title: Optimization of MBR hydrodynamics for cake layer fouling control through CFD simulation and RSM design.
abstract: Membrane fouling is an important issue for membrane bioreactor (MBR) operation. This paper aims at the investigation and the controlling of reversible membrane fouling due to cake layer formation and foulants deposition by optimizing MBR hydrodynamics through the combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and design of experiment (DOE). The model was validated by comparing simulations with measurements of liquid velocity and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in a lab-scale submerged MBR. The results demonstrated that the sludge concentration is the most influencing for responses including shear stress, particle deposition propensity (PDP), sludge viscosity and strain rate. A medium sludge concentration of 8820mgL-1is optimal for the reduction of reversible fouling in this submerged MBR. The bubble diameter is more decisive than air flowrate for membrane shear stress due to its role in sludge viscosity. The optimal bubble diameter was at around 4.8mm for both of shear stress and PDP.
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Mengmeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Libing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: School of Environment and Nature Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Yuansong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: ybfan@rcees.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Yaobo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D057219:Biofouling; D019149:Bioreactors; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010316:Particle Size; D012722:Sewage; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D012722:Sewage; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: CFD; Cake layer; Fouling; Hydrodynamics; MBR