Engineering design approaches for minimum fouling in submerged MBR

A contributor to success in managing membrane operations is to be able to identify suitable engineering design approaches to slow down the membrane fouling rate. Two such approaches were discussed in this study, namely: (1) offsite chemical and mechanical cleaning, and (2) air scouring. A longer subsequent operation time was observed after a membrane was cleaned chemically compared with mechanically. For air scouring during membrane operation, the investigation aimed at determining the crossflow velocity induced by coarse and fine bubble diffusers. Higher crossflow velocities were obtained with the latter. Uniformly distributed fine air bubbling might possibly have caused less uplift resistance and induced higher crossflow velocities. Such air scouring, at critical aeration intensity, was able to prolong the membrane operation for up to 8 months without needing chemical or mechanical cleaning.