5 Types of Industrial Water Treatment Solutions

The term “industrial water treatment” refers to a number of processes that are performed to improve the quality of water, such as by disinfecting it or softening it. Water treatment is highly important since it ensures communities, the environment, and industrial equipment are protected from unsafe, impure, and contaminated water.

Many industries require treated water. For example, hydraulic and boiler systems require treated water to prevent corrosion and scale from accumulating inside expensive equipment. The medical industry also requires contaminant-free water to sterilize equipment and prevent patient infections. For all of these applications and many more, Reynolds Culligan provides highly effective industrial water treatment solutions.

Water Softening

Water softening is the process of removing mineral ions from water to reduce scale buildup inside pipes and appliances. In hard water, minerals such as calcium and magnesium are present in large quantities. These ions build up along the surfaces they come into contact with, causing a range of problems like reduced efficiency and appliance damage.

To prevent these issues, a water softener device can be installed. Water softeners replace calcium and magnesium ions with potassium or sodium ions through an ion exchange process. A tank filled with resin beads attracts and exchanges minerals while a control valve initiates and monitors the ion exchange process. You can learn more about commercial and industrial water softeners on our website.

Deionization

Another industrial water treatment process is deionization. This process removes dissolved ions, including minerals, metals, and salts. It is used in industrial water treatment applications that require high-purity water, such as electronics, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications.

During the deionization process, water is passed through two ion exchange resins, attracting positive and negatively charged ions to resin beads and exchanging them for either hydrogen or hydroxide ions. The end result is highly pure water with nearly all ions removed. It should be noted that deionization does not remove bacteria, viruses, or dissolved gases.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis uses pressure to force water through a semi-permeable membrane that removes contaminants and impurities. This process involves several stages. First, large particles are removed using a pre-treatment process like settling or filtration. After the sediment and debris are removed, the water can be passed through a membrane with small pores that block the passage of ions and larger molecules. The impurities can then be discharged and the purified water collected for use.

In industrial water treatment applications, reverse osmosis is used to treat boiler feedwater, process water, and cooling tower makeup. It not only improves water quality but also reduces operating costs and equipment efficiency.

UV Sterilization

When viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms are present in water, they can be eliminated using UV sterilization. This treatment process uses ultraviolet light to kill or deactivate bacteria and viruses, resulting in clean water that can be reused or safely discharged. The process works by passing water through a chamber containing a UV lamp. The ultraviolet light from the lamp penetrates microorganism cell walls and damages their DNA to prevent them from reproducing.

Depending on the light’s intensity, they are either killed or rendered inactive. UV sterilization consumes low amounts of energy and has the added benefit of not requiring any harmful chemical disinfectants. To learn more about industrial UV water sterilization, visit our website.

Dealkalization

Dealkalization is the process of removing alkalinity from water using a device that exchanges bicarbonate and carbonate ions with sulfate or chloride ions. The first step in this process involves passing water through an ion exchange resin bed, similar to water softening processes. The resin beads in dealkalizers selectively remove ions that contribute to alkalinity, resulting in reduced scaling, improved equipment efficiency, and reduced maintenance costs. Dealkalization is used in many industrial applications, such as treating boiler feedwater.

Water Treatment Experts

Industrial settings require a variety of highly effective water treatment technology to protect equipment, reduce maintenance, and adhere to safety regulations. As a trusted provider of industrial water treatment solutions, Reynolds Culligan offers technology to meet the needs of virtually any application.

To learn more, browse our product catalog or contact our team with any questions. You can also get a free estimate by filling out our quick online form.