Water purification by liquid chlorine for small communities

Survival, Water, Medical Field Manuals

Military Manuals

Wallace & Tiernan Company

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PUUUVUEIETAVUHIE _ PRRUSSUESTLELITT 


WATER PURIFICATION 
BY LIQUID CHLORINE 
FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES 


WUE CO EC TTT 


SUAS AUNT 


ST aT ea a OT a coc 


WALLACE & TIERNAN CO., INc. 
137 CENTRE STREET, NEW YORK 


TECHNICAL PUBLICATION NO. 3 
Fourth Edition 


1917 


DONUT as Se OTTO HT 


UU OT VT CO eT I 


UTC RE CCC RECT 


VEU ll 


2900965 


WATER PURIFICATION BY 
LIQUID CHLORINE FOR 
SMALL COMMUNITIES 


HERE are three general processes of water 
purification: first, sedimentation or storage; 
second, filtration; and third, sterilization. 

Large impounding reservoirs or settling basins 
typify the first process, extensive and elaborate fil- 
tration works the second, while the third process is 
represented in its highest state of development by 
the Wallace & Tiernan chlorine control apparatus. 

Some waters require all these processes for proper 
purification, some only two. But all water supplies 
at times require sterilization in order to make their 
potable use entirely safe. 

Sedimentation and filtration, when properly oper- 
ated, remove color and turbidity and also a large 
proportion of the bacteria or germ life. Sterilization 
destroys all germ life and is thus a necessary adjunct 
to the settling basin or filter. In cases where re- 
moval of turbidity or color is not required, steriliza- 
tion is the only treatment needed to ensure a safe 
water supply. 

Practically every source of water is subject to 
pollution. The pollution may be continuous or only 


[1] 


WATER PURI PICATION BY BDO 


occasional, but at some timeor other nearly every 
water supply is polluted. If the pollution is from 
human beings and the germ life entering the water is 
not destroyed the consumers are subject to the 
potential danger of intestinal diseases such as 
typhoid fever or dysentery. The surest, safest, and 
cheapest way to destroy this germ life is by the 
process of sterilization. 

It is generally acknowledged by scientific men 
that the most satisfactory method of sterilization is 
by the process of chlorination—that is, by adding 
to the water to be treated minute quantities of 
chlorine or its compounds. The process is a develop- 
ment of comparatively recent date, the first recorded 
attempt to sterilize water by chlorination in this 
country being made in 1906. Since then extension 
has been rapid. 

The chlorine compound used at first was calcium 
hypochlorite or ‘chloride of lime’ but its utilization 
was so disagreeable and its uniform application so 
difficult that the use of pure chlorine in liquid state 
was inaugurated, and the requisite control apparatus 
devised. 

Some of the specific advantages of liquid chlorine 
over chloride of lime may be briefly discussed. 

In the first place liquid chlorine is an absolutely 
pure chemical. It is usually placed on the market in 


[2] 


CHLORINE FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES 


small cylinders which require very little space for 
storing, while chloride of lime is very bulky. 

The disagreeable odors and corrosive effects of 
chloride of lime are absent in the use of liquid 
chlorine, when controlled by efficient apparatus. 

Chloride of lime deteriorates rapidly, whereas 
liquid chlorine retains its full efficiency indefinitely. 
This is one of the greatest advantages to be derived 
from the use of liquid chlorine, especially for small 
installations. 

Under working conditions, due to necessary waste 
of bleach, one pound of liquid chlorine is equal in 
sterilizing value to eight pounds of chloride of lime. 
The sterilization is also more uniform. 

Water treated with liquid chlorine is less liable to 
taste or odor, due to the more accurate control 
possible. 

The liquid chlorine apparatus is far more compact 
than the installation for chloride of lime. 

The liquid chlorine process is applicable under any 
conditions and all pressures. It is adapted to remote 
control. The gas can be controlled by automatic 
feed. 

With liquid chlorine the freezing ' difficulties 
encountered in the use of chloride of lime are 
entirely obviated. 

As between the two sterilizing agents, the costs of 


[3] 


WATER PURIFICATION BY GIieCvis 


chemicals are about the same, but the costs of instal- 
lation and* operation are greatly in favor of liquid 
chlorine. 

The application of liquid chlorine to the water to 
be purified is, however, ordinarily fraught with 
difficulties arising from the very activity of the gas 
itself. Though very real, these difficulties are en- 
tirely overcome in the design and construction of the 
control apparatus manufactured by Wallace & 
Tiernan—the only appliances on the market at the 
present time adequate to meet all the requirements 
of handling chlorine in the liquid or gaseous state for 
the purification of water. 


MANUAL CONTROL CHLORINATOR 


There is set forth in this booklet a description of 
the Wallace & Tiernan manual control chlorinator, 
solution Feed, Type A, one of the ten types of appa- 
ratus manufactured by this company. This type is 
particularly suitable for small daily flows of water 
and will be of interest to superintendents, chemists, 
and managers of waterworks in the smaller munici- 
palities. 

