Filtration of mussels

Effective mussel filtration for industrial pipelines

Find out how our state-of-the-art filter solutions effectively remove mussels and algae in pipes and thus optimize the operation of your systems.

Challenges in water treatment

Large quantities of cooling or process water are preferably obtained from surface water. However, the use of these natural resources places certain demands on water treatment. For example, cooling towers and heat exchangers must be protected against siltation and algae growth in order to avoid high maintenance costs and long downtimes.

In pipelines, mussel growth can lead to a reduction in the open pipe cross-section and thus to permanent losses in throughput. Furthermore, the removal and disposal of mussels results in additional costs.

Solution: Automatic backflush filters from GEFA

Our automatic backwash filters from the M100 and MSCF series are the ideal solution for these challenges. The stainless steel screen mesh of these filters ensures an effective reduction of mussel larvae in the inlet water as soon as the larvae have reached a size of 40 µm.

Development of the freshwater pearl mussel

The body parts of the fish to which the glochidia attach themselves vary between the different mussel genera. There are gills and fin parasites, as well as transitional forms. It is also possible that glochidia of some mussel species attach themselves to the skin of the fish. The freshwater pearl mussel is a pure gill parasite. After a period of time that varies between mussel species, the very simple glochidia have transformed into juvenile mussels. In the freshwater pearl mussel, development can take from 1 to 10 months. The glochidia of the freshwater pearl mussel are 0.04 - 0.07 mm long when they are expelled from the mother. They grow on the fish and fall off as juvenile mussels with a shell length of 0.4 - 0.7 mm.

Instead of the two shell valves and one sphincter muscle previously present, the juvenile mussels now have all the organs of the adult mussel, including two sphincter muscles, a heart, two pairs of gills, an intestinal tract and a movable foot. After they have fallen off the fish, the juvenile mussels bury themselves in the stream bed for about 5 years, where they are dependent on sufficient flow through the sediment spaces.

If the glochidia does not find a host within a few days, it dies. The glochidia are immobile and therefore defenceless against the environment. As a young mussel about 2 cm in size, it returns to the surface of the stream bed and reacts extremely sensitively to the water quality.

Functionality and advantages

Reliable filtration: The automatic backwash filters work continuously and reliably without the use of chemicals.
High dirt loads: Our filter systems are designed for high and varying dirt loads in pressurized systems with high flow velocities.
Low maintenance: The filters clean themselves automatically during operation and thus ensure uninterrupted filtration.

Choose our proven filter solutions and optimize water treatment in your industrial plant. Contact us today for more information and individual advice.