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Hyde Marine Inc. ● 2000 McClaren Woods Drive ● Coraopolis, PA 15108 ● USA
Tel: +1.412.893.2444 ● fax: +1.724.695.3318 ● e-mail: sales@hydemarine.com
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APPENDIX A
Hyde Marine, Inc.
would like to thank the MERC testing lab and all of the skilled
scientists, engineers and technicians involved in our test. It was a privilege to be the first
manufacturer to test prototype systems onboard this new, state-of-the-art facility. Throughout
the testing period the MERC crew was helpful and understanding of the requirements of our
system. We are very grateful for their professionalism and dedication.
Our first test runs were conducted with a 40 micron screen filter in combination with
our standard UV reactor. This system integrated easily with the MERC barge. Our second
system created problems with the MERC barge’s ballast pump control system. An
incompatibility existed due to our system’s requirement to stop ballast flow and use the barge’s
ballast pump in combination with our booster pump to generate backwash pressure. The
barge’s ballast pump was controlled to run at a constant BWTS outlet flow rate and when the
second BWTS option went to backwash, the barge ballast pump tripped off line and invalidated
the test. After a few attempts to correct this, we ran a bypass line to simulate a sea-to-sea
recirculation line. This configuration was unable to generate sufficient backwash pressure to
meet our filter’s requirements but we elected to continue the testing in order to experiment with
the criticality of backwash pressure to our process.
As noted in the report, we encountered significant environmental challenges due to
the algae bloom in the harbor throughout the testing. Although this environmental condition
created a bad “practice” for ballasting (per 33CFR150.2050), we continued testing to put both
our system options through extremely challenging tests. Additionally, the use of challenge
additives to the extent added resulted in water quality challenge conditions well above ETV
minimums. Questions remain in our mind about the use of ISO 12301-1 test dust (as per ETV
5.2.1.3) since it is not buoyancy-neutral and thus may have secondary effects in filter systems.
Our 55 micron disc filter removed significantly higher percentages of this material than did the
40 micron screen filter which may indicate some secondary effect.
The initial UV intensity readings taken by our prototype, un-diffused UV intensity
sensors may have been affected by staining of the reactor internals due to untreated piping.
After a modification to the start sequence to initiate a wipe cycle to clean the quartz sleeves
after idle water was stored in the system, we were able to trend our readings with the UVT
readings taken by MERC. This prototype sensor configuration, however, has been removed
from our future consideration.
In conclusion, the test platform provided Hyde Marine, Inc. with an invaluable
resource to test prospective components and processes in our efforts to improve and expand our
current portfolio of Type Approved Ballast Water Treatment Systems. Although we were
unsuccessful in expanding our product offering, this testing has proven extremely valuable in
validating our understanding of the critical variables and robust nature of the methodology we
currently employ.