BioPULSE™ Airlift™ Tubular Membrane Systems

BioprocessH2O bioPULSE™ Modular Systems are fully-automated PLC controlled MBR Systems furnished with X-FLOW Airlift™ tubular membranes. The external tubular membranes provided with bioPULSE™ Systems provide a positive barrier to compliance to produce high quality biological treated water while at the same time, operated at low Trans Membrane Pressures (TMP) to reduce the overall cost of MBR System operation.

BioPULSE™ Airlift™ Membrane Systems are designed to provide an external tubular Membrane Bioreactor "MBR" System that is both low in operating costs and easily maintained. The bioPULSE™ membrane systems are installed external to the aeration basin without the requirement of being immersed in mixed liquor to provide an operator friendly MBR biological treatment process without the need of complex hoist/lifting mechanisms.

How the bioPULSE™ Airlift™ UF Process Works

The bioPULSE™ Airlift Tubular UF system has a unique power saving airlift feature that will reduce operating costs and increase productivity. The airlift feature directs air flow to the tubular channels providing an effective air scouring process, without excessive use of blower capacity. The result is a highly efficient air lift pump and scouring process which increases cross flow velocity and reduces the size of the membrane feed pump and blower. The controlled air scouring disrupts the fluid barrier on the membrane surface to increase and sustain the high system flux rates and minimize membrane fouling.

The tubular Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Ultrafiltration membrane acts as a positive barrier retaining all mixed liquor suspended solids "MLSS" for return to the aeration basin. The permeate generated by the membrane process is a purified biologically treated wastewater stream with ultra low turbidity levels of less than 0.1 NTU for direct discharge or water reuse. Silt Density Index (SDI) levels of <3 can be achieved for provision of a suitable feed stream to nanofiltration and reverse osmosis desalination systems.

The bioPULSE™ Airlift™ Systems are installed "on slab at grade"; no cranes or hoists are needed for membrane maintenance. Civil works and liabilities are reduced to a minimum. Operator exposure to MLSS/wastewater is eliminated. The combination of a fully automated external tubular membrane system with low operating expenses "OPEX" and low capital expenses "CAPEX" allows wastewater treatment facilities to install an new MBR system or upgrade a conventional activated sludge plant without the exorbitant installation costs typically associated with immersed membrane systems.

Process Description

Mixed liquor is pumped via a set of VFD driven feed pumps to the influent feed manifold located at the bottom of the bioPULSE™ Airlift™ Membrane System. Pressurized air is also directed to the bottom of each membrane module via a specialized diffuser to accelerate the vertical movement of mixed liquor through the tubular membrane modules parallel to the lumen walls. The air continuously scours the internal surface of the membranes and increases the cross-flow rate of the mixed liquor through the tubular membranes by means of forming an air lift pump within the modules. Concentrated mixed liquor is returned to the aeration tank or basin for reprocessing and purified water or permeate passes through the membrane walls and is collected in the permeate manifold. A set of VFD driven permeate extraction pumps direct the permeate at a controlled rate based on maintaining a preset liquid level in the aeration basin to the next destination point at a rate designed for maintaining a hydraulic balance of the biological treatment process.