Author Archives: Dan Fletcher

Introducing Nu-Well® 140 Descale Shield Liquid Acid

Johnson Screens Unveils New Addition to Descale Family of Nu-Well® Chemicals 

New Brighton, November 14th, 2024 – Johnson Screens is proud to announce an addition to the Nu-Well® well cleaning and rehabilitation chemical portfolio in the form of Nu-Well 140 Descale Shield, a unique acid blend that’s a safe and effective alternative to traditional hydrochloric acid treatments for water wells.  

Descale Shield can be used for various rehabilitation and cleaning uses but is recommended for tackling heavy deposits of calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate scale. The new cleaning solution is a 34% strength hydrochloric acid that is buffered to reduce its reactivity with skin and metal. Complete with organic and metal inhibitors that are safe for steel well components while providing a deeper, longer-lasting cleaning, Descale Shield lowers pH in water without the use of traditional harsh mineral acids and allows for effective dissolution and cleaning of mineral scale.  

Descale Shield has been proven to be 15% faster dissolving in calcium carbonate scale than traditional hydrochloric acid and includes additives to aid in the removal of dissolved iron and calcium as well as a surfactant to improve penetration of the filter pack and formation  

Certified to NSF/ANSI 60 specifications for use on potable water systems and wells, Descale Shield carries a triple-zero HMIS score, is rated non-corrosive, non-fuming, 100% biodegradable, non-mutagenic to fish and wildlife, making it an environmentally friendly and fully functional replacement for traditional acids commonly used in well rehabilitation and pipeline cleaning. 

Johnson Screens is thrilled to welcome Nu-Well 140 Descale Shield to our family of tried and true well rehabilitation and cleaning chemical solutions!  

For more information about our Nu-Well chemical line, visit our website at: Well Chemicals | Johnson Screens 

 We also recommend the book “Chemical Cleaning, Disinfection, and Decontamination of Water Wells” by John Schneiders, published by Johnson Screens—an excellent resource on well cleaning. Click Here To Buy The Book 

About Johnson Screens 

Johnson Screens is the leading global provider of screening and auxiliary solutions. We support a wide range of industries, such as water wells, environmental, energy, chemicals, food and beverage, and mining, with our highly engineered and precisely fabricated products.  

Media 

Renato Barbedo – Global Marketing Director
renato.barbedo@johnsonscreens.com 

Meet the JSL Rapid™ PVC Drop Pipe!

Las Vegas, December 9th, 2024 – During the 2024 NGWA Week, Johnsons Screens presents the newest member of our JSL family of spline-lock, anti-rotational drop pipe solutions for water well applications: the JSL Rapid PVC Drop Pipe. The JSL Rapid PVC Drop Pipe utilizes a patent-pending key and slot design that minimizes torque rotation from pump startup. Made from no-lead stainless steel 304, JSL Rapid couplings arrive pre-assembled on PVC drop pipe complete with a single-button nylon spline assembly. Thanks to these features, installation is very quick and requires no tools to install the spline. 

Consequently, JSL Rapid allows for deeper sets than alternative PVC screening solutions. 

Recently, JSL Rapid was used to complete an irrigation well project for Edward Powell Pump & Well Drilling for their customer’s nursery expansion. 540 feet of 2” drop pipe were used to complete the initial installation, during which time it was discovered there was a defect with the pump. “Thanks to the JSL Rapid’s ease of installation and removal, all 540 feet were able to be easily uninstalled and then reinstalled,” says Brad Meyer, Director of Water Well Sales for North America. “Even after the change reworks, our customer was pleased to find that our solution continued to hold pressure and function as originally intended.” 

The Johnson Screens JSL Rapid PVC Drop Pipe is versatile, tough enough to go where competitors cannot, and easier to install than alternative solutions! 

About Johnson Screens 

Johnson Screens is the leading global provider of screening and auxiliary solutions. We support a wide range of industries, such as water wells, environmental, energy, chemicals, food and beverage, and mining, with our highly engineered and precisely fabricated products. 

