A Study of an Air Scouring Integral Immersed Hollow Fiber Membrane Module for Energy Saving and Membrane Fouling Control

Objectives : MBR (Membrane BioReactor) is well established wastewater treatment that combines biological and physical method with high quality effluent. The purpose of this study is to utilize an air scouring integral immersed hollow fiber membrane module through efficient structural improvement developed to reduce membrane fouling. In addition, the scouring aeration was optimized to determine the energy savings.Methods : In this study, membrane fouling test was evaluated in various of scouring aeration flow with range of 40 to 140 m3 air/m2 projected area･hr and influent and effluent was analyzed by water quality standard.Results and Discussion : In scouring aeration test, effective membrane contamination control was possible with supplying 80 m3 air/m2 projected area･hr, scouring aeration rate gradually increased the differential pressure from below 60 m3 air/m2 projected area･hr, which accelerates the membrane contamination phenomenon. By reducing more than 20% of the existing general scouring aeration rate of 100~140 m3 air/m2 projected area･hr, electricity and maintenance costs can be reduced due to aeration control, and at the same time, it is confirmed that the technology has the same performance. The pilot test results of SJMBR with the developed module showed that the effluent was BOD of 1.4 mg/L, COD of 4.2 mg/L, SS of 0.7 mg/L, T-N of 5.56 mg/L, T-P of 0.56 mg/L, total coliform group of 0 ea/mL, and ecotoxicity of 0 TU, respectively.Conclusions : These results are combined, when using an air scouring integral immersed hollow fiber membrane module, it is expected to reduce the amount of scouring air by more than 20% by optimizing the supply of scouring air. In addition, it can also be determined by technology that satisfy the same permeability and treated water quality as existing technologies.