Media for Wastewater Treatment with Trickling Filters

GEA Heat Exchangers (Germany) will present the state of the art in trickling filters for treatment of wastewater, at hall A1, stand 419/520 at IFAT 2014 in Munich – the world’s leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste, and raw materials management. In this way, GEA Heat Exchangers has met the rising demand for this reliable and energy-efficient system. The significance of trickling filter technology has increased tremendously, especially in regions with insufficient energy supply and difficult infrastructure.

In trickling filters wastewater is distributed throughout fill media. On the surface of these fill modules, a natural biofilm aerobically decomposes microbiologically degradable toxins to non-toxic products of metabolism. These fill elements must meet demanding requirements: i.e., with respect to mechanical loadbearing capability, structural design that assures process effectiveness, as well as long service life. For every requirement, GEA 2H Water Technologies offers optimal fill media. When properly installed, trickle filters can be operated virtually without maintenance, without expensive supporting systems, and without staff with specialist qualifications. They are characterized by long life cycles and great efficiency.

As a result of the increasing importance of trickling filter technology for export and for German foreign development projects, the German Federal Ministry for Research and Technology since 2012 has supported the development of this technology. Within the context of German foreign-aid focal projects under the category of Sustainable Water Management, the trickling filter process is being adapted for use in five different climate zones. On the basis of data gathered from field tests during the EXPOVAL project, GEA 2H Water Technologies, with headquarters in Wettringen (Germany) – in collaboration with the Institute for Sanitary Engineering of Stuttgart University – is developing a computer-supported model, in the form of a design algorithm, for this technology. This model will enable optimal design of trickling filter facilities for a variety of climate zones.

From May 5 to 9, 2014, GEA Heat Exchangers will present lamella separators and fill media for the treatment of potable water and of wastewater on a common booth with GEA Westfalia Separator Group. The GEA presentations at the fair will explain the EXPOVAL project as well as advanced trickling filter technology.