American Water가 수처리 플랜트에서 초음파 조류제어를 수행하기 위해 LG Sonic과 파트너십을 체결했다고 발표했다. 이번 파트너십은 혁신을 이끌고 신제품 개발을 지원하는 AW사의 혁신적인 개발 공정 결과이다. 이로써 LG Sonic은 AW사의 확실한 혁신 파트너가 된 첫 유럽 기업이 됐다.

MPC-Buoy라는 이름의 LG Sonic의 태양열 기반 초음파 조류제어기는 조류의 세포를 방해하기 위해 끊임없이 초음파를 조류 세포에 전송하는 원리를 적용한다.

 

 

 

Today, American Water (NYSE: AWK), the nation's largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company, announced that it has formed a partnership with LG Sonic to perform ultrasonic algae control in water treatment plants. This partnership is a result of the company's Innovation Development Process, which drives innovation and supports the development of new products.

 

LG Sonic is the first European company to become a Certified Innovation Partner of American Water. The company's solar-powered ultrasonic algae-control buoys, called the MPC-Buoy, transmit ultrasonic waves continuously to disrupt algal cells, causing them to sink and preventing proliferation. Four of these buoys were recently installed in Reservoir No. 1 at the Canoe Brook Water Treatment Plant in Short Hills, N.J.

 

This was the first installation of this technology for drinking water reservoirs in North America. This new system combines continuous online water quality monitoring, web-based software and ultrasound technology to better prevent taste and odor events from occurring. Additionally, in keeping with American Water's sustainability efforts, this system operates 100 percent on solar power and the technology will not harm fish or other wildlife.

 

Extensive testing conducted during 2014 showed that the buoys had a significant impact on the algae, allowing the plant to reduce chemical consumption by more than 20 percent and reducing the concentration of undesirable taste- and odor-causing compounds in the treated water delivered to customers. Based on the results of this study, American Water plans to purchase buoys for other reservoirs impacted by algae and is looking at other uses including, clarification basins, waste backwash lagoons, and wastewater reuse applications.

 

This partnership is a product of the company's Innovation Development Process. Formed in August 2009, American Water's Innovation Development Process is an initiative that leverages the company's position and expertise as the nation's largest water and wastewater services provider to develop innovations by performing idea validation tests using the company's large and geographically diverse footprint, ultimately becoming an early-adopter of new technologies for industry use.

 

[출처 = Water World / 2015년 4월 22일]