2. System Overview #

Reclaim Water Treatment Systems are essential for significantly reducing municipal water consumption of a car wash. The systems use a submerged water pump to take waste water from a clarifying tank and perform a series of processes designed to reclaim water. The processes include:

1. Aeration of water
2. Chemical dosing
3. Mechanical filtering
4. Recirculation
5. Storage of treated reclaim water for reuse in the wash

These processes remove contaminants, oils, and chemicals from used water, making it safe for reuse in certain stages of the car wash process. This treatment is essential for maintaining high standards of wash quality and preventing damage to vehicles and wash equipment.

Reclaim water has a higher Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) than municipal water, so it is ideal for use early in the wash process and on areas of the car that are less sensitive to water spotting (underbody, wheel blasters and car sides below the windows).

By recycling water, the need for costly municipal water is minimized, leading to significant savings on water bills. Reclaim Systems automate the treatment process, reducing manual labor and simplifying the workflow. This efficiency is particularly relevant for high-volume operations where the cost of water can accumulate.

2.1 Features & Functions

innovateIT Car Wash Equipment LLC has developed a Reclaim System to provide high-quality reclaim water and reduce municipal water usage, minimizing operational costs.

The system features a Grundfos SEG Grinder Pump (located in the last sediment tank/clarifying tank), replacing the need for the daily cleaning of an inlet basket. The pump is mounted to a stand to reduce the possibility of ingesting non-floating materials (e.g. leaves and grass) that could damage the pump. It’s used during both Reclaim and Recirculation modes, preventing any foreign objects from clogging the filters or lines. The pump is designed to handle “flushable materials”, such as cloth, wood chips, paper, and plastic.

The pump’s location in the tank protects it from dry running and eliminates pump cavitation from a long suction line. The single pump reduces energy consumption and doesn’t require a foot valve to maintain its prime.

A micro bubbler aeration system (located in the second sediment tank) maintains water circulation, preventing stagnation when the wash is not running. The aeration system uses oxygen from compressed air to sanitize the water and remove odors, reducing chemical usage.

The system uses a high flow recirculation loop combined with the tank mounted micro-bubbler aeration system to maintain circulation of the water and prevent stagnation of the water when wash is not operating.   

High-capacity multimedia filters remove over 99% of particles over 10 microns and neutrally buoyant particles that pass through centrifugal separators, reducing clogged nozzles. A proprietary media blend and automatic flushing of the system reduce water usage.

The system also allows for direct integration to the point of usage (High Pressure Pump Station) without additional pumps or storage tanks.

The PLC controller features a user-friendly touchscreen HMI that provides feedback on system operation, giving the operator flexibility to optimize the system based on the water quality and wash volume.

Fig. 2.1 – 1 – Reclaim System identification

Fig. 2.1 – 1 – Reclaim System identification

Table 2.1 – 1 – Reclaim System component features and functions

 

2.2 System Specifications #

Table 2.2 – 1 – Reclaim System specifications