Low-head air stripper treats oil tanker ballast water

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Water Environment amp Technology; (United States)

OSTI ID:6444192

Goldman, M ^[1]

---

1. Camp Dresser McKee, Cambridge, MA (United States)

Prototype tests conducted during the winter of 1989/90 have successfully demonstrated an economical design for air stripping volatile hydrocarbons from oily tanker ballast water. The prototype air stripper, developed for Alyeska's Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) facility in Valdez, Alaska, ran continuously for three months with an average removal of 88% of the incoming volatile organics. Initially designed to remove oil and grease compounds from tanker ballast water, the BWT system has been upgraded to a three-step process to comply with new, stringent regulations. The BWT biological oxidation process enhances the growth of bacteria present in the incoming ballast water through nutrient addition, aeration, and recirculation within a complete-mixed bioreactor. The average removal of BETX is over 95%, however, occassional upsets required the placement of a polishing air stripper downstream of the aeration tanks. Packed-tower air stripping was investigated but deemed economically unfeasible for a facility that would only occasionally be used. Twelve feet of excess gravity head in the existing BWT hydraulic gradeline were employed to drive the air stripper feed. This limited the stripper packing depth to 8 feet and imposed constraints on the design of the inlet water and air distributors. Water distribution, air flow, temperature effects, and fouling from constituents in the ballast water were investigated. The prototype was operated under water and air flow conditions similar to those specified for the full-scale unit, and at a range of test conditions above and below the normal design conditions.

• OSTI ID: 6444192
• Journal Information: Water Environment amp Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Water Environment amp Technology; (United States) Vol. 4:2; ISSN WAETEJ; ISSN 1044-9493
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
022000 -- Petroleum-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR FLOW
ALASKA
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLUMN PACKING
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISTRIBUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
FOSSIL FUELS
FOULING
FUELS
GAS FLOW
HYDROCARBONS
LOW PRESSURE
MATTER
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PACKINGS
PETROLEUM
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
REMOVAL
SCRUBBING
SHIPS
TANKER SHIPS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
USA
VOLATILE MATTER
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WATER TREATMENT