Plimmer® Capacitive Deionization at Idropan

Plimmer® - The Next Generation Water Treatment System for Ground and Surface water

Milan, Italy

February 2014

Reduces TDS, Hardness, Metals and Salts to Deliver

WHO standards Drinking water

• No Chemicals • Low Power• Low Wastage

The Next Generation Water Treatment System for

Ground and Surface water

Introduction

• Plimmer® is new generation of water treatment system that treats Ground / Surface water to drinkable standards

• Based on Capacitive Deionization Technology (CDI) pioneered by Idropan, Italy

• High recovery system that reduces TDS, Hardness, Arsenic, Fluoride, Nitrates and other contaminants in water in a single process

• Delivers drinking water at the lowest operative cost by any treatment plant in market today.

• Has the lowest water reject (<20%) as compared to other conventional technologies in the market today

• Totally Green Technology – uses no chemicals during water treatment. Ensures Environmentally safe discharge process

3Company Confidential

The Unique Plimmer® Advantage

Company Confidential 4

• Plimmer® is the Market leader in CDI technology

• Has been in Operation since 2005

• Over 400 installations globally

• Partners in Europe, USA, India, Australia, Saudi, Tunisia, Korea,

Russia

• Pioneered by Idropan, Italy – a technology leader in CDI

• Over 40 years of experience in Water technologies

• Global patents - related to Power consumption, Build of Electrodes, Cleaning of Electrodes, Electronic controls of CDI units, Flow management in Electrodes …

• Clever Control systems that ensures least interference from Users

• Automatic working of plant

• GPRS interface for remote management

• Web interface for governance

The Value Plimmer® Delivers


Low Operating

Cost

Low Wastage

Results in better Ground /

Surface water Sustenance

No Chemicals

Environmentally safe does

not contaminate ground

water

Small Footprint

Can be deployed in small

places like

Schools, Medical Centers

Community Centers etc.

Low Power Use

Use Solar or Alternate

power in remote locations

Simple to Operate

Requires no specialized

skill to operate plant

Easy Implementation

Simple to deploy using

local resources

★

★

★

★

★

★

★

It Removes the following in a Single Pass !


SALTS METALS OTHERS

• Total Dissolved Solids

• Total Hardness

• Calcium Carbonate

• Magnesium Carbonate

• Sodium Chloride

• Phosphates

• Sulphates

• Chlorides

• Nitrates

• Fluoride ...

• Chrome

• Iron

• Arsenic

• Nickel

• Copper

• Zinc

• Cadmium

• Mercury

• Manganese

• Lead

• Vanadium ....

• Ammonia

• Chromium 6 ...

A Single system to treat multiple contaminants in water

Novelty compared to the market


Conventional RO Systems Plimmer®

1. 60% of water is wasted during treatment process. The reduces ground water source quickly. Most systems need to be shut in summer

Maximum of 20% wastage during treatment. Can be reduced further based on water conditions

2. Do not retain adequate minerals required for body. Technology takes out all minerals from water

Adequate minerals are retained that is good for body. Water delivered is as per WHO standards

3. Systems needs adequate power for treatment

Low power requirement makes it easy to use alternate energy sources in power scares places

4. Requires frequent use of chemicals for cleaning membranes.

Uses diluted Citric Acid – an organic acid from lemon trees for cleaning. Safe environmental discharge of waste water

5. Skilled personnel required to manage system System is automated to maximum possibleextent to ensure minimum interference from operators

Why the Operating Cost is low


• Plimmer® needs very less consumables for operation

• Citric Acid for cleaning cells regularly

• Sand media change once a year

• Carbon media change once a year

• 20 Inches 1 Micron cartridge once in 2 months

• Consumes less power

• Single Phase 0.5 hp pump

• Requires low maintenance and less interference from users

• Cells will run for 8-10 years without replacement

• Pro-active maintenance done to clean cells regularly like Extra Acid wash, Bio cleaning etc.

• System requires no specialized skills to operate and manage – totally automated

Description Unit Plimmer

Capacities

Maximum Input conductivity μSiemens 2000

Maximum Input Hardness ppm 500

Average Salt reduction 65-70%

Temperature range °C 4 - 45

The Best Applications for Plimmer®


• As Drinking Water Solution

• For Rural and Urban areas

• In Government owned Health Centers

• In Government Schools & Community Centers

• Point of Entry Water treatment in Residential Living

• Deliver treated water in ALL taps at home

• Better water conservation

• Hotels & Malls

• Laundry & Kitchen in Hotels

• Food courts and public drinking in malls

• Industries

• Food & Beverages

• Bottling Plants

How Plimmer® Works

Overall System Operation


Discharge for Consumption

Raw WaterTank Pre-treatment

Treated Water Tank

Ozonation

Input from Sump / Main lines

Citric Acid Tank

1. Pre-treatment Stage

2. Treatment Stage

3. Post-Treatment Stage

Low Powered SS Pump

Cartridge Filter

Drain

AFM

Filter

Plimmer® Operation


• The Technology used is called Capacitive Deionization (CDI)

• This is a non Membrane technology where the ions are attracted to a pair of electrodes as water flows.

