements found in water, both naturally occurring and manmade, that require removal during some part of the water treatment process, and pH plays a significant role in the effectiveness of the treatment process.

Every application of degasification depends on pH adjustment to maximize results. As an example, the treatment of water may require the removal of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to protect the species during the growth period. Hydrogen sulfide can be removed either as a “free” gas or requires the conversion of sulfides into (H2S) as a gas. You will often also see the need to adjust the pH of the water chemistry to maximize both the removal and the conversion to increase the efficiency of the equipment utilized to remove the hydrogen sulfide, such as a degasification tower or a degasifier.

Why is pH important, and what it means in water?

Water pH is a term used to describe whether or not the water is “acidic” or “basic.” pH ranges in water can be from 0-14. 0 is the most acidic, and 14 is at the far end and is the most basic, leaving “7” as the neutral state. A pH of 7 is neither acidic nor basic. So, what causes pH to be acidic? In nature, the most common cause of a low acidic pH in water is carbon dioxide (CO2) which occurs naturally when photosynthesis, decomposition, or respiration occurs in nature. The increase in CO2 causes an increase in ions, producing a lower pH in a simplified explanation.

How does pH play such a significant role in Aquaculture and Pisciculture?

Removing certain harmful elements is typically required to safeguard the growth of most aquatic species, and elements such as sulfides, sulfates, and free H2S hydrogen sulfide gases are dangerous. They can often kill many types of aquatic life. To maximize the removal of hydrogen sulfide from water utilizing a DeLoach Industries degasification tower, it is important to maintain as close to a pH of 5 as possible. When the pH rises above 5, the ability to convert and strip the free H2S gas from the water diminishes. When a degasification tower operates within this specific range and if it has been designed with the higher efficient distribution systems such as the ones utilized by DeLoach Industries, removal efficiencies of 99.999%- 100% can be achieved. If the pH rises to 7 or above, the removal process becomes much more difficult, and typically you will have much lower results. The pH adjustment during the water treatment process is normally accomplished by adding commercially available acid, such as “Sulphuric Acid,” one of the most common within the municipal and food and beverage industry.

Topics: water treatment issues, water quality, degasification, pH levels of water, water treatment, advanced treatment solutions, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), pH levels, Decarbonation, carbon dioxide, oxygen, decarbonator, degasifier, H2S Degasifier, Aqua Farming, Fish Farming, Aquaculture, Pisciculture

To enhance and control the production and quality of seafood grown and harvested.

The industry increasingly focuses on constructing in-house aquaculture fish farms, commonly called aqua farming. The most popular species of aqua farming continue to be salmon, tilapia, catfish, and carp. Increased interest in the United States has developed aqua farming facilities in southern Florida with favorable climate and water conditions.

When considering several types of fish species to grow for harvest, it is important to remember the need to control the water quality. If the aqua farm is intended to utilize man-made tanks, they will depend upon a constant flow of incoming water. If the aqua farm focuses on salmon, the water quality and temperature play a major role in the operation's mortality rates and production yields.

Having water with too high of hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, total Organic carbons, and even turbidity can increase mortality rates among the younger fish species and is especially critical to salmon.

Having high levels of metals

Such as Iron that is identified as either “ferric” (Fe-) or “ferrous” (FE+2) and is naturally occurring within the Florida waters and other parts of the US will cause significant damage to young salmon species because the metal accumulates within the gills of the fish causing suffocation. Other metals are also detrimental to fish, including copper, aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, Lead, manganese, and mercury, to name a few, and the water quality must be evaluated and tested in the early stages of design to anticipate the required types of process systems needed.

Topics: water treatment issues, water quality, degasification, pH levels of water, water treatment, advanced treatment solutions, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), pH levels, Alkalinity, Decarbonation, carbon dioxide, oxygen, decarbonator, degasifier, carbonic acid, H2S Degasifier, Aqua Farming, Fish Farming, Aquaculture, Pisciculture

Avoid problems with calcium chlorite and corrosive gasses with your odor control scrubber.

When planning or designing an odor control system, one should pay close attention to several key variables that can cause havoc on a chemical odor control scrubber when trying to treat hydrogen sulfide or ammonia gases. The need for odor control occurs in many different forms. It is essential to understand the process that is creating the odorous or corrosive gas and the need for odor control & air emissions treatment.

First, begin to identify

all the potential obstacles that may creep up later after the chemical odor or corrosive gas control system goes online, like acid or caustic consumption. For example, chemical odor control systems designed for water treatment for the municipal industry are typically needed and attached to a degasification or decarbonation process, often needed to treat hydrogen sulfide (H2S). However, designers often may not pay close enough attention to the type of water process available for “make-up” water for the chemical scrubber. The addition of caustic can create scaling or fouling. This unknown variable of the makeup water quality can lead to a complete tower shutdown if the chemical scrubber distribution and media bed scales or fouls. The most commonly used chemicals for a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) scrubber are either chlorine in the form of sodium hypochlorite or caustic in the form of caustic soda. Both of these chemicals are common to a water treatment facility and are already in place to adjust and control pH.

