Wilo wins Germany sustainability award
The Wilo Group was awarded the renowned 2018 National German Sustainability Award in Düsseldorf as one of the top three of "Germany’s most sustainable large companies 2018." The prize was awarded at an event attended by approximately 2,000 guests, including representatives from research, politics and business. Wilo won over the jury for its emphasis on resource-saving high-efficiency product portfolio and the holistic approach of the globally active group. In 2001, Wilo invented the first high-efficiency pump, which continues to meet the ever-higher EU benchmark. In 2017, further innovations followed: Wilo presented the Wilo-Stratos MAXO, which is the first smart pump in the world. Another aspect was the building of a new headquarters under the project name Campus 2020, where Wilo also internally focused on energy efficiencies by using particularly efficient building equipment. In addition, the “smart factory” production site, which belongs to the campus, will be powered entirely by "green" electricity from a captive photovoltaic system. At the Dortmund production site, resource efficiency is also on the increase. It is possible to remove the permanent magnets from pumps and recycle valuable raw materials, such as rare earth elements.
SUEZ supplies wastewater treatment equipment to Bashneft
Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim refinery, a Rosneft-affiliated company, inaugurated its biological treatment plant Bashneft key nature protection facility — the world’s largest industrial facility using membrane bioreactor (MBR) and electrodialysis reversal (EDR) technologies. The facilities in Ufa, Russia, will treat up to 84 million liters of wastewater per day, unprecedented for industrial wastewater treatment, employing advanced technologies and enabling water reuse. SUEZ supplied its MBR membranes, EDR and reverse osmosis (RO) equipment to the Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim biological treatment plant and will provide services as part of a 15-year long-term service contract to ensure reliable operation of equipment and an uninterrupted, guaranteed replacement of membranes. The SUEZ MBR technology improves treatment efficiency by passing water through microscopic pores of membranes, removing impurities and microorganisms. Further treatment is performed with SUEZ EDR, RO and ion exchange technologies to ensure treated wastewater compliance with the toughest discharge and reuse regulations and to minimize waste stream disposal. SUEZ is also providing advanced asset performance management through its platform that combines data and analytics to maximize performance, minimize unplanned downtime, lower operating costs and deliver better business outcomes.
UWC helps LNG plant save water and lower costs
A Middle Eastern liquid natural gas (LNG) facility can conserve around 3 million gallons of treated water daily by following recommendations from a water operations audit conducted by United Water Consultants (UWC), completed in early 2017. The lower water demand would also decrease the plant’s seawater desalination costs. In this project, Dr. L. Fred Roensch, a founding principal of UWC, identified strategies to save an estimated 20 percent of its annual water treatment costs by adjusting the plant’s operation and water treatment, including the condensate system and boiler water pretreatment. The audit also recommended adjusting the cooling water chemistry to improve corrosion and microbiological control. Paul Puckorius, another of UWC’s founding principals, said the treatment modifications would provide the LNG facility with greater protection of its assets and improve plant reliability. He noted that the study involved a thorough examination of the facility’s overall water systems, including seawater desalination, in addition to a review of the current approach to pretreatment, boiler and cooling water treatment, and water usage. UWC also has several consulting projects underway in the U.S., including a power plant and a cooling water compressor station.