The FISH membrane: A new and appropriate configuration for MBR technologies

This paper deals with an innovative membrane configuration developed by Inge AG combining the advantages of hollow fibres and flat sheet membranes that could permit energy savings by reducing the membrane air. This study was performed within the framework of the European AMEDEUS project. Inge developed during two years this new membrane configuration that is tested now at Anjou Recherche. Further membrane system improvements are in progress to guarantee the membrane integrity, to avoid plate breakage and plates irregularities. In parallel, Anjou Recherche tested prototype Inge modules under typical biological operating conditions (MLSS=10g/l; SRT=25 days). The first tests are in progress to find suitable hydraulic operating conditions for the Inge membrane which will be competitive compared to current MBR filtration systems. Results showed for instance that inge modules operates at a permeability between 400 and 600 L.h-1.m-2.bar-1, 20°C for a net flux between 17 and 25 L/h.m2. Further trials will be made to find the most suitable operating conditions. Improvements of the filtration system or stacking additional modules would allow more competitive operating conditions to be achieved.

The Inge technology is a promising technology because it combines advantages of flat sheet and hollow fibres membranes that could enable a decrease of the membrane air demand and therefore provide energy costs reductions. The technology is still in development and investigations are performed by Inge to avoid membrane plate irregularities, to minimise the risk of plate breakage during operation and guarantee the membrane integrity. First results at Anjou Recherche showed that the FiSh membrane operates at permeability between 400 – 600 L.h-1.m-2.bar-1 for net fluxes between 17 and 25 L.h-1.m-2, 20°C. Trials are in progress to identify suitable operating conditions for the FiSh membrane. Short term experiments were first performed at a net flux of 25 L.h-1.m-2, 20°C and seven experiments distinguished. Longer experiments for 2 days are in progress to verify the system performance with the seven previous conditions. The chosen operating conditions would be then chosen by taking into account net flux, SADm and SADp values to achieve similar performance as current membrane systems. Further improvements of the operating conditions and of the aerator device or the possibility to stack more modules could then help to reach better performance for Inge filtration systems. Acknowledgments This study reported in this article was developed within the 6th Framework Programme (FP6) of the European AMEDEUS project (contract n° 018328). The authors would like to acknowledge the European Commission for the financial support.