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Evaluation of the Aqua-Stream™ Side Stream Filter with Pathex® Antimicrobial Filter Media                                       Part 1: Overview and Background

1/29/2018

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PictureImage 1. The 400-ton cooling tower at the Chattanooga study site.
Summary of Study:
Starting in October 2016, AS Filtration, LLC conducted a year-long study to document the effectiveness of a non-oxidizing biocide within a side stream filter on the cooling tower system of a four-story office building in Chattanooga, Tennessee. AS Filtration installed an Aqua-StreamTM side stream filter, utilizing their unique Pathex® antimicrobial filter media, on the 400-ton cooling tower system in operation at the office building (Image 1). The goal of this study was to analyze the effects of the Aqua-StreamTM and Pathex® on bacteria, energy use, water use, and overall equipment/maintenance costs.

Overview:
Cooling towers are an important part of many large-scale cooling systems. They typically use evaporation to cool process water, so that the water can be reused to extract heat from the system. Given the purpose of cooling towers, they operate much more efficiently when their heat exchange surfaces are clean.

Cooling towers face four primary water treatment issues that can reduce operational efficiency: corrosion, scaling, fouling, and microbiological activity (PNNL 2012).
  • Corrosion – can cause premature structural failures; exacerbated by high oxygen levels  and oxidizing biocide chemicals
  • Scaling – precipitation of dissolved minerals; has insulating properties that reduce the efficiency of the heat exchange surfaces; requires more work from the system to achieve desired cooling
  • Fouling – insulating film formation on heat exchange surfaces affecting performance and energy requirements of the cooling system; causes include process oils, suspended particles, and biologic growth
  • Microbiological activity – can be either suspended or formed on system components; strongly insulating, increasing energy requirements; byproducts encourage further microbiological activity/growth     

All of these can negatively affect operational efficiency and are inter-related, such that an increase or decrease in the severity of one can cause a comparable, parallel change in the others (PNNL 2012). These water treatment issues arise for a number of reasons, including water chemistry, suspended and dissolved solids, dust, and bird and insect activity from the open system.

Multiple reputable studies, including several from the Department of Energy (DoE), have shown that side stream filtration can reduce the prevalence of the concerns described above. These studies also examined the benefits of side stream filtration on water usage, energy consumption, maintenance requirements/downtime, and biological control. Side stream filtration using the Aqua-StreamTM and Pathex® antimicrobial filter media allows for all of these benefits of filtration, with the addition of killing and controlling bacteria and biological activity. The Aqua-StreamTM selected for the cooling tower in this study measures 24 inches in diameter and roughly 80 inches in height, with a total footprint of 36 inches by 48 inches (12 ft2), and utilizes approximately 650 lbs (6.5 ft3) of Pathex® media. The filter operates with its own control system, virtually eliminating the need for any maintenance actions. Pathex® antimicrobial filter media does not degrade and is rejuvenated daily by the filter’s control system through a programmed backwash cycle.
 
The next entry will examine waterborne bacteria in cooling systems and the effect of Pathex® on these issues.

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PathShield™ Antimicrobial Filter Media Licensed by California for the Reduction of Coliform Bacteria

1/3/2018

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After a multi-year application and evaluation process, PathShield™ water filter media, manufactured in the United States by AS Filtration, LLC, recently earned registration and licensing* as an antimicrobial pesticide by California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR).  AS Filtration understands the high value of our limited water resources and offers a straightforward, cost-effective solution to kill and control harmful waterborne coliform bacteria to increase the beneficial uses of our water.

During the evaluation process, stringent testing verified that PathShield antimicrobial filter media destroys coliform bacteria on contact and is non-toxic, making it an effective solution for reducing and controlling bacteria in stormwater, industrial wastewater, and municipal wastewater.

AS Filtration developed PathShield as a unique stable, non-toxic, non-leaching, non-corrosive product to kill and control waterborne coliform bacteria, virtually eliminating the harmful consequences of conventional oxidizing biocide treatment methods. 

Typical water filtration solutions require multiple stages to be effective to remove solids, like sediment and debris, then chemical treatment to address harmful waterborne bacteria. Water treatment products, like oxidizing biocides, can themselves be harmful to the environment. PathShield, however, filters and treats the water in a single step, without using or releasing toxic chemicals or destructive disinfection byproducts. 

PathShield does more than physically remove debris and bacteria; it kills coliform bacteria that pass through the media. This biocidal action is continuous at high flow rates, with a surface area loading rate up to 20 gallons per minute per square foot. PathShield’s silica granules are considered a drop-in replacement for standard sand filter media, making it an economical solution for stormwater and most wastewater treatment applications.

California has long been recognized as the leader for establishing stringent environmental and consumer protection standards. Achieving both CDPR and U.S.EPA registration is an undeniable testimony that PathShield is an effective and innovative water treatment solution for filtration and bacterial control that can increase the beneficial uses of our water resources. Learn more about the benefits of choosing sustainable water treatment solutions.

For more information, email us at info@asfiltermedia.com or contact us online. 

*CA License number 64076
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