MBR Operation
Although membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology has grown up to become a state-of-the-art in municipal wastewater treatment during the last decade, design, construction and operation of MBRs has not yet become a routine function. An insight into the practice of MBR technology will be available as a report at IWA Publishing by October 2010. ‘Operating Large-Scale Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater treatment’ provides hands-on information on many aspects of designing, commissioning and operating MBR plants with submerged microfiltration units.
Operating Large-Scale Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater treatment
Since 1999, the Erftverband has designed, tendered and commissioned three full scale MBRs for municipal wastewater treatment in Germany, with capacities from 3,000 to 45,000 m³/d. Since then, operation and maintenance of the MBRs has become a daily function that is tied in with various drawbacks and successes. As one of the pioneers in the full scale application of MBRs in Germany and Europe the Erftverband regularly hosted training and information workshops for plant designers and operators from all over the world during recent years. The Erftverband also collaborated in some major European research projects dedicated to MBR technology.
The introductory sections give an overview on the hydrological, technological and policy background that motivates the employment of MBR technology followed by details on the process configuration and plant layout of the three MBRs together with some key recommendations on plant design.
Process data from all treatment steps of the three plants (mechanical pre-treatment, bioreactors, filtration, membrane cleaning) is provided. It allows a view into the performance characteristics of the MBRs but also the possible dos and don’ts of full-scale applications.
Some practical advice on tendering, construction, plant management can also be found. The challenges of plant operation are addressed especially. A comprehensive list of potential operational problems, their diagnostics and respective countermeasures can be used as a check-list that helps to improve operational safety.
Information on investment and operation costs is based on the case studies but also on comparisons with data from the conventional activated sludge treatment processes. It can be seen, that the MBRs have been competitive to conventional activated sludge plants with tertiary treatment in terms of investment costs. The different cost items, which define the plant’s life-cycle cost are described with a focus on energy consumption.
Links
The issues in this article are addressed in the IWA book, Operating Large-Scale Membrane Bioreactors for Municipal Wastewater treatment, by Christoph Brepols.
You can order the book from the IWA Online Catalogue.
