Evaluating the Applicability of High-Speed Air Flotation Technology for Water Supply: A Case Study in Tianjin Binhai New Area

Abstract

The development and application of advanced water purification technology is crucial to guarantee a sufficient supply of clean water. However, conventional water purification technology consumes large amounts of coagulants, with the formation of intractable sludge. Herein, the applicability of high-speed air flotation technology for the purification of actual water sources was evaluated in Tianjin Binhai New Area. During a three-year survey, the raw water exhibited periodic pollution characteristics with algae cells as the main removal targets in all seasons. The raw water had both low temperatures and low turbidity in winter, another obstacle for water treatment. Based on the scientific analysis of the water’s quality, the water purification process was comprehensively optimized via regulating the dosage of agents and operating parameters and using high-speed air flotation equipment. The results showed that a dissolved air pressure of 0.40 MPa, reflux ratio of 8%, and SUEZ-1# dissolved air release head combined with pre-chlorination with PACl plus FeCl3 (PACl/FeCl3 ratio = 2:1) were suitable for attaining a good purification performance. High turbidity removal rates (80.9–86.2%) and algae cell removal rates (92.5–98.1%) were obtained even in the high algae period of summer and low turbidity period in the winter, proving the superior stability and applicability of the high-speed air flotation system.