1. Case Basic Information
1.1 Company Overview
Hella Water Treatment Equipment Technology Co., Ltd. is a leading provider of large-scale seawater desalination solutions, specializing in integrated systems combining air flotation, ultrafiltration (UF), and reverse osmosis (RO) technologies. With over 20 years of industry experience, the company adheres to international standards (ISO, ASME, ASTM) and offers end-to-end services from project design, equipment supply, to on-site installation and after-sales support. Its systems are deployed globally for municipal water supply, industrial production, and coastal community use. For more seawater desalination solutions, visit [desalination].
1.2 Project Background
This project is located in Maricá, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), aiming to address local fresh water scarcity by converting seawater into potable water. The system has a total seawater intake capacity of 600 L/s (51,840 m³/day) and produces 300 L/s (25,920 m³/day) of drinking water, with the remaining concentrated brine properly discharged. The core process includes air flotation pretreatment, UF, seawater RO (SWRO), brackish water RO (BWRO), and mineralization, ensuring compliance with Brazilian potable water standards.
1.3 Raw Water & Target Water Quality Data
Raw Water Quality (Seawater)
| Parameter | Value Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) | 35,000-38,000 | ppm |
| Conductivity | 55,000-60,000 | μS/cm |
| pH | 7.5-8.5 | pH |
| Turbidity | 3-10 | NTU |
| Chlorides (Cl⁻) | 18,000-20,000 | mg/L |
| Suspended Solids (SS) | 10-30 | mg/L |
| Bacteria Count | 10³-10⁵ | CFU/mL |
Target Water Quality (Potable Water)
| Parameter | Standard Value | Unit | Compliance Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TDS | ≤500 | mg/L | Brazilian potable water standard (NBR 12934) |
| Conductivity | ≤800 | μS/cm | – |
| Turbidity | ≤0.5 | NTU | – |
| pH | 6.5-8.5 | pH | – |
| Chlorides (Cl⁻) | ≤250 | mg/L | – |
| Bacteria Count | Not Detected | CFU/mL | – |
| Desalination Rate | ≥98% | – | – |
| Mineral Content (Ca/Mg) | 50-100 mg/L (as CaCO₃) | – | Optimal for drinking |
2. Core Pain Points and Requirements of the Project
2.1 Raw Water Quality Pain Points
- High Salinity and Conductivity: TDS up to 38,000 ppm requires high-efficiency desalination to meet drinking water standards.
- Turbidity and Suspended Solids: SS and turbidity cause membrane fouling, reducing RO system efficiency and lifespan.
- Microbial Contamination: Seawater contains bacteria and algae that pose health risks and membrane fouling threats.
- Scaling Risk: High chloride and hardness levels lead to RO membrane scaling, requiring effective pretreatment and dosing.
- Corrosiveness: High salt content is corrosive to equipment, demanding corrosion-resistant materials.
2.2 Project Operation Requirements
- Output Capacity: 300 L/s (25,920 m³/day) of potable water, with seawater intake 600 L/s (51,840 m³/day).
- Recovery Efficiency: SWRO recovery rate ≥45%, overall system recovery rate ≥50%.
- Pretreatment Performance: Air flotation + UF ensures RO inlet SDI ≤1, turbidity ≤0.1 NTU.
- Automation Level: Fully automatic PLC control with remote monitoring; 24/7 continuous operation.
- Durability: Corrosion-resistant materials (SS2205, SS304, FRP) for long-term seawater exposure.
- Environmental Compliance: Concentrated brine discharge meets Brazilian marine environmental regulations.
- Design Service Life: 15 years, with RO membrane replacement cycle 3-5 years.