Media 

Renato Barbedo – Global Marketing Director
renato.barbedo@johnsonscreens.com 

Johnson Screens Makes Waves in Oil & Gas Industry with Downhole Well Screens!

Abu Dhabi, November 5th, 2024 – Johnson Screens® is excited to announce a reinvigorated offering for Oil & Gas applications with our Downhole Well Screens during the 2025 ADIPEC Conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  

As the inventor of the Vee-Wire® wire-wrapped screens, Johnson Screens has continuously improved sand control screens to the highest standards over the past 120 years of our existence. Our sand control expertise provides optimal solutions for both cased or open hole completions, delivering highly durable solutions and superior performance to meet the most demanding clients’ specifications.   

Our range of wire-wrapped screens includes products that can be used in open or cased hole completions with or without gravel packing placed in reservoirs of different homogeneities. It includes base pipe screens with slip-on jackets or direct-wrap on pipe and pre-packed screens.  

The SuperGuard™ direct wrap screens are used for openhole or cased hole stand-alone horizontal completions in well-sorted homogeneous reservoirs up to fine sand and provide the most robust and reliable “wrap-on-pipe” assembly for sand control performance. Additional support ribs offer higher tensile strength and improved jacket roundness, promoting excellent slot control and sand retention while preventing filter cake buildup.  

The SuperWeld™ slip-on pipe screens are used in vertical openhole completions in homogeneous reservoirs and cased hole gravel pack completions. Johnson Screens’ proprietary wires afford high-precision slot tolerances and are designed for top gauge control under the harshest conditions.  

Meanwhile, the SuperThru™ screens are a cost-effective solution for remedial completions that regain sand control and extend the well’s lifespan.   

The D-Pak™ pre-packed screens are equipped with dual Vee-Wire screens with a high open area for better well efficiency and a perfect gravel pack in shape, smoothness, and permeability to optimize filtration and hydraulic performances. The D-Pak screens are a cost-effective solution to avoid a complex and expensive gravel packing operation.   

ExcelFlo™ premium mesh screens complete our downhole screens portfolio and are suitable for horizontal completion in very fine to fine sands, multi-lateral, short radius or other mechanically demanding applications. Excello features a multi-layer metal mesh that controls a broad range of sand sizes while offering an extremely high open area. All this and more combine to form an API 19SS-compliant solution available in a range of stainless steel and high nickel materials.  

With our best-in-class photometric inspection system, Johnson Screens combines ultimate precision wire profiles, cutting-edge wrapping processes, and certified gauge measurements across the full length of our screens’ jackets to guarantee sand control accuracy according to ISO 17824.  

Johnson Screens is excited to reintroduce you to our family of Downhole Screens for Oil & Gas Wells! Learn more by visiting the product page or watching the video in the links below. 

About Johnson Screens 

Johnson Screens is the leading global provider of screening and auxiliary solutions. We support a wide range of industries, such as water wells, environmental, energy, chemicals, food and beverage, and mining, with our highly engineered and precisely fabricated products. 

Media 

Renato Barbedo – Global Marketing Director
renato.barbedo@johnsonscreens.com 

Johnson Screens India Pvt. Ltd. Makes Additional Strides in Community Outreach through Prayas Initiative!

Ahmedabad, Nov. 6th – At the beginning of 2024, Johnson Screens India Pvt. Ltd. proudly debuted their Prayas Initiative, the plant’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. The comprehensive initiative is intended to address crucial aspects of sustainable development and make a positive impact at numerous levels of the facility’s local environment, with particular emphasis on enhancing sanitation, water facilities, and overall wellbeing for the community at large.

While the initial operation conducted through the Prayas Initiative focused on partnering with Thori Mubarak Primary School Viramgam to distribute backpacks and stationery, the opportunity for additional community support efforts arose recently with the approach of Diwali, the annual festival of lights and celebration of good over evil.

