ULTRADAF®

1. TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is one of the processes applied for the treatment of water with a low content of solids in suspension,
floc concentrations between 5 and 50 mg/l, e.g.:

• Production of potable water

• Pre-treatment in the desalination of seawater
• Treatments for the re-use of treated water

It is also applied to water with a high solid content, provided its hygroscopic characteristics allow its floatability (algae, biological
sludge, etc.).

Through the accumulation of micro-bubbles (<100 μm) to discrete particles and floc, this material can be dragged to the surface
due to the difference in density vis-à-vis the water. It means that particles or material that have almost the same density as water
can be separated.

Elements that have a tendency to float, being less dense than water, are hydrocarbons, oils, fats, algae, etc. Also, elements that
can float with the help of air bubbles, because their overall density is less than that of water (this way it is possible to eliminate
colloidal material, color, and a part of organic material), activated charcoal, etc.

2. OPERATION
To achieve optimal operation of flotation on the water line, coagulation must take place previously, due to the fact that:

• The micro-bubbles have a negative surface load, as well as being hydrophobic

• Optimal coagulation produces flocs without loads. This means that electrostatic forces can be ignored, cancel out repulsive
forces and achieve good aggregation conditions.

The objective of flocculation is to increase particle size (25-50 μm) to increase the efficiency of their collection by the bubbles.
The air input is done by saturating a certain flow of water under pressure (recirculation flow). The saturation is done in a
pressurization tank with a certain hold time.
The mix of water saturated with air, oxygen and nitrogen is dosed in the DAF through injectors that produce a sudden loss of load
(cavitation).

This water current rises in the DAF, dragging the flocs up to the surface. They are then removed from the surface by mechanical
means (scrapers).

3. COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
ACCIONA Agua has developed a DAF called ULTRADAF®. It provides better hydraulic conditions than existing equipment and
has an injection system based on a series of optimized nozzles that allow work at high speeds and with high performance in the
removal of the contaminating material.

4. OTHER INFORMATION
In later developments, ACCIONA Agua had completed the DAF range with the ULTRADAF® Evo, an apparatus in which the diffusion
of air at the size of a micro-bubble is done directly, without the help of a water flow and, therefore, without a saturator.

The design of the diffusion system represents a clear advance in this type of equipment, with specific applications. .