MBR Systems
MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) technology is an increasingly mature process in wastewater and reclaimed water treatment, combining microbiological and membrane separation technologies. With more stringent discharge and reuse standards, MBR membrane technology plays an irreplaceable role in wastewater reclamation. The wastewater first undergoes microbial degradation of organic matter, followed by membrane filtration to remove the majority of organic and particulate pollutants. The treated effluent fully meets relevant discharge and reuse standards and can be reused for agricultural irrigation, landscape water, municipal building water, or industrial process water recycling, among others.
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Introductions
Membrane Solutions Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology is a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment process. Membrane Solutions combines our submerged, perm selective hollow fiber or flat sheet membranes with custom designed biological processes to meet our client’s effluent permit requirements. Membrane Solutions can offer two types of MBR filtration levels in either microfiltration or ultrafiltration. Membrane Solutions manufacturers all our own membranes from the highest quality raw materials and can offer them in PVDF and PFTE series.
Hollow Fiber MBR System
Flat Sheet MBR System
Generally, MBR systems are utilized in two (2) ways; 1.) As a side stream system (sMBR) to compliment or enhance an existing treatment system providing increased flow or better removal rate of a specific nutrient or constituent, these systems can also be called Tertiary Filters or Polishing Filters and 2.) As an internal or submerged MBR system (iMBR). sMBR is external to the bio-reactor tank, while iMBR is installed into the mixed liquor in the bio-reactor tank.
Compared to conventionally activated sludge treatment processes, MBR systems replace the secondary clarifiers and tertiary treatment, allowing for increased performance with smaller footprint and fewer unit processes. MBR systems also eliminate the need for a primary clarifier and the management of a sludge blanket making them easier to operate and less vulnerable to problems related to rapidly increased influent flow rates. MBR use also leads to a size reduction in a UV system as the permeate discharge from the MBR includes almost no detectable solids to cause shadows thereby reducing the quantity of UV lamps. MBR systems have also been proven to reduce the level of Endocrine disruptors to a much higher degree than Conventional Activated Sludge Processes.
MBR vs. Conventional Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Process
| Item | MBR Process | Conventional Activated Sludge Process |
|---|---|---|
| Process |
Simple Operation, Less Susceptible to process upset |
Long and complex |
| Construction Requirements |
Smaller Footprint, Modular Design, suitable for staged construction and Decentralized Plants, cost-effective |
Not easy to achieve modular or Packaged design except with extremely low flow designs，only possible with very low flow applications |
| Effluent Quality |
Higher Effluent quality meeting the most stringent discharge limits |
Can reach adequate effluent quality but requires several more unit processes |
| Footprint Area |
1/4 to 1/3 Space of a Conventional Plant |
2 to 3 times more space than an MBR |
| Water Productivity |
Minimal Down time due to periodic in-situ membrane cleaning performed at low flow periods |
Tertiary Sand filters or activated carbon systems need to backwash frequently reducing effective operating time |
| Excess Activated Sludge |
Lower sludge production resulting in lower cost of sludge disposal and/or reduced hauling |
Higher sludge production resulting in higher cost of sludge disposal and increased truck traffic for hauling |
| Operation Management |
Simple process with automatic operation – operator has more time for equipment maintenance |
Easier to breakdown due to complex process structure and requires significantly more attention for operations and maintenance |
MBR System Features
- The MBR technology has several advantages over conventional biological treatment
- Provides highest quality effluent suitable for recycle or all discharge options
- Reduces land requirement by 66% to 75%
- Lowers bio-sludge production therefore you have smaller dewatering system, sludge storage or Hauling
MBR System Basic Flow Diagram
The above flow diagram is meant to depict a common MBR configuration. An MBR system can be design to meet any configuration required to meet local discharge limits for nutrients. Any conventional plant in operation can also be converted to an MBR system with minimal changes ompared to adding an entirely new conventional treatment train. The above configuration does show WAS line RAS line or those pumping configuration. It also does not show the blowers or their respective air lines to the Fine Bubble diffuser grid or the membrane air scour diffuser.
MBR System Drivers
MBRs become an attractive wastewater treatment option when:
- Project space limited
- Plant capacity needs to be increased and retrofit is desired
- Higher treated water quality requirements or reuse is desired
- Poorly degradable water (lightly sludge-sensitive)
- Stringent discharge regulations for Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) or Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) must be met for discharge into sensitive areas
- Endocrine Disruptor reduction is an environmental factor for discharge
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MBR Modules
Submerged PVDF Hollow Fiber MBR Module
Submerged PVDF Flat Sheet MBR Module
Submerged PTFE Flat Sheet MBR Module
MBR Membranes
PVDF Hollow Fiber MBR System
PTFE Flat Sheet MBR System
PVDF Flat Sheet MBR System