How We Began

Measurement Technologies began producing the H₂O Neutralizer^® in 1999. The first model was 3” in size and only designed for dechlorination. The 5” device was later introduced in the fall of 2000. It did not take long to realize that the device could also be used for pipeline chlorination, which made the device dual purpose and answered the problems of field chlorination. Both utilities and contractors have faced the problem of super chlorinating lines unevenly, causing failed purity tests.  The H₂O Neutralizer^® injects chlorine into every gallon of water that is entering the new system.  For pipeline dechlorination, the H₂O Neutralizer^® design allows the operator complete control of the feed solution entering the venturi, allowing the proper balance between the chlorine residual level and the amount of dechlorination solution required.

The quest for environmentally sound means of pipeline water dechlorination started in the 1990’s.  First, a local kidney dialysis doctor in Mount Vernon, Washington, enlightened Public Utility District No. 1 of Skagit County as to the benefits of ascorbic acid, Vitamin C, to remove chlorine from our drinking water. Ascorbic acid has been recommended as the dechlorinating agent of choice for VOC’s (EPA QA Newsletter, January, 1988), as well as being the choice of many owners of exotic fish to dechlorinate their tank water. Ascorbic acid is an additive in fish food to improve their immune systems.  It is also an additive in food production for human consumption. When weighing the benefits of ascorbic acid to the conventional sulfur-based dechlorination chemicals, Skagit County quickly made the change to ascorbic acid.  It made good environmental sense.

The first few years the utility used the ascorbic acid for dechlorination with conventional methods that had been used over the years with sulfur-based chemicals. The methods that were being used were different configurations of drip systems as well as simply broadcasting the ascorbic over open water.  Results were not impressive, especially with the higher cost of ascorbic acid.  I, Tony Smith, then Water Superintendent for the P.U.D., decided that it was time to design a device that would work under all field conditions and make the most economical use of ascorbic acid.  The H₂O Neutralizer^® was born out of two principles.  It has a mainline orifice with additional (easy to install) orifice inserts to control flow rates and differential pressure, and a lateral by-pass venturi to create a full vacuum at low flows that will maintain throughout the entire performance range of the device. My combination worked and I now hold the first patent issued for a dechlorination device.  My design allows the device to reach 29 inches of vacuum with as little as 5 psi and approximately 6-8 gpm of flow. The H₂O Neutralizer^® is available in two different models. The 3M is designed to be used on connections up to 3” in size, and the 5M is designed to be used on connections up to 6”. We offer units that are designed for both DeChlorination AND Chlorination.

Tony Smith
Inventor

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How does the H₂O Neutralizer^® work?

The H₂O Neutralizer^®is a patented design combining two principles into one device for pipeline decholorination.  By utilizing a mainline orifice ring with a lateral bypass venturi the user is able to control discharge rates and control the amount of solution entering the device.  The permanent mainline orifice ring is 2” for the 3M or 4” for the 5M with three additional orifice rings that can be inserted into the 2” or 4” ring.  The different orifice openings will either allow the user to control the discharge rate or allow the user to create a full vacuum at very low flows and pressure.  When the water is passing through the orifice it will create differential pressure causing part of the water flow to enter the lateral bypass.  The modified venturi will create a vacuum of 29 inches which draws in one gallon per minute of feed solution with the control valve in the full open position.  The control valve allows the user to control the amount of feed solution from zero to one gallon per minute.  After the venturi mixes the solution with the bypass water, it will reintroduce that fluid back into the main flow of water causing either the neutralizing reaction to the chlorine or the mixture of chlorine with the water to create chlorinated water of any strength.

Operational Features:

This one device may be used for either chlorinating or dechlorinating water supply pipelines, with two sizes to choose from:  the original 3” model that will chlorinate and dechlorinate standard drinking water and super chlorinated water, and the 5” model which is designed to chlorinate and dechlorinate standard drinking water.  The 3M H₂O Neutralizer^® is designed to be connected to pipe sizes 1” and larger, and the 5M H₂O Neutralizer^® is designed for 4” and larger connections with minimum flows of 600 gpm and 20-psi.  Choose the proper adapter which will connect the 3M H₂O Neutralizer^® to the filling point of the new system or the discharge point of the system  that needs to be dechlorinated. The 3” model comes with two special adapters so that the H₂O Neutralizer^® can be installed in either direction.  Due to the many different ways that the 5” model can be connected it is only furnished with a female swivel inlet and a type ‘A’ cam lock adapter outlet.  Different end connections can be furnished.

Both the 3M and 5M H₂O Neutralizer^® are equipped with a lateral by-pass pressure gauge which will give the operator an approximate flow rate when compared to the orifice size being used, and a make-up water valve. The make-up water valve will allow the user to draw incoming water to make feed solution and to test the incoming chlorine residual level during dechlorinating operations.

The 3M H₂O Neutralizer^® can achieve a full vacuum with as little as 5 psi and 5 gpm of flow by blocking the opening in the ¾” orifice and inserting it into the device.  Once both devices reach a full vacuum it insures the ability to deliver one gallon per minute of feed solution to the modified venturi. The bypass solution being reintroduced into the main flow will enter on the back side of the differential ring which has a lower pressure than the front side of the orifice ring and the lateral bypass.

Both models have an optional discharge hose and diffuser.  The discharge hoses are made from Nitrile rubber, which features good abrasion resistance, and no special drying requirements. The hoses are twenty feet in length, as that is the longest hose that can be installed on the discharge side of the device.  Our Full Flow Diffusers are designed to allow the user to position the discharge at up to 90° from the device in either direction.

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