Performance of Newly Developed Intermittent Aerator for Flat-Sheet Ceramic Membrane in Industrial MBR System

Abstract

An intermittent aerator was newly developed to reduce energy costs in a flat-sheet ceramic membrane bioreactor (MBR) for industrial wastewater treatment. Large air bubbles were supplied over a short time interval by the improved aerator technology at the bottom of the flat-sheet membrane. Performance tests for the intermittent aerator were carried out in a pilot system with two cassettes immersed in a membrane tank of the 1-MGD demonstration plant at Jurong Water Reclamation Plant (JWRP) in Singapore. Stable operation was achieved at an average flow of 19–22 LMH with every-2-days MC and peak flow of 27 to 33 LMH with daily MC with reduced air flow for membrane aeration. This indicates that energy costs for membrane aeration can be reduced by using the intermittent aerator. Stable MBR operation with a projected 43% reduction in the overall operating costs could be achieved with an improved aerator together with improved MC regime and membrane cassette.