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PRESSURE SAND FILTER
Operational manual
Contract No ------------ Date --------
Client’s Name --------------------------------------------------
XYZ Water Treatment Company
307 Gupta chambers
New community centre
New Delhi-110005
Delhi
Telephone : -00000000 / 0000000
Email
Web
Table of Contents
Chapter1.........................................................................................................................1
Process.........................................................................................................................1
Chapter 2........................................................................................................................3
Operation of Filter......................................................................................................3
Chapter 3........................................................................................................................5
Maintenance................................................................................................................5
Chapter 4.......................................................................................................................7
Water Testing.............................................................................................................7
Chapter1
Process
1.1 Filtration
Filtration is the process of passing liquid containing suspended matter through a
suitable porous material (filtering medium) to effectively remove the suspended
Impurities in the liquid.
Filtration is the final step in the solid removal process which includes coagulation,
Flocculation and sedimentation . The purpose of filter as mentioned earlier is to
remove the particulate impurities and floc from the water being treated.
1.2 Types of Filters
In water treatment there are three type of filtration
1) Inline filtration
2) Conventional filtration
3) Direct filtration
1. Inline filtration is one in which coagulant chemicals are added just prior to the
water entering the filtration unit.
2. Conventional filtration is a process commonly employed in municipal and large
water treatments . Here all the pretreatment steps are included
3. Direct filtration is similar to conventional filtration except that the step of
sedimentation is omitted .
Coagulant
Chemicals
FILTER effluent
INLINE FILTRATION
1.3 Pressure Filter
Pressure Filters are closed cylindrical vessel either vertical or horizontal (mostly
vertical) containing the filter media over a collector system. Water flows from top
downwards percolating through the media and is drawn off through the collector
system at the bottom. Cycle of operation are service, back wash with or without air
scouring, short rinse to waste and return to service. Increase in pressure drop indicates
that filter media is fouled and requires backwashing.
The following materials are normally used as filter media - Quartz sand, silica sand,
anthracite, coal, garnet etc.
Filter which uses only sand is called sand filter. Filter which use two media (normally
sand and anthracite) is called dual media filter. Multi media filter uses more than three
or more filter media. Dual media and multi media filter operate at higher velocity and
require less backwash water. Back wash water for filters should always be filtrate
water.
1
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET
Parameters Unit
Diameter mm
Height on straight mm
Minimum working Pressure Kg/cm2
Maximum working pressure Kg/cm2
Minimum service flow M3/Hr
Normal service flow M3/Hr
Maximum service flow M3/Hr
Type of Media Sand/ anthracite/
activated carbon
Amount of Media M3
Backwash Flow M3/Hr
Air Flow for scouring M3/Hr
2
Chapter 2
Operation of Filter
2.0 Introduction
Filtration is the final operation in clarification process . In small & medium size water
treatment plants filtration unit may be given without coagulation also
2.1 Start up
1) Check all equipment and see that they are ready for operation
2) Lubricate all mechanical equipment
3) Start the borewell pump and fill the water in Raw water storage tank
4) Start the raw water pump
5) Open inlet valve V1 and Air release valve V6 (see drawing and valve
nomenclature)
6) Close V1 And V6 once water starts coming from V6
7) Open Backwash outlet valve V4 and then slowly open backwash inlet valveV3.
8) Carry this operation for 10 minutes .
9) If the unit has been idle for long time or is being backwashed for first time then
duration of backwash should be longer .
10) Close V3 and V4
11) Open Rinse inlet (drain) valve V5 and rise for 5 minutes or till clear Effluent starts
flowing.
12) Close V5 and open outlet valve V2.
13) The unit is ready for service
Note
In larger plants where there is provision for air scouring, air scouring operation is done
before backwashing.
2.2 Stopping
1) Stop the Raw water pump
2) Close all valves
3) Open air release valve V6. After the pressure is released, close V6
3
V1 INLET
V2 OUTLET
V3 BACKWASH INLET
V4 BACKWASH OUTLET
V5 RINSE OUTLET(drain)
V6 AIR RELEASE
V6
V1 V4
V3 V2
V5
Operation of filters
[Link] Step Valves Open Valves closed
1 Vessel filling V1 & V6 V2,V3,V4 &V5
2 Backwash V3 & V4 V1,V2,V5& V6
3 Rinse V1 &V5 V2,V3,V4 &V6
4 Service V1 & V2 V3,V4,V5 &V6
4
Chapter 3
Maintenance
The routine maintenance of pressure filter include the following
3.1 Valves
At periodic intervals (say one month ) open the valves and check for
seating, change gland packing or diphgram depending on the type of valve.
Carry out lubrication of spindle.
3.2 Extended backwash
Once in a week the backwash should be given for more time say at least for 45
Minutes. This will help the to keep the bed clean.
3.3 Air scouring & cleaning of Media
The manhole should be opened once in 6 months and the condition of media
should be checked. Any lumps formed on the top of bed should be thrown away.
on units where no regular air scouring is provided ;air scouring is done as follows:-
1. If compressed air supply is available , take a temporary tapping (say 1” hose).
Attach the hose to a M.S. pipe about 1 meter long. The water level inside the vessel
should be about 3” above the bed . The pipe is inserted into the bed till it is half
way through the bed. The media will get violently agitated. Move the pipe all over
the bed Carry out the air scour for a period of 10 minutes.
2. After the air scour carry out an extended backwash. This extended backwash also
called open manhole backwash is given very care fully.
3. Drain the bed till the surface of the bed and scrape of all the dust.
4. Close the manhole.
3.4 Vessel condition
Once a year vessel internal condition should be checked for paints and internals
Repaint the vessel after removing the media. Filter media replacement can also
be done if required. Filter media is replaced normally once a year.
The routine maintenance guidelines are given both for mild steel filters as well as FRP
filters . FRP filters normally require less attention once installed. Operational care is a
must for FRP Filter . the pressure should not be more than the recommended pressure
or it is likely to damage the filter. FRP filters are of molded design and hence repair is
not possible and has to be replaced.
5
3.5 Trouble shooting of Pressure filter
Pressure filters are basically very simple in operation and normally does not give much
problem. The final effluent from filter if is not of required quality then the reason could
be more because of preceding steps and if there is only filter & no coagulation then it is
because of Pressure filter not being backwashed regularly. A chart for trouble shooting
is shown below.
Problem Cause Action
Turbidity Breakthrough Change in Raw water 1) Analyze Raw water
2) Backwash
Loss of media Broken internals Change the laterals or
Rectify internals
High backwash flow Control backwash flow
High pressure drop Media dirty 1) Give backwash
2) If backwash does not
Solve problem give
Extended backwash
3) Change filter media if
step 1 &2 does not
work
Mud ball formation change in raw water 1) Air scour and give
quality extended backwash
2) Check pretreatment
steps if any. Adjust if
Necessary.
3) Decrease Velocity
4) Change media if
required
6
Chapter 4
Water Testing
4.1 Turbidity
Turbidity and suspended solids are two things which are measured to see if the filter is
operating properly.
Turbidity is simply an expression for cloudiness of water. Turbidity is caused by
suspended matter like Silts, finely divided organic & inorganic matter and microscopic
plant like algae.
In larger plants there is generally an online turbidity meter and in smaller plants the test
performed is basically a visual one i.e. by comparison.
A standard water whose turbidity is known is taken in a glass tube .This becomes the
reference and the filtered water is compared with this water. If more rigorous testing is
required than the water is sent to sent to a laboratory.
