Indian brewery reduces freshwater intake increases production with EDR technology

A beer production  facility  in  western India  sought  to reduce the  amount of water intake needed to produce one   bottle  of  beer.  Reducing  raw  water  utilization could   help   the   plant increase  production.  They  also  wanted a solution  that  would  simultaneously  address the  high  total  dissolved  solids  (TDS) in  their  reverse osmosis (RO) reject water.

Based on  the   unique  technical  requirements,  SUEZ suggested that the   plant use  a  160  m3/day  electro dialysis    reversal    (EDR)   system.    This    technology reduces  freshwater   intake   by   recycling  RO  reject water in the  plant. SUEZ’s KlarAid* PC1192  coagulant dosing  system  was  suggested for  pre-treatment  to ensure effective EDR performance.

EDR is an  advanced water treatment process used to remove dissolved solids - in the  form of mineral ions - from  solution. It is  based on  the  principles  governing the  behaviour of an  ionic solution when  it is subject to direct  current  (DC)  potential.   When   a   current  is applied  to   the   system,  channels   where  the   cation transfer membrane is  moving  towards the   cathode, and  channels where the  anion transfer  membrane  is moving  towards the anode are depleted of ions. In the  adjacent   channels,  the    membranes  do   not   allow migration  in  the  direction  the  ions  are drawn.  Thus, alternating  channels are formed of deionized  product
water and ion-rich concentrate stream. The  electrical  polarity, and  thus the  demineralized and   concentrate flow  passages,  are automatically reversed 2 to 4 times every hour, which  results in a reversal of direction of ion movement. This provides ‘electrical  flushing’   of   scale   forming  ions   and colloidal matter from the  membrane surfaces.

The   SUEZ   EDR   systems   minimize  the   off-spec product   time    by   using   phased   reversal.   Total reversal  water is  only  that  contained  in  a  single stage in the  system instead of that contained in the  entire  system.  The off-spec time  is reduced to  that required for  the  water to  pass through one  stage regardless of the  number of stages in operation.

Table: Project Summary

When the EDR system was put into operation it significantly improved water availability in the production process; the brewery achieved 90% water recovery and lowered TDS values.

EDR technology achieves high water recovery for water scarce areas and SUEZ’s wasterwater EDR system reclaims more than 20 million gallons per day (75,000 m3/day) of wastewater for other uses.

To learn how  SUEZ can  help  solve  your  wastewater challenges, contact your SUEZ  representative or visit us at www.suezwatertechnologies.com