Pilot Testing the Center Port Vessel Design at the Town of Jupiter, Florida

The Town of Jupiter, Florida, is constructing a 17.0 MGD Nanofiltration (NF) plant at its Central Boulevard complex. The Town already operates at this site a 13.7 MGD brackish groundwater RO plant, and a 13.5 MGD lime softening plant, together with a 1.8 MGD ion exchange system, which removes organics from a shallow groundwater side stream for reduction of the THM and HAA formation potential. As part of the planning effort for the NF plant, it was suggested by the Town that investigations be made into the feasibility of utilizing center port vessels for the NF units, since there appeared to be a significant potential for energy savings. As a result of this research, the Town’s four-inch NF pilot unit (traditional vessel configuration) was reconfigured to simulate a center port feed system. The NF pilot unit testing has been successful in that the energy savings of 25-35% predicted. This paper will describe the eight inch pilot operation for both feed modes (center and end) and discusses the operational results, including the decision to incorporate a sand filter as additional pretreatment ahead of the cartridge filter. Translating the pilot data to full scale design is also addressed.

This presentation is available to AMTA Members only.