Recarbonation System Replacement at Omaha MUD

After recently completing a major plant improvement project, facility managers at the Omaha Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) were still searching for improvements in performance of its current recarbonation system. Despite the capital costs invested in a competing technology, plant staff opted to pilot BlueInGreen’s CDOX® solution in order to lower water usage and power requirements of the recarbonation process. With a design flow of approximately 158 MGD, the facility needed a system capable of stabilizing pH levels within three minutes as well as significantly reducing plant operational costs.

METHOD

The CDOX utilizes the world’s most efficient method of dissolving carbon dioxide into water, saving on power, water and other operational expenses. Rather than using inefficient bubble diffusers or static mixers, the CDOX uses a proprietary process to dissolve high concentrations of carbon dioxide into a small carrier stream, providing precise pH adjustment at a fraction of the cost.

Ultimately, BlueInGreen piloted its state-of-the-art dissolution technology and impressed plant staff with the quality of engineering design and manufacturing, as well as after-install service and support. The pilot was so successful that plant staff - alongside the consulting team at HDR - decided to turn off the competing system and purchase the CDOX technology in order to capitalize on BlueInGreen’s streamlined treatment method.

RESULTS

Using piping that was 60 percent narrower than the competitor’s system (down from 10 to 4 inches), the CDOX reduced the required carrier stream and pumping costs by 90 percent (down from 2,020 to 210 gallons per minute) at average conditions and also lowered carbon dioxide usage by 24 percent (down from 595 to 450 pounds per hour) while effectively stabilizing pH levels within the required three-minute span. In addition to the savings, the CDOX provided operational flexibility for plant staff through industry-leading remote monitoring and control.

The CDOX is projected to save $91,000 annually, providing complete project payback within a few years. Had the initial improvement project been designed around the CDOX, an estimated $500,000 could have been saved in installation costs alone.

With a dramatic decrease in water costs and energy usage, the recarbonation replacement project was deemed a success by the plant managers at Omaha MUD as well as the consultants at HDR.

BlueInGreen is exhibiting at AWWA’s ACE16 expo in Booth 533.