DM Plant: An important M & P of electrical coach care

DM water stands for De Mineralized water. Theoretically it is water not containing any minerals or salts. Practically in most applications water from which all Ca and Mg salts are removed is termed as D M Water. Very high purity D M water is usually used for pharmaceutical preparations, High Purity Chemicals synthesis and boiler applications where scale formation is not desired at all. 
De-Mineralisation can be made by a number of processes. It includes Electro-De-ionisation. Ion-exchange, Reverse Osmosis and Distillation / Solar Distillation. Softening - removal of Ca and Mg ions is done in most cases by chemical method - as pre-treatment for efficiency improvement of most methods. 
Typical plant will consist of the following parts : (Considering Ground water or sea water as feed) ---> Chemical pretreatment with alum or other chemicals, Chlorination or Ozonation, Clarifier and Multi-media filters, Ion-Exchanger or Reverse osmosis membranes. Ultimate design will depend on end-use.

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF DM PLANT

OBJECTIVE : Objective of this procedure is to provide operation and maintenance instruction of Dematerialization Plant  (DM Plant) as per safety and cGMP requirements.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENT: A number of minerals readily dissolve into raw water. DM Plant  removes mineral salt by an ion-exchange process from the raw water. After demineralization water passes through the fine filtration and UV sterilizer so that the water meet all the specification of pharmaceutical for purified water

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:

The Indion Packaged Up flow DM Plant consists of water feed pumps (one working one stand by) with motor, activated carbon filter, strong acidic Cation unit, strong alkaline anion unit, Mixed bed unit, 5 micron filter, UV sterilizer, inter connected pipe work with valves & ejectors, pressure gauges, flow meter, conductivity meter etc.,

In Activated carbon filter (ACF), Activated carbon used is in granular form which is filled in mild steel pressure vessel. ACF eliminates suspended solids and absorbs most pollutants dissolve in water like detergents, phenols, obnoxious gases like chlorine & sulphur dioxide. It also helps to reduce the impurities like colour, taste etc.

Cation Exchange column of MSRL material contains strongly acidic Cation Exchanger resin. The Cation Exchange material, which exchanges Cations such as Calcium, Magnesium and Sodium for hydrogen ions to form the corresponding acids. This process is reversed when the resin is regenerated by hydrochloric acid through column.

Anion Exchange column of MSRL material contains a strongly basic Anion resin.  The strongly basic Anion Exchanger will remove the acid formed by the cation exchange material and producing water, which is free from dissolved solids. This process is reversed when the resin is regenerated by Caustic Soda solution Mix bed Exchange column of MSRL material contains Cation and Anion resins and thoroughly mixed with compressed air.  When the water passes through Mixed Bed Column the traces of dissolved salt leaked out will be retained in the Mixed Bed Column.

Conductivity meter is used to show the purity of dematerialized water. The conductivity is proportional to be the residual ionized solids in the water. Low conductivity indicates water of high purity.

5 micron filters with SS housing removes the particular impurities from the water.

UV as disinfections is used for removing microbial reduction.

The unit is fitted with all necessary piping, valves & ejectors from the raw water inlet and to DM water outlet.

Berth Reading Lights

We could have avoided inventory by using either of pin or screw type lamps.

Stopper Failures

WE should respect T and P

It has been observed that:-

• ·        LED Torch supplied by railways have been kept at home by staff.
• ·        Hygrometeers for measuring specific gravity is not being used by staff.
•      Two lamp test box supplied for earth leakage testing not being used by staff.
• ·       Hardness tester not being used by staff. 

  There are many more tools and plants like multimeters, torque wrenches, tong-testers etc which were purchased and distributed to staff. Many such tools got failed in warranty but rake supervisors never reported and we could not claim warranty.

That’s why tool talk is important. You can check fro tool distribution register what tools have been given to staff and can question them why they have not brought the tools.