Thiele Glas: Grinding water treatment – complexity requires solutions

Recognizing challenges
However, glass grinding produces impurities – mainly fine, abrasive glass particles – which enrich the cooling water. The grinding abrasion quickly accumulated and was deposited on the processing machines and in the collecting basin. Previous approaches to removing the glass particles from the process water were very time-consuming. They also required a large amount of chemicals and space.
In order to optimize water quality and at the same time reduce operating costs at Thiele Glas, the experts at EnviroFALK have thoroughly analyzed the performance and functionality of an effective reduction of the particle load in the grinding water circuit. Due to the fine glass particles – smaller than 5 μm – optimum cleaning requires the addition of dosing agents. As a result, the glass particles combine to form larger units and settle more quickly. The resulting sludge is then dewatered by settling and filtration and disposed of in big bags.

Complexity requires solutions
The new grinding water treatment system from EnviroFALK is characterized in particular by a special system geometry that accelerates the flow in the sedimentation tank. This reduces the time window for the settling process and minimizes the need for dosing agents considerably.

Christoph Gilles, Product Manager Glass Industry at EnviroFALK: “By adding small quantities of specially selected and separately used dosing agents, we can react specifically to the chemical properties of the wastewater. It is important to adjust the dosing quantities precisely to the respective conditions on site.”

From the grinding machine, the dirty water is pumped into the sedimentation tank with the addition of dosing agents. The rapid reaction of the dosing agents in the dirty water ensures immediate floc formation in the reaction tank. As a result, the glass particles sediment very quickly. The big bags specially developed by EnviroFALK dewater the sludge quickly and dispose of it effortlessly.

If the water quality requirements are high, the clear water is purified via additional filter stages before it is returned to the production cycle.

• The time window for the settling process is reduced
• The need for dosing agents is significantly reduced
• The sludge is quickly dewatered and easily disposed of

The convincing track record
EnviroFALK grinding water treatment is characterized by high cleaning performance and optimum water quality. The treated water is fed back into the machining process, which has noticeably optimized the operating costs in the water balance at Thiele Glas. The combination of dosing agents, which is precisely coordinated on site, prevents overdosing and thus significantly reduces the operating costs for chemicals.

EnviroFALK develops solutions for water purification and water treatment for insulating glass, toughened safety glass and laminated safety glass production as well as screen and digital printing. EnviroFALK also works closely with automotive glass, mirror and coating production. With the newly developed grinding water treatment system, the experts for process water show how individual machining processes in glass processing companies can be further optimized and ongoing operating costs reduced.