노르웨이 회사 EnviroNor가 마드리드에서 열린 WEX회의에서 이동식 수 처리 시설에 불필요한 석유와 가스 선박에 대해 제안하면서 토론이 시작됐다.

제안된 시스템은 필터와 관을 가지고 있으며 선박의 공간을 구조적으로 변경하게 만드는 장비가 설치된 처리시설의 다른 선박이나 사용된 오일이나 가스로 작동한다.

주된 폐수처리 시설은 moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR)를 사용하여 질화 작용과 유기 기질 물질을 제거하기 위해 생물학적 처리를 하는 표준 여과 공법을 통해 처리하고 기본 과정은 응고, 폐기물, 부유 분리, 바이오 가스 배출 시설을 포함하고 있다. 

Norwegian company EnviroNor sparked a healthy debate in Madrid at the recent WEX conference when it put forward an idea to turn redundant oil and gas tankers into mobile water treatment units.

The proposed system works by converting a used oil, gas or other product tanker into a treatment plant by fitting it with the necessary equipment, including filters and piping, and making structural modifications to tank spaces. 

Primary wastewater treatment would be carried out through a standard filtration method, which is followed by biological treatment to remove organic substrate and nitrification using moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR) in two parallel lines. 

Founder and general manager Sigmund Larsen came up with the idea when he saw a used municipality tanker in Dubai transporting wastewater from residential areas to treatment plants about 30km away in the desert.

Speaking to WWi magazine (Water & Wastewater International), Larsen said oil tankers are built to last 30 years but are often demolished before the end of their lives, sometimes even at 14 years, creating environmental challenges for owners.

He believes converting a vessel into a water treatment plant could take two to three years compared to the "seven to 10 usually taken to build a treatment plant on shore".

Larsen added that a key advantage of the proposed system is that it is a flexible solution for recycling wastewater offshore that is based on proven technology but applied onboard a ship or a floating unit.

Keith Hays, managing director of EMEA at Bluefield Research praised the concept for having "a number of clear advantages, primarily based on its mobility and portability", but added that the system could "face additional challenges in dealing with boat traffic and opposition from environmental groups"

[출처 = Waterworld / 2014년 4월 9일]