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Fluids Handling

Advanced pump solutions for advanced water treatment works

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Tasked with replacing ageing pumps for disinfectant and coagulant processes at Thames Water’s Advanced Water Treatment Works (AWTW) in Walton, Surrey, engineering, consulting and construction company Black & Veatch opted to install a number of 520 series and 620 series peristaltic models from Watson-Marlow Pumps Group. Offering continuous, high pressure and quick release functionality, the new pumps have slotted comfortably into their high-tech surroundings at Walton, which is one of Thames Water’s flagship process plants.

Although a water treatment works has existed on the site at Walton-on-Thames since 1926, it was a £47 million upgrade in the 1990s that pushed the facility into the premier league of process plants. The upgrade included the adoption of new advanced water techniques such as the CoCoDAFF (counter-current dissolved air flotation and filtration) system, which offers the enhanced solids separation capability of dissolved air flotation, while providing the cost benefits of DAF and granular media filtration – all within the same footprint.

Several processes reliant on pumping operations are vital to the advanced water treatment process at Walton. For instance, pre-ozonated water is mixed with a coagulant in the flocculators to aid the production of large flocs, which are floated more easily in the subsequent CoCoDAFF process. The addition of coagulant is today facilitated by newly installed 620 series pumps from Watson-Marlow.

“While the previous 504 series pumps for the coagulant process were reaching the end of their natural life, they had performed well so it was decided to continue with this type of pump,” explains Black & Veatch’s project M&E co-ordinator at the Walton site.

The water is then treated using CoCoDAFF and passes through post-ozone and granular activated carbon (GAC) contactors, as well as slow sand filters before arriving at the disinfection stage, where sodium hypochlorite is introduced to contact tanks in doses using 520 series Watson-Marlow pumps, before being pumped into the supply.

A total of 10 Watson-Marlow 520 and 620 Series pumps at Walton since June 2009. According to Philip Bolton, Water Industry Specialist at Watson-Marlow, “These are advanced peristaltic pumps serving advanced water treatment processes. There is little margin for error where drinking water is involved, which is why the customer needed high reliability in terms of continuous operation and dosing accuracy.”

Watson-Marlow 520 pumps are designed for the specific needs of the process sector. The models at Walton feature LoadSure elements, which fit into position for simple, error-free tube loading. Using the patented LoadSure D-connectors and easy-grip clutched rotor, the element can be changed in lass than one minute without the need for special skills.

“The quick-release LoadSure elements are a blessing at a plant such as Walton, where any downtime can have significant consequences,” says Mr Bolton.

Watson Marlow
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Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

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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