350 GPM RO For Boiler Makeup In Food Processing

By Layne Christensen

In Northern Wisconsin, a large, midwestern food processor packages green beans, carrots and potatoes. As part of both a green initiative to improve it's processing methods and an energy saving measure, the plant was considering alternatives to the softeners they used to treat boiler make-up water and canning water. The plant's feedwater is derived from a high-capacity well installed and maintained by Layne Christensen Company, and Layne was contacted to suggest possible improvements.

To address the customer's needs, Layne designed, manufactured and started up a treatment system that yielded significant advantages beyond the original scope of the project. Following a water analysis, Layne proposed that a 350 GPM Reverse Osmosis (RO) system be used to augment the plant's ion exchange softeners. The new treatment strategy provided significant advantages over the pre-existing system by reducing all dissolved ions, as opposed to just softening the water.