Siemens To Supply One Of Brazil's Largest Refineries With Wastewater Reuse Solution

Siemens Water Technologies is working with Centroprojekt do Brasil S/A to supply an integrated wastewater technology solution to the Presidente Getulio Vargas Refinery (Repar) in Araucaria, Parana State, Brazil. The system will consist of API oil water separators, dissolved air flotation (DAF) units, walnut shell filter units, and a Petro MBR (membrane bioreactor) system. Scheduled to come online in 2012, the system is designed to pre-treat 450 m3/hr of the treated water for reuse as boiler feed water.

The Repar refinery, which is owned and operated by Petrobras, is one of the largest industrial plants in southern Brazil, refining 31 million liters of oil daily. The refinery is responsible for roughly 12% of the country's production of petroleum byproducts, which include LPG, gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oils, jet fuel, asphalt and naphtha.

Siemens' integrated wastewater reuse solution includes primary, secondary and tertiary oil/water separation. During the first stage of primary oil/water separation, three trains of API separators remove up to 80% of oil from refinery process water and storm run-off. The second stage oil/water separation involves two trains of DAF units that remove additional oil from the API separator effluent, with the aid of chemicals.

Tertiary oil/water separation consists of four trains of Auto-Shell walnut shell filter units that remove additional oily contaminants from the water. Black walnut shell filters eliminate the need for flat media retention screens and can use as little as one media-scrubbing pump for up to eight filters, which simplifies the design and reduces the cost of multiple filter systems. This type of filtration removes three times the amount of oil and solids before cleaning is required.

In the final stage, tertiary treatment removes dissolved organics as pre-treatment to effluent polishing/recycle-reuse. A Petro MBR system, comprised of two biological trains and four membrane trains, forms the heart of the reuse pre-treatment system. This Petro MBR system is especially designed for refinery service and treating oily wastewater, and combines various biological treatment processes with an integrated, immersed membrane system. Using membrane separation instead of conventional clarification processes offers several benefits, including a smaller system footprint, decreased sludge production, and improved operational stability – all in addition to exceptionally high-quality effluent production.

For more information visit http://www.siemens.com/water

About Siemens Industry Sector
The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the worldwide leading supplier of environmentally friendly production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. With integrated automation technologies and comprehensive industry-specific solutions, Siemens increases the productivity, efficiency and flexibility of its customers in the fields of industry and infrastructure. The Sector consists of six divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility und Osram. With around 207,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry achieved in fiscal year 2009 total sales of approximately €35 billion. http://www.siemens.com/industry

About Siemens Industry Solutions Division
The Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities comprising the business activities of Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, Water Technologies and Industrial Technologies. Activities include engineering and installation, operation and service for the entire life cycle. A wide-ranging portfolio of environmental solutions helps industrial companies to use energy, water and equipment efficiently, reduce emissions and comply with environmental guidelines. With around 31,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry Solutions posted sales of €6.8 billion in fiscal year 2009.

SOURCE: Siemens Energy, Inc. - Water Solutions