Improving Membrane Treatment Energy Efficiency through Monitoring the Removal of Colloidal Particle Foulants
Measuring Colloidal Particles Prior to Membrane Treatment Can Reduce Energy and Cost for Water Reclamation
Kennedy/Jenks Consultants
Recipient
Irvine, CA
Recipient Location
37th
Senate District
74th
Assembly District
$831,246
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
Project is complete. Results indicate that the fouling potential for the microfiltration (MF) membranes tested at Orange County Water District (OCWD) was mitigated through use of targeted chemical addition. Test results show that fouling is reduced by 60% compared to the no coagulant addition. Energy and economic evaluation at OCWD indicated that the approach can reduce energy consumption due to MF by 28% and can result in 2,940 MWh/year savings. OCWD staff has made internal presentation of the project findings to its management. Recipient has presented the project results at five conferences attended by water/wastewater treatment plant staff, regulators and vendors. This project will be published in 'Water World'; either as a podcast/article.
The Issue
Membrane treatment processes are highly energy intensive due to the fouling of the membranes over time. The high energy demand of low pressure membranes is caused by the accumulation of colloidal particles in the feedwater inside the membrane pores which increases the transmembrane pressure. There are no techniques to measure the levels of colloidal particles directly in wastewater, and minimize their deposition in membrane pores. As a result, many utilities do not pretreat the entering wastewater prior to membrane treatment. This results in membrane fouling and high energy use.
Project Innovation
The project demonstrated an online monitoring technology for wastewater treatment plants to directly measure colloidal particle concentrations in order to lower membrane fouling and reduce energy use and maintenance costs. Direct detection of colloidal particles will help determine the optimal pretreatment needed to minimize deposition of colloidal particles in membrane pores.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
Nationwide there are over 100 microfiltration/ultrafiltration treatment plants and there are over 100 reverse osmosis facilities in California using membranes. Membrane treatment for wastewater treatment is very energy intensive due to fouling of membranes over time. This project could overcome the barriers to use of membrane treatment by demonstrating a technology that can detect colloidal particles in membrane feed water. This can facilitate an optimal pretreatment process for their removal and reduce membrane fouling and energy costs.
Affordability
The project reduced the frequency of cleaning and membrane replacement, energy use, and wastewater treatment plant operating costs by reducing the build-up in membrane pores and removing colloidal particles in the feed water duri
Key Project Members
Ganesh Rajagopalan
Alan Bracewell
Subrecipients
Southern California Edison Company
Match Partners
Orange County Water District
West Basin Municipal Water District
Evoqua Water Technologies
Malvern
