On-Site Water System Chlorine Gas – A Comprehensive Guide to Design and Installation

Designing an on-site water system requires careful consideration of chlorine gas handling. A key factor is the chlorine gas concentration, which should be between 0.5 and 2.5 parts per million (ppm) for effective disinfection.

The type of chlorine gas used is also crucial, with sodium hypochlorite being a popular choice due to its ease of handling and storage. It's a liquid solution that's typically stored in a 55-gallon drum.

The installation of the on-site water system should be done by a qualified professional, who will ensure that all safety protocols are followed. This includes wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling chlorine gas.

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Chlorine gas has been the predominant chemical for water disinfection for over 100 years, with the first chlorinator installed in New York by Charles F. Wallace and Martin F. Tiernan.

The most economic disinfectant available is supplied as gaseous or liquid chlorine, and can be delivered in cylinders or ton containers. Chlorine gas is safe to use with an all-vacuum dosing operation and accurate V-Notch flow control technology.

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A remote vacuum-operated gas feeder is used to prepare a chlorine solution on-site by dosing the chlorine gas into the process water. This system includes manual and automatic dosing control options, and automatic detection and shut-down in the event of an accidental gas release.

Here are some common types of gas feed systems:

The Tai Po Water Treatment Works is a great example of a facility that relies on chlorine gas systems to disinfect and purify water. Located in Hong Kong, it's one of the largest water treatment plants in the territory.

The works use a combination of coagulation, sedimentation, and filtration to remove impurities from the water, but chlorine gas is essential for killing bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause waterborne illnesses.

In fact, the Tai Po Water Treatment Works uses a chlorine gas dosing system to add the right amount of chlorine to the water at the right time, ensuring that the water is safe to drink.

The works can treat up to 1.4 million cubic meters of water per day, and the chlorine gas system plays a crucial role in maintaining the high quality of the treated water.

Chlorine gas is a widely used disinfectant in water treatment due to its effectiveness and cost efficiency, making it an ideal choice for large-scale water treatment plants like Tai Po.

Chlorine gas has been the go-to disinfectant for water treatment for over 100 years, thanks to pioneers like Charles F. Wallace and Martin F. Tiernan who installed the first chlorinator in New York.

One of the key benefits of using chlorine gas is its economic efficiency - it's the most cost-effective disinfectant available, supplied as either a gas or liquid in cylinders or ton containers.

The remote vacuum-operated gas feeder is a crucial component of the system, allowing for accurate and reliable dosing of chlorine gas into the process water. This is made possible by the V-Notch flow control technology.

The Wallace & Tiernan Emergency Shutoff Drive is an additional safety measure that provides an extra layer of protection for chlorine gas applications.

Here are some options for gas feed systems:

The Gas Pressure Reducing Valve is an essential component of gas-handling systems, providing an automatically regulated output and a positive manual shut-off. It's a heavy-duty, spring-loaded diaphragm valve that's designed to handle varying gas pressures.

Installing a chlorine gas system requires careful consideration of hydraulic conditions. All distribution line pressure, booster pump suction and discharge piping size must be thoroughly reviewed to ensure proper installation.

A booster pump must be sized to provide sufficient water flow and pressure for ejector operation. This is crucial for the system to function properly.

The chlorination system must take its suction and discharge downstream from the check valve. This is a critical requirement for safe and effective operation.

A corporation cock assembly is recommended when the line cannot be isolated and drained for service. This allows for easy maintenance and repair.

Automatic switchover is recommended to provide 100% standby. This ensures that the system remains operational even in the event of a power outage or equipment failure.

Some key features to consider when installing a gas chlorinator include:

All manufacturer operating and servicing instructions should be met by the utility. This ensures that the system is installed and maintained correctly.

Training on the use of all safety equipment is a must, including gas masks and escape masks as well as the Chlorine Institute Emergency Kit.

Chlorine safety is a common concern, but the reality is often misunderstood.

The perception that chlorine gas is unsafe has been fueled by recent headlines and incidents involving explosive devices and chlorine containers in Iraq.

Between 60 and 65% of chlorine release incidents reported in the news media were actually hypochlorite-based, not chlorine gas.

All forms of chlorine can create dangerous conditions, including on-site generation of chlorine and the use of calcium hypochlorite, which can be a potential fire hazard.

Sodium hypochlorite can release chlorine gas when mixed with other chemicals or exposed to heat.

In fact, there are more incidents of injury at water plants from hypochlorite exposure than from chlorine gas, often due to operating personnel having easy access to hypochlorite and treating it with less respect than chlorine gas.

On-site chlorine generation systems like Klorigen produce chlorine at atmospheric pressure, eliminating the need for transportation, storage, and handling of pressurized chlorine gas.

These systems also produce chlorine on demand, reducing the amount of chlorine gas present in the system to as little as 1-2 pounds per 2,500 pounds of daily generation capacity.

The Klorigen system is certified as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology by the United States Department of Homeland Security due to its inherent safety features.

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Installing an on-site chlorine generation system can result in lower costs and fewer disinfection byproducts compared to traditional methods.

Traditional usage of chlorine gas for disinfection is associated with high shipping and insurance costs due to government regulations, risk of a terrorist attack or accident, and the overall risk of transporting, storing, and handling pressurized chlorine gas.

The cost of production for on-site chlorine generation is determined by the prevailing prices of the system's raw inputs, primarily salt, water, and electricity.

The initial upfront investment in equipment is often offset by the lower cost of production over time, making on-site chlorine generation a cost-effective solution.

Sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda, is produced in the on-site chlorine gas generation process as a co-product, providing a significant cost-benefit to users.

The production of caustic soda can significantly defray from the chlorine production costs, making on-site chlorine generation an attractive option for water treatment plants.

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To determine the chlorine requirement, you need to establish the demand and residual needs of your well or underground water source. Most wells have a chlorine demand from dissolved metals, organic compounds, sulphides, and bacteria.

The total demand can be determined in a utility's laboratory or an independent laboratory. Once you know the demand and residual requirements, you can calculate the dosage by adding the demand and residual.

A simple calculation can quickly determine the quantity of chlorine required. The formula is: M³/h x g/M³ = g/h.

Assuming a well has a pumping rate of 400 M³/h and requires a dosage of 1 g/M³ or 1 mg/L, the chlorine feed rate is 400 grams per hour.