The VRTX System and Bacterial Control In most current applications the VRTX system is a side-stream treatment technology

(Figure 1). In addition to cooling tower water treatment, recent research and development work by VRTX Technologies has resulted in several new potential applications including sludge dewatering, heavy metal removal from water, TCE removal from groundwater, and phosphate removal from wastewater are all positively enhanced when VRTX is applied. A brief description of the technology and how it relates to bacteria control is given below.
To process

Return from process

VRTX

Figure1: Schematic of VRTX System

CONTROLLED HYDRODYNAMIC CAVITATION: TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW Cavitation is the dynamic process of the formation, growth, and collapse of micro-sized bubbles in a fluid (Gogate, 2006, Gogate 2005). When pressure falls below a critical value, cavities are formed in a liquid. When the pressure increases, the cavity cannot sustain the surrounding pressure and they collapse catastrophically. Controlled hydrodynamic cavitation (CHC) is a process that seeks to produce cavitation and harness the kinetic energy that is imparted to the fluid. CHC has been demonstrated to offer the following properties when applied to a fluid: bacteria eradication, removal of dissolved gases, precipitation of certain inorganic salts, creation of hydroxyl radicals, and the formation of stable emulsions. CHC has found successful commercial application for the past seventeen years in the treatment of cooling water without the use of any chemicals. The bacteria eradication effect of CHC provides consistent control of bacteria, including Legionella, in the warm oxygen rich environment of recirculating cooling water. Scale forming calcium carbonate is removed from the cooling water through the mechanism of gas stripping of CO2 resulting in a buffered pH of 8.8-9.0 and an excess of CaCO3 which is removed via precipitation and filtration. Recent research and development work by VRTX Technologies has resulted in several new potential applications for CHC. Sludge dewatering, heavy metal removal from water, TCE removal from groundwater, and phosphate removal from wastewater are all positively enhanced when CHC is applied. The patented VRTX chamber (Figure 2) consists of a pressure equalizing chamber and a cavitation chamber. Inside of cavitation chamber, two pairs of nozzles are positioned opposite each other at a specific distance. Water is first pump into pressure equalizing chamber at a

pressure of ~70 psi. From the equalizing chamber the water is channeled into the cavitation chamber, where it is forced to rotate at a high velocity. The rotation of the water streams creates a high vacuum of approximately -27.5 inches Hg. Because of this vacuum condition, micro-sized bubbles are formed in the water streams. These bubbles are filled with a mixture of vapor and dissolved gases, most commonly carbon dioxide and oxygen. The water streams in the two nozzles also rotate in opposite directions as they travel forward. Upon exiting from the nozzle, the opposite water streams collide at the mid-point of cavitation chamber. At this point, pressure increases spontaneously, causing the sudden implosion of micro-sized bubbles. At the moment of collapse, it generates intensive shocking wave and produce extremely high temperature. Under these conditions, chemical reactions are forced to proceed and bacteria are ruptured by mechanical and physical forces (Figure 3).

Treated Water
Pressure Equalization Chamber Pressure Equalization Chamber

Inlet Water

Cavitation Chamber

Inlet Water

Figure 2. Diagram of the Hydrodynamic Cavitation Equipment

Nozzle Outlet Zone of Decreasing Pressure, Bubble Formation Begins Nozzle Outlet

Flow From Opposite Nozzle Zone of Increasing Pressure, Bubbles Collapse

Flow From Opposite Nozzle

Figure 3. Graphical Representation of the VRTX Cavitation Process

BACTERIA CONTROL CHC technology kills bacteria by a combination of several different actions: pressure, vacuum, kinetic impact, shear force at a collision point, hydrodynamic cavitation, sonic waves and oxidizing chemicals produced from cavitation. The exact mechanism is still under investigation. Nonetheless the following summarizes four actions that contribute to CHCs ability to control and eradicate bacteria. Dramatic changes in pressure and vacuum: Figure 4 illustrates the changes of hydrostatic pressure in water passing through the CHC unit. Typically the membrane wall of most bacteria is fragile. Under such dramatic and rapid pressure changes, over an extremely short period of time (several micro seconds), the membrane wall is weakened or damaged. The direct effect of shear and collision forces created by the impact of the water streams also contributes to rapture the membrane. Once the membrane is broken, the liquid components inside the cell will leak out, leading to the death of bacteria. In addition, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) associated with biofilm and which surround and protect free-floating bacteria is readily stripped away and destroyed. Microjet When micro-sized bubbles collapse near a suspended solid or bacteria, it implodes asymmetrically. A jet of liquid is formed on the side of bubble opposite the bacteria and penetrates through the bubble at ~ 250 mil/hr. A microjet (Figure 5) is strong enough to puncture metal plates, causing premature pump failures. It can easily punch through the cell wall of bacteria. Intermediate species Cavitation results in extremely high temperatures and high pressures in localized areas. As a result, water molecules are split up and form free radicals: H2O H + OH The dissociation of water is thought to be produced by electrical discharges resulting from hydrodynamic cavitation or by thermal dissociation due to adiabatic compression of the collapsing bubbles. Hydroxyl radicals can combine to form hydrogen peroxide: OH + OH H2O2

Hydrogen peroxide is also formed by the reaction between hydrogen atoms and dissolved oxygen in water: H + O2 HO2*

HO2

+ HO2

H2O2 +

O2

These species are unstable and exist for short periods of time. However, they are continuously generated which contribute to bacteria kill. In summary, it is believed that the synergistic combination of actions, dramatic changes in pressure, vacuum, impact, sheer and hydrodynamic cavitation contribute to the eradication of microorganisms.

Atmospheric pressure in sump

Pump pressure (~ 70 psi)

Near vacuum condition inside of cavitation chamber (-27.5 Hg)

High pressure and shear created by the collision of water streams at the mid-point of chamber

Discharge pressure (2 4 psi)

Atmospheric pressure in sump

Figure 4. Changes in Pressure of Water Passing CHC Unit

Collapsing bubble Microjet Solid

Figure 5. Microjet Created by Cavitation

VRTX EFFECTIVENESS: DATA SUMMARY (Figures 6-8) Bacteria Testing

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 10 passes

52%

94% 79%

25 passes

50 passes

Figure 6. Summary of Five Years of E. Coli Laboratory Testing

100%

80%

Bacteria Kill

60%

40%

20%

0%

10

15 Passes

25

50

Figure 7. Laboratory Testing on Heterotrophic Bacteria

10000

Biosolids Testing With the application of CHC technology and the generation of cavitation bubbles, the bacteria cell will be ruptured. The water and other fluid components inside a bacteria cell will be released (lysate). As shown below (Figure 9), treatment with VRTX clearly resulted in lysing of the cellular membrane with the associated release of material into the sludge increasing the soluble COD.

Legionella concentration, cfu/mL

Control
100

Control

100

100

Test
1

Test
0 0 60 120 180 240 300 360

Time, minute

Figure 8. Test Results at Special Pathogens Laboratory, VA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (Naturally Grown Legionella Pneumophila serogroup I)

800 700 600 COD (mg/L) 500 400 300 200 100 0 Initial After 15 passes After 25 passes After 50 passes

Figure 9. Effects of CHC on Soluble COD

References Gogate, P., Rajiv K., Pandit, A., Tayal, R. (2006) Cavitation: A Technology on the Horizon Current Science, 9 (1) 35-46 Gogate, P., Pandit, A. (2005) A Review and Assessment of Hydrodynamic Cavitation as a Technology for the Future, Ultrasonics Sonochemistry 12 (1-2) 21-27