Vacuum Media Filtration

Vacuum Media Filtration is our companies specialist filtration area. It is the technology that we believe suits most commercial filtration applications. Following is an overview of this extremely efficient and cost effective filtration method.

Vacuum Media Filtration, or Vacuum DE as it is called in some circles, has a long history of successful/economic operation in many swimming pools around both New Zealand as well as other countries.

The  first Vacuum Media Filtration system to be installed in New Zealand was in  Christchurch for the 1974 Commonwealth Games.

  

Vacuum media filters are based on the principal of  elements that are contained within an open tank constructed from either  concrete or more recently fiberglass. The elements are constructed from ABS and  are enclosed in a bag constructed from polyethylene fabric. This fabric  supports the media through which the water passes. When one of these filters is  started up or after one is backwashed, a "precoat" of media is added  to create a layer approximately 1.5mm thick on the fabric. After this a dosing  pump adds a small "body feed" amount of the media continuously until  the filter requires backwashing. Addition of the bodyfeed stops the top layer  of media becoming clogged with filtered dirt and thus lengthens the filter  cycle, keeping the operation as economic as possible. Through our experiences  of operating these filters we would expect filter cycles of at least 6 to 8  weeks between backwashes. 

Backwashing involves shutting down the pumps, hosing down the elements and then starting up the system again before adding the precoat. Typically backwashing takes about 2 to 2½ hours depending on the filter size. 

One of the big benefits of a vacuum media system is that the open tank allows you to view the elements and directly see the point of filtration. This allows you to gauge the filters condition and performance at a glance.

This is particularly helpful during busy periods such as school holidays when increased loadings place much more stress on filtration systems.

Typically Diatomaceous Earth (DE) filter media has been used in both pressure and vacuum media filters. Unlike our competitors, we offer a safer and usually less expensive option overall to DE, this is Purifibre.

You may be aware that for several reasons DE is no longer looked on as a favoured filter media, in fact in several US states, DE is a banned substance. While DE is still widely used in NZ, it is fair to say that its days are numbered.

With this in mind our company has been distributing  a food grade cellulose based filter media called Purifibre for a number of  years. This filter media has proven itself to be cheaper than DE, it isn't  carcinogenic, its biodegradable and in the NZ situation it has proven that it  can filter out Cryptosporidium Cysts. While Purifibre is far more expensive  than DE on a per weight basis, far less is required in comparison, usually  resulting in a saving of up to 25%. 

Click here to download the product information brochure for Purifiber

Aquaboss Vacuum Media Filters

Aquaboss filters are the latest in swimming pool filtration technology. With the ability to provide sparkling water, 8-16 week  filter cycles and the capacity to save millions of liters of water per year  they set the benchmark for swimming pool filtration.

How they work

Aquaboss filters use the Vacuum Media Filtration Principal. They operate by drawing the water through an open tank full of filter elements. Each Filter element has a filter area of more than 1m² and is coated in a non toxic, non carcinogenic, cellulose media called Purifber.

Purifiber filters the pool water removing particles of 2 -3 microns

    

Long filter cycles are made possible by our patented hopper technology. The hopper continuously adds a measured amount of Purifibre to the filter every day, refreshing the media and extending the filter cycles.

When the end of a filter cycle is reached the  pumps are simply switched and the filter is drained directly into the sewer.  Each filter element is easily hosed off with our washer wand that connects to  mains pressure water and the fibre is washed down the drain. 

This results in a significant saving in water and labour costs. Depending on its size each filter will only use between 4,000 
and  10,000 litres each. When you only have to do this 5-6 times a year millions of  litres of water can be saved.

    • Fine Filtration
    • Water Saving
    • Low Operator Input
    • Operator Friendly
    • Viewable point of filtration
    • Long Product Life

 

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