Happy are they at SeaLife in London. The iconic aquarium's water quality improved significantly since SaveMyAquarium's collaborating parties tackled the systems there. The first four Life Support Systems (LSS) received a total refit in four weeks. Among the results were huge energy savings.
'‘Yes, this was a wonderful project of course, in an iconic location, near the London Eye,’' says Harald Matien. Together with Mark Smeenk, he was responsible for the installation and automation from RDW Processing. ''We had already done similar projects at Blijdorp Zoo. They were impressed with that in London, so after ATO Energysaving's report and recommendations, RDW Processing, after a brief introduction, was able to get to work there as well.''
In SeaLife's aquarium, as in Blijdorp, old systems of a type widely used worldwide were running. We know that system well by now,‘’ Matien says. We know where the weak spots are and thus the points for improvement, which we then include in the ‘refit’ of the filtration system. In combination with new energy-efficient pumps, a different filter media and the automation of the whole, the systems are again ready for many years of operation.‘’
For the “refit” projects, the energy-efficient ARBO pumps, high-quality +GF+ valves are used and PVC piping is replaced with durable PE material. The filter media in the sand filter systems were replaced with the much more durable AFM. Matien: ,,This is a type of glass that needs to be replaced less often compared to sand as a filter medium." It has more advantages. For example, less pumping energy is needed for good filtration and there is much less fouling of biology.
Four weeks with a handful of people, they worked long hours to get the job done as quickly as possible. They succeeded because the preliminary work was already perfectly done. Efficiency expert Aldo van Tongeren (ATO Energysaving) had made a meticulous scan of the systems months earlier to see where improvement was possible.
Looking further
All in all, these are hefty jobs, also because the men like to think along. ,,That's especially Mark. He is the technical brain. For example, we are asked to replace only pumps and valves, but we often look a step further. Is the system functioning properly or are adjustments needed to make it work optimally? What goal do you want to achieve? How should the water quality be and what do you need to achieve it? To take full advantage of the high efficiency of the pumps, it is important that the piping system are also designed to achieve optimal system efficiency. In the case of SeaLife, this resulted in us being allowed to carry out several new projects after the ‘refit’ of four complete systems."
,,Among other things, we were commissioned to make a new, improved design for the existing water treatment plant and then realize it. A good portion of the water was drained through the sewer system. Now it doesn't. Thanks to the improved treatment, the water is optimally reused."
Fully automated
The results are impressive. The “refit” saves SeaLife London 400,000 kwh annually, making the payback period for the investment relatively short. The water is cleaner, the system quieter, the operation simpler. The old PVC pipes have been replaced by PE, which is much more durable due in part to the lack of glue joints. ,,On the floor there were puddles of water under the systems. That is quite normal for such installations in old age. Now everything is bone dry and you can just talk to each other. The system runs much quieter and quieter."
Thanks to automation, there is less manual work involved. '‘Before backwashing the sand filter, employees had to manually open and close taps every day,’' Matien explains. ''That is no longer necessary, so they can focus on more useful work. The operation is now fully automatic.‘’
The work of the SaveMyAquarium partners tastes like more in London. Meanwhile, the Dutch specialists have been asked to convert a basin into a quarantine basin, including new, automated, pump/filter systems. Matien: ,,That says something about how satisfied they are."
