What are the Advantages and Features of Shallow Sand Filters?
Shallow sand filters are efficient and cost-effective water treatment devices widely used in industrial circulating water, wastewater treatment, agricultural irrigation, swimming pool purification, and other applications. Their key advantages and characteristics are as follows:
Key Advantages
- High-Efficiency Filtration
- Utilizes multi-layered homogeneous quartz sand as the filtering medium, effectively removing suspended solids, colloids, sediment, and other impurities (filtration accuracy typically 20-50 microns). Turbidity of treated water can be controlled below 5 NTU.
- Strong adaptability to high-turbidity water, achieving stable filtration quickly.
- Low Operating Costs
- Minimal backwash water consumption (only 30%-50% of traditional sand filters), making it energy-efficient and eco-friendly.
- No need for chemicals, relying on physical filtration with simple maintenance.
- Compact Structure, Small Footprint
- Modular design allows parallel combination for large flow rates (single unit capacity can reach hundreds of m³/h), suitable for space-constrained installations.
- High Automation Level
- Equipped with an automatic control system that triggers backwashing based on pressure differential or time, reducing manual intervention.
- Long Service Life & Durability
- Long-lasting filter media (3-5 years), with corrosion-resistant materials (e.g., rubber-lined carbon steel, stainless steel) suitable for harsh water conditions.
Core Features
- Multi-Layer Filter Media Design
- Typically filled with graded quartz sand (e.g., coarse, medium, and fine sand) for layered filtration, enhancing contaminant retention.
- Unique Water Distribution System
- Upper distributor ensures even water flow, preventing channeling; lower collector ensures full filter bed expansion during backwash for thorough cleaning.
- Flexible Backwashing Methods
- Air-Water Combined Backwash: Uses compressed air and water for efficient contaminant removal, saving water.
- Manual/Auto Switching: Adapts to different operational needs.
- Wide Range of Applications
- Industrial: Cooling water circulation, pretreatment.
- Municipal: Recycled water, rainwater filtration.
- Agricultural: Drip irrigation system clogging prevention.
- Commercial: Swimming pools, landscape water purification.
- Low Maintenance Requirements
- No complex mechanical parts, low failure rate, only requiring periodic inspection of the filter bed and valves.
Comparison with Traditional Sand Filters
|
Feature |
Shallow Sand Filter |
Traditional Sand Filter |
|
Filtration Speed |
Fast (30-40 m/h) |
Slow (8-10 m/h) |
|
Backwash Water Use |
Low (~1-3% of output) |
High (~5-10% of output) |
|
Footprint |
Small (modular stacking) |
Large (individual tank required) |
|
Automation Level |
High |
Low |
Usage Considerations
- Pretreatment Requirements: If raw water contains oil or high organic content, coagulation or activated carbon filtration may be needed.
- Filter Media Selection: Adjust sand gradation based on water quality (e.g., manganese sand for iron/manganese removal).
- Winter Protection: Insulation required for outdoor installations in freezing conditions.
Shallow sand filters are a preferred solution for small to medium-sized water treatment projects due to their high efficiency and energy savings, especially in continuous-operation and space-sensitive scenarios.
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Julie
Email: sales@filtrationchina.com
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