GE P&W ABMet for Selenium Removal - Manual (Page 3)

What is included in the
ABM et equipment package?
GE’s equipment package includes: process,
mechanical, electrical, and control
engineering; process valves, instruments
and pumps; MCC and programed PLC/HMI;
air compressor system, nutrient dosing skid,
biofilter, storage tank, equipment warranty,
biological support media, seed culture,
first-fill of nutrient and onsite commissioning.
Is GE’s Seed Culture
harmful?
No. The seed culture contains non-pathogenic,
naturally occurring Class 1 bacteria. These
species are commonly found in natural
environments such as pond water and
garden soil.
Do I need to reseed the
plant or maintain a backup
supply of the seed culture?
Microbes form a fixed-film on the support
media and as a result do not wash out of the
system as they do in suspended-growth
systems. As a result, reseeding and
maintaining a backup supply of the seed
culture is not required. If customers
want to have a backup supply of seed
culture, GE can offer storage programs
when requested.
What are the typical power
and overall operating
costs of an ABM et system?
Typical power consumption is less than
0.5 kW per 1,000 gallons treated (0.13
kW per m
3 treated). Overall operating
costs typically range between $0.1 to
$0.5 per 1,000 gallons of water treated.
What is the lifespan of
the support media?
Since the support media’s sole
purpose is to support the fixed-film
created by the microbes and is not for
treatment purposes, it doesn’t need
to be replaced or regenerated. Less
than 1% attrition is expected in most
applications due to backwashing and
one small top-up may be required
within the first 5-years of operation.
How quickly can ABM et
be implemented?
The timeline is highly dependent upon the
nature of the site as well as overall treatment
goals, but ABMet’s modular approach
provides the fastest possible implementation
with pre-fabricated tanks, pump skids and
pre-engineered layouts to suit your needs.
How do I know if ABM et
is the right solution
for my application?
ABMet is an option in all applications requiring
selenium removal. A GE representative
can assist you in further qualifying the
technology for your specific requirements.
How do ABM et capital
costs compare with other
biological systems?
ABMet provides selenium removal with
one simple step. Other biological systems
require numerous unit operations to
remove selenium and keep organics below
discharge limits. This is because these
systems only transform selenium from one
form to another (selenate to elemental Se)
and then rely on other unit operations to
remove the elemental selenium along with
TSS and organics. With ABMet, selenium
is transformed, captured and removed all
within the biofilter while keeping TSS and
organics below most discharge limits.
Does backwashing of the
biofilter upset performance?
Periodically backwashing the biofilter
keeps the fixed-film healthy by removing
excess biomass. Removal through the
waste stream is independent of the effluent
stream. This separation makes sure that
effluent quality is not compromised due
to backwashing. Other systems such
as fluidized bed reactors constantly
backwash. The biomass and other
particulates, such as elemental selenium,
are dislodged and removed from the
reactor through the effluent stream placing
pressure on downstream systems to clean
it up before discharging to the environment.
What are the waste
handling requirements?
ABMet produces one waste stream
typically with less than 0.5% solids that
can be sent to existing waste handling
systems and the supernatant recycled
through the plant. Other biological
systems that require multiple unit
operations to remove selenium will
have several different waste streams
that require handling and processing.
Contact our team of global experts for more
information or a plant specific presentation.
Global Headquarters
4636 Somerton Road
Trevose, PA 19053 USA
Tel. +1 215 355 3300
www.gewater.com
This information herein may be subject to change without
notice and is provided for general guidance only. The
dimensions and performance of systems, products and
services may vary. Pictures are for example purposes and
not to scale. All legal obligations are exclusively as set
out in contractual documents. Nothing contained herein
constitutes a representation, warranty or undertaking.
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Copyright © 2013, General Electric Company. All rights reserved.
GEA30693 (08/2013)