Hitachi
    • Water
    • Analytics

    In collaboration with leading builder Emaar, Hitachi has reclaimed waste water to keep the magnificent Dubai Fountain running for years to come.

    The Dubai Fountain, built by Emaar, is located in the heart of the city’s growing downtown core. Each year, millions of visitors watch in awe as towering streams of water shoot up into the air, synchronized to recognizable instrumental tunes played on surrounding speakers.

    Emaar, a premier builder within the United Arab Emirates, has created a fountain consisting of five circles that are joined by two curving lines stretching over 900 feet in length. This is the world’s tallest performing water fountain, and is positioned inside the 30-acre Burj Lake.

    Each day, hundreds of liters of water are lost to evaporation in the desert heat. To replenish this water loss, Hitachi has built a system to reuse water from the neighboring Burj Khalifa and downtown sector.

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    Delivery period: 2008 – 2016

    Overview

    • Challenge
      Emaar needed a renewable source to replace water that was lost each day. The company wanted the replacement water to be sourced from a close-by location, as this would help cost reduction and lower energy consumption. Further, Emaar demanded the water to be free of smell and harmful pollutants, as mist from the soaring jets of water could fall on the adoring crowds.
    • Solution
      Waste water from the adjoining Burj Khalifa and downtown area is processed by Hitachi’s Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) units and Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology. The refinement undertaken abolishes the questions of smell and pollutants raised by using waste water. Reverse Osmosis is the final step in the process. It is an extreme measure that separates out all dissolved solids, leaving only clean drinking water, free of any salt crystals that could clog the fountain’s spray nozzles over time.
    • Vision
      Water is a precious commodity. Hitachi continues to search for projects in which the company can co-create with their partners and customers to save or reuse water with proper treatment. Moving forward, Hitachi is analyzing big data to see where energy saving can be made, and to optimize performance through pre-detection of defective equipment. The company wants to develop technologies that are smarter and safer for their customers’ use.

    Challenge

    Creating a clean, continuous source of water

     

    The challenge was to create a sustainable system that was both cost and energy efficient by using available resources. Hitachi’s team looked to reclaim sewage water generated by the adjoining Burj Khalifa and downtown area. This idea created its own set of problems. Hitachi had to ensure the water was free of any unsafe toxins, as fountain water could come in contact with the viewing public in high-wind conditions. Further, water used in the fountain’s musical performance could not have any detectable smells that would deter audience attendance.

    Solution

    A viable solution for the Dubai Fountain using Hitachi’s technology

    Collecting sewage water from the nearby Burj Khalifa and downtown core, Hitachi constructed a system around the Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) units and Reverse Osmosis (RO). These technologies have been developed by Hitachi over many years of working in the field of waste water treatment. The designed solution cleans 2000 cubic meters of sewage water daily.

    The sewage water is processed in stages. First it passes through multiple screens that remove grit, grease and sediment, freeing the water of heavy solids. Water is then sent to an intermediate tank before it is forced through a fine screen that expels any particles larger than 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter. After screening, the water is aerated and oxidized to eliminate microorganisms. During aeration, the water passes through the MBR units.

    The MBR units process the water through a membrane with a pore size of 0.1 micron. This micro-filtration system not only removes suspended solids, but also bacteria such as coliform. Water is then dosed with disinfectant NaOCI (sodium hypochlorite), which eradicates any residual traces of smell. Upon completion of this stage, the water is pumped into one of two holding tanks. From the holding tanks, and before it is released to the fountain, the water undergoes reverse osmosis. This process ensures the water’s purity and discharges any dissolved contaminants.

    Reverse osmosis works by sending pressurized water through a semi-permeable membrane that allows only fresh water through. Reverse osmosis is an extreme treatment that completely removes dissolved solids. After reverse osmosis processing, the water is safe to drink. This is done to safeguard the public, as mist from the powerful jets can fall on the adoring crowds during windy conditions. Additionally, the process removes any salt crystals that may be present. Over time, salt residue would build in the nozzle heads if left untreated, diminishing the height and consistency of the intense water jets.

    Hitachi’s design has been a great success, as exhibited by thousands of patrons who watch the fountain’s performance every day in wonderment.

    Vision

    A collaborative creation to preserve and protect our precious commodity: water

    Hitachi continues to look for ways to protect and preserve our precious water. The company hopes to build on the initiatives it took in the Dubai Fountain project and use the lessons learned elsewhere.

    Currently, Hitachi is integrating unique technologies that improve water treatment solutions and the management of such facilities. We realize it by analyzing digital data to see where energy saving can be incorporated and to optimize performance through pre-detection of defective equipment. These actions are taken in an effort to make Hitachi’s technologies smarter and safer to use.

    The desert is a special place where water is a scarce commodity. Hitachi is proud to have built a system that recycles and reuses water instead of letting it go to waste.

    Release Date: March, 2018
    Solutions By: Hitachi, Ltd., Water Business Unit