title: Full-scale validation of an air scour control system for energy savings in membrane bioreactors.
abstract: Membrane aeration represents between 35 and 50% of the operational cost of membrane bioreactors (MBR). New automatic control systems and/or module configurations have been developed for aeration optimization. In this paper, we briefly describe an innovative MBR air scour control system based on permeability evolution and present the results of a full-scale validation that lasted over a 1-year period. An average reduction in the air scour flow rate of 13% was achieved, limiting the maximum reduction to 20%. This averaged reduction corresponded to a decrease in energy consumption for membrane aeration of 14% (0.025 kWh m(-3)) with maximum saving rates of 22% (0.04 kWh m(-3)). Permeability and fouling rate evolution were not affected by the air scour control system, as very similar behavior was observed for these variables for both filtration lines throughout the entire experimental evaluation period of 1 year.
authors.affiliation: LEQUIA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, E17071, Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: hector@lequia.udg.cat.
authors.forename: Hèctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Monclús
authors.affiliation: LEQUIA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, E17071, Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: montse.dalmau@lequia.udg.cat.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalmau
authors.affiliation: ICRA (Catalan Institute for Water Research), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, H2O Building, c/ Emili Grahit 101, E17003, Girona, Spain. Electronic address: sgabarron@icra.cat.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabarrón
authors.affiliation: UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611 AX, Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: g.ferrero@unesco-ihe.org.
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.affiliation: LEQUIA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, E17071, Girona, Catalonia, Spain; ICRA (Catalan Institute for Water Research), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, H2O Building, c/ Emili Grahit 101, E17003, Girona, Spain. Electronic address: ignasi@lequia.udg.cat.
authors.forename: Ignasi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Roda
authors.affiliation: LEQUIA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, E17071, Girona, Catalonia, Spain; ICRA (Catalan Institute for Water Research), Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, H2O Building, c/ Emili Grahit 101, E17003, Girona, Spain. Electronic address: joaquim.comas@udg.edu.
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Comas
mesh_terms: D057219:Biofouling; D019149:Bioreactors; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010539:Permeability; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial
keywords: Air scour; Control; Energy savings; Full scale; MBR; Optimization