The April 2008 issue of Water & Wastewater Solutions’ article, “Solutions Sought to Rid Ballast Water of Invasive Species,” prompted quite a few queries about Severn Trent De Nora’s BALPURE® ballast water treatment system. Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions:
Q: What are the features and benefits of the BALPURE® system?
A: The patented BALPURE® system is utilized during ballasting operations to disinfect incoming seawater or during de-ballasting operations to neutralize residual oxidant in discharged seawater. The system can accommodate flow rates from 500-20,000 m³/H.
The system’s features include:
- Availability in multiple configurations
- Small footprint
- On-site generation of biocide
- Analyzer/data logger is used to monitor residual
- Residual is maintained until final de-ballast
- Filtering main flow is not required
- Zero chlorine discharge
- Low maintenance – approximately four hours per month
- Operating cost is less than $0.02 per m³ of ballast water treated
The benefits of the system include:
- Installation into the main ballast water line is not required (modifications to the existing ballast water system or system components are not required; interface is accomplished through a small tap connection)
- Filtration not required (system is not affected by lack of water clarity)
- Use of hazardous chemicals is not required
- Easy to install, operate and maintain
Q: Can the system be installed in an engine room, pump room or on a deck? Is it suitable for retrofit?
A: The BALPURE® system is available in three configurations:
- Packaged Skid System
- Containerized System
- Modularized System
The ideal configuration for the system would be a full skid in the engine room adjacent to the pump and cargo room bulkhead. However, modular systems can be designed in which components can be installed to take advantage of the available space. The BALPURE® system also can be put in a container and placed on deck in the aft of the ship above the pump room or in close proximity.
Q: What is the latest news on system testing and certification?
A: A number of tests of the BALPURE® system are currently being conducted:
- The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is testing a 1,000 m³/H system at the Naval Research Labs in Key West, Fla. The test protocol is based on International Maritime Organization (IMO) G-8 standards for Ballast Water Treatment testing. The selection criteria were commercial viability, reliability, cost, ease of operation and demonstrated efficacy. The results must meet IMO D-2 requirements.
- Severn Trent De Nora has received a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct a shipboard demonstration test of the BALPURE® system.
- The company also has formed a partnership with a major United States vessel owner to install a BALPURE® system on one of its ships. The system, installed in January 2008, is sized for a 2,000 m³/H ballast flow. The ship’s system has received American Bureau of Shipping certification, and the vessel owner and Severn Trent De Nora have applied to the USCG for its Shipboard Technology Evaluation Program.
The BALPURE® system meets IMO G-8 guidelines and IMO standards for ballast water management, surpassing requirements for the destruction of living organisms and inactivation of bacteria.
Severn Trent De Nora received U.S. Patent Number 7,244,348 for the BALPURE® system in 2007. The company is submitting an application for G-9 basic approval later this year and will submit an IMO certification application in 2009.
For more information, e-mail info@severntrentservices.com.
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