Turning Mine Water into a Useful Resource

Oakwood, VA -- A new water treatment system, the first to be used in a North American coal mine, is being implemented by CONSOL Energy Inc. in one of the nation’s largest coal mines. The Buchanan No. 1 coal mine in Oakwood, Va., will receive GE’s advanced filtration membranes and thermal water treatment technology to treat the mine water, enabling about 99 percent of the water to be reused in part at the company’s preparation plant facility.

When in operation, the new system will significantly reduce the volume of mine water that must be managed. Further, it will reduce freshwater demand, as the processed water coming out of the system can be used at the mine’s preparation plant facility, reducing the need to obtain water from other sources. The salt that naturally occurs in the mine water will be removed through the filtration process.

The Buchanan mine is one of the nation’s largest underground coal mines, larger in area than some small cities. In 2009, the CONSOL Energy mine produced 2.84 million clean tons of coal and 71.45 billion cubic feet of associated coal bed methane gas from its Virginia operations.

“Our goal is not only to help customers solve specific treatment problems, but to help them recognize and take advantage of opportunities to recover additional value,” said Steve Watzeck, president of engineered systems — water and process technologies for GE Power & Water. “GE offers extensive know-how gained from decades of global project experience, combined with innovative products and cutting-edge research. The result is a unique solution that hits the mark operationally, environmentally and economically.”

Part of an overall infrastructure upgrade expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2010, GE’s zero liquid discharge (ZLD) system is capable of treating up to 1,600 gallons of water per minute utilizing a combination of ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, brine evaporation and salt crystallization technologies. In the process, dissolved minerals in the mine water, largely salt, will be left behind in a crystalline form. Mine operations will not be impacted during system installation. GE has teamed with building contractor Bowen Engineering Corporation on the project.

The system GE is providing to CONSOL Energy incorporates GE’s ZeeWeed ultrafiltration technology, which employs hollow-fiber membranes to separate particles from water, and GE’s reverse osmosis separation technology, which removes dissolved impurities from water through the use of a semi-permeable membrane. The concentrated brine from these elements of the system is then treated by GE’s proprietary thermal evaporation, crystallization and drying ZLD technologies, which make up the heart of this integrated process.

Source: http://www.gewater.com/

Atlas Copco acquires Quincy Compressor

Stockholm, Sweden -- Atlas Copco completed the acquisition of Quincy Compressor from EnPro Industries, with the exception of Quincy’s Chinese operations, where regulatory approvals from relevant local authorities are still pending.

Quincy Compressor designs and manufactures reciprocating compressors, rotary screw compressors and vacuum pumps, primarily under the Quincy brand. Atlas Copco plans to further develop the Quincy brand independently, in line with the Group’s well established brand portfolio strategy. The acquired business had revenues in 2009 of MUSD 125 (MSEK 900) and an operating profit margin of approximately 7%.

“I am pleased that we have obtained the approvals in the United States and can now move forward to further develop the Quincy business,” says Stephan Kuhn, President of Atlas Copco’s business area Compressor Technique.

Quincy was founded in the 1920s and is headquartered in Bay Minette, Alabama. It has manufacturing facilities in Bay Minette, Quincy, Illinois, and in Kunshan, China. The products are sold through a network of independent distributors and agents. More than three quarters of the sales are in the United States.

Approvals from Chinese authorities are expected during the second quarter.

Source: http://www.atlascopco.com/

Washington, DC -- The American Water Works Association (AWWA) today advised the U.S. Congress that any new chemical security legislation should reflect the need for local water experts to make key treatment decisions and protect sensitive information from non-essential personnel.

In a statement to the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, AWWA stressed that “it does not make sense (and could cause harm) to legislate outcomes which prohibit the use of particular chemicals, including chlorine gas.” The letter was submitted concurrent with today’s committee hearing titled “Chemical Security: Assessing Progress and Charting a Path Forward.”

“As everyday guardians of public health and safety, water and wastewater professionals share Congress’s desire for smart chemical security policy,” said AWWA Deputy Executive Director Tom Curtis. “Water utilities are committed to measures that reduce risks from terrorism and natural disasters. We are equally committed to protecting drinking water from the risk of contamination.”

A bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in the fall, H.R. 2868, would create a new chemical security program for water and wastewater utilities under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security providing input for the new regulatory process. The bill would place final decision on which materials – primarily disinfectants – or processes a water utility may use outside of the local community and with already under- resourced state drinking water primacy agencies.

AWWA is urging members of Congress to support legislation that applies to water utilities only if it:

1. Recognizes that decisions concerning utility choice of disinfectant are complex, are based on critical local factors, and are not a matter of simple substitution of one disinfectant for another.

2. Retains local decision making authority using processes that give due consideration to all risks; and

3. Provides adequate protection of sensitive information. Personnel (including collective bargaining agents) who are not water system employees, their contractors, or government agents, should not have access to or be involved in the development of vulnerability assessments or site security plans.

The letter notes that water and wastewater utilities have a long history of handling chemicals and that the water sector addressed a broad range of security concerns through vulnerability assessments and emergency response plans required by the Public Health Protection and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. It also highlights some of AWWA’s security-related efforts, including the development of security standards and guidance and the creation of water and wastewater agency response networks (WARNs).

Source: http://www.awwa.org/

. KMS Puron MBR Effectively Removes Phosphorous The MBR pilot system employed Puron™ submerged membrane technology from Koch Membrane Systems of Wilmington, MA.

Non-Glass MiniLab Pocket pH Meters
Hach miniLab® pocket pH meters feature a virtually unbreakable non-glass silicon chip sensor that gives stable readings in seconds.
 

Why Cryptosporidium is Resistant to Chlorine MIOX Corporation and University of New Mexico discover a reason why cryptosporidium is resistant to chlorine used to disinfect water.

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This week's photo is of an Alar Auto-Vac Sludge Dewatering Filter. The equipment is skid mounted, pre-piped and pre-wired for easy installation. It is offered both with semi-automatic and automatic modes of operation. This design works with virtually any industrial waste such as coolants, cleaners, and process waters.

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