The purification process of water consumed by crew members on board is a crucial and complex step, ensuring the safety and health of their drinking water. Here are some main purification methods and steps:
One, Sea water desalination
For ocean going vessels, due to limited freshwater carried, seawater desalination technology is usually required to obtain fresh water. There are mainly the following types of seawater desalination technologies:
- Distillation:
Bottom pressure distillation: Under natural conditions of bottom pressure, the melting point of seawater is low. By heating seawater evaporates and then condenses into fresh water. This method is widely used on cargo ships and can effectively produce fresh water, but it is generally not used as domestic water because this type of water may lack minerals.
- Reverse osmosis method:
Let seawater pass through a special permeable membrane, only water molecules can pass through,while the salt and other minerals in the seawater are intercepted. This method is more environmentally friendly and energy-saving, widely used on ships and aircraft carriers, and produces high-quality fresh water suitable for drinking.
Second, Fresh water treatment
For fresh water that has already been obtained or stored on ships, further treatment is required to ensure water quality safety:
- Filtration:
- Using a foldable microporous filtration membrane filter, equipped with a 0.45μm filter cartridge, to remove colloids and fine particles from water.
- Multiple filters such as electric tea stoves (including activated carbon filters, ultrafiltration filters, reverse osmosis filters, etc.) further filter and improve drinking water safety.
- Disinfect:
- UV sterilization:Using the energy of ultraviolet photons to destroy the DNA structure of various viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens in water, causing them to lose their ability to replicate and reproduce, achieving sterilization effect.
- Other disinfection methods such as chlorine disinfection and ozone disinfection may also be used, depending on the water purification system and equipment configuration of the vessel.
Ultraviolet sterilizer
Third, Utilization of other water sources
In special circumstances, such as when freshwater reserves are insufficient or cannot be replenished in a timely manner, crew members may take other measures to obtain water sources:
- Rainwater collection:Collect rainwater as a supplementary water source, but be aware that rainwater may carry pollutants and must be treated appropriately before drinking.
- Air water production:Extract water vapor from the air using an air to water machine and convert it into drinking water. This method is more effective in environments with high ocean humidity, but may be limited by equipment performance and efficiency.
Fourth,Matters need attention
- Crew members shall ensure that the water source has been fully purified and disinfected before drinking water.
- Check and maintain water purification equipment regularly to ensure proper operation and effective filtration.
- In situations where water quality safety cannot be guaranteed, direct consumption of untreated water sources should be avoided as much as possible.
In summary, the purification process of water consumed by crew members on board involves multiple stages such as seawater desalination, freshwater treatment, and utilization of other water sources, aiming to ensure water quality safety and crew health through a series of technological means.
Post time: Sep-24-2024