El Manantial

Fundacin Centro Canario del Agua (Since 1999)

www.fcca.es

Nr. 65, September 2016

THE SENSE OF
EXPLORATION

Acanthophracta
Content

The sense of exploration: Pioneer discoveries of marine animals protective structures.

Comparative analysis between pressurized downflow and atmospheric contactors.
Simplified flowchart for the control remineralization treatment plant with partial treatment.
On dosing sulfuric acid for remineralization.
Basic recommendations for analyzing remineralized water.
From Canaries to Maldives: New project of responsibility.
Useful relationships for calculating LSI of remineralized water from EC and pH.

The sense of exploration

Pioneer discoveries of marine animals

protecting structures

Haeckel (left) with Nicholai Miklukho-Maklai, his assistant,

in the Canaries taken samples of marine specimens, 1866

Page 2

Ernst Heinrich Philipp August Haeckel (16 February

1834 9 August 1919) was a zoologist, an
accomplished artist and illustrator, and later a
professor of comparative anatomy at the University of
Jena. Haeckels drawings of plants and animals,
including almost 4,000 microscopic species he
discovered, were rendered with exquisite precision.
Under Haeckels brush, the natural world was
symmetrical, perfectly patterned, and flawless (though not always exactly true to
form). https://aquifer108.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/the-art-of-ernst-haeckel/

ME distillers results in an
alkalinity in the distillate of 124
ppm as CaCO3 at 100C.
Therefore, they concluded MSF
plants produce more than
sufficient
CO2
for
remineralization with the
limestone/CO2 method, while
ME plants produce just sufficient
to allow for recarbonation using
the same system.

On the need to minimize

CO2 consumption

Comparative
analysis between
pressurized
downflow and
atmospheric
DrinTec
contactors

calculated by this authors in

existing plants show efficiency
values as low as 45% and 55%.
Figure 2 shows the points of
CO2 losses in the pressurized
downflow installations: CO 2
absorber and CO 2 stripping
tower.
Pressurized downflow systems
do still appear in international
tenders for remineralization of
RO permeate for plants that do
not not have free CO2 available
for remineralization.
Consequently, a more efficient
design should be considered for
RO plants.

This free available CO 2 ,

particularly in MSF plant, has
allowed for the design of
strongly forced systems without
concern about CO2 application
efficiencies. Recent results,

Author: Manuel Hernandez

July 2016.
www.fcca.es

The CO2 released in distillation

plants is captured for the
recarbonation of the distillate
(Ludwig H. and Hetschel M.,
1986; Migliorini G. and Meinardi
R., 2005). According to
calculations of Glade, Meyer,
and Will (2005), MSF distillers
produce sufficient CO2 to allow
recarbonation of the distillate up
to an alkalinity of 187 mg
CaCO3/L at 100C. On the other
hand, the total CO2 released in

Fig.1: DrinTec plant with 12 large atmospheric contactors and partial treatment.
First tanks upfront are the blending tanks.

Vent air
with 30 - 40 mg CO2/L
treated water

Vent gas
with 25 - 30 mg CO2/L
treated water

40 - 50 mg CO2/L

CO2 from
filtered vent gas
from MSF
22%
CO2 Absorber
4 - 5 bar

30%

Distillate
30C - 40C
2.7 bar

70%

Static mixer

Pressurized contactor
3 - 4 bar
EBCT: 9 - 10 min
Vs: 18 - 20 m/h
Autonomy: 10-14 days
Backwashing every 10-14 days
(1 tank in stanby)

Bypass
2.7 bar
0.01 mg CO2/L

CO2 stripping
tower

NaOH

ClO2

blower
Final water
2.5 mg CO2/L
2.5 bar
Static mixer

Fig. 2: Simplified flow diagram for a pressurized downflow system with partial treatment.

Page 3

78%

Remineralized
2.7 bar
12-14 mg CO2/L

DrinTec contactors have been in the market now

for over 15 years and total remineralized water with

Table 1 bellow summarizes the differences in the

design criteria between pressurized downflow and

this method amounts over 1 million m3/d. However,

it has not been until recently that large DrinTec

DrinTec systems.

plants with partial treatment have been put into

operation.
Figure 4 shows the simplified diagram for a
DrinTec system with 44% treatment. As can be
seen, DrinTec systems are designed with longer
EBCT and lower superficial velocity for allowing a
more complete calcium carbonate saturation.
This brings a higher CO2 use efficiency and
eliminates the need for the stripping tower.

