An impactful partnership for desalination on oil platforms in Brazil
Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, a global giant in sanitation and water treatment, has intensified its operations in the offshore segment in Brazil. The latest move in this direction was the signing of a new contract for the delivery and operation of Mobile Treatment Units (UMTs) for water desalination through reverse osmosis on oil platforms located in the Campos (RJ), Santos (SP) and Holy Spirit (ES). As with the first contract signed five years ago, Veolia opted for Danfoss high-pressure pumps to equip the UMTs, also known as skids, installed on the platforms.
Innovative Desalination Technology
The skids have the vital function of removing mineral salts from the water, making it drinkable. This process, known as reverse osmosis desalination, uses pressure to filter water through a series of membranes that remove salt. The UMT is made up of several components and equipment, high pressure pumps being one of the most crucial for desalination technology.
“I compare pumps to vital organs, as they supply the energy necessary for the salt retention process in the water. It is crucial that the pumps operate without failures and with long intervals between maintenance, as the equipment operates 24 hours a day. Danfoss pumps meet these requirements”, highlights Alan Oliveira, Contract Manager at Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions.
Significant Increase in Desalination Capacity
In the previous contract, which ended in August 2022, Veolia supplied and operated 7 UMTs. For the new contract, starting in September 2022, the fleet was increased to 20 skids. The water produced by this process is intended for internal use on the platforms. It is important to point out that the UMTs are assembled at Veolia's plant in Sorocaba (SP).
Given the importance of reliable equipment, the UMTs operate 24 hours a day, 28 days a month, each capable of producing 30 million liters of water a year.
A critical aspect in this application is the need for equipment that requires little maintenance, since access to offshore platforms is restricted and complex. In this sense, Danfoss pumps have a great advantage. “Our axial piston pumps outperform centrifugal pumps and our in-house studies show that APP technology delivers efficiency rates of over 90% to achieve the lowest lifecycle costs available,” says Anderson Ferreira, Danfoss Sales Engineer.
Reliability and Performance
Oliveira da Veolia agrees with Ferreira, stating that Danfoss pumps have never had any problems. “A project of this magnitude was custom designed and requires high reliability and performance equipment. The pump is one of the key parts for the success of the application”, he concludes.
Currently in the production and assembly phase, Veolia's UMTs began to be installed from January 2023. This initiative underscores Veolia's and Danfoss' ongoing commitment to providing reliable and sustainable solutions for offshore desalination.