– Requires very low pressure – results in low power consumption

– Reduces water wastage since water is not pushed into a membrane under high pressure

• Technology has 12 patents in terms of number of electrodes, coating on electrodes and electronics required to handle the process.

• No chemicals required for treating water

• Electrodes require just 1.6 V charge to operate –providing an option to run on Alternate energy sources

Plimmer® Operation


+ + + + + + + + +

- - - - - - - - - - -

Positive ions

Negative ions

+

-

+ + + + + + + + +

- - - - - - - - - - -

Positive ions

Negative ions

+

-

Positive ions

Negative ions

+

-

- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -+ + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + ++ +

- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -

Positive ion

Negative ion

+

-

Positive ion

Negative ion

+

-

- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -+ + o o o o o o oo o+ + o o o o o o oo o o o o o oo o

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Purification cycle 3 main steps

When Water passes between the

electrodes, the ions get attracted to

opposite charged electrodes. The water

void of these salts and metals come out

of the system

Water is then flushed between the

electrodes and the wasted ions are

flushed to drain. The Polarity is

reversed back and the Ion removal

process (Step 1) starts again

With more and more ions sticking to the

electrodes, they become saturated –

when this happens, the system

automatically changes the polarity. The

ions sticking to the electrodes fall off.

Step 1

Ion removal

Step 2

Regeneration

Step 3

Flush

Plimmer® Cells charateristics


Model 5M

Flow rate 3.3 – 5 LPM (Service)

Productivity 100-150 LPH

Removal rate 65-85%

Model 2,5M

Flow rate 1,65 – 2,5 LPM

(Service)

Productivity 50-75 LPH

Removal rate 65-85%

15

Evolution of the power supply boardsFirst model was with copperbars and without short circuitprotection

Actual model ischeaper and with hardware short circuitprotection

AL11

Directly mounted on the

cell.

In expensive

components. Works on a

single cell.

AL7Needs water

cooling and

aluminium case

AL10

Directly mounted on

the cell. Quite

expensive

components. Works

only on a pair of cell

(not single cell).

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Installations 2009Examples

17


18


19


20

Installations 2013Example

Post Treatment – Citric Acid Cleaning


• Patented process for cleaning cells

• This is a patented process for pro-actively cleaning cells to avoid excess calcium build up in cells

• This is done automatically at end of every production cycle

• We can set production cycles to 5 / 10 / 20 hours with rest period of 1 / 2/ 4 hours

• At start of rest period, Plimmer® automatically takes in small quantity of CA solution to clean cells. This will be flushed out at start of production

• CA is environmentally friendly – Organic Acid with no discharge hazards

• This process ensures long life of electrodes

• Solution can be prepared locally at the regional support centre



Tests were performed on the long-term efficiency making daily

“self-maintenance” with the special maintenance solution

finalized by Idropan

In normal work WITHOUT the use of citric acid the pressure

drop (fouling index) increases rapidly during the work period

From tests carried out there is a precise relationship between

the Temporary Hardness and the effect of fouling of the cell.0,1

0,15

0,2

0,25

0,3

0,35

0,4

0,45

0 5 10 15 20

Pre

ssu

re (

kgf/

cm2

)

time (Hr)

Fouling Index

Test conditions recommended by

European legislation :

Inlet water: Hardness300 ~ 340

ppm, TDS 450 ~ 500

ppm, IEC60734

Days before cell cleaning WITHOUT Self

maintenance



• Values of long-term performances obtained with daily cleaning using Idropan solution formaintenance

• Long term stable operation and constant salt removal rate & pressure drop

Plimmer® saltless Cdi

softener concept

System Recirculation

Pump

Drain

Conductivity SensorSolenoid Valve

Solenoid Valve

Plimmer®

Storage Tank

Beginning of the day

Water is beginning to be used

Water demand stops in the home but the Plimmer® continues to treat water in the tank

Plimmer® regenerates as needed

Tank is almost filled…

Tanks is full and Plimmer® shuts off automatically

Plimmer® goes into maintenance mode and initiates self cleaning (set time off peak)

Plimmer® high salinityconcept

Our idea – high salinity conductivity reduction system

Two phases – Production and regeneration

• Cells work in twin mode: while one is producing water, the

other is regenerating.

• The interval is very short: about every minute cells switch.

• Until good water is not at the desired conductivity, it

continues flow in the plug flow and in the cells.

• If waste water has not reached the desired minimum

conductivity, it stays in the regeneration plug flow.

