GES Biotek::Case Studies - Air Distribution System Smoke Test, Richmond, CA

Smoke seeping through Fiber-Max media during smoke test at Richmond, CA biofilter

Project in Brief

Project Name: Air Distribution System Smoke Test
Location: Richmond, CA
Installation Date: June 2023
Source of Odors: None (new system)
System Type: Biofilter
Media Type: Crater-Max® and Fiber-Max™

The Situation

Engineers at the newly constructed wastewater treatment plant in Richmond, Calif., needed to determine whether the air distribution system achieved an even airflow pattern as required by contract specification. As GES Biotek was specified for the filtration media as well as many of the system’s components, it fell to GES to verify performance.

The Solution

An initial smoke test was conducted on the Crater-Max® header cover and media bed prior to the installation of the Fiber-Max™ media. The test setup involved the release of non-toxic, visible smoke at the inlet header at the media bed and cover. Smoke was introduced into the system using a smoke generator. A systematic observation of the smoke dispersion was made, and the pattern of airflow was documented.

The smoke test demonstrated a uniform and consistent dispersion of smoke particles throughout the media bed and screen cover in the biofilter cell. The smoke plume was observed to travel in a controlled and even manner across the entire Crater-Max® media bed surface. No localized regions of excessive or inadequate airflow were detected, suggesting an excellent distribution pattern within the biofilter cell. The uniform airflow distribution is a positive indicator of the effective design and construction of the Crater-Max® biofilter system. It suggests that the header cover and media bed possess the necessary characteristics to promote optimal pollutant removal and efficient biological activity.

A second smoke test of the Crater-Max® media base layer and Fiber-Max™ media top layer after media installation demonstrated uniform airflow distribution, affirming its effectiveness in evenly distributing foul air for odor control.

The biofilter cell has been equipped with a combination of two distinct media layers: a porous lava rock Crater-Max® media base layer and a fibrous organic Fiber-Max™ media top layer. The dual-media ecosystem developed by GES facilitates efficient odor control by creating different environments suitable for distinct microbial communities.