Messrs. Wallace & Tiernan especially invite con- 
sideration, by engineers and others interested in 
water purification, of the details of design and the 
perfection of mechanical construction. 


[4] 


SCHLORINE FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES 


METHOD AND APPARATUS 


Chlorine gas, compressed to liquid state in steel 
cylinders holding a hundred pounds, is controlled 
and measured by fhe apparatus and introduced into 
the water in the proper proportion to effect sterili- 
zation. 

The extremely small amounts of chlorine required 
to destroy the germ life do not alter in the slightest 
degree the chemical or physical characteristics of the 
water. The germ life is destroyed—otherwise the 
water remains the same. 


ADVANTAGES IN CONSTRUCTION 


There are many advantages in the construction 
and design of all Wallace & Tiernan apparatus to 
which especial attention is directed. 

Simplicity in Design. There are no moving parts 
to get out of order or adjustment. 

Compactness. Shipment by express is easy and 
inexpensive. The apparatus can be sent completely 
assembled, ready for operation. Installation is a 
matter of hours and minutes—not of weeks and days. 
The apparatus may be installed at any convenient 
point on the premises and the chlorine piped to point 
of application. 

Portability. The weight of the apparatus is less 
than one hundred pounds. 


[5] 


WATER PURIFICATION BY. rre 


Meters Hydraulic in Principle. All chlorine meters 
operate on the hydraulic principle. There are no 
moving mechanical parts to cause friction, wear, or 
strain. If the meter indicates at all, it indicates 
correctly. 

Empirical Calibration. The chlorine meter on 
every apparatus is empirically calibrated, and then 
checked during the efficiency test. 

Visibility. All chlorine flow meters and orifices 
are entirely visible, making it possible to actually 
see at all times that the meter is working perfectly 
in every detail, and is clean and free from deposit. 
This point cannot be over-emphasized. 

Dry Control Parts. All control parts of the appa- 
ratus are kept perfectly dry, thus avoiding corro- 
sion—for it is only in the presence of moisture that 
chlorine is so extremely corrosive. 

Constant Drop in Pressure. Each type of appa- 
ratus has a differential pressure reducing valve which 
maintains a constant drop in pressure across the 
chlorine control valve. This produces a constant 
flow of chlorine for any setting of the control valve 
regardless of varying pressures in the chlorine cylin- 
ders or of varying back pressures from the water 
being treated. A change in static head in either the 
system of chlorine apparatus or water in no way 
affects this predetermined drop across the control 

[6] 


CHLORINE FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES 


valve. This drop being about a pound allows a con- 
siderable opening of the control valve for compara- 
tively low flows of chlorine. Thus, dangers of 
stoppage are minimized. 

Special Materials. Special metals and materials, 
such as platinum, glass, silver, tungsten, and alloys 
particularly adapted for chlorine control work are 
used where best suited to the needs in question. 

Finish. Parts are finished in silver plate and 
black enamel. 

Interchangeable Parts. The apparatus is built on 
the unit system and all parts are perfectly inter- 
changeable. 

Workmanship. The highest class of workmanship 
is employed in making all parts of the apparatus. 
Each apparatus, before shipment, is given an actual 
chlorine run by experts who have actually installed 
and operated chlorine plants on water and sewage 
treatment. 

Guarantee. All apparatus is guaranteed against 
inherent mechanical defects for a period of one year. 


LF 


WATER PURIFICATION BY 2-203) Th 


DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS 


Chlorine gas from the chlorine tank, regulated by 
the chlorine control valve, is introduced through the 
chlorine check valve and meter into the chlorine 
solution jar, and water is at the same time introduced 
through the solution jar head. The resulting solu- 
tion is piped through the chlorine solution line to 
the point of application. When the chlorine solution 
is introduced into a suction line under negative head, 
a water seal is provided to prevent air being drawn 
into the suction line. 

The function of the pressure compensator is to 
take care of varying pressures in the chlorine tank 
and also to maintain a constant drop in pressure 
across the chlorine control valve. 


CHLORINE FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES 


Chlorine Check Valve ~__ 


Solution Jar Head. 
Jet Orifice Cleaner ~ 
Feed Water Gage - -{ 
Strainer — —-~ 
Water Pressure * 


Reducing Valvg +-~ 


Union 
Feed Water . 

Supply Line’ 
Feed Water Valve 
Solution Jar- ~~ 
Pulsating Meter 
Solution Outlet Tube --— 
Water Seal ---~ 
Water Seal Waste... 
Water Seal Line .. =) 
Solution Outlet Bracket. | 
Solution Line-~-.._. 
Tank Valve—. 

Valve Yoke ~~... 
Chlorine Tank 


7 -+-Hi Tank Pressure Gage 


orine Control Valve 


ompensator Cap 


+ fi Pressure 
Compensator 


[9 ] 


Flexible Tank 
Connection 


/_- Auxiliary Tank Valve 


WATER PURIFICATION BY LIQUID 


[ to | 


CHLORINE FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES 


In the treatment of watera chlorine flow meter, to 
be reliable, must give a constant rate—not per day, 
nor per hour, nor per minute—but even less than 
per second, for the obvious reason that the water is 
flowing constantly and must receive its chlorine con- 
stantly and not intermittently. 