Additionally, one of the key development directives of the Indian government is working to eliminate poverty across the country, and so in alignment with this directive and in the spirit of the holiday the Prayas Initiative was leveraged to distribute essential goods directly to members of a low-income neighborhood near our Ahmedabad facility. Specifically, the team distributed 150 grocery kits containing one week’s worth of essential grains, flour, rice, spices and oil. Sweets for Diwali and diyas (earthen candles) were also included in the kits to ensure recipients could light up their homes and enjoy the holiday, and we are thrilled see our team making a difference!

We at Johnson Screens are proud of our employees who set a commendable standard for ethical and impactful corporate contributions to society. Our global Vision of creating a world where the protection of lives and our precious natural resources comes first can only be realized if individuals can take it upon themselves to realize this vision in their lives, and the Parayas Initiative is a wonderful and consistent example of how that work gets done.

About Johnson Screens 

Johnson Screens is the leading global provider of screening and auxiliary solutions. We support a wide range of industries, such as water wells, environmental, energy, chemicals, food and beverage, and mining, with our highly engineered and precisely fabricated products. 

Media 

Renato Barbedo – Global Marketing Director
renato.barbedo@johnsonscreens.com 

 

Johnson Screens introduces new Shur-Align® Stainless Steel Couplings for PVC Drop Pipe

New Brighton, 9/18/2024 – Water well solutions have been at the heart of Johnson Screens’ identity for 120 years, in which time we have come to be recognized as the premier brand in multiple product and service categories. In addition to our industry-leading stainless steel and PVC well screens, the company specializes in adjacent accessories essential to building and maintaining an efficient water well.

One such accessory is the Shur-Align® Stainless Steel Coupling for PVC Drop Pipe. Johnson Screens’ stainless steel Shur-Align® drop pipe coupling has a long-entry bell, allowing for the quickest makeup and most economical PVC assembly solution for water well applications. The unique Shur-Align® drop pipe coupling reduces cross-threading, and the smooth outer surface minimizes hangup issues.

Benefits & Features of Johnson Screens Shur-Align® Stainless Steel Couplings Include:

  • • Couplings are pre-assembled on 1″, 1.25″, 1.5″, 2″ S/80 or S/120 Male X Male PVC Drop Pipe
  • • 304 Stainless Steel couplings
  • • Industry-first long lead inlet reduces cross threading
  • • Beveled ends reduce hang-ups
  • • Built-in ribs provide secure tool placement for tightening connections
  • • Superior strength
  • • Patented design

 

It’s no secret that Johnson Screens literally wrote the book on water well solutions! For best practices, assembly tips, and other technical information on the Shur-Align® Stainless Steel Coupling for PVC Drop Pipe, view the product sheet at the link below.

About Johnson Screens 

Johnson Screens is the leading global provider of screening and auxiliary solutions. We support a wide range of industries, such as water wells, environmental, energy, chemicals, food and beverage, and mining, with our highly engineered and precisely fabricated products. 

Media 

Renato Barbedo – Global Marketing Director
renato.barbedo@johnsonscreens.com 

Johnson Screens debuts the StaySafe™ Screen Solutions Family!

New Brighton, September 27™, 2024 – Johnson Screens is thrilled to formally announce the unveiling of the new StaySafe™ Hold-Down Screens Family for petrochemical processing applications! 

Hold-down screens are among the most common screening solutions used in fixed bed downflow reactors but have relied on designs that have experienced little change over the last several decades. There are two basic types of hold-down screens utilized in these reactors: 

  • Floating screens rest directly on the media but must be fully removed before replacing the media bed. 
  • Supported screens with ‘manways’ which rest on internal beams or a support ring within the vessel. The manway must be removed before the media can be extracted at the beginning of a ‘turnaround.’  

