Water. desalination + reuse

SHOWCASE February-March 2014 | Desalination & Water Reuse | 39 | Mass spectroMeter survey success in underwater vehicle Use of a mass spectrometer in underwater surveys as part of the surveying vehicle has been successfully demonstrated by SRI International of Menlo Park, California, USA. SRI claims "unprecedented capabilities" for underwater chemical surveys with its in-situ membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) device integrated into a Bluefin-12 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) developed and manufactured by Bluefin Robotics. The sensitivity, specificity, and versatility of mass spectrometry enable in-water identification and analysis of a wide range of chemicals. Most underwater analytical equipment is tethered to a surface vessel, restricting the ability for continuous monitoring and testing, while at the same time increasing the costs, complexities and risks associated with advanced hydrocarbon monitoring. "The ability to combine highly sensitive and calibrated mass spectrometry with AUVs gives researchers and industry a new tool for critical underwater survey applications," said Timothy Short, manager of the Marine & Space Sensing Group in the Space & Marine Technology Program at SRI. "The integrated SRI-Bluefin solution is unprecedented for its ease of deployment, advanced survey capabilities, and reduced cost of operations." The capabilities of the SRI MIMS device integrated into the Bluefin-12 AUV platform addresses complex survey and data collection challenges associated with ocean monitoring and exploration, including an enhanced ability to differentiate hydrocarbon sources (eg, biogenic versus thermogenic) and high- fidelity baseline measurements to understand with greater accuracy the impact of drilling in specific areas. dow uF/ro MeMbranes help hippo in texas shale play A water recycling project in Texas to convert produced water into freshwater, brine, and hydro-carbon streams has since June been using a Hippo ® mobile water treatment plant from Omni Water Solutions equipped with Dow ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis membranes. The equipment has so far treated more than 245,000 barrels (29,000 m 3 ) of flowback and produced water from the Eagle Ford shale hydraulic fracturing operation to reduce hardness and boron. The project's goal is to reduce boron levels from 90 ppm to less than 5 ppm in the fresh water stream, so it is compatible with gel frac formulations and can be reused in subsequent well operations without having to blend in additional fresh water. two-cell Metal analyser launched by Modern water Modern Water plc launched the OVA7000 Dual Cell, part of its trace-metal analyser product portfolio, on 20 January 2014. The product has been designed to extend the range of detectable metals to up to ten in a single unit and offers 24 h monitoring of 3-6 sample streams - both abilities represent great advances on existing technology. The new analyser uses voltammetry to detect metals in liquid applications. Voltammetry is an internationally accepted detection method, which offers an alternative solution to lengthy laboratory analysis and is used in all of Modern Water's OVA product range. It can be used to detect contaminants in rivers, lakes, groundwater and the sea; to monitor process and drinking water quality; and industrial and municipal wastewater discharges. A significant advantage of the new monitor is that it has two analytical cells and each can be fitted with a different electrode whilst sharing one pretreatment unit. Voltammetry methods often require different electrodes in order to optimise the detection of a specific metal. By having a single unit with two electrodes, the Dual Cell allows combinations of metals that would previously have required two separate instruments. ARI finds solution to Ashdod water hammer poser A solution to water hammer in the pump station and along the raw seawater line at the Ashdod desalination plant in Israel, currently nearing completion, has been provided by air-valve manufacturer ARI. The water hammer at the plant, under construction by the IVM consortium for Mekorot, the national water company, was a result of power outages and the closing of all the pumps simultaneously. First, tests and an surge analysis were conducted by ARI engineers, then, in recent weeks, four bladder surge tanks for surge prevention, with a volume of 60 m 3 each, were installed. In addition, 3-stage 8-in Non-Slam duplex air valves will be installed along the raw water pipeline as part of an integrated solution together with the bladder surge tanks to prevent the water hammer. Another two bladder surge tanks, with a volume of 10 m 3 each, will be installed in the area of the ultrafiltration filters. The desalination plant should be on-line in 2014 and provide desalinated water to the communities in the central and southern regions. A cooperation agreement between the French company Charlatte and ARI was signed last year, under which ARI will distribute and sell pressure tanks manufactured in accordance with ARI specifications. The tanks, together with Non-Slam air valves and surge analyses, will comprise a basket of solutions for solving the problems of pressure transients in pipelines. Ami Farhi, director of ARI's Industry & Desalination Division, watches the installation of the bladder surge tanks

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