H2O Innovation commissions pathfinding Indian membrane plant

Canada’s H2O Innovation announced on 31 January 2011 that its Indian joint venture, H2O Innovation India Ltd, had commissioned the 7,000 m³/d membrane water treatment system it had designed for Larsen & Toubro Heavy Engineering (L&T) in Gujarat state.

The company designed, assembled, and installed the plant for L&T’s nuclear forging facility in Hazira, Surat Metropolitan Region.

Combining state-of-the-art ultrafiltration UF) and reverse-osmosis (RO) technologies, this water treatment and reuse system is unique in India. The Tapi river water purified by the plant is then used as process water for the steel forging facility, but subsidiary treatment systems have also been provided for steam boilers, compressors and cooling towers.

The H20 Innovation system’s global recovery rate reaches 90%, which reduces losses in this arid region of India. The system uses Amiad automatic pre-filters, Dow PVDF UF membranes and Hydranautics high-tech ESPA2-LD RO membranes with low fouling potential.

As well as occupying limited space thanks to its integrated and optimized design, the system provides a quiet operation. In order to reduce noise produced by the system, H 2O Innovation India’s and L&T’s engineers have installed the feed and recirculation pumps below ground level – a novel practice in India.

“We are very proud that H2O Innovation India has commissioned this world-class water treatment system for Larsen & Toubro, a most admired Indian company”, stated Guillaume Clairet, vice president, strategic business development of H2O Innovation. “I am really grateful to L&T’s managers who have not hesitated to trust us from the beginning.

“The technology transfer between H2O Innovation and our Indian joint-venture has been instrumental for the execution of this project, and it will remain a key factor for our future achievements in India.”