3. Hella Water Customized Solutions
3.1 System Model and Core Configuration
Hella Water provides the HLDES-26KT Large-Scale Seawater Desalination System, integrating air flotation, UF, SWRO, BWRO, mineralization, and sludge dewatering modules. The detailed configuration is as follows:
| No. | Part Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seawater Intake System | Seawater pump station (4 pumps, Q=600 L/s total) + intake pipeline |
| 2 | Pretreatment System | Air flotation system (6 sets of flocculating agitators, 4 recirculation pumps) + UF system (8040-type UF membranes, 912 pieces total) |
| 3 | Dosing Systems | PAC/PAM dosing (4 diaphragm metering pumps, 1 PAM preparation device) + scale inhibitor/reducing agent dosing for RO protection |
| 4 | RO Desalination System | SWRO system (4,826 total components, including high-pressure pumps, 8040-type RO membranes) + BWRO system (533 total components) |
| 5 | Mineralization System | 6,888 total components for adjusting mineral content (Ca/Mg) to potable standards |
| 6 | Sludge Treatment System | Sludge dewatering system (20 total components) + submersible sewage pumps |
| 7 | Cleaning System | Membrane chemical cleaning system (31 components for CIP cleaning) + neutralizing tank |
| 8 | Control & Auxiliary | PLC control system + field control station (93 components) + air compressor system (15 components) + product water conditioning tank |
For more details on reverse osmosis systems, visit [reverse osmosis].
3.2 Key Technical Parameters of HLDES-26KT
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Seawater Intake Capacity | 600 L/s (51,840 m³/day) |
| Potable Water Output | 300 L/s (25,920 m³/day) |
| SWRO Recovery Rate | ≥45% |
| UF Membrane Pore Size | 0.01 μm |
| RO Desalination Rate | ≥98% |
| Operating Pressure (SWRO) | 5.5-6.5 MPa |
| Total Installed Power | ~3,500 kW |
| Power Supply | 380V/3P/50Hz |
| Design Service Life | 15 years |
| Project Start Time | October 2025 |
| Delivery Term | CIF Maricá, Brazil |
3.3 Process Design
3.3.1 Pretreatment Process
- Air Flotation System: Removes SS, turbidity, and algae via flocculation (PAC/PAM dosing) and air bubble separation; 6 sets of agitators (1.5 kW each) and 4 recirculation pumps (55 kW each) ensure efficiency.
- UF System: 8040-type UF membranes (912 pieces) with 92% recovery rate, removing colloids and residual suspended solids; automatic backwashing. For pre-treatment systems, see [pre treatment filtration system].
3.3.2 Core RO Desalination
- SWRO System: Deep desalination of UF-treated seawater (TDS ~38,000 ppm) to TDS ≤1,000 ppm; high-pressure pumps provide 5.5-6.5 MPa pressure.
- BWRO System: Further reduces TDS to ≤500 ppm, meeting potable water standards; recovery rate ≥85%.
3.3.3 Post-Treatment & Control
- Mineralization System: Adds controlled amounts of Ca/Mg minerals to improve water taste and meet drinking water mineral requirements.
- Chemical Dosing: Scale inhibitor prevents RO membrane scaling; reducing agent removes residual chlorine. For chemical dosing systems, see [chemical dosing system].
- PLC Control: Automates pump operation, backwashing, CIP cleaning, and brine discharge; remote monitoring enables real-time status tracking and fault alerts.
4. Project Effect Verification
4.1 Produced Water Quality Test Results
| Parameter | Raw Water Value | Produced Water Value | Removal Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| TDS | 38,000 ppm | ≤500 ppm | ≥98.7% |
| Turbidity | 8 NTU | ≤0.5 NTU | ≥93.8% |
| Chlorides (Cl⁻) | 20,000 mg/L | ≤250 mg/L | ≥98.8% |
| Bacteria Count | 10⁴ CFU/mL | Not Detected | 100% |
| Conductivity | 60,000 μS/cm | ≤800 μS/cm | ≥98.7% |
| pH | 8.2 | 7.2 | – |
4.2 System Operation Performance
- Stability: Continuous 72-hour test shows water output fluctuation ≤±2%, TDS stable at ≤450 ppm.
- Recovery Efficiency: SWRO recovery rate reaches 47%, overall system recovery rate 50%, exceeding design requirements.
- Pretreatment Effect: Air flotation + UF reduces SDI to ≤1, turbidity to ≤0.1 NTU, protecting RO membranes from fouling.
- Energy Efficiency: Equipped with energy recovery devices, reducing power consumption to ~1.5 kWh/m³ of potable water.
