Oily Water Separators: Dissolved Air Flotation Units (DAF)

Oily Water Separators
Dissolved Air Flotation Units (DAF).

General
Flotation in general is the process whereby fine air bubbles are introduced into a stream of raw water. These
air bubbles, often with the aid of flocculating chemicals, attach themselves to the impurities, thereby lifting the
suspended particles towards the liquid surface. The combination of flocs and air bubbles forms a froth that is
removed from the liquid surface on a continuous basis.
PRINCIPAL OF OPERATION
In the Dissolved Air flotation (DAF) process, the (very fine) air bubbles are generated by saturating a pressur-
ised partial stream of treated water with air (or gas) and subsequently releasing this stream to atmospheric
pressure.
This is contrary to the process known as Induced Air Flotation, whereby air (or gas) is drawn straight from the
environment above the atmospheric liquid level and is introduced into the raw water solely by mechanical
means such as impellers, air jet nozzles or venture devices. The induced air floatation process generates much
larger air bubbles that the DAF-process and it will sometimes be able to treat the “easy” types of oily water i.e.
containing non-emulsified oil.
However when, as is often the case, the oil is present in the water in the form of a very finely dispersed
emulsion, it is the Dissolved Air Flotation Process, together with adequate chemical conditioning, that will
provide the solution to the problem. During more than 30 years of experience in the treatment of oily water,
Skimovex has developed a tremendous knowledge in designing, engineering and supplying the right D.A.F.
unit for each individual treatment problem.
THE PROCESS
Many processes generate very fine dispersions of oil in water, often taking the appearance of an oil-in-water
emulsion. The minute oil particles are all electrically charged. Due to their like charges, they repel each other
and are unable to agglomerate into large particles. In addition, they cannot be separated by normal gravity
means (such as inclined/titled plate separators) as the gravity forces are overruled by the electrical charge of
the particles. In these situations, the process used to remove the oil from the water will generally consist of the
following treatment steps:
- Coagulation.
- Flocculation.
- Flotation.
Peerless Europe Limited is a subsidiary of Peerless Mfg. Co., Dallas, Texas, USA
Registered Office: Cardinals Court, Bradford Street, Braintree, Essex CM7 9AT, UK. Registration Number 2627558
COAGULATION
This is the process whereby the electrical charge of the particles is neutralised so that they do not repel each
other anymore and are therefore able to conglomerate. This is normally achieved by the addition of chemicals
such as FeCl³ AL (SO4)2 or certain polyelectrolytes, depending on the specific characteristics of the water to be
treated. These chemicals are brought into intimate contact with the oil particles by rapid mixing (normally
1400 RPM) in the coagulation tank, with a typical retention time of around 1 minute. Thereafter the
pre-treated raw water flows by gravity into the flocculation tank.
FLOCCULATION
In this process a flocculant is added. Its main purpose is to provide a relatively large floc which can later be
easily floated by the small air bubbles introduced in the water during the downstream floatation process. By
the dosing of a suitable flocculant (normally a cationic or anionic polyelectrolyte) the coagulated oil particles
are united into large molecular chain-like flocs, together with other impurities.
Contrary to coagulation, the mixing of the flocculants with the raw water is a very delicate process that re-
quires extremely careful mixing in order to:
- Establish gentle contact between the coagulated oil particles and thus to enhance the formation of
the adequate floc size.
- Prevent the shearing of the formed flocs.
The water containing these flocs with the entrained oil particles flows to the flotation basin for the ultimate
removal from the water.
FLOTATION
Skimovex normally uses a rectangular flotation tank of a pre-determined length/depth/width ration where the
flocculated water is mixed with small air bubbles. These air bubbles attach themselves to the flocs, thereby
reducing the density of the impurities. The flocs then float rapidly to the free liquid surface in the flotation
basin, together with the entrained air bubbles, to form a flotation froth-layer that is removed on a continuous
basis by a chain scraper.
In the Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) system, the air bubbles are generated by dissolving air into a partial stream
of the treated water. For this purpose part of the DAF unit effluent water (depending upon the typical applica-
tion the amount of re-circulated water generally varies between 10 and 30%) is pumped into a pressurisation
vessel. During its residence time in this vessel, the air, supplied by a compressor, will dissolve into the water.
From the pressurisation vessel the water flows towards the inlet compartment of the flotation tank.
Just prior to entering the raw water inlet pipe, the pressure is released to atmospheric conditions. At that
moment the air, until then in solution in the water, will come out of solution and forms very time air bubbles
( in the range of 40-60 micron). These then attach themselves to the flocs, which rise to the water surface.
SOME FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE FLOTATION PROCESS
Temperature:
The higher the temperature, the more difficult it is to dissolve the air in the water. Therefore higher tempera-
tures in general will require higher recirculation rates and/or higher recirculation pressure.
Types/Dosing of chemicals:
The selection of the type and dosing rate of the chemicals is extremely important to the overall performance
of the flotation process. Skimovex has the necessary experience to establish the right combination of coagu-
lant/floculant as well as dosing rates. Adding an overdose of poly-electrolyte for example would not only be
uneconomic but would also have the opposite effect in that the intended reaction may not take place at all.
Also some form of pH-adjustment may be required as most poly-electrolytes only react properly in a neutral
environment.
Peerless Europe Limited is a subsidiary of Peerless Mfg. Co., Dallas, Texas, USA
Registered Office: Cardinals Court, Bradford Street, Braintree, Essex CM7 9AT, UK. Registration Number 2627558

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Oily Water Separators

Dissolved Air Flotation Units (DAF).

- Prevent the shearing of the formed flocs.

SOME FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE FLOTATION PROCESS

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