In addition to global issues, such as the impacts of climate change on the availability of clean water, the need for increased environmental protections, rising energy prices, and challenges related to ageing infrastructure, pollution, and microplastics, many companies also face additional local or regional challenges.

These local issues can take many forms, from the UK’ s recently published review by the Independent Water Commission to the European Commission’ s European Water Resilience Strategy, which calls for a 10 per cent reduction in water use by member States by 2030.

In the United States, the Safe Drinking Water Act( SDWA) regulations direct public utilities to install perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance( PFAS) treatment upgrades to their systems by 2029.

However, these different demands all provide additional impetus to maximise energy and resource efficiency at every opportunity.

Sources suggest that water and wastewater systems account for approximately four per cent of global electricity consumption( primarily for pumping), and with average electricity prices having risen by up to a third since 2021, this has substantial financial, environmental, and climate impacts.

EFFICIENT HEAT EXCHANGERS

It is easy to look at regional or national communications around water and to think that many of the issues and challenges are unique to your local situation.

However, as a global company, HRS Heat Exchangers recognises that, while there are differences in the organisation and legislation of water supply and treatment around the world, many operators in this sector, whether public or private, face similar strategic issues.

Globally, the water industry has made significant strides in improving efficiency and continues to do so; however, it is essential to encompass all aspects of operation, rather than focusing solely on the more obvious areas, such as pumps or leaks.

One of the easiest ways to improve the efficiency of thermal processes such as evaporation is by recapturing heat.

By MATT HALE

Global Key Account Director, HRS Heat Exchangers

EFFICIENT: Heat exchangers, such as the HRS Unicus Series, can be a very efficient means of evaporation

Heat exchangers represent the most efficient way to achieve this, as they can have less than half the heat requirement of other systems, such as tanks with heating jackets.

PROCESS EFFICIENCY

Furthermore, a well-designed heat exchanger system could recover and reuse 40 per cent of the heat produced by a wastewater AD plant, for example.

HRS Heat Exchangers provides heat exchangers, evaporators, pasteurisers, and other systems for wastewater treatment and anaerobic digestion( AD) facilities worldwide.

These include corrugated tube heat exchangers, designed explicitly for highfouling sludges, such as the HRS DTI Series of Double Tube Heat Exchangers, and unique scraped surface designs, including the Unicus Series, which uses a reciprocal action to minimise potential fouling and create turbulence within the

WELL-DESIGNED: Heat exchanger systems can recover and reuse 40 per cent of its heat input

CHALLENGING: The water sector faces hurdles locally and globally

material.

Both actions help increase heat transfer rates, and together they create a highly efficient heat transfer process ideal for high-fouling, viscous materials like sludges.

In addition, the HRS Digestate Concentration System( DCS) and HRS Digestate Pasteurisation System( DPS) have been developed as complete solutions for maximising the value of digestate and sludges.

The DCS reduces the volume of digestate and sludge by removing up to 80 per cent of the water, while increasing its value in most situations by utilising surplus heat from a CHP engine or biogas boiler, combined with efficient multieffect evaporation technology.

The DPS pasteurises digestates and sludges pre- or post-digestion, maximising overall process efficiency while meeting global regulatory standards( such as PAS110 and Animal By-Product regulations in the UK).- @ green