EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- New Logic International, Inc. a manufacturer of membrane filtration and solids separation equipment, announced the recent installation of their VSEP¨ system at Hospital Central Services Association in Seattle, Washington. Partially funded by the Seattle Public Utilities under the city sponsored "Water Smart Tech Program." The system will be used for wastewater treatment and water recycling at this laundry facility.
The New Logic membrane module system uses a proprietary Vibratory Shear Enhanced Process (VSEP) which is able to recycle up to 80 percent of the water used. Anticipated savings at Hospital Central Services from reduced water usage, sewage discharge, soap consumption due to "water softening," and heat recovery will result in an approximately 18-month payoff of the system. Paul Serger, President of Hospital Central Services, expects that with additional experience over the next year, his operating expenses will be even further reduced providing a one-year return on his investment. Due to the space constraints at many laundry facilities, another key factor influencing the decision to purchase the water conservation system was the minimal 20 square feet required for installation.
Hospital Central Services provides service to eleven hospitals in the Seattle area processing over twenty million pounds of laundry annually. The water usage rate in the laundry was approximately 100 gallons per minute, almost 38 millions gallons of water per year, with the wastewater from the laundry process being discharged to the Metro/ King county sewer system. The primary purpose of the VSEP system is to reduce the suspended solids (TSS), oil, and grease from the effluent 110 degree F. wastewater for reuse in the laundry process. The complete wastewater treatment system consists of the VSEP filtration equipment along with the necessary tanks, pumps, piping, and controls. It can be acquired as a stand-alone piece of equipment or as a complete wastewater treatment system. Upon installation of the VSEP system, fresh water is now required at a rate of about 30 to 40 gpm. Oil and grease and total suspended solids (TSS) are reduced from 33 ppm and 110 ppm to non- detection levels. The total BOD is reduced from 150 ppm to 70 ppm. Also, the amount of detergent that is typically required has been decreased by approximately 20 percent due to the reduction in water hardness.
New Logic's VSEP technology is being incorporated into various applications for water pre-treatment, recycling, and wastewater treatment. The VSEP equipment can filter streams containing a variety of contaminants without the fouling problems exhibited by conventional membrane systems, according to company officials. The process not only filters suspended solids, but also reduces or eliminates BOD, COD, and color bodies. The result is a crystal clear, reusable water stream and a concentrated sludge, said company personnel. The key factor to VSEP's performance and resistance to membrane fouling is its ability to generate shear force at 150,000 inverse seconds, ten times greater than the shear in conventional crossflow systems. Other applications include product dewatering in various industries such as paints and pigments, mining, pulp and paper, chemicals manufacturing, and oil production and refining.
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