Submarine Graywater Remediation Using Ozone Technology

Graywater Remediation Using Ozone Technology for Submarines

(As Demonstrated on a Submarine Laundry System)

Challenges: Voluntary compliance with environmental goals by year 2000. Shipboard graywater and blackwater treatment to reduce:

• environmental concerns
  
• the need for significant potable water production
  
• large tankage volumes

• re-use (graywater)
  
• treatment (for overboard discharges)

• Mitigate environmental concerns with "clean" discharge
  
• Reduce use of potable water and operating frequency of distilling system by at least 50%
  
• Reduce onboard stowage of detergents by at least 50%
  
• Develop tech demo of submarine size equipment
  
• Show feasibility of voluntary compliance by 2000

• NAVSEA SEA 92R - Program Management (Ms. M. Payne POC - 703-602-1703)
  
• Newport News Shipbuilding - Shipboard Integration
  
• International Ecoscience (IES) - Laundry System Design and Manufacture
  
• Penn State/Applied Research Laboratory (PSU/ARL) - Ozone Wastewater Treatment System Modeling, Characterization, and Development

• Develop recycling capability for dish washing and laundry using ozone technology, utilizing existing science and technology funding in SBIR program. (IES & NNS)
  
• Develop ability to treat remaining graywater (galley, sink, shower, deck drains, etc.) with ozone to re-use as flushing water or for unrestricted discharge. (PSU/ARL & NNS)
  
• Develop the ability to treat blackwater with ozone technology to permit unrestricted discharge of some or all of the effluent. (PSU/ARL & NNS)
  
• Produce Technology Demonstration Model to Verify Technology in an SBIR Phase II Effort (end of FY97)
  
• TEMPALT Installation on a SSN688 Class Submarine For Installation of Proven System on USS Memphis (Navy 6.4 RDT&E) Funded) (FY98)
  
• Conduct At-Sea Demonstration (FY98+)
  
• Full Scale Development (Navy 6.4 RDT&E, planned) TBD

See source document.

Graywater Remediation Using Ozone Technology

Other Applications:

Surface Fleet & Naval Facilities

• Laundry water recycle
  
• Graywater/oily waste reduction
  
• Hazardous waste reduction thru ozone-based cleaning (ex. shop rags) and site remediation

Other DoD Activities With Similar Challenges

Dual-Use Commercial Applications

• Large scale commercial laundry (currently prototyped)
  
• Graywater reuse/reduction

Ozone (O3)

Nature produced properties, oxygen (O2)

• Lightning
  
• Sunlight (UV)

Primary Function Nature

Purify air
Screen from harmful rays

Manufactured

Dry air (-60 F dew point) exposed to high frequency electric discharge

O2 disassociates and reassemble as O3

Half life: approximately 20 minutes

Reverts back to O2

Ozone

Triatomic form of oxygen

Colorless gas at room temperature

1 1/2 times as dense as air

Strong oxidizer, only excessed by florine, hydroxyl radicals, and atomic oxygen

Very effective bactericidal and viralcidal agent

Ozone is formed reaction of monatomic oxygen with dimolecular O2

See source document.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)

Hydroxyl (OH)

• Radical
  
• Non-selective oxidant
  
• 2 to 3 orders of magnitude

O3 obtained by passing air between two plates electrodes connected to an alternating current source (KVs)

See source document.

Configuration

Electrodes can be flat, tubular etc.
Dielectric material, glass, ceramic, etc.
Voltage frequency of gap distance and dielectric material

Health and Safety

Exposure Level Air - 0.1 ppm

Symptoms - Detectable hay-like smell, like after thunderstorm

Exposure Level Air - 0.1-1 ppm

Symptoms - Headache, burning eyes, dry throat

Exposure Level Air - 1-100 ppm

Symptoms - Appetite decreases, asthma like symptoms

Exposure Level Air - 100 ppm

Symptoms - Hemorrhaging pulmonary edema