Sustainability Session
Philip Vella, VRTX Technologies, Schertz, TX USA
Co-author(s): Peter Koestler, The Gambrinus Company, San Antonio, TX, USA
ABSTRACT: VRTX Technologies implemented the use of
non-chemical technology for the treatment of cooling water from
evaporative condensers at a brewery that has three evaporative
condensers with a total cooling capacity of 1,500 tons. The technology
used is controlled hydrodynamic cavitation (CHC). CHC is one of the most
innovative technologies employed today and is unlike all other
non-chemical technologies currently available. CHC provides scale,
corrosion, and microbiological control in addition to water conservation
and reuse options. In order to minimize the volume of water being
discharged to the sewer, most evaporative cooling systems use a chemical
scale inhibitor to prevent calcium deposits from building on those heat
transfer surfaces. Eventually the water becomes so concentrated that
chemical addition is no longer effective. The water is purged to the
sanitary sewer and ultimately ends up at a wastewater treatment plant.
Established in 1909, the Spoetzl Brewery, Inc. in Shiner, TX, is Texas’
oldest independent brewery. The original chemical water treatment system
used four different chemicals to maintain proper operation of the
system. Sulfuric acid was added to prevent calcium carbonate buildup.
Chlorine and a non-oxidizing biocide were used to control microorganism
growth and as a corrosion inhibitor to reduce corrosion rates. In
conjunction with the chemical treatment, cycles of concentration (COC)
were kept low with an average around 2. Despite these efforts,
significant calcium carbonate deposits accumulated on and around the
condenser tubes and inside the condensers. Based on the poor performance
of chemical treatment it was replaced by a CHC system. There were five
objectives to the study: 1) provide scale, corrosion, and
microbiological control, 2) improve condenser operating efficiency over
the existing condenser systems, 3) conserve water by minimizing
condenser makeup discharge, 4) produce a reduced quantity of condenser
bleed that possesses minimal pollution, and 5) implement environmental
improvements and worker safety wherever possible. With the CHC system in
operation it was determined that the daily makeup water declined from
an average of 19,251 to 12,619 gal/day, representing a 34.5% reduction.
Daily blowdown declined from an average of 8,417 to 1,657 gal/day,
representing a 80.3% reduction. The average COC increased from 2.3 to
7.6 resulting in an annual water saving of over 2.0 million gal. An
added benefit to the water savings from CHC is that the facility has
removed chemical addition from its water treatment program, including
acid, resulting in a safer and more environmentally friendly workplace.
Also, since the blowdown is free from any added chemicals it may be able
to be used for landscape irrigation or exempt for NPDES permits.
Phil
Vella received his Ph.D. degree in chemistry from the University of New
York at Albany. He did his post-doctoral work at Argonne National
Laboratory in Illinois. Phil is currently the technical director for
VRTX Technologies. He is responsible for providing technical support in
the cooling water treatment area and directing research and applications
development using controlled hydrodynamic cavitation (CHC) for
wastewater, produced water, biofuels, remediation, drinking water
treatment, and other environmental areas. Prior to joining VRTX, he was
the manager of technology support for Carus Corporation. His technical
responsibility was in oxidation chemistry, including the application of
ozone, hydrogen peroxide, AOP processes, and chlorine dioxide, with
emphasis on permanganates used in the municipal drinking and wastewater
markets, industrial applications, and for the remediation of
contaminated soil and groundwater. In addition, he was responsible for
phosphate products used for corrosion control and sequestration in
drinking water systems. In his 25 years in the water industry he has
more than 60 publications and presentations worldwide, 4 patents, and
has participated in numerous technology transfer seminars. He is a
member of ASHRAE, AWT, RETA, AWWA, and WEF.
VIEW PRESENTATION 211