Fig.3: DrinTec plant with large atmospheric contactors and

partial treatment. Blue tanks are the CO2 dissolvers.

mini-bypass (1 tank equivalent)

CO2
22%
CO2 Dissolver
1.2 bar

NaOH

15-19 mg CO2/L

ClO2

Blending
tank

Final water
0.8 mg CO2/L
2.5 bar

78%
DrinTec
atmospheric contactor
EBCT: 17-19 min.
Vs: 12-15 m/h
Autonomy: 25-35 days
Backwashing every 160 days
(no tank in stand by)

44%

RO permeate
25C - 35C
0.7 bar

56%

Bypass
0.7 bar
0.5 mg CO2/L

Fig. 4: Simplified flow diagram for DrinTec atmospheric system with partial treatment

Parameters

Pressurized
contactors

DrinTec
atmospheric

Water temperature arriving the contactors

25C - 35C

25C - 35C

Percentage of water treated with limestone/CO2

30% - 33%

43% - 50%

Vs

m/h

18 - 20

12 - 15

EBCT

min

9 - 10

17 - 19

Autonomy

days

10 - 14

25 - 35

CO2 use efficiency

50 - 60

90 - 97

Backwashing interval

days

10 - 14

160 - 180

yes

no

55 - 60

30 - 35

Need for a standby tank

CO2 dosis for 65 mg CaCO3/L hardness and alkalinity

mg/L

Page 4

Table 1: Comparing design criteria between pressurized and DrinTec atmospheric contactors
with partial treatment.

The importance of been able to predict

water quality under different conditions

Said NaOH set point is adjusted, up or down, according

to the desired final pH has also been defined in a given
table for achieving the desired LSI.

Simplified flowchart for the

control of a remineralization
treatment plant with partial
treatment

Finally, the value of turbidity is confirmed. This is an

indication of flow stability and plant working properly.
Small oscillations can be expected around 0.4 NTU. If
turbidity values above 1 NTU the operator needs to
check the flow history, the presence of fines in the
calcite or the functioning of the flow control valve.

The control logic for remineralization in plants with flow

variations and partial treatment, and located in areas
with significant monthly temperature fluctuations has
been investigated by FCCA.
The simplified flow diagram below illustrates the results
of this analysis. The control is based on a prediction
given in series of set point tables which predict the
values of the main parameters for the different
percentage treatment and temperature values.

Measurements pH and NTU after the calcites and before

blending helps following up the process. Upper and
lower warnings and alarms also guide the operator.
total flow

set point
% treated
flow

bypass
valve

bypass

The set point tables have been elaborated using

WaterPro, adapted according to FCCA experience.

water
temperature

The first input that dictates the process is the flow to the
remineralization plant. Based on this flow the program
assigns a given percentage treatment, which is related
to the capacity of the remineralization plant. For this, the
bypass valve is actuated until the desired value is
reached.
Following, intervenes water temperature. This, together
with the percent of flow treated, allows to assign a CO2
dose from a specific CO2 set point table. This dose is
then fined tuned, up or down, until obtaining the
desired calcium value after treatment.

If NTU > 1

set point
CO2

Ca

set point
NaOH

pH

NTU

If NTU < 1

Then, the corresponding dose of NaOH is assigned

according to a corresponding NaOH dosing table.

end

Precise work required

12

On dosing sulfuric acid for

remineralization

Permeate pH

10
8
6

permeate 23C

permeate 30C

The permeate water has very low alkalinity. Therefore, its

buffering capacity is also very low. This is clearly shown in
the attached curve of pH vs. H2SO4 for a permeate with
high temperature. High temperature permeates are
normally accompanied by high pH required for
increasing boron removal.
The table reflects the quality of the water after the
addition of 69 mg H2SO4/L. The process in the bed is
somewhat different since CaSO4 may affect the CaCO3
transfer process, particularly at higher dose of H2SO4.