Both designs require workers to enter the confined space of the vessel to perform the screen/manway removal. Even after a vessel is shut down and purged with inert gas, it remains a potentially pyrophoric and volatile environment for workers who must enter the vessels to disassemble and remove a hold-down screen or manway to evacuate the media. Entering the confined space of these vessels requires companies to comply with strict permitting, process and safety protocols established by several regulatory agencies including OSHA, API, ANSI/ASSP, and NFPA.  

Compliance with these process and safety requirements for entering vessels and confined spaces mitigate risks to workers and companies, however, it is a time consuming and costly process. As such, the chemical processing and refining industry has begun to demand new screens that reduce risk to workers and improve efficiencies of the media removal process by reducing the need for confined space entry to remove media, and that is where the new Johnson Screens StaySafe™ Family of Hold-Down screens comes in! 

Johnson Screens is proud to offer two new Hold-Down screening solutions as part of this product family: 

The StaySafe™ Floating Safety Hold-Down Screen consists of a series of interlocking panels that create a high-performance hold-down screen without requiring a nuts-and-bolts assembly. Users can safely disconnect and remove all screen components through the vessel manway, so no confined space entry is required to gain access to the media.

The StaySafe™ Screen with Safety Manway utilizes the standard nuts and bolts assembly of the main screen in combination with a unique latch-bar design which securely holds and seals the manway in place. Users can safely release the latch bar and remove the manway from the screen through the vessel manway, ensuring complete ‘No-Entry’ access to the media. Once the media is replaced, the manway can also be re-installed without entering the vessel.

The Johnson Screens StaySafe™ Screen Solutions Family combine the proven thermal and flow performance and durability of Vee-Wire™ with unique innovation for the refining industry that improves worker safety and shortens turnaround time. By eliminating the need for workers to enter a vessel to remove a hold-down screen or manway media bed, changes are safer and more efficient. Johnson Screens is excited to see the benefits these remarkable screening solutions will bring to the world of refining and petrochemical processing! 

About Johnson Screens 

Johnson Screens is the leading global provider of screening and auxiliary solutions. We support a wide range of industries, such as water wells, environmental, energy, chemicals, food and beverage, and mining, with our highly engineered and precisely fabricated products. 

Media 

Renato Barbedo – Global Marketing Director
renato.barbedo@johnsonscreens.com 

Johnson Screens Unveils Aakar, the Welding Institute!

Ahmedabad, April 16th, 2024 – The shift from academic to professional life can be a jarring one for young adults around the world, particularly for those preparing to enter industries where on-the-job experience is essential for one’s success.  

Johnson Screens has previously worked to establish pathways for helping train young professionals, most notably at our New Brighton facility where through a partnership with the Mounds View Public School District, we have welcomed several students to participate in Career & Technical Education (CTE) welding instruction. More recently, however, our team in Ahmedabad, India, has taken this initiative to the next level. 

“Johnson Screens is thrilled to announce the opening of the Aakar Training Institute for welding instruction!” says Shiven Amin, Chief Executive Officer of Johnson Screens India Pvt. Ltd. “We are proud to give back to society with the launch of this free training institution to teach and train young enthusiasts in the craft of welding.” 

Open to ITI graduates and 10th pass students, the Aakar Training Institute represents an “earn while you learn” educational opportunity in which renumeration will be given to interns based on their participation and performance within the program. This is a wonderful example of Johnson Screens’ True North Values of Competence and Open-Mindedness at work. The quest for knowledge is a never-ending journey, and we are excited to invite these young minds to join us in realizing our vision of a world where protecting lives and precious natural resources comes first! 

“I try to instill an ‘infinite mindset’ in myself and my team,” says Shiven. “Taking time to prepare the next generation for success is how we ensure our future is in good hands, and that’s the kind of lasting impact I want my company to have on the world.” 

About Johnson Screens 

Johnson Screens is the leading global provider of screening and auxiliary solutions. We support a wide range of industries, such as water wells, environmental, energy, chemicals, food and beverage, and mining, with our highly engineered and precisely fabricated products. 