The makeup water plays a significant role in the operation of a chemical scrubber.

When water containing high hardness levels is used as the source for the makeup water, your chemical scrubber can become fouled, and scaling can occur in a matter of hours, depending on the alkalinity and salts within the water. Solidification can occur from the scaling when combining sodium hypochlorite and raw feed water at specific pH ranges and these ranges are usually the range needed to achieve peak performance. Calcium chloride will form, and your chemical odor control scrubber will become a solid chunk of calcium chlorite making, making the ability for water or air to pass freely through the media packing next to impossible. No matter what type of media packing is utilized in the odor control or gas scrubber, it can foul and scale if the water chemistry is incorrect.  Trust me when I say “been there and done that”!  I have seen operators who have allowed a chemical scrubber to become out of balance with pH control and completely solidify the tower column to the degree that neither air nor water passage is possible. The problem can still occur with ammonia scrubbers but are different with different sets of parameters.

Topics: odor control, water treatment, advanced treatment solutions, biological scrubber, water plant, odor control scrubber, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), calcium carbonate, media packing, pH levels, Alkalinity, Langilier index (LSI), scaling, chlorine, caustic, ION Exchange Resin, Safe drinking water, dissolved gases, De-Aeration, carbon dioxide, oxygen, degasifier, gases, H2S Degasifier, calcium chlorite

Optimizing Steam Process Water Systems with Degasification Towers

Steam process water systems are integral to various industrial operations, where water is heated and converted into steam. However, ensuring the efficiency and longevity of these systems requires a comprehensive understanding of water chemistry and the implementation of proper treatment methods. In particular, the removal of dissolved gases, such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), and dissolved oxygen (O2), is crucial. This blog post will delve into the significance of degasification towers in steam process water systems, emphasizing their role in preventing corrosion, enhancing equipment performance, and maintaining water quality in your water and wastewater systems.

The Importance of Removing Dissolved Gases

Dissolved gases in steam process water systems can have detrimental effects on boilers and other critical components. Allowing gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) to remain in the water leads to the formation of carbonic acid, creating a corrosive environment. This corrosion can damage the boiler and reduce its lifespan. Additionally, dissolved gases can impair the efficiency of the system, affecting heat transfer and leading to reduced performance.

Topics: De-Aeration, carbon dioxide, oxygen, steam, decarbonator, degasifier, carbonic acid

Understanding De-Aeration and Decarbonation in Water Treatment Systems

De-Aeration and decarbonation are two essential processes used to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) and dissolved oxygen (O2) from water streams, particularly in boiler-feed water systems. While both processes share the goal of eliminating CO2, they differ in their approach to removing oxygen. A De-Aeration system focuses on removing both CO2 and O2, while a decarbonation system primarily targets the removal of CO2. Let's delve deeper into these processes to understand their mechanisms and benefits.

In a De-Aeration system, steam is introduced at the bottom of the tower. The inlet feed water is heated to near saturation temperature, minimizing pressure drop and venting limits. This ensures optimal thermal operating efficiency of the tower. The steam acts as a carrier gas, stripping both CO2 and O2 from the water as it rises through the tower. The tower is equipped with an internal distribution system and media packing to enhance the removal of dissolved gases. By the time the water reaches the top of the tower, it has undergone significant de-aeration, resulting in reduced CO2 and O2 levels. This purified water is then ready for entry into the boiler, ensuring efficient and reliable steam generation.

Topics: media packing, Decarbonation, De-Aeration, carbon dioxide, oxygen, steam, decarbonator

 

The operation of steam-generating boilers and the process of removing dissolved gases from the feed water is of utmost importance.

Deaeration is essential in the boiler system process.

Deaeration involves removing oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from the water. Removing oxygen and carbon dioxide from the water before it enters the boiler system is essential. This prevents corrosion of the boiler system components and reduces costly maintenance and repairs to your system.

Oxygen and carbon dioxide can corrode and destroy metal components of the boiler system.

Corrosion can be costly to repair or replace. This is due to oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) not being removed from the water.

In order to avoid unwanted corrosion, it is necessary to treat the water before it enters the boiler system. This can be achieved through different techniques, including deaeration, chemical treatment, or mechanical filtration.

The deaeration process typically requires a deaerator. This device combines heat and vacuum to remove dissolved gases from water. The deaerator reduces the amount of dissolved solids in the water.This can improve the efficiency of the boiler system. Neglecting regular maintenance and inspection of the boiler can lead to severe corrosion damage and operational issues.

Topics: Decarbonation, dissolved gases, feed water, De-Aeration, steam generating boilers, carbon dioxide, oxygen, steam, decarbonator, boiler system