GE’s Entrapped Air Flotation (EAF) technology treats industrial wastewater streams by reducing levels of suspended solids, fats, oil, greases, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD). Compared to conventional dissolved air flotation (DAF) processes, GE’s EAF technology generates sludge that is up to 50% higher in solids content – reducing the amount of sludge requiring disposal – and uses less powerful compressors and pumps, reducing the energy required to treat wastewater by 50%-60%.
Environmental Benefits
GE's Entrapped Air Flotation (EAF) technology has significantly improved pH control and enhanced mixing compared to dissolved air flotation (DAF) systems, reducing the amount of chemicals consumed for any given wastewater treatment process. For example, at a food processing plant generating 1.8 million gallons of wastewater per day, GE's EAF technology avoided the daily use of over 1,200 pounds of ferric sulfate that would have otherwise been consumed by a conventional dissolved air flotation (DAF) system with similar treatment chemistries.
Operating Benefits
GE's Entrapped Air Flotation (EAF) technology requires less powerful compressors and pumps compared to dissolved air flotation (DAF) systems, reducing the energy required for wastewater treatment. For example, a GE EAF installation treating 52 million gallons of industrial wastewater per year uses approximately 60% less electricity for compressors and pumps than an equivalent dissolved air flotation (DAF) system, reducing annual energy usage by over 58,000 kWh and saving over $4,000 in annual electricity costs based on an industrial electricity price of $0.07 per kWh.