Media 

Renato Barbedo – Global Marketing Director
renato.barbedo@johnsonscreens.com 

 

Revolutionizing Customer Service with Augmented Reality

São Paulo, Brasil, 12 de abril de 2024 A Johnson Brasil deu um passo ousado em direção ao futuro, ao implementar óculos HoloLens inovadores em suas visitas a clientes. Esta nova tecnologia de Realidade Aumentada (RA) promete revolucionar a forma como enfrentamos os desafios técnicos e proporcionar uma experiência única e imersiva. 

Um exemplo marcante de como o HoloLens está transformando nossas interações com os clientes ocorreu durante uma visita à Sabesp Brasil. Enquanto discutimos os desafios do cliente que abordaríamos com a tela rotativa Johnson Screens RT, o HoloLens nos permitiu visualizar as melhorias resultantes feitas no sistema de movimento RT do cliente em tempo real, permitindo-nos chegar rapidamente a uma solução otimizada e resolver problemas em conjunto com a equipe técnica do cliente. 

O que aconteceu a seguir foi verdadeiramente surpreendente. Com o HoloLens, conseguimos criar um espaço de trabalho 3D fluente, permitindo-nos visualizar o problema e sua potencial solução em tempo real. A capacidade de interagir com modelos tridimensionais enquanto estávamos no local proporcionou uma compreensão mais profunda da situação, permitindo-nos identificar rapidamente a melhor abordagem para resolver o problema. 

“Essa experiência exemplifica o poder transformador da realidade aumentada quando aplicada ao atendimento ao cliente. Não só nos permitiu oferecer uma solução rápida e eficaz para o problema enfrentado pelo cliente, mas também demonstrou nosso compromisso com a inovação e o uso de tecnologias de ponta para melhorar continuamente nossos serviços”, afirma Roberto Nunes, Diretor Geral da Aqseptence Group Filtration Ltda.  

À medida que continuamos a explorar as possibilidades oferecidas pelos óculos HoloLens e outras tecnologias emergentes de RA, estamos confiantes de que seremos capazes de oferecer aos nossos clientes uma experiência ainda mais excepcional e soluções técnicas ainda mais avançadas. 

Na Johnson Screens, estamos comprometidos em liderar o caminho para um futuro em que a tecnologia não apenas nos capacite a resolver desafios, mas também nos permita alcançar novos níveis de excelência em nosso atendimento ao cliente. Com o HoloLens ao nosso lado, estamos prontos para enfrentar qualquer desafio que o futuro possa trazer.  

HoloLens Image

Sao Paulo, Brazil, April 12th, 2024 — Recently, Johnson Brazil took a bold step towards the future of technology by implementing innovative HoloLens glasses in its customer visits. This new augmented reality (AR) technology promises to revolutionize the way we face technical challenges and provide a unique and immersive experience. 

A striking example of how HoloLens is transforming our interactions with customers occurred during a visit to Sabesp Brazil. As we discussed the customer’s pain points we would be addressing with the Johnson Screens RT rotary screen, HoloLens allowed us to visualize the resulting improvements made to the customer’s RT motion system in real time, allowing us to quickly reach an optimized solution and resolve issues in conjunction with the customer’s technical team. 

What happened next was truly surprising. With HoloLens, we were able to create a fluent 3D workspace, allowing us to visualize the problem and its potential solution in real time. The ability to interact with three-dimensional models while we were on site provided a deeper understanding of the situation, allowing us to quickly identify the best approach to resolve the issue. 

“This experience exemplifies the transformative power of augmented reality when applied to customer service. Not only did it allow us to provide a quick and effective solution to the problem faced by the customer, but it also demonstrated our commitment to innovation and the use of cutting-edge technologies to continually improve our services,” says Roberto Nunes, Managing Director at Aqseptence Group Filtration Ltda.  

As we continue to explore the possibilities offered by HoloLens glasses and other emerging AR technologies, we are confident that we will be able to offer our customers an even more exceptional experience and even more advanced technical solutions. 

