Nutshell Filters
Primarily for final stage removal of suspended solids and oil from produced water, or water polishing, Nutshell Filters are deep-bed, down-flow filters that utilize a mixture of different types of nutshell (typically walnut and pecan) as the filter media. They provide a good alternative to multi-media filters, and are a preferred technology in produced water treatment. They are designed to handle higher inlet solids and oil content, compared to other technologies.
The filter media provides a large absorption area, allowing easy adhesion of oil to the nutshell’s surface. The media also exhibits good solids retention capacity.
The integrated system uses an automatic backwash with a fluidization pump to re-circulate the filter bed contents, stripping the oil and solids from the nutshell media and reducing backwash volume. During backwash, media and oily water are separated in an external separation tube with the clean media then returned to the vessel, while the dirty backwash water, along with the separated oil and solids, leaves the vessel for additional processing.
Select NATCO Nutshell filters for oil-in-water levels down to 5 ppm, and high solids removal efficiency as well as low utility and typically no chemical requirements.
Contact us for fully integrated produced water systems designed to your specific application needs. We will consider your processing objectives, while weighing the risks and cost implications of each technical solution. Design studies are available from our experienced teams of engineers and advanced technology specialists in the Process Solutions Group.