Qdos Pumps Boost Efficiency and Minimize Maintenance Downtime at Saur’s Water Treatment Facility in Normandy
- Qdos chemical metering and dosing pumps have taken the place of malfunctioning diaphragm pumps used for ferric chloride dosing.
- Saur has reported a notable decrease in maintenance needs after integrating Qdos peristaltic pumps at its facility in Orne, Normandy.
- Qdos pumps effectively eliminate the leakage risks associated with ferric chloride and help lower energy consumption.
Key points
Saur, a prominent French provider of water management services and innovative water technologies, has shifted from unreliable diaphragm pumps to the cost-effective Qdos chemical metering and dosing pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions (WMFTS) for ferric chloride dosing at its water treatment plant in Normandy, France.
Ferric chloride, which is crucial for the coagulation process in water treatment, had been damaging diaphragm pumps, leading to frequent maintenance and operational interruptions. This issue led Saur to look for a more dependable and efficient pumping solution.
Operational Excellence at Saur's Orne Water Treatment Plant
Saur’s Orne water treatment facility, situated in the Caen basin—one of the largest plants in Normandy—has been in operation since December 2016. The plant operates 20 hours a day, seven days a week, providing drinking water to nearly 130,000 customers and treating around 30,000 m³ of water daily. The treatment process includes clarification, disinfection, sand filtration, ultrafiltration, and refining, using essential reagents such as ferric chloride (FeCl3) for coagulation, lime for softening, soda for pH adjustment, and bleach for disinfection.
Challenges with Diaphragm Pumps for Ferric Chloride Dosing
Initially, the plant used diaphragm and valve pumps for dosing ferric chloride. However, the corrosive nature of FeCl3 caused frequent technical problems, leading to damage in components like pumps, valves, pulsation dampers, check valves, back pressure valves, safety valves, and flowmeters.
Gilles Garcia, Head of Drinking Water Production at Saur’s Orne plant, remarked: “The existing equipment was not entirely suitable for dosing ferric chloride, which is a corrosive coagulant. The diaphragm and valve pumps required extensive maintenance, with diaphragms needing replacement every three months. These maintenance tasks increased the risk of fluid leaks and accelerated wear on the equipment. We needed a pump technology that would minimize contact with the fluid and lower maintenance needs.”
Implementation of Qdos Pumps: A Game Changer
In 2021, Saur decided to replace its diaphragm pumps with Qdos chemical metering and dosing pumps from WMFTS. These peristaltic pumps provide a strong, high-performance alternative, featuring a patented ReNu pumphead that can be easily disassembled and replaced without tools, removing the need for specialized operator training.
Qdos pumps are equipped with an integrated leak detection system that reduces chemical losses and protects operators from exposure to corrosive substances like ferric chloride. The Qdos pumps dosed 426,000 liters at a back pressure of 2-3 bar over 8,600 operational hours before needing maintenance. The Qdos 120 pump operated for an entire year without any intervention, a feat that was impossible with the previous diaphragm pumps.
Alexandre Marnay, Sales Engineer at WMFTS, highlighted: “Qdos pumps are the perfect solution for operators. They provide peace of mind, as repairs are straightforward, quick, and safer compared to diaphragm and valve technologies. Unlike in-line diaphragm dosing pumps, which require significant maintenance, Qdos pumps simplify installation and improve safety.”
Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings
The first Watson-Marlow pump installed at the Orne plant was specifically chosen for chlorination because it required precise, low flow rates. After seeing success with this pump, various Qdos models were introduced for processes involving bleach, soda, sulfuric acid injection, and polymer flocculation.
After three years of using Qdos pumps, Saur reports exceptional performance even under demanding operational conditions, with metering rates reaching up to 100 liters per hour.
Gilles Garcia noted, “The Orne plant operates around 50 dosing pumps. Watson-Marlow has provided us with operational data that shows lower overall costs. We recover the initial investment in materials within three years. Additionally, we have significantly reduced our energy consumption, moving from diaphragm pumps that used 0.75 kWh to Qdos pumps that only use 0.20 kWh.”
Garcia also emphasized the importance of Alexandre Marnay’s close support: “Having an expert readily available on-site is invaluable. The personalized advice and technical expertise we receive greatly enhance our operational efficiency.”
Future Investments: Qdos H-FLO for Higher Flow Applications
Building on the success of the Qdos pumps, Saur has invested in the newly launched Qdos H-FLO, which is designed for higher flow rates of up to 600 L/h and pressures of 7 bar (102 psi). The Qdos range provides outstanding cost efficiency through precise metering, boasting an accuracy of ±1% and repeatability of ±0.5%.
“We have ordered three Qdos H-FLO pumps to inject activated carbon into our water treatment process,” Garcia explained. “Reliable and accurate dosing is essential, especially as new standards for pesticide filtration and treatment using carbon are closely monitored. We have high expectations for the Qdos H-FLO pumps.”
About Saur
Saur operates in thousands of municipalities throughout Europe and the Middle East, providing clean drinking water and effective wastewater treatment services. With a workforce of 12,000 professionals, Saur caters to over 20 million consumers globally, reinforcing its status as a leader in sustainable water management solutions.
Further information can be found at www.saur.com.
About Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions
Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions (WMFTS) is a world leader in manufacturing peristaltic pumps and associated fluid path technologies for the life sciences and process industries.
WMFTS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Spirax Group, with 47 operating units worldwide (December 31, 2023).
Further information can be found at www.wmfts.com.
Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions
- 01326370370
- info@wmftg.co.uk
- https://www.wmfts.com/
- Bicklandwater Road, Falmouth Business Park, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4RU GB
About us
Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) peristaltic tube and hose pumps meet requirements including: value for money; low cost of ownership; reliability and ease of maintenance to the food and beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, mining and many other industries.
We demonstrate how pumps deliver significant process efficiencies over the lifetime of the equipment. Whether performing flavouring addition in food processing, chemical metering in water treatment or mineral recovery, we have a solution which can cut pump downtime and reduce costs through higher accuracy metering and transfer. WMFTG has dedicated application engineers available to help customers make the right pump and tubing choice from a range providing microlitres per minute to 80 cubic metres per hour flow rates.
The only part of the pump to come into contact with the product is the tube or hose. This means there are no seals or valves that can wear or fail. Replacing the tube or hose can be performed quickly and safely. Peristaltic pump benefits include:
Total fluid containment with no seals No ancillaries Handle viscous and abrasive slurries and sludge Self-priming capability Dry running without damage to the pump In addition to their range of positive displacement pumps, Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group has added PTFE-lined chemical and industrial hoses to their range. Aflex hoses are reinforced to withstand the most severe conditions and use.
Where we supply to
Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, North America
Industries we supply to
Automation, Chemicals, Consultants, Components Electronics, Energy and Power, Food and Beverage, Glass Ceramics Cement, Metals and Minerals, OEM, Paper and Pulp, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Plastics and Rubber, Recycling, Textiles, Tobacco, Water and Wastewater
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