Reducing aeration energy consumption in a large-scale membrane bioreactor: Process simulation and engineering application

Sun, Jianyu; Liang, Peng; Yan, Xiaoxu; Zuo, Kuichang; Xiao, Kang; Junlin, Xia; Qiu, Yong; Wu, Qing; Wu, Shijia; Huang, Xia; Meng, Qingda; Wen, Xianghua

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2016.02.026

Cited by 82 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…It is known that oxygen is necessary for the metabolism of microorganisms, and that aeration is responsible for around 70-80% of the energy consumption of wastewater treatment [17]. Therefore, the treatment of grey water without any active aeration would result in a considerable reduction in energy consumption.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A low energy gravity-driven membrane bioreactor system for grey water treatment: Permeability and removal performance of organics

Ding

Liang

et al. 2017

Journal of Membrane Science

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Synthetic grey water was treated with a low-pressure gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (GDMBR) system. The system was operated without any direct shear at the membrane surface and without any cleaning or flushing. In order to reduce energy consumption, one reactor was operated without aeration and the results were compared with an aerated reactor. Although the dissolved oxygen content was low (0.4-0.6 mg/L) in the nonaerated system, a stable permeability was observed at a level of around 20 L/m 2 hbar (flux of 1 L/m 2 h). The fouling resistance was dominated by the bio-fouling layer, which could be removed hydraulically. In comparison to the aerated system, the bio-fouling layer grown

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A low energy gravity-driven membrane bioreactor system for grey water treatment: Permeability and removal performance of organics

Ding

Liang

et al. 2017

Journal of Membrane Science

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“…Aeration is required in an aerobic MBRs for providing DO (dissolved oxygen) to microbes, making the sludge flocs in a suspended state and mitigating membrane fouling . Aeration energy consumption accounts for approximately half of the total energy consumption in MBRs . In particular, membrane aeration in flat‐sheet MBRs is much higher than that in hollow‐fiber MBRs .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mannina and Cosenza applied a simulation‐based approach with a control system based on TMP and treated effluent quality, saving 20% energy for a pilot plant MBR. Sun et al achieved an aeration cost reduction of 20% by ammonium‐feedback automatic control in a full‐scale MBR. Additionally, Monclus et al developed an aeration control method based on the slope ratio between long‐term and short‐term permeability trends, which could decrease energy consumption by 14% in a full‐scale MBR.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel aeration of a large‐scale flat sheet MBR: A CFD and experimental investigation

Wang

Field

2018

AIChE Journal

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Having previously established that the hydrodynamic effect introduced by slug bubbles is more effective and economic in fouling amelioration in flat sheet MBRs (FSMBR) than conventional bubbling, this work is focused on its implementation in a commercial FSMBR. The overall objective is to enhance the hydrodynamic effect on fouling control through the use of two‐stage large‐sized bubble development (coalescence and split). Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to predict hydrodynamic features and substantial agreement was observed with experimental measurements. The critical height for bubble development space was determined to be circa 250 mm. Slug bubbles could be introduced into 14 channels, resulting in six‐fold stronger shear stress than that from single bubbles. Energy demand could be reduced by circa 50% compared with industry average usage and the shear stresses developed would, for most applications, be sufficient to ameliorate fouling. Furthermore, the specific air demand per permeate would be halved. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 2721–2736, 2018

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“…This dislocation between the research and practitioner communities is hardly a new observation, but is particularly apparent in MBR research where the focus on practically relevant aspects has been less apparent than in the case of RO seawater desalination. Although there have been a few studies which have directly addressed quantified energy efficiency improvement, such as aeration optimisation at full scale for the process (Sun et al, 2016) and membrane scour (Monclús et al, 2015), such investigations have been vastly outnumbered by fouling studies. There would thus appear to be a strong case for reflection on what is fundamentally important.…”

Section: Impact Of Research On Practical Cost Reductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Membrane technology costs and me

Judd

2017

Water Research

127

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A reflection of the place cost analysis holds in membrane process technology research and development is provided. The review encompassed two membrane processes and applications: (a) reverse osmosis (RO) for seawater desalination, and (b) membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology for wastewater treatment. The cost analysis undertaken extended to (i) the determination of operating expenditure (OPEX) trends using simple analytical expressions, (ii) the subsequent estimation of the sensitivity of OPEX to individual system parameters, and (iii) published data on CAPEX for individual full-scale installations or from cost analyses. An appraisal of the peer-reviewed literature through a survey of a leading scientific database was also carried out. This bibliometric analysis was based on authors' keywords; it aimed to establish the profile of process cost for each of the two applications when compared with other popular research topics. The OPEX analysis, ostensibly through a consideration of specific energy demand in kWh per m permeate, revealed it to relate primarily to hydrodynamics in the case of RO, and to both membrane fouling and air scouring for MBRs. The bibliometric analysis of research trends revealed a marked difference in emphasis on cost aspects between the two research areas, with the focus on cost specifically being 16 times greater for RO desalination of seawater than MBR treatment of wastewater. MBR research appears to be dominated by fouling and foulant characterisation, making up almost a quarter of all studies, notwithstanding evidence from practitioners that other process parameters are as important in determining MBR process OPEX and operability.

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Reducing aeration energy consumption in a large-scale membrane bioreactor: Process simulation and engineering application

Cited by 82 publications

References 22 publications

A low energy gravity-driven membrane bioreactor system for grey water treatment: Permeability and removal performance of organics

A low energy gravity-driven membrane bioreactor system for grey water treatment: Permeability and removal performance of organics

Novel aeration of a large‐scale flat sheet MBR: A CFD and experimental investigation

Membrane technology costs and me

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