The chlorine solution jar and pulsating meter 
are made of special annealed glass. They are con- 
sequently absolutely unattacked by the chlorine 
solution. Furthermore, the flow of chlorine can be 
actually seen no matter how small. A flow of one 
pound of chlorine per twenty-four hours (which 
amount will treat 300,000 gals. of water) is a flow 
of .000694 Ibs. per minute or .oooo115 lbs. per second. 
This quantity is entirely too minute to measure by 
any method but a volumetric one. 

The type meter used will indicate accurately from 
1/10 lb. of chlorine per 24 hours (.00000115 lbs. per 
second) up to 12 lbs. 

One pulsation of the meter gives 100 milligrams or 
1/4534 lbs. (.00022 Ibs.). By simply timing the num- 
ber of pulsations per minute, and using the chart of 
operation furnished with the apparatus, the desired 
flow of chlorine can be easily and accurately set. 

The operation of this meter is fully described and 
illustrated on pages 12-13. 

A small meter operating on the same general 


[ 11 ] 


WATERR PURIFICATION 2 Y4L10 37D 


principle which will indicate accurately flows as low 
as 1/100 lb. chlorine per 24 hours (.o00000115 |b. 
per second) can be furnished on request, thus making 
the apparatus suitable for the smallest water sup- 
plies. 

A ready solubility of chlorine is secured by the 
action of a water jet which thoroughly churns upthe 
chlorine and water in the jar. 


DESCRIPTION. OF PULSATING METER 


The meter A in the chlorine absorption chamber 
is shown in detail and principle in the drawing on 
the opposite page. View X shows the water level 
2 in the meter at the beginning of the pulsation, and 
view Y shows the water level 2 just before the siphon 
C-G breaks at D, which completes one pulsation of 
the meter. 

Its operation is as follows. When the downward 
flowing gas in A reaches the point D, it will rush up 
through the tube G of the siphon, and the bell or 
compartment B will refill with water up to the upper 
end of C. This completes one pulsation or measure 
of the meter, and the amount of gas delivered by 
this one pulsation is, of course, the capacity of the 
compartment B between the points F and D. 

[12 ] 


CELORINE FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES 


This is a volumetric 
meter, hydraulic in 
principle, and if it op- 
eratesat all it must 


. operate correctly. Its 


reading is accurate 
from a minimum of 
1/10 lb. toa maximum 
of 12 lbs. per 24 hours. 

All the openings are 
large so that there is 
no danger of stoppage. 
All parts are of glass, 
which is in no way 
affected by the chlor- 
ine solution. Further- 
more, this plan of con- 
struction enables the 


attendant to actually see the chlorine flowing, no 
matter how small the amount. This point is essen- 
tial in reliable chlorine control work. 


[ 13 ] 


WATER PWRLFIGATION BY LPO cre 


COST .OF QGPERATION 


It has been our experience, with nearly one 
thousand installations of our apparatus in cities and 
towns in the United States, Cuba, Canada, and 
Mexico, that with a water low in turbidity and color 
a dose of 2/10 parts of chlorine per million is ample to 
secure satisfactory destruction of germ life. This 
dose is equivalent to 1.66 lb. chlorine per million 
gallons of water treated. 

A fair average pre-war figure for the price of liquid 
chlorine throughout the United States, under nor- 
mal conditions, is tex cents per pound on the job. 
On this basis, it is evident that with a water low in 
turbidity and color the germ life can be destroyed for 
less than 17 cents a million gallons. Surely this is a 
good investment for any community and offers the 
cheapest and surest form of insurance against all 
danger of water-borne disease epidemics. 

In cases where the water to be treated has a high 
turbidity or color, the amount of chlorine required is 
somewhat higher, but it is very rarely that the cost 
of treatment exceeds 45 or 50 cents per million 
gallons. 

There is no labor charge involved in operating the 
apparatus other than that of removing an empty 


[ 14 ] 


CHLORINE FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES 


chlorine cylinder and attaching a full cylinder. As 
this work can be done in two or three minutes and is 
necessary only at rare intervals the cost is so slight 
as to be negligible. 

The apparatus described can be erected by any 
capable mechanic without difficulty in one or two 
hours. The apparatus with necessary connections is 
shipped complete, and full directions for installation 
and operation accompany shipment. 


If you are interested in making the water supply 
of your community absolutely safe, we will gladly 
quote you prices on this apparatus upon receipt of 
detailed information concerning your conditions. 
The data can conveniently be given on the accom- 
panying blank. 

Upon request we will gladly send our complete 
treatise, Chlorine Control Apparatus for Water and 
Sewage Purification. 


WALLACE & TIERNAN CO., INC., 
137 CENTRE STREET NEW YORK 


DOUGLAS C. MCMURTRIE NEW YORK