Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Can you analyze ion exchange resin and what do you require?

Answer:
The short answer is YES. We analyze ion exchange resin and the procedure is simple!

Background Information:
The redesigned Res-Kem web site is a great resource for water treatment products and services. We have made every attempt to make the site easy to navigate. Since there is so much information on www.reskem.com, periodically I will highlight products and services that may need additional exposure.

One of the services I would like to highlight is our resin analysis service. Your resin sample is analyzed for its:
- Chemical properties - the capacity of the resin to remove ions
- Physical properties - the percentage of whole, cracked, and broken resin beads
- Mix - the percentage of cation resin and anion resin
- Regeneration Efficiency (if applicable)
- Organic Fouling (if applicable)

Procedure:
You will need to take a representative sample of the resin in your vessels. This is very simple process if your equipment has been properly designed. Simply remove the manway or top mount valve from the tank. Drive a semi-rigid tube or pipe into the bed and educt or vacuum with a small clean shop type vacuum. A one-quart sample is ideal for resin analysis.

Prior to shipping your resin sample, contact Res-Kem at 800-323-1983 or 610-358-0717 so we are prepared to handle your resin sample.

We will need a purchase order and copy of the Resin Analysis Submittal Form faxed to us at 610-358-4642 OR e-mailed to sales@reskem.com. The samples must have a copy of that fax or email document attached on the outside of the box. A minimum 3 oz. sample is required of INDIVIDUAL RESINS and 8 oz. for MIXED RESINS, but a quart is preferred.

The cost of the services is detailed in this price list.

Monday, September 11, 2006

My backwash flow rate is too high for my well and well pump


A common design issue for sand filters, multi-media filters, greensand filters, arsenic removal units, etc. is the large difference between the backwash flow rate and the flow rate during normal operation. Depending upon the media used, the backwash flow rate can be 2X to 10X the service rate. Due to restrictions in the piping coming to the unit or the well feeding the plant, the unit cannot get an adequate backwash flow rate. Most water supplies are not designed to handle such a wide swing in flow rate and the drain line will have to be appropriately up-sized. In particular, a plant well water source can not be cost effectively sized for such a large flow difference.

To address this predicament, Res-Kem has been selling triplex sand filters, multi-media filters, greensand filters, arsenic removal units, etc. to reduce the backwash flow rate. The tradeoff is the cost of the extra valves and tanks with a backwash flow rate that is reduced by 50% for a continuous system and 67% for a non-continuous system.

Depending upon the size of the units, all of them can be skid mounted. This makes for a very simple field installation with a single electrical connection. Also, the skid will have a single feed, product, and drain connection.

An optional feature of a triplex skid is that a separate line for an alternate backwash source can be added. This allows for the use of a "clean" water source to backwash the units. If water storage is not available, two units can be used to backwash the third.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Why should I treat my boiler condensate?

A question that we receive frequently from visits to customers and potential customers is "Why should I treat my boiler condensate?"
Our Answer:
The reason why to treat your boiler condensate is condensate systems always leak. Heat exchangers are where most of the leakage problems start. Tube sheet and tube leaks, of shell and tube heat exchangers, are the typical cause. This is where untreated cooling water can contaminate the process water leading to corrosion. Every system must have a method to handle this leakage.

When a condensate system is not properly controlled or simply ignored, corrosion takes place. Iron, copper, and other harmful contaminants are washed back into the boiler systems. This wastes energy because these contaminants reduce heat transfer. Depending upon the type of contaminant, a layer of 1/32" can waste between 2% and 7% of the fuel used in the boiler. Wasted Fuel Graph

A simple solution is to blow down the boiler to improve water quality, but this wastes heat, requires more makeup water, and increases boiler water chemical usage.

The cost effective solution is to "polish" your contaminated condensate for reuse. As more condensate is reused, less make up water is required, reducing both chemical consumption and energy requirements.

Res-Kem Sodium Cycle Condensate Polishers are available in a wide range of self-contained packages configured in single, double, and triple unit arrangements to treat condensate return for reuse as boiler feedwater. The standard wetted parts for Res-Kem Condensate Polishers are stainless steel. Single units are rated for flows up to 710 gpm. For larger flow rates, contact Res-Kem to determine whether larger or multiple units would be best choice.

Contact Res-Kem to work up the energy savings available by polishing your dirty condensate. The payback is both swift and dramatic.Res-Kem Condensate Polisher specification sheet