title: Experimental evaluation of intermittent aeration of a hollow fibre membrane bioreactor.
abstract: Intermittent membrane aeration provides a substantially improved energy efficiency in hollow fibre-based immersed membrane bioreactors (HF iMBRs). The benefits of intermittent aeration have been assessed with respect to sustaining a target flux and/or limiting the fouling rate to a sustainable level based on a small plant using full-scale HF modules. Results show that for the same specific aeration demand per unit of permeate produced (SAD(p)), fouling rates were significantly lower for 10 s filtration, 30 s relaxation ("10:30" intermittent aeration) compared to 10:10 and continuous aeration. At a net flux (J(net)) of 23.3 litres m(-2) h(-1) (LMH), a SAD(p) of 4.6 was found sufficient to sustain operation, this value being up to 75% and 50% lower compared to continuous and 10:10 aeration respectively. This empirical data was compared with heuristic data from 5 large scale HF iMBR plants, which revealed that 10:30 aeration can sustain a relatively high flux (up to 25.3 LMH) under dry weather conditions in warm climates, with the recorded SAD(p) ranging from 5.3-10.9.
authors: Centre for Water Science, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, UK. s.j.judd@cranfield.ac.uk
authors: Bart
authors: B
authors: Verrecht
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: James
authors: Eve
authors: E
authors: Germain
authors: Wenjing
authors: W
authors: Ma
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Judd
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010100:Oxygen; D013997:Time Factors; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010100:Oxygen