Innovative water treatment solutions can potentially save energy

Optimised reverse osmosis processes in advanced strategies reduce energy consumption by up to 75 percent.

Danfoss has played a vital role in providing game-changing solutions that help extend our precious water and energy resources. Danfoss’ industrial water distribution and wastewater treatment solutions have made it possible to not only treat water but also generate energy during water processing, fulfilling the energy needs of the entire water cycle.

By 2050, the global population is set to soar by 9.8 billion, with Asia contributing around 4.9 billion. Concurrently, water demand is predicted to surge by 400 percent by 2030. As population growth and industrialisation persist, we face the dual challenge of diminishing freshwater resources and escalating wastewater generation. Thus, it is imperative to enhance existing wastewater treatment technologies to produce clean water more swiftly and affordably.

Regrettably, India’s implementation of wastewater treatment and reuse practices remains limited. The primary driving force behind the urgency for wastewater treatment and water reuse is persistent water scarcity. However, several significant barriers hinder progress, including the absence of pollution monitoring and control regulations, the lack of a comprehensive mandate for integrated water resources management, and inadequate collaboration between responsible government bodies and central/state water authorities.

Insights on the Water Treatment & Technology Space
Pressure control is critical to reducing water and energy loss
Experience from 112 systems in 10 different countries proves that improved pressure control considerably reduces non-revenue water and dispensable energy consumption. Typical water leakage is reduced by 38 percent, while energy consumption is reduced by 20–40 percent. Furthermore, the improvements result in an extended asset life and reduced network-related issues.

As the first to produce dedicated drives for the water and wastewater industry, Danfoss is a frontrunner in the development of drives that address the specific needs and challenges of industries. Danfoss’ VLT® AQUA Drive not only combines deep application know-how with powerful drive technology to make water operation easier and more efficient but also results in the saving of installation and running costs.

Addressing Water Scarcity with Energy-Efficient Technology Digitalisation revolutionises municipal wastewater treatment, enabling precise control and delivering higher-quality treated water. Zero liquid discharge
(ZLD) or minimal liquid discharge (MLD) systems enhance water reuse and minimise industrial wastewater discharge. Optimised reverse osmosis processes in these advanced strategies reduce energy consumption by up to 75 percent . Danfoss’ specialised APP pumps cater to ZLD and MLD in industrial wastewater treatment, providing efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solutions for large-capacity plants. Their robustness, relentless reliability, and low operational costs empower industrial wastewater treatment processes.

The adoption of reuse strategies depends on a comprehensive evaluation of local factors such as governmental incentives, social acceptance, and harmonised legislation considering costs, risks, and environmental performance.

Prospects of wastewater treatment technologies will be defined by processing efficiency and economic benefits. Reducing energy consumption is key for both sustainability and economic reasons in industrial and domestic wastewater treatment. Fortunately, technologies to minimise energy consumption and water leakages throughout the water cycle already exist. By optimising energy consumption in water distribution, leakage is automatically reduced, resulting in lower energy usage and water waste.