Aeration optimization of large-scale membrane bioreactors in a sewage treatment plant

Abstract

Increasing stringency of environmental discharge standards has triggered an industry-wide inclination towards membrane bioreactors over conventional activated sludge processes to ensure fulfilment of environmental discharge criteria. Yet, despite its plentiful advantages, high aeration costs remain as a key deterrent to the widespread adoption of the MBR technology. This backdrop created an impetus for a wastewater treatment company to develop an efficient MBR air scouring protocol that can be realized in existing plants without retrofitting. Known as pulsed cyclic aeration, plant trial applications have demonstrated that fouling control and aeration savings can be improved by >30%, resulting in scouring energy consumptions that can be as low as 0.049 kWh/m3.