At Johnson Screens, we are committed to leading the way towards a future where technology not only empowers us to solve challenges, but also allows us to reach new levels of excellence in our customer service. With the HoloLens by our side, we are ready to face any challenge the future may bring. 

About Johnson Screens 

Johnson Screens is the leading global provider of screening and auxiliary solutions. We support a wide range of industries, such as water wells, environmental, energy, chemicals, food and beverage, and mining, with our highly engineered and precisely fabricated products. 

Media 

Renato Barbedo – Global Marketing Director
renato.barbedo@johnsonscreens.com 

 

Johnson Architectural Elements are All Around You!

Johnson Architectural Elements solutions are often present in iconic new buildings and structures worldwide. Metallic materials and bright finishes are often associated with futuristic designs that push the boundaries of current architecture. However, an unlikely and magical symbiosis is created when those contemporary elements are combined with centuries-old structures. An example of this magic can be found in Clifford Tower.  

Clifford Tower is part of the fortified complex in the city of York, England, consisting of a sequence of castles, prisons, law courts, and other buildings built over the last nine centuries on the south side of the River Foss. It is placed on a raised earthwork that was once the site of a timber keep built by William the Conqueror and destroyed during the worst event in the site’s history; the massacre of the Jews in 1190. A new stone tower was built in 1245 and has played an important role in turbulent national events such as the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the English Civil War.  

Because of the site’s fascinating history, the English Heritage invested in conservation and improvements to the visitor infrastructure at Clifford’s Tower. Concluded in April 2022, the renovation included a rooftop and new visitor experiences. Johnson Architectural Elements contributed to the project, providing stainless steel flat panels GP50 for suspended bridges and the stairs in the tower interior. All flat grills and stairs received an anti-slip treatment by bead blasting.  

Those bridges are an essential part of the experience, as they guide visitors in defined paths inside the tower while they listen to recordings about the historical events that took place there. The stairs lead to the brand-new rooftop, from where you can see unrivalled views over York’s historic skyline.  

So, pay attention next time you visit a museum or historic site. Among the masterpieces, you may find some Johnson Architectural Elements art hiding in plain sight! 

Media 

Renato Barbedo – Global Marketing Director
renato.barbedo@johnsonscreens.com 

Availles to Receive Financial Support from European Funds

Le plancher filtrant est un composant essentiel au bon fonctionnement des filtres gravitaires rapides qui sont employés dans les stations de production d’eau potable ou de traitement des eaux usées. Son rôle principal consiste à collecter et distribuer les fluides de manière uniforme afin d’optimiser le rendement en eau du filtre. Cependant, les écoulements monophasiques et diphasiques à l’intérieur du plancher filtrant pendant les phases de filtration et de lavage du filtre ainsi que l’impact du plancher sur le procédé de filtration gravitaire rapide sont peu étudiés dans la littérature.

Figure 1: Méthodologie mise en œuvre pour valider les modèles numériques de fluides dans les écoulements uniquement aqueux
Figure 1: Méthodologie mise en œuvre pour valider les modèles numériques de fluides dans les écoulements uniquement aqueux

Ainsi, ce travail de thèse avait pour objectif de valider des modèles de simulations numériques fluides (CFD) dans les différentes phases de fonctionnement d’un filtre gravitaire rapide à l’aide de données expérimentales mesurées dans les écoulements à l’intérieur du plancher Triton®. Ces modèles constituent à la fois un outil pour la compréhension fine des écoulements à l’intérieur du plancher Triton® et un outil pour la conception d’un nouveau plancher plus performant. La méthodologie de validation des modèles est illustrée sur la Figure 1.

