Nictech and Procon assist petrochemical company in reducing pollution
Nictech Electrical Enterprises has assisted a large South African petrochemical company in reducing wastage in its washbays by installing an Ultraspin vehicle wash water reclaim system that is exclusively available in the local market through Procon Environmental Technologies.
Johannesburg-based Nictech specialises in petrochemical and hazardous installations, and the company’s scope of work ranges from the design, manufacture and installation of motor control centre (MCC) substations, to general industrial lighting and distribution, metering, gauging and safety and emergency systems.
Nictech’s managing director Leo Morais points out that the company was awarded a contract to undertake a number of installations for this petrochemical client, which included the installation and commissioning of an environmentally-friendly vehicle wash water reclaim system at its vehicle washbay in Bloemfontein, Free State, in April 2012.
He says: “Environmental laws in South Africa are becoming increasingly-stringent and, as a result, petrochemical companies are required to ensure that their depots are cleaner. The petrochemical company has its own fleet of trucks, which they clean and maintain in private washbays. The challenge faced was that large amounts of fuel remained in the separator pit, and the Procon water reclaim system was required to separate the solids and liquids, before pumping the clean water into a tank for reuse.”
According to Mr. Morais, Nictech selected Procon as its product supplier of choice, by strong referral from a reputable consulting engineers firm due to the company’s strong reputation for being an industry leader in the local environmental market. “Procon boasts the most comprehensive scope of environmental products and technologies in South Africa, and was a natural first choice as a supplier to this project. “
Procon chief environmental engineer Jacques Steyn notes that the Ultraspin vehicle wash water reclaim system works in three simple stages. “The first stage of the system removes light contaminants such as oil and wax, while the second stage removes finely dispersed solids from the water,” he explains.
The third and final stage of treatment has two primary purposes, namely; the removal of any remaining contaminants and to aerate the water. Steyn continues: “Separation of particles takes place by floatation as the air bubbles attach to the contaminants and float out. During the aeration process, the system creates tiny bubbles to ensure maximum take-up of the oxygen in the water, which keeps it fresh smelling and aerobic.”
The Ultraspin separator works on a simple principle, whereby the oily water is pumped tangentially into the large diameter end of the separator, which initiates a spinning vortex. “This spinning vortex is accelerated as it moves down the tapered separation tube, transporting the heavier water to the outside walls, while the lighter oil moves to the centre. The separated oil is then removed via a hole in the separator end face, and the treated water is discharged out the other end of the tube.”
Unlike plate pack style separators, Steyn notes that the Ultraspin separator does not rely on weak gravity forces for separation. “The centrifugal force generated inside the vortex of the Ultraspin separator is around 1 000 times the force of gravity. With such force, even emulsified oil droplets can be separated. The hydro cyclone technology is able to remove 95% of 10-15 micron oil droplets from the water, ultimately resulting in an 85% water saving strategy, which eliminates the potential hydrocarbon pollution that can occur downstream without such a system.”
Mr. Morais highlights the fact that the installation process lasted approximately one week. “The installation was swift and efficient, and Procon provided us with all the necessary support and expertise to ensure that the entire process caused minimal disruption to the operation. What’s more, Procon offer to make themselves available for support and advice on an around-the-clock basis, if needed.”
Looking ahead, Mr. Morais is confident of the future outlook for Nictech. “As Health and Safety laws continue to play a more prominent role in the local petrochemical industry, leading companies in this sector are continuously looking to shift towards safer and more efficient systems. Nictech has placed itself as a frontrunner in this regard, having gained more than 35 years of experience and expertise in providing high quality electrical services to the petrochemical industry” he concludes.
Ends
Notes to the Editor
There are numerous photographs specific to this press release. Please visit http://media.ngage.co.za and click the Procon Environmental Technologies link.
About Procon Environmental Technologies
Today more than ever before it is the responsibility of companies and their employees to be aware of pollution and its environmental consequences. While the first principle of environmental management is that prevention is better than cure, accidents and spills do happen. It is for this reason that Procon Environmental Technologies was established in 1993. We offer a full scope of Environmental Products & Technologies, specializing in systems that minimize the impact of contamination on the environment and surrounding areas. The company has secured exclusive partnerships with international companies that are world leaders in their field of expertise.
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