SELF-BACKWASHING SYSTEM FOR THE PURIFICATION
AND STABILIZATION OF GROUND WATER

The hydro-automatic system "DEFERUM" is designed for the non-reagent removal of high levels of dissolved iron (up to 80 mg/l), dissolved gases(hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, methane, radon, etc), suspended and colloidal particles to drinking water standards. The "DEFERUM" is equally suitable for the removal of very high, moderate and low concentrations of contaminants.

The "DEFERUM" system also provides some partial removal of manganese. However, the targeted manganese removal can be provided by the "DEMAGNUM" system - a modification of "DEFERUM".

The "DEFERUM" system can also be used as a pre-treatment stage before other conventional applications such as Reverse Osmosis, Ion-Exchange, micro-filtration, etc.

The "DEFERUM" is the most economical, effective and environment-friendly ground water treatment system on a market place. It is currently produced under licence in the USA, Australia, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

The "DEFERUM" system can be designed for flow rates ranging from 7.2 m3/day to over 100,000 m3/day. The principle technological design is the same for all flow rate ranges. The "DEFERUM" system is comprised of an advanced AKV aerator/degasifier, a hydro-automatic floating filter and a hydro-robot. The system configuration may slightly vary depending on the flow rate: for example, a 500 m3/day system comprises two aerators/degasifiers, two hydro-automatic floating filters, two hydro-automatic backwash units (hydro-robots), a filtrate collector and a backwash water collector.

500 m3/day "DEFERUM" a self-sufficient “plug and play” system, in USA

The "DEFERUM" system has the following advantages:

• No chemical reagents are used in the process
• The system is very inexpensive and easy to fabricate from only a few types of materials
• Combined continuous removal of iron, dissolved gasses, suspended solids and turbidity
• The system does not require an operator
• Very low failure factor due to absence of mechanical or electrical devices
• Very low maintenance
• The system operation self-adapts to changing contaminant loadings
• A very small amount of water is required for backwash
• No electricity consumed in the process
• No moving or rotating parts are used in the process
• No sheltering required in all weather conditions
• No electronic devices are used in the process
• No valves are used in the process
• Filtering media has a life-span of over 25 years
• No parts or elements to be replaced on a regular basis
• No sheltering required in all weather conditions
• The plant is extremely resilient to physical mishandling
• Backwash function is based entirely on gravity force and difference of water levels
• The filter backwash is self-regulating
• No specialised equipment is required for the construction of the plant
• Quick construction and commissioning
• Affordability

500 m3/day, "DEFERUM" for "Coca-Cola" in Belarus	100 m3/day "DEMAGNUM" in Australia

Technological process:

Feed water is pumped from the borehole and supplied at 65 PSI to the aerator-degasifier (1) where dissolved gasses are removed from water and atmospheric air oxidizes bivalent iron and partially ions of manganese. Further, feed water flows down the hydro-robot (2) and through the distribution system (3) arrives into the hydro-automatic filter with floating filtering media (4) where impurity particles are arrested throughout the depth of the filtering bed. After filtration, treated water gravity-flows into a filtrate collector via the discharge pipe (6), and a delivery pump forwards purified water to consumption. As fouling of the filter increases, the water level in the hydro-robot rises, causing the filter to switch into backwash mode. Purified water from the above-filter section (5) drops down and expands the filtering bed, washing out the accumulated impurities. When the water level in the above-filter section drops down to a pre-set point (pre-set during commissioning), the hydro-robot stops the backwash and switches the filter into a new filtration cycle. Backwash water is gravity discharged from the system and disposed of or additionally treated according to customer's requirements.

Backwash filter (video)

Technical specifications of the "Deferum"system

Flow rate, m3/day	Diameter HeightLength x Width x Height	Top height of piping	Note
7,2	ID 1,0 m. НT=2,3 m.	2,5 -4,2 m.	The system has a filtrate collector V=0,7 m3
100	ID 1,1 m. НT=2,5 m.	2,5 -4,8 m.	Filtrate discharge is at the height of 2,45 m.
500	ID 3,0 m. НT=3,4 m. or ID 2,3 m; HT=2,5 m.	2,5 -5,8 m.	The system has a filtrate collector V= 8 m3
1 000	-	2,5 -5,8 m.	Two systems of 500 m3/day
5 000	-	2,5 -5,8 m.	Ten systems of 500 m3/day
10 000	Module size: 8x2,4x2,4 m. or or ID 9,0 m. HT=3,5 m.	3,5 -5,3 m.	Five autonomous modules or One automated system
20 000	Module size: 8x2,4x2,4 m. or or ID 9,0 m. HT=3,5 m.	3,5 -5,3 m.	Ten autonomous modules or Two automated system
40 000	Module size: 8x2,4x2,4 m. or or ID 9,0 m. HT=3,5 m.	3,5 -5,5 m.	20 autonomous modules or Four automated systems

Parameters	Value	Note
Operating personnel	-	Systems of up to 1000 м3/day do not require an operator
Mode of operation	Continuous / periodic	The system can be stopped for several hours a day
Feed water pressure in front of the system at ground level, PSI	65	Bore pump should be selected for optimum operation
Consumption of water for backwash, % of the daily flow capacity	1,0…3,5v	Depending on the initial concentrations of contaminants
Duration of backwash, seconds	75…240	Depending on the quality of filtrate after backwash
Oxidants for ions and organics	-	Atmospheric oxygen, bacteria. In exceptional cases use of reagents.
Automatic operation controls and filtrate quality controls	-	Hydroautomatic.In special cases - use of reagent dosing devices, pH monitoring probes, ion monitoring probes.
Average energy consumption by a bore pump, kW / m3	0,19	In some cases, where levels of dissolved gases are extremely high, additional electricity may be consumed by a recycling pump for non-reagent raise of pH by aerator/degasisifer.
Operating cost is only the cost of electricity consumed by the bore pump to supply feed water to the system at 65 PSI and in some cases by a recycling pump. USD/ м3	From 0,02 to 0,07	Based on USA and Australian costs
Fabrication materials	-	Choice of plastic or steel for the body and pipes; polymer floating media and stainless steel mesh.
System location	-	Suitable for both indoors and outdoors.

Ground water characteristics

Parameters	Unit	Permissible levels	Note
Ions of two-valent iron	mg/l	From 0,3 to 80	Any forms of iron are removed
Ions of two-valent manganese	mg/l	From 0,05 to 7	Oxidants:Atmospheric oxygen, bacteria or reagent.
рН	-	From 5,2 to 8,2	рН of feed water can be raised without chemical reagents by using aerators/degasifiers.
Hydrocabonates	mg/l	From 30 to 500	Alkalinity of feed water can be raised by using natural minerals
Hydrogen sulphide	mg/l	From 0,0 to 9	Removed by aerator/degasifier
Free carbon dioxide	mg/l	From 1,0 to 300	Removed by aerator/degasifier
Radon	pCi/L	From 60 to 1000000	Removed by aerator/degasifier
Suspended and colloidal particles	mg/l	From 1,5 to 50	Removed by filter
Water temperature	С	From 2 to 40	Water temperature may be raised by 0,5…6 С if aerators/degasifiers operate in the recycling regimen.

Quality of filtrate

Parameters	Unit	Achievable results	Note
Total iron	mg/l	Less than 0,3	Results achieved in 2 - 7 days after system commissioning
Manganese	mg/l	Less than 0,05….0,10	Use combination "Demagnum"
рН	-	6,5….8,0	Results achieved in 2 - 7 days after system commissioning
Hydrocabonates	mg/l	Optimum level for system non-reagent operation	-
Hydrogen sulphide	mg/l	Less than 0,030	Results achieved in 2 - 7 days after system commissioning
Carbon dioxide (corrodes steel and concrete)	-	Stabillity index from -0,1 to +.0,1	Results achieved in 2 - 7 days after system commissioning
Radon	pCi/L	Less than 60	Results achieved in 2 - 7 days after system commissioning
Suspended and colloidal particles	mg/l	Less than 1,5	Results achieved in 2 - 7 days after system commissioning
Water temperature	С	Over 9,0	Results achieved in 2 - 7 days after system commissioning
Redox potential	mV	+0,1….+0,35	Results achieved in 2 - 7 days after system commissioning

Technological solutions and their specifics

The system design is common for all flow-rates. However, individual systems may vary in configuration or add-ons depending on the quality of initial water and/or customer's requirements. The customers are requested to complete our questionnaire and the provided answers enable us to design a system that would provide a tailored solution to customer's needs.

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Alex Remizov
E-mail: remizov@rivne.com