Modular Containerized Vs. Conventional Water Treatment: Key Differences

Selecting the appropriate water treatment method goes beyond merely comparing equipment. It depends on treatment capacity, space available, installation requirements, mobility, control needs, and future expansion. When choosing a water treatment system supplier or a water treatment system manufacturer, or even considering a water treatment system that has to be customized, it is helpful to know the difference between a modular containerized water treatment system and a traditional system.

A modular containerized treatment system gathers treatment equipment in a compact, prefabricated structure as opposed to a conventional treatment system, which is developed around a fixed site.

What Is a Modular Containerized Water Treatment System?

A modular water treatment system uses equipment that is compacted into a module or a standard shipping container. It can include a mixture of filtration, membrane treatment, biological and chemical dosing, pumping, valves, instruments, and control equipment depending on the application.

Technologies like MBR, UF, RO, NF, and other treatment processes can be available in the configuration.

Factory prefabrication is also a vital aspect. The equipment integration and inspection can be completed before it is delivered to the project site, which reduces the equipment assembly and inspection workload on the site.

What Is a Conventional Water Treatment System?

A conventional water treatment system is any system that follows the standard water treatment methods used since the dawn of civilization.

Typically, a conventional water treatment plant is designed to treat water at a particular treatment facility. The treatment units, tanks, piping, equipment, electrical systems, and other support facilities are installed with the rest of the system.

But it may involve a higher level of site preparation and building before it can be up and running.

The difference comes into play if a project only has a limited amount of space or it requires treating capacity in a shorter amount of time. In such cases, the construction that needs to be done at the site becomes an integral consideration when making the purchase.

Modular vs. Conventional Water Treatment: Key Differences

The main differences can be seen when comparing over a number of practical factors:

It depends on the treatment needed and site conditions for a project.

Installation and Site Requirements

The difference between the two approaches is obvious, in the sense of site preparation.

A containerized system will come with many of the treatment plants already installed. After the required foundation or prepared area has been established, the container can be placed and linked to the required utilities and pipelines.

Containerized wastewater treatment systems can be installed in standard 20' or 40' shipping containers, and the treatment system, pipes, valves, instrumentation, and controls can be installed in the container.

This can decrease construction at the treatment site, and it can be applied when space is limited or large-scale civil construction is impractical.

Construction Time and Deployment

The other crucial factor is the project schedule.

Much can be done in preparation prior to the system being installed on the site by factory prefabrication. The published comparison shows that the QILEE container-based systems could be deployed on site in about 3-7 days, while traditional systems might take 3-6 months to be built on-site. The company claims the whole construction process can be shortened by up to 60% in the company's containerized solution.

The figures are from systems and conditions as described by the manufacturer but may differ in actual projects. They demonstrate why prefabricated treatment might be appealing in cases where saving time on site is a key priority.

Mobility and Future Expansion

Typically, a fixed treatment plant is designed for its original location. If it is moved later, changes to civil infrastructure and utility connections may be necessary.

The container-based systems are more flexible. The system is designed to be modularized and transported as necessary to fulfill the project's needs. Modular construction can also help to adjust treatment capacity or configuration.

This may be beneficial for remote projects, temporary applications, and decentralized treatment where the requirements may shift over time.

How Does Customization Work?

All containerized treatment systems are not designed alike.

The final configuration may be affected by the flow rate, presence of contaminants, water quality required, and treatment objectives.

Ultrafiltration/reverse osmosis (RO) can be paired in modular solutions and for wastewater applications, biological treatment, membrane separation, filtration, and other technologies can be employed.

The supplier needs to know the water quality and project conditions before suggesting the treatment configuration.

Where Can Modular Systems Be Used?

Containerized treatment systems can be used for a variety of applications. Drinking water, purified water, industrial wastewater, municipal wastewater, decentralized wastewater treatment, emergency water treatment, and remote projects are all included in published product information.

The containerized systems are also described for sites including mining camps and oilfield installations, where transportation and installation requirements may make it more difficult to construct a system.

In this case, modular treatment would come in handy when a project requires a smaller system that doesn't necessitate the construction of a full-scale permanent treatment plant.

 

What Should You Look for in a Water Treatment System Supplier?

Identify the raw water characteristics, capacity, treated water quality, site conditions, available space, and operating requirements. Think about the possibility of future expansion, relocation, and adaptation of the system.

A competent water treatment system supplier ought to be able to match the treatment process to these requirements. If a specific water quality or operating situation is required for the project, a custom water treatment system might be preferable to a standard package.

This modular approach is illustrated in QILEE's published range, where treatment technologies, capacities, and configurations are available for different water treatment applications.

Conclusion

Both modular containerized and traditional water treatment systems can serve critical treatment requirements, and the design of each will differ. Conventional systems are engineered with static infrastructure, whereas modular systems emphasize prefabrication, a compact installation, mobility, and flexible configuration.

Modular treatment may have practical benefits for projects where space, deployment time, relocation, or future expansion is a concern. The final choice should be dependent on the water quality, treatment capability, site, and long-term needs.

Experienced water treatment system suppliers/manufacturers can assist buyers in choosing the proper configuration for the water treatment system. Sometimes standard equipment is not sufficient for the application, and a properly designed and engineered custom water treatment system can be more appropriate.