Figure 2: Photographie du banc d'essai « Triton »
Figure 2: Photographie du banc d’essai « Triton »

Un banc d’essai à l’échelle semi-industrielle (Figure 2) a été développé et construit. Celui-ci a permis d’obtenir expérimentalement des champs moyens de vitesse par des mesures PIV 2D2C (Particle Image Velocimetry 2D2C) ainsi que des mesures de différentiels moyens de pression dans différentes zones du plancher Triton®. Un second banc d’essai (Figure 3) a été réalisé afin de caractériser le média filtrant utilisé dans le banc d’essai « Triton ». Les données expérimentales ont ensuite été comparées aux résultats de simulations numériques URANS (Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes) et RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes) afin de définir le modèle de turbulence adapté au mode de fonctionnement du filtre (Figure 4). Ces simulations ont également permis de mieux comprendre l’influence du plancher filtrant sur l’écoulement à l’intérieur du média filtrant et d’identifier de possibles améliorations.

Figure 3: Photographie du banc d'essai « colonne »
Figure 3: Photographie du banc d’essai « colonne »

De plus, des mesures de taux de vide ont été effectuées à l’intérieur du drain pour différents rapports de vitesse de lavage entre l’eau et l’air. Ces mesures, ainsi que les observations visuelles des écoulements pendant les lavages diphasiques, permettront de déterminer la méthode de simulation diphasique la plus adaptée.

Figure 4: Comparaison entre le champ de vitesse moyenne obtenu expérimentalement (à gauche) et numériquement (à droite) sur une section 2D
Figure 4: Comparaison entre le champ de vitesse moyenne obtenu expérimentalement (à gauche) et numériquement (à droite) sur une section 2D

The underdrain is a critical element in rapid gravity filters utilized for drinking water production and wastewater treatment. Its principal function is to collect and distribute fluids uniformly, thereby enhancing the filter’s water production efficiency. However, the dynamics of single-phase and two-phase flows within the filter underdrain—especially during filtration and backwashing phases—and their effects on the rapid gravity filtration process are not extensively explored in the literature.

Figure 1: Methodology implemented to validate fluid numerical models in water only flows
Figure 1: Methodology implemented to validate fluid numerical models in water only flows

In response to this, the objective of this thesis was to corroborate Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models across various operational phases of a rapid gravity filter with empirical data gathered from the flows within the Triton® underdrain. These models serve dual purposes: they facilitate an in-depth understanding of the flow dynamics within the Triton® underdrain and aid in the engineering of a novel, more efficacious underdrain. The methodology employed for model validation in water-only flows is depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 2: Photograph of the « Triton » test bench
Figure 2: Photograph of the « Triton » test bench

A semi-industrial “Triton” test bench was developed and constructed, enabling the acquisition of experimental average velocity fields via 2D2C Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements. This setup also permitted the collection of average pressure differentials across various zones of the Triton® underdrain (refer to Figure 2). A subsequent test bench was assembled to characterize the filter media implemented in the “Triton” test bench (refer to Figure 3). The experimental data procured were juxtaposed with the outcomes from URANS (Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes) and RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes) numerical simulations. This comparative analysis was instrumental in selecting the turbulence model that most accurately reflects the filter’s operational conditions (see Figure 4). Moreover, the simulations contributed to a more nuanced comprehension of the underdrain’s influence on flow within the filter media, as well as highlighting potential enhancements.

Figure 3: Photograph of the « column » test bench
Figure 3: Photograph of the « column » test bench

Additionally, void fraction evaluations were performed within the underdrain for varying air-water backwash velocity ratios. Coupled with visual inspections of the flow during two-phase backwashing cycles, these assessments will inform the selection of the most fitting two-phase simulation approach.

Figure 4: Comparison between mean velocity field obtained experimentally (left) and numerically (right) on a 2D section
Figure 4: Comparison between mean velocity field obtained experimentally (left) and numerically (right) on a 2D section

About Johnson Screens 

Johnson Screens is the leading global provider of screening and auxiliary solutions. We support a wide range of industries, such as water wells, environmental, energy, chemicals, food and beverage, and mining, with our highly engineered and precisely fabricated products. 

Media 

Renato Barbedo – Global Marketing Director
renato.barbedo@johnsonscreens.com