Geomat’s Patented closed-loop water recovery system is designed to capture, recycle, filter, and clean wastewater and water runoff in an efficient, controlled feedback process.
Closed-loop systems use feedback where a portion of the output signal is fed back to the input to reduce errors and improve stability. Additionally, this protects and prevents any outside factors or elements from disrupting the system’s process and control.
In this blog, we’re breaking down exactly what a closed-loop system is and how important this technology contributes to the safety and sustainability of cannabis operations.
What Exactly Is A Closed Loop System?
According to Tech Target’s definition,
A closed-loop control system is a set of mechanical or electronic devices that automatically regulates a process variable to the desired state or setpoint without human interaction. Closed-loop control systems contrast with open-loop control systems, which require manual input.
In other words, closed-loop systems are designed to automatically achieve and maintain the desired output condition or result by comparing it to the actual condition. This is done by generating a signal showing the difference between the output and the input referenced.
Basically, a closed-loop system requires being a fully automatic control system in which its control actions are dependent on the output in the same way.
The term closed-loop control refers to the use of a feedback control action in order to reduce any errors that occur within the system. This gives feedback from the system, which distinguishes the main differences between an open-loop and closed-loop system.
When closed-loop systems have the power of knowing the output condition, it is better equipped to handle any system disturbances or changes that may interrupt this system’s process and completion of the desired task.
For example, think about when you use a dryer for your clothes. If the dryer door is open, the heat is lost. During this, the change in temperature is detected by the feedback sensor on the closed-loop system (in this case, the dryer), and the controller self-corrects the error of the temperature to maintain its desired constant temperature to continue drying the clothes. If this correction cannot be complete, the dryer will signal this error to inform the operator (you, doing the laundry).
Today, closed-loop systems are commonly used in various industries and applications. This includes agriculture, chemical, and nuclear power plants, quality control, water treatment, and environmental control.
More importantly, the legal cannabis industry has acquired the use of closed-loop systems and technology for multiple processes of cannabis cultivation and extraction.
A Sustainable Solution with Cannabis Technology
As cannabis legalization continues to spread throughout the United States, cannabis technology and strategic methods revolving around the cultivation and manufacturing of cannabis expands.
For many categories of this budding industry, closed-loop systems have become an efficient, sustainable, and safe alternative to these methods implemented in laboratories and businesses.
Closed-Loop Systems for Cannabis Extraction
The rising demand for cannabis concentrates in a thriving market has excited cannabis labs and manufacturers to explore sustainable and efficient ways to achieve these processes for cannabis extraction.
Considering the various processes and methods used for extraction purposes in the industry, closed-loop extraction systems are considered a highly efficient technology solution to create all types of cannabis concentrates - shatter, crumble, live resin, and isolates.
In a cannabis laboratory, closed-loop systems help to protect these highly flammable solvents from air exposure or risk of eruption. By using these closed-loop systems for the extraction process, cannabis labs often have their own preference for the solvent used.
For instance, butane is one of the more popular solvents used in cannabis extraction. For this process to happen, the solvent must pass through the cannabis plant matter multiple times in order to strip off the valuable cannabinoids and cannabis compounds needed for concentrates.
Once this gas solvent is converted to a liquid, the liquid solvent flows throughout the tank to dissolve and activate these compounds. The final tank in the closed-loop extraction system is where the resulting extract is produced, while the initial solvent liquid used is then evaporated and condensed back for reuse in the second tank.
Cannabis Closed-Loop Systems for Irrigation and Sanitation
Besides the specific extraction process that is required for cannabis concentrates, cannabis technology and closed-loop systems are additionally used for irrigation and sanitation purposes.
With Geomat, the Patented cannabis water recovery closed-loop system manages the large amounts of wastewater and water runoff that often occurs in irrigation and sanitation of the plants, equipment, and other crucial tools in cultivation.
As a closed-loop system, all wastewater collected from these various operations can be recycled, filtered, cleaned, and then piped back into the initial holding tank for reuse.
Although this water recovery closed-loop system often requires dirty water to be pumped out periodically (by a licensed disposable hauler), this specific process results in a significant reduction of waste and energy, compared to other similar processes like reverse osmosis.
Cannabis water recycling is made efficiently possible with Geomat’s closed-loop water containment systems. No matter which irrigation or sanitation part of the process your operation is working through, all wastewater collected onto the unit is simply recycled and reused without interruption to the outside environment or harmfully impacting surrounding natural resources.
Geomat’s Patented Closed Loop Water Recovery System: How It Works
So, what exactly is made up of Geomat’s closed-loop system and how does it work? The following are components of our closed-loop system that help maintain a successful internal feedback process and operation:
Aluminum framed, patented wastewater filtration and containment system
Wastewater pumping system options (closed-loop technology or sewer tie-in.)
A- Compressed air operated (non surface penetrating)
B- Sump basin ejector (surface penetrating)
Waste water filtering / recycling tank system
High pressure, low consumption pressure washer
To learn more about how Geomat’s water recovery systems work, check out the latest video of our closed-loop system in action!
To learn more about the sustainable benefits of Geomat’s Cannabis Water Recovery Systems, visit us at www.Geomat.com and follow us on LinkedIn!