• System design helps energy recovery and lower waste

water volume

Production phase (1)

When water coming out from the cell reaches good conductivity, it is delivered to the outlet.Same amount of new untreated water is added to the plug flow


Water still goes to the outlet until it goes over the specified conductivity.


When the conductivity is exceeded, water starts to recirculate. In some stages the quality will go down to the desired value.


The cell continues to treat water. The water will not mix and inside the tank you will have different conductivityareas.


The cell continues to treat water. The water will not mix and inside the tank you will have different conductivityareas.


When the water out of the cell is not treated, it means that the cell is exausthed and regeneration need to be started.

Regeneration phase (1)

At the beginning circulation will move high salinity water in cell


At this time ions begins to be removed from cell electrodes


Removal of ions give raise to a voltage over cell terminal this energy will be forwarded to other cell by electronics


When all ions are discharged from electrodes conductivity increase will lead to some waste


As soon as conductivity will be lower than set point circulation will begin and cell will be washed from PF tank liquid


When water is at the same conductivity of income water, cell is clean and production can begin again.

Twin operation

• The above explanation relates to a single cellbut actually while Cell 1 is in operation Cell 2 undergoes a regeneration so continuousoperation and energy recovery are possible

Overview of results

Goals achieved

• System will do energy recovery

• System will waste a desirable amount of water (based on specified conductivity)

• Treated water with a specific quality that can be set from user

Key Aspects of Plimmer® technology

Understanding of What CDI can handle and what it cannot


• What it cannot handle

• Any particles that cannot be charged

• Silica & Clay

• How we handle this:

• We first assess water condition with an SDI kit to see levels of Silica and clay

• Have a pre-treatment process before the inlet tank to coagulate this and filter it

• May not be required at all centres – only base on water conditions

• What Can go wrong

• Calcium fouling of the Electrodes

• This happens when the electrodes are not cleaned properly with CA solution regularly

• If dosage is less or if the CA solution is not properly managed


• Automated CA cleaning at end of every production cycle

• Facility to set the dosage timing depending of water quality

• Extra Acid Wash button for regular routine maintenance

• We will control and supply the CA solution through our regional centres

• Cleaning cells in labs (Done only when Proactive treatment described above fails for any reason)

Understanding of What Plimmer® can handle and what it cannot


• What Can go wrong

• Bio-fouling of the cells

• Bio-fouling is common problem in all technologies – unless treated proactively


• Ozonating the inlet tank

• Using media that are not prone to bacterial contamination

• Treating cells in labs (Done only when Proactive treatment described above fails for any reason)

Conclusion & Summary


• We have developed a system with a lot of thought for managing drinking water in villages

• Plimmer® is the only proven solution available with such high levels of automation and consistency

• Plimmer® is the only system that can take care of all known contaminants in water

• A single system will ensure consistency of maintenance and reduce costs of management

• Clever automation ensures pro-active management of technology – reduced stoppage time of plants

• Proven technology backed by global patents

Projects using Plimmer®

technology

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• Rewagen – FP7 Project• DemEAUmed – FP7 Project• NovEED – FP7 Project• King Saud University• Project on Clinic laboratories ultrapure water production

Plimmer® CDI Active projects

Visibility of Plimmer® aroundthe world

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Plimmer® Cdi

58

Plimmer® Cdi

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• Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB DE

• LEITAT Technological Center - Spain• VITO - Belgium• EcoSynt – Belgium• Supsi - Switzerland

Plimmer CDI Partners

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• 4th March 2010 EcoRadio - ECOBuild London (Tullio Servida)• 4th March 2010 TG1 - ECOBuild London• 8th March 2011 TG3 Buongiorno Italia (Mariella Servida) • 14th May 2012 Il Sole 24 Ore – Italia al quarto posto per le

alleanze con l’estero (Mariella Servida)• 21st November 2012 RAI 3 - Geo&Geo – record (Tullio Servida)

Plimmer CDI VisibilityTV shows and non-paid newspaper articles

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• 2009 Politenico di Milano - Plimmer Technology and supercapacitors

• 2009 AIFM at Fiera Trattamenti e finiture di Parma - I trattamenti delle superfici tra globalizzazione, innovazioni e sviluppo sostenibile

• 2009 Premio innovazione Lega Ambiente 2009• 2010 Premio innovazione Lega Ambiente 2010• 2011 Marina Militare Italiana – Plimmer Technology introduction• 2011 Comune di Salsomaggiore• 2011 Premio innovazione Lega Ambiente 2011

Plimmer CDI Visibility (2)Convegni e Concorsi

Thank You

IDROPAN DELL’ORTO DEPURATORI SRL

Via Valassina 19

20159 Milano

T 0266800267

F 0266800754

W www.plimmer.it

E [email protected]

62Company Confidential

Plimmer® Capacitive Deionization at Idropan

Business

lowest water

drinking water

ground surface water

surface water milan

treatment plant

italy high recovery

drinkable standards

introduction plimmer