Dynamic-like Membrane for MBR Fouling Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) leads to decreased membrane permeation flux, deteriorated effluent quality, and increased operating costs, with existing solutions either increasing space, investment, or introducing secondary fouling issues.
Innovation Solution
A method to construct a dynamic-like membrane by determining the critical pore size of a base material on the MBR module, reducing aeration rates, and using physical interception to form a dynamic-like membrane that intercepts large-sized activated sludge, thereby reducing foulants load without additional space or investment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If pre-sedimentation tank is added to reduce activated sludge concentration, then membrane fouling is reduced, but occupied area increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The base material is placed inside the membrane tank, nesting the filtration function within the existing MBR structure. This eliminates the need for external pre-sedimentation tanks while maintaining the fouling reduction effect, as the base material intercepts activated sludge directly in the membrane tank environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The base material serves multiple functions: it acts as a physical interceptor for activated sludge, provides surface area for dynamic-like membrane formation, and maintains structural stability within the membrane tank. This multi-functionality replaces what would otherwise require separate pre-sedimentation infrastructure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If solid additives are added to membrane tank to reduce foulants load, then membrane fouling is mitigated, but investment cost increases and membrane service life shortens
Solution Approach 1:
The base material is designed as a simple, inexpensive structure that can be easily replaced or cleaned. It uses conventional materials like stainless steel mesh or ceramic plates that are cost-effective and do not require expensive specialized additives, thereby reducing investment cost while maintaining fouling mitigation effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes activated sludge from the system before it can foul the membrane, using the base material as a physical barrier. This prevents the accumulation of foulants that would otherwise degrade membrane performance and shorten service life, unlike solid additives that may accumulate and cause secondary problems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional filters are added to reduce foulants load, then membrane fouling is reduced, but operating energy consumption increases due to additional clogging issues
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration function is segmented into the base material structure that provides physical interception surfaces. This segmentation creates multiple interception points within the membrane tank without requiring additional external filter units, thereby reducing the energy consumption associated with operating multiple filter systems while effectively reducing membrane fouling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The dynamic-like membrane effectively intercepts >70% of activated sludge, prolongs MBR operation time by 1 to 15 times, reduces energy consumption, and enhances microorganism community structure for improved foulant degradation, maintaining low operating costs and membrane service life.
Implementation Method 1
with the assistance of the driving pressure of the MBR module itself and the physical interception of the base material, the inherent activated sludge in the membrane tank is used to induce formation of a dynamic-like membrane on the surface of the base material
Implementation Method 2
the dynamic-like membrane is used as a boundary to intercept most large size activated sludge in the membrane tank, resulting in a low-concentration sludge-water mixture in the MBR module
Data Source
AI summary
A method for constructing a dynamic-like membrane to control membrane fouling of MBR includes: determining a critical pore size of a base material according to an average size of activated sludge in a membrane tank. The base material is detachably fixed on the outer layer of a conventional MBR module, which is placed into the membrane tank of a wastewater treatment system. Then the aeration rate of a membrane area in the MBR module is reduced. With the assistance of the driving pressure of the MBR module itself and the physical interception of the base material, the inherent activated sludge in the membrane tank is used to form a dynamic-like membrane on the surface of the base material. This dynamic-like membrane intercepts most activated sludge in the membrane tank, and results in a low-concentration sludge-water mixture in the MBR module, which not only reduces the foulants load of MBR membrane, but also facilitates degradation of foulants on the membrane surface, so as to realize the control of membrane fouling.