Answer these three key questions before choosing a system:
- What degree of water purity is required?
- How much water is needed and what consumption mode will be used?
- What quality of water will be used as the source water?
The best system for the user can be selected by analyzing the answers to the questions.
Examples of system selection based on input data.
What degree of water purity is required?
The required filtrate purity depends on production method needs. These needs can be outlined, for example, in the methodological guidelines for performing the type of analysis or can be specified by the manufacturer of the equipment where the treated water will be used. The quality requirements can be listed as parameters with limits or may need to meet specific standards.
How much water is needed and what consumption mode will be used?
The analysis of this question will assist in estimating the required system capacity, selecting the storage system, and other additional equipment (e.g., distribution system). The system’s capacity is determined by the daily water consumption in the laboratory while considering the recommended operating conditions of Aqualab units. For instance, it is not advisable to select a system that operates for more than 8 hours a day.
Using an oversized unit with a large capacity may be inefficient if the water needs of the laboratory can be met within a short time frame (1-2 hours).
The selection of a storage system depends on the mode of filtrate collection. Storage systems should enable the rapid collection of accumulated filtrate.
Example #1.
The daily consumption of water type 2 is 30 liters. Working day is 8 hours. A lab assistant fills 1-, 2-, and 4-liter tanks during the day and prepares buffer solutions and nutrient media.
Answer.
This schedule can be considered as uniform. To meet this need, a unit with a minimum nominal capacity of 5 l/h is sufficient. A small storage system can be recommended for easier dispatch of the water during the day.
Example #2.
Conditions are similar, but a lab assistant takes all 30 liters of water at once to prepare nutrient medium.
Answer.
Choosing a unit with a capacity of 20-30 liters per hour may seem logical as it produces enough water within 1-1.5 hours. However, such a system will stand idle for most of the time, leading to biological contamination and biofilm formation in pipes, fittings, and other parts. Instead, a more effective solution would be a 5l/h system with a 30-liter storage tank and a pump. This setup will operate continuously while still meeting user requirements. Additionally, pumps in storage systems can dispatch water at a flow rate of up to 1.5 l/min, which is faster and more practical than the previous option.
These examples show that calculation of the main treatment system capacity should be based on daily consumption, while consumption peaks should be served by storage systems.
What quality of water will be used as the source water?
The efficiency and service life of the Aqualab units depend on the quality of the source water. It is very important to feed the unit with required quality water. If the water quality parameters don’t meet the limits, it is necessary to install a pre-treatment system. Pre-treatment components such as media filters, iron removal filters and softening filters can treat the water to the parameters required for feeding the unit. If the feed water quality meets the requirements, installation of pretreatment is not recommended.