- Environmental Compliance: Concentrated brine is diluted and discharged offshore, meeting Brazilian marine environmental standards.
4.3 Compliance and Application
- Standards Compliance: Meets Brazilian potable water standard (NBR 12934), ISO 9001 quality management, and ASME membrane system standards.
- Case Validation: Similar systems deployed in coastal Brazilian projects have achieved 99% operational availability and customer satisfaction ≥96%. For industrial water filtration solutions, visit [industrial water filtration].
5. Case Corresponding Product Quotation Description
5.1 Main Equipment Quotation (Estimated)
| Item | Model | Qty | Total Price (USD) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Flotation System | – | 1 | 850,000 | Includes agitators, recirculation pumps, dosing systems, and sludge scrapers |
| UF System | – | 1 | 1,200,000 | 912 UF membranes, pumps, and control components |
| SWRO + BWRO Systems | – | 1 | 4,800,000 | High-pressure pumps, 4,826 SWRO components, 533 BWRO components |
| Mineralization & Sludge Dewatering | – | 1 | 750,000 | Mineralization system (6,888 components) + sludge dewatering equipment |
| Control & Auxiliary Equipment | – | 1 | 400,000 | PLC control, field control station, air compressors, and storage tanks |
| Total Estimated Price | – | – | 8,000,000 | CIF Maricá, Brazil; includes equipment, packaging, and sea freight |
5.2 Terms & Conditions
| Term Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Payment Term | T/T: 30% deposit, 40% during equipment production, 20% before shipment, 10% after commissioning |
| Lead Time | 180 days from receipt of deposit (design + production + delivery) |
| Warranty | 12 months from commissioning; free repair/replacement for non-human-induced failures |
| Installation & Training | On-site installation and operator training included; free online technical support for 5 years |
| Validity of Quotation | 120 days from proposal submission |
| Taxes | Includes PIS/COFINS (Brazilian taxes) |
5.3 Annual Consumables Cost (Estimated)
| Consumable Name | Specification | Annual Consumption | Annual Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UF Membranes (10% replacement) | 8040-type | 91 pieces | 91,000 |
| RO Membranes (10% replacement) | 8040-type | 536 pieces | 536,000 |
| PAC/PAM/Dosing Chemicals | Industrial grade | 50 tons | 65,000 |
| Filter Elements | Precision filter (5μm) | 500 pieces | 15,000 |
| Cleaning Agents | CIP cleaning chemicals | 20 tons | 30,000 |
| Total | – | – | 737,000 |
6. Common Questions (FAQ)
6.1 Maintenance and Consumables
Q1: How often do key membranes need to be replaced?A1: UF membranes (3-4 years), RO membranes (3-5 years). Consumables like filter elements (3-6 months) and chemicals (monthly replenishment) depend on operation intensity. For replacement parts, visit [accessory supporting equipment].
Q2: What is the CIP cleaning frequency for RO membranes?A2: Recommended every 3-6 months under normal operation; triggered automatically by transmembrane pressure (TMP) increase or water quality fluctuation.
6.2 Warranty and Support
Q1: What is covered under the warranty?A1: The 12-month warranty includes manufacturing defects in equipment (pumps, membranes, control system). Consumables and human-induced damages are excluded.
Q2: Can Hella Water provide technical support in Brazil?A2: Yes. Local technical support teams are available for on-site maintenance; 24/7 online support ensures quick fault resolution.
6.3 Installation and Operation
Q1: What preparations are required before installation?A1: The customer needs to prepare a flat installation site (≥500㎡), stable power supply (380V/3P/50Hz), and seawater intake/discharge pipelines.
Q2: How to handle concentrated brine discharge?A2: Brine is diluted with seawater and discharged 300-500 meters offshore, complying with Brazilian environmental regulations to avoid marine ecosystem impact.
6.4 System Performance
Q1: Can the system adapt to seasonal changes in seawater quality?A1: Yes. The adaptive dosing system and variable frequency pumps adjust parameters to handle fluctuations in turbidity, TDS, and temperature.
Q2: What is the system’s operational availability?A2: Designed for 99% operational availability, with redundant components (e.g., standby pumps) to minimize downtime.
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