Optimar Ballast Water Treatment Systems

Optimar ballast water treatment systemsBackground ballast waterAround the world more than 10 billion tons (m3/h) of ballast water are carried in ships each year containing thousands of species of aquatic animals and plants, creating problems for the marine environment and human health, threatening the aquatic flora and economies that depend on healthy aquatic ecosystems. The transportation of ballast water cannot be stopped, but the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens can be minimized by deep sea exchange or suitable treatment. Ballast water exchange requires a vessel to pump 3 times the volume of the water to replace less than 95%. Pumps may have to run for 3-4 days, which increases fuel consumption and wear and tear on equipment. Ballast water exchange can result in increased hull stresses and stability problems. It also increases emissions, another environmental concern.The optimar ballast water treatment system is based on solids separation and UV irradiation using the microkill separator ant the microkill UV. The system utilize the existing ballast pumps aboard the vessel and can handle flow rates from 1 m3/h up to 3000 m3/h per ballast pump.