Water Filtration

Water filtration is one of the most crucial systems in a Meridian class submersible. They are equipped with nuclear reactors capable of powering the entire ship for long periods of time, but this requires more cooling than a pre-filled tank can store. Water filtration provides the backbone for the reactor (therefore power generation) and the life support systems on the ship.

Note

Water filtration is not to be confused with water treatment. Water treatment is the process of turning product water into potable water, which is a separate system. This system is responsible for taking external sea water and filtering out impurities to create product water, which is then sent to water treatment.

The water filtration system has two filtration lines, so one can be cleaned while the other is in use. Each has its own isolation valve, pump, and coarse filtration system, which are controllable independantly. Each line converges into a central distribution manifold which will evenly distribute into all of the other systems that require water.

The distribution manifold has a minimum-flow pressure relief valve that will automatically open if there is too much pressure in the system, which can be caused by a blockage or if all manifold distribution outputs are closed. This is a safety feature to prevent damage to the pumps and pipes, but it can cause water loss if it opens. The relief valve will automatically close once the pressure drops back to a safe level. The water is sent into a dirty water bilge sump elsewhere in the sub, which must be manually purged by an operator team.

This means that operators can, for a short period of time, enable water filtration before life support systems and reactor cooling are online, but these must be enabled soon after as the bilge sump can only hold so much water before it needs to be purged. This is a crucial part of the early game, and requires less hand-holding if downstream systems fail.