The commercial water filters that businesses choose will significantly affect the quality of their water, and with a growing focus on clean energy and environmental impact, water is more important to companies than ever before. Water contains a variety of minerals, sediments, and harmful microorganisms. These contaminants affect everything from drinkability to equipment longevity.
Because many businesses have higher upfront costs and slower financial returns, investing in filtration for their water systems is an economical way to save energy and ensure their equipment lasts a long time.
Top Types Of Commercial Water Filters
When it comes to water filtration, businesses will have unique needs depending on factors like water source, water system, budget, and maintenance. The number of options available may seem overwhelming, and understandably, the challenge most people face is knowing where to begin. Familiarizing yourself with the available options is a wise first step. Consulting an expert is a critical second step in ensuring that you have access to the most recent and most comprehensive solutions available.
Sand Filtration Solutions
Sand filters are like pasta colanders. However, rather than a perforated bowl, they utilize the pores between granular materials to separate unwanted particulates (turbidity) from water. These commercial water filters are classified based on the media they use for filtration; they may either be single media filters or multimedia filters.
Single media filters, as the name suggests, use one type of media (typically sand). Filtration occurs in the top few inches of the filter bed, as sand pores only stop solids of a certain diameter; particulates less than five microns are small enough to squeeze through with the water.
Multimedia filters differ only in that they contain multiple media, typically anthracite coal, sand, and garnet, which are layered according to decreasing porosity. This multi-layer design allows the entire media bed to function as a filter, rather than just the top few inches. Multiple layers of filtration allow these filters to run for longer periods of time and collect more particles of various sizes per backwashing. Backwashing is a simple self-cleaning mechanism performed by sand filters where water is pumped backward through the media bed to purge it of particulate matter. Once this self-cleaning cycle is complete, the media settles, and filtration resumes.
Closed-Loop Filtration
Compared to open systems, closed-loop systems are easier to maintain, but they are not maintenance free. Closed-loop systems have iron components. If neglected, they may quickly corrode and result in iron deposits.
Unfortunately, without the aid of an expert, it is difficult to see the results of corrosion until the system begins to fail, which often manifests as damaged or ruined equipment. Investing in the right commercial water filter for a closed-loop system is one of the simplest ways to prevent excessive and premature corrosion.
Cartridge & Bag Filtration Systems
Commonly used for closed-loop and potable water systems, a bag filter is a versatile apparatus useful for catching solid particulates as fluid flows through it. Removal of particulates ultimately depends on the pore size of the filter and the number of filters used in one vessel. Bag filters may be used individually or inserted in an array according to decreasing porosity for increased filtration. Disposable and easy to replace, they are particularly ideal for cleanup situations.
Cartridge filters function like bag filters. They differ in a few ways other than their shape, which gives them more surface area, allowing for faster filtration and greater capacity. Manufactured in many different sizes, they are useful for anything from industrial water filtration to beverage filtration. A primary application of both bag and cartridge filters is the removal of protozoan that may have adverse health effects if ingested. However, neither filters are suitable for removing colloids, bacteria, or viruses.
UV Light Filtration
Ultraviolet filters safely remove microorganisms from water without using harmful chemicals. As water flows past UV lamps, it is exposed to ultraviolet energy that alters the DNA of cells in bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. UV energy renders microorganisms harmless by disabling their reproductive abilities.
While UV filters kill 99.99% of living microorganisms, they do not remove turbidity. Turbidity is obstructive and prevents UV light from fully removing microorganisms from water. When used in tandem with other methods, UV energy is an environmentally friendly way to remove harmful agents from water without chemicals.
Call An Experienced Cooling Tower Water Treatment Company
Choosing the right commercial water filtration system may seem like a daunting task. There are a host of factors to consider before making an informed decision, including particle size and quantity, water system, cost, maintenance, and return on investment.
Tower Water is committed to helping businesses engineer, install, and maintain cost-effective filtration solutions that increase overall efficiency. As firm believers in the superiority of mechanical over chemical solutions, Tower Water partners with businesses to determine the mechanical filtration solutions that will best suit your needs. Schedule a consultation today and rest easy; your water is in good hands.
