Chlorine and Scrubber Building for Municipal Water SystemCase Study
The City of Naperville, Illinois recently upgraded its gas chlorination system and added a building to protect the newly purchased equipment and safety devices. This upgrade brings Naperville up to current IEPA standards.
Gas chlorine is the most effective disinfection method for municipal water systems because it provides a residual to prevent pathogen regrowth, keeping water clean for drinking. For all its benefits in water treatment, chlorine gas is hazardous and must be handled with care. Chemical changes occur when the gas is introduced to water make it safe for drinking, but when chlorine is in its gas form, it irritates the respiratory system, the skin, and mucus membranes. It can also cause death in cases of significant exposure.
To continue using gas chlorine for disinfection, the city of Naperville installed an emergency gas scrubber and cylinder shut-off valves. The gas scrubber contains and neutralizes chlorine vapors in the case of a gas leak or cylinder failure. The shut-off valves provide a positive shut-off to the chlorine supply. The addition of the scrubber brings the system up to the state’s current fire codes.
TWO-ROOM SOLUTION
The 12’ x 21’ x 10’ chlorine and scrubber building, manufactured using a Class 1 fire retardant resin and gel coat, is divided into two compartments. The chlorine room is the smaller of the two areas at 7’-10” x 10’, while the scrubber room measures 10’5”-10’. The rooms have separate HVAC systems designed to keep their respective rooms properly ventilated and climate-controlled for an optimal operating environment. The chlorine room has additional enhancements, including NEMA 4X rated electrical for greater corrosion resistance.
George Argiris, Sales Engineer at Drydon Equipment Inc. explained that fiberglass is the preferred building material for chlorine storage due to its chemical resistance. Argiris also described the need for a two-room shelter and why the two processes are kept separate from one another.
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PROTECTION - Chlorine is corrosive and can degrade some of the scrubber systems parts, so having a separate chlorine room adds longevity to the scrubber system
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CONTAINMENT - If a leak is detected, the chlorine room can be isolated, allowing the scrubber to pull from the smaller chamber instead of a larger space, providing a safer area and emissions.
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AESTHETICS - A two-room solution allows for a smaller scrubber system that can be easily covered by a more aesthetically pleasing fiberglass building.
The Shelter Works fiberglass prefabricated chemical storage building provides a long lasting, corrosion resistant, and visually appealing solution for the City of Naperville to house and protect it’s new gas chlorine and scrubber system.