2
3
4
5
6
Dose of H2SO4 (mg/L)

Parameters

Permeate

Dose:
60 mg H2SO4

Dose:
26 mg CO2

Water temperature

23C

23C

23C

TDS (mg/L)

50

170

110

pH

6.3

7.72

7.98

Alk (mg CaCO3/L)

60.0

60.0

Ca (mg Ca/L)

0.5

48.6

24,3

Cl (mg Cl/L)

12.5

12.5

12.5

SO4 (mg SO4/L)

58.8

CaCO3 dissolved

120

60

Page 5

In certain projects it often happens that is uneconomical

to obtain carbon dioxide, thereby remineralization is
carried out with addition of sulfuric acid.

Basic recommendations for analyzing remineralized water

Determination of pH in remineralized water samples

Sample

Sample

Sampling
methods:

bottles:
Use pre-cleaned
PET bottles with
minimum volume
of 1 L.
Use only bottles
with narrow neck
and that have
hold light
mineralized still
water not
gasified.

storage before

Take duplicate
samples.
Take care to prevent
splashes and avoid
filling the bottle with
a strong jet.
It is important to
avoid the air
headspace at the
neck of the bottles
to avoid any loss of
CO2.

Procedures:

analysis:

Samples should preferably

analyzed during the same day
they are collected.

Samples should be
kept around 12C
during storage.
Deliver the
samples to the

For precise pH
measurements, the electrode
must be inserted directly in
the bottle. In order to
minimize CO2 loss and

laboratory on the
same day of
collection.
Do not freeze the
water samples.

variation of pH, the analytical

procedure should avoid
agitation.
The difference between
measurements of duplicate
samples should be less than
5%.

Determination of CALCIUM in remineralized water samples

bottles:
Use precleaned PET
bottles of at
least 1 L
volume.
Place 15 ml
of HCl at
37% or
similar acid
prior to
adding the
sample.

Sampling
methods:
Take duplicate
samples.
Take care to
prevent splashes
and avoid filling
the bottle with a
strong jet.
It is important to
avoid the air
headspace at the
neck of the bottles
to avoid any loss of
CO2.

Sample
storage
before
analysis:
Samples should
be kept around
12C during
storage. Deliver
the samples to
laboratory on
the same day of
collection.
Do not freeze
the water
samples.

Procedures:
Before opening the bottle, shake it for 30
minutes.
Take subsamples for calcium
measurement.
Initiate analytical procedure avoiding
open agitation to minimize loss of CO2
and variation of pH and EC.
Use the acidified sample to calculate the
remineralization process efficiency.
Compare the results of calcium in
acidified water and water with no
addition of acid.
In large plants a calcium specific
electrode may be placed at the plant
output for constant monitoring.

Page 6

Sample

From the Canaries to the Maldives

New project of responsibility

The company Yonsan Engineering Pte Ltd has selected DrinTec
contactors for the remineralization of the desalination plant of the airport
of Male in the Maldives. With 1,600 m3/d the plant will require two FRP
tanks manufactured by Caplas (www.calplas.com) under license and
design of FCCA.
Yonsan had previously installed DrinTec equipment as remineralization
plants for two important resorts in the archipelago.
Established in 1984 as an Engineering and Contracting Company, Yonsan
Engineering Pte. Ltd. with headquartered in Singapore has operations in
the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. www.yonsan.com

Airport of Male, Maldives.

A reminder from the Guide for the Remineralization of Desalinated Water

Useful relationships for calculating the LSI of remineralized water

from basic parameters
Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) is a function of TDS, pH, alkalinity, calcium and temperature. The
following relations can be used for inferring the different parameters from EC and pH:

EC (S/cm) x 0.55 TDS (mg/L)

EC (S/cm) x 0.6 Alk (mg CaCO3/L)
HCO3 (mg/L) = Alk x 1.22 (for pH 8.1 0.1)
Ca (mg/L) = Alk / 2.5
where: EC = ECfinal - ECpermeate

A copy of the Guide for the Remineralization of Desalinated Water can be found at www.fcca.es
A spreadsheet for calculating Langelier Saturation Index can also be found at www.fcca.es/lsi-calculation

CONTACT DETAILS
EDITOR: Manuel Hernndez. DESIGN: Elizabeth Gonzlez.
Fundacin Centro Canario del Agua; Calle Isla de Lanzarote 18; 38400 Puerto de la Cruz; Canary Islands, Spain
Note: DrinTec is the trademark for FCCA products.

Page 7

Tel: +34 922 298664; e-mail: administracion@fcca.es; http://www.fcca.es; http://www.drintec.com