Clean & Safe Drinking Water Workshop

Gander, NL

PRESSURE FILTER
OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE

March 25th, 2010

By: Robert Gillis, P.Eng.
Atlantic Purification Systems

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PRESENTATION AGENDA

• Media Types

• Filter Types

– Filters versus Conditioners

• Valve Types

– Time Clock, Meter Initiated, Pressure Differential, Manual

• Installation Procedures

• Operation Procedures

– Filter and Conditioner Sequences

• Maintenance

– Backwashing, Regeneration, Chemical Cleaning, Media Replacement

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MEDIA TYPES

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MEDIA TYPES

• Media Types
– Determined by raw water quality
– Varies from application to application
– May use one or more medias in the same tank
– May use one or more filters in series for complete treatment
– Variety of products out there on the market
– Some regulations require media with NSF Certification

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MEDIA TYPES

• Activated Carbon (Various Types and Grades)

– Reduction of chlorine, taste and odors
• Anthracite
– Medium density filtration – used in single, dual or multi-media
filtration
• Birm
– Reduction of iron and manganese
– Passive or active air injection prior as an oxidizing agent
• Calcite
– White marble media
– Neutralizes acidic or low pH waters to neutral or less corrosive

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MEDIA TYPES

• Corosex
– Neutralizes acidic or low pH waters to neutral or less corrosive
– Very fast reaction which sometimes over corrects to high pH
• Filter Sand and Gravel
– Low density filtration – used as base material or single media
filtration
• Filter-AG or Filter-AG-Plus
– Highly efficient media for reduction of suspended matter
• Greensand FMH or Manganese Greensand or Greensand Plus
– Reduction of soluble iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide
– Requires conditioning with chlorine or potassium permanganate

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MEDIA TYPES

• Garnet
– Final filtration of a multi-media down flow filtration bed
• Micro-Z
– Highly efficient media for reduction of suspended matter
• MTM or Pyroluz
– Reduction of iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide
• Multi-Media
– Efficient media for reduction of suspended matter
– Mixture of anthracite, garnet, sand and gravel

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MEDIA TYPES

• Bayoxide E33
– Reduction of arsenic
• Organic Reduction
– Strong base anion exchange resins
– Reduction of organics – TOCs and Tannins
– Regeneration using salt water brine
• Softeners
– Strong acid cation exchange resins
– Reduction of hardness (as CaCO3) in water
– Increases chloride (Cl) and sodium (Na) levels

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MEDIA TYPES

• Deionization
– Various anion and cation resins
– Regeneration required either in-situ or off site
– Some medias specific to reduction of one parameter
– Others will reduce group of parameters

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MEDIA TYPES

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MEDIA TYPES

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FILTER TYPES

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FILTER TYPES

• Filters
– Consists of:
• Pressure Vessel – Fiberglass, PVC or Stainless Steel
• Valve
• Distributor / Hub & Lateral
• Retention or Upper Screen – not always
• Drain line flow control – internal or external
• Riser / Distribution Tube
• Media
• Under bed support gravel/sand

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FILTER TYPES - PICTURES

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FILTER TYPES

• Conditioners
– Consists of:
• Same components as Filters
• Brine/Regenerative material storage tank
• Brine well
• Brine tubing for suction & fill
• Brine control valve
• Some conditioners can accept continuous regeneration with a feed of
chlorine or potassium permanganate injection prior to filter

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CONDITIONER TYPES - PICTURES

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VALVE TYPES

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VALVE TYPES

• Autotrol, Fleck, Clack, or Kinetico

– Control Available in
• Time Clock Regeneration/Backwash
• Metered Initiated Regeneration/Backwash
• Differential Pressure Regeneration/Backwash
• Manual
• Manual Valves
– Open and close valves to direct flow to perform different filter
functions
• Others
– Pneumatic or hydraulically actuated valves with a controller

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VALVE PICTURES

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INSTALLATION PROCEDURES

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INSTALLATION PROCEDURES

• READ INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY

MANUFACTURER
• Filter Location
– Position near a floor drain with adequate carrying capacity to handle
the water filter backwash rate
– Suitable flooring required
• Piping Installation
– Install piping as shown on General Arrangement Drawings
– Include unions on inlet, outlet and drain lines for easy disconnection
– Install isolation valves on inlet and outlet
– Install by-pass piping

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INSTALLATION PROCEDURES

• Hub, Lateral & Riser Installation

– Temporarily install valve on tank to ensure proper alignment of the
inlet and the outlet piping
– Once media is installed, it will be difficult to move the tank.
– Temporarily attach riser tube to hub in order to determine correct
riser tube height. Cut riser to height indicated in manual
– Permanently attach riser to hub
– Install hub portion of riser/hub assembly into top mount access port
– Inspect all laterals for damage
– Attach laterals to hub per manufacturers instructions
– Place hub and laterals at the bottom of the filter. Cover riser tube to
prevent media and water intrusion

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INSTALLATION PROCEDURES

• Filter Media Loading

– Ensure tank alignment is correct
– Verify all media is on site
– Fill filter vessel with ¼ to 1/3 water
– Refer to O&M Manual for media sequencing and quantities
– With bottom media first, using a funnel, slowly and gently poor
media into the unit – usually gravel is added first
– Continue adding media layers as required

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INSTALLATION PROCEDURES

• Final Assembly
– Attach valve to top of filter
– Connect to inlet, outlet & drain piping
– Put filter into backwash mode
– Slowly open inlet valve and allow filter to fill and all the air to escape
– Allow unit to stay in backwash mode to thoroughly remove fines and clean
media. Some medias may require a soak-in period. Consult manufacturer
– If electronically actuated valve, unplug valve to allow filter to stay in
Backwash mode until drain line water is clear.
– Power valve and allow valve to return to Service operation
– Alternatively backwash filter several times to remove the fines and clean the
media
– Ensure all leaks are eliminated

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INSTALLATION PROCEDURES

• Brine Tank
– Install Air Check Valve on Valve
– Connect brine draw line between valve and brine tank
– Adjust float assembly in brine tank for proper water level
– Ensure overflow line is free and piped to drain
– Ensure regenerant support base is properly installed
– Fill tank with regenerant (salt, potassium permanganate
or other)

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FILTER OPERATIONS

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FILTER OPERATIONS
• Service
– Untreated water is directed
down through the media and
up the dist. tube to outlet
• Backwash
– Flow is reversed
– Down the distribution tube and
up through the media.
– Lifts media and causes
scouring
– Debris is flushed to the drain
• Slow Rinse
– Directed down through the
media bed and up the
distribution tube to drain

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FILTER OPERATIONS

• Re-pressure
– Position in valve head to
allow air and water
pressures to hydraulically
balance
• Fast Rinse
– Water is directed down
through the media and up
through the riser tube to
drain to rinse off any
remaining brine or debris

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CONDITIONER OPERATIONS
• Service
– Untreated water is directed down
through the media and up the
distribution tube to outlet
• Backwash
– Flow is reversed
– Down the distribution tube and up
through the media.
– Lifts media and causes scouring
– Debris is flushed to the drain
• Brine /Slow Rinse
– Water flow is directed to brine
injector and brine is drawn from the
regeneration tank
– Directed down through the media
bed and up the distribution tube to
drain

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CONDITIONER OPERATIONS

• Re-pressurize
– Position in valve head to allow
air and water pressures to
hydraulically balance
• Fast Rinse
– Water is directed down through
the media and up through the
riser tube to drain to rinse off
any remaining brine or debris
• Brine Refill
– Water is directed at a
controlled rate to the
regenerant tank to create brine
for the next cycle
– Maintain salt above water level

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CONDITIONER OPERATIONS
• Service Position

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CONDITIONER OPERATIONS
• Preliminary Rinse Position

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CONDITIONER OPERATIONS
• Backwash Position

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CONDITIONER OPERATIONS
• Brine Position

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CONDITIONER OPERATIONS
• Slow Rinse Position

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CONDITIONER OPERATIONS
• Second Backwash Position

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CONDITIONER OPERATIONS
• Settling Rinse Position

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CONDITIONER OPERATIONS
• Brine Tank Fill Position

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MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

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MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

• Backwashing
– Utilized to lift and scour the filter bed
– Redistribute media to avoid channeling or packed bed
– Use raw or treated water
– Optional conditions
• Time Clock
– Backwashes on a schedule
• Meter Initiated
– Measures water volume and backwashes when filter has treated pre-determined volume
• Differential Pressure
– Measures pressure differential across filter and backwashes filters when DP exceeds pre-
determined maximum DP
• Manual
– Either via the opening and closing of a single valve or multiple valves

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MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

• Regeneration
– Some medias require regeneration
– Purpose is to recharge the bed with elements that either exchange
or act as a catalyst for removal action
– Common Solutions
• Brine – Salt
• Potassium Permanganate
• Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)
• Others – depending on media and application
– Continuous or Intermittent (during backwash cycle)
– Can add cleaning agents on periodic basis

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CHEMICAL CLEANING OPTIONS

• Ironeater/Res-up
– Removes iron and rust
build up on resin beds that
foul the softener or other
medias
• Citric Acid
– Removes iron and other
contaminants from fouled
water softeners
• Mineral Reactivator
– Clean a fouled resin bed
and restore exchange
capacity

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CHEMICAL ADDITION OPTIONS

• Potassium Permanganate /
Fer-Sul
– Strong oxidizing agent
– Oxides dissolved iron and
manganese to insoluble
oxides
– Injected continuously prior
to filter or during
regeneration/backwashing
only

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CHEMICAL ADDITION OPTIONS

• Soda Ash, Caustic Soda or

Sodium Bicarbonate
– Highly alkaline
– Neutralizes acid found in
some waters
– Helps to eliminate corrosion
• Polyphosphate
– Sequesters iron and
manganese to reduce or
eliminate iron staining
– Holds iron in solution
– Helps prevent or retard
corrosion

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MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

• Injector Cleaning
– Injector on valve will clog due to sediment, salt and silt
• Treated water for backwashing will prevent this
– AKA – Separate Source Backwashing
– Procedure
• Shut off water supply
• Open faucet downstream to relieve pressure or put valve into backwash
mode
• Carefully remove injector assembly and disassemble per manufacturers
instructions
• Flush all parts with water
• Use one of the mentioned cleaning agents or vinegar to clean the small
holes in the orifice and throat
• Reassemble in reverse order

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MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

• Media Replacement
– Depressurization
• Place the unit into the backwash position for several minutes to
loosen the bed – unplug valve if necessary
• Shut off the main water supply to the filter or place the filter in
by-pass to depressurize the filter
• Disconnect the plumbing on the inlet, outlet and drain
– Valve Removal
• Unscrew the control valve from the filter tank
• Separate the valve from the distributor tube. Place valve to one
side

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MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

• Media Replacement
– Removal of Old Media
• If tank is small and light enough, the filter can be simply
picked up and turned upside down into a large drum or bin to
remove the media. Be careful to not break the distribution
tube/riser or hub assembly
• For heavier tank, insert a piece of ½” flexible hose into the
distributor and siphon the water into the drain
• Remove distributor tube from the tank
• Flush out all the contents into a large pail or garbage can by
elevating the tank as required
• Lay tank on its side and insert a garden hose into the tank
• Make sure tank is completely empty before proceeding

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MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

• Media Replacement
– Removal of Old Media
• Alternatively, can use a wet shop
vac or a media extractor

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MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

• Media Replacement
– Loading the New Media
• Inspect distribution tube and laterals/hub
• Place distributor tube into tank
• Plug end of distributor tube to prevent media from entering it
• Fill filter ¼ to 1/3 full of water
• Place media into the tank in the order indicated by the
manufacturer
– An empty 1 gallon or 4 liter container with the bottom cut out makes
a good funnel
– Similarly, a 18 liter bottled water bottle is good too

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MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

• Media Replacement
– Loading the New Media
• Ensure distributor tube stays on the bottom of the tank,
reasonably centered
• Whenever possible, fill the tank outdoors to avoid problems
with dust. If inside, wear dust mask.
• Wear appropriate safety gear, goggles, mask, gloves, etc.

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MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

• Media Replacement
– Placing the Unit in Service
• Once media is loaded, remove the cover from the distributor
and clean the top of the tank
• Place control valve on the tank, ensuring the distributor fits
into the valve properly
• Tighten the valve onto the tank using moderate force
• Apply household liquid soap to the main seal O-ring

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MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES

• Media Replacement
– Placing the Unit in Service
• Connect inlet, outlet and drain connections
• Change valve to backwash position
• Slowly open inlet valve to allow air to escape and fines to be
removed
• Once filled, some resins require a soak in period. Consult
manufacturer
• Allow to backwash until drain runs clear – disconnect power
• Allow valve to continue through cycle to service mode.
• Open inlet valve fully.
• Check for leaks

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SUMMARY

• Media Types

• Filter Types

• Valve Types

• Installation Procedure

• Operation Sequences

• Maintenance Procedures

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QUESTIONS ?

Robert Gillis, P.Eng.

Atlantic Purification Systems Ltd.
10 Ferguson Rd, Dartmouth, NS
Ph: 902-469-2806 x 103
Email: [email protected]

Steve Frizzell
APS Local Office
PO Box 1115, Goulds, NL
Ph: 709-697-2457
Email: [email protected]

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