The City of Parsons, Kansas started up a new surface water treatment plant utilizing an
ultrafiltration process in the fall of 2001. The plant operates on a creek source with
moderate total organic carbon (6-12 mg/L), and elevated levels of iron (0.5-1.5 mg/L) and
manganese (0.1-0.5 mg/L). In 2003, the City began evaluating options for meeting future
capacity requirements in the most cost-effective manner, in order to increase plant capacity
from 3 mgd to 4.5 mgd. As part of the evaluation, the City mobilized two 1-mgd
demonstration-scale membrane filtration systems which operated from July 2003 through
June 2004. These were installed and started up on a fast-track basis and operated in
parallel with the original system to ensure adequate production through the summer of 2003.
The demonstrated operation of the three production-scale systems in parallel during a nine month
period beginning in July 2003 served as the basis for selecting a membrane system
supplier going forward for the plant expansion project. One of the alternate systems was
selected for the upgrade, necessitating a carefully-staged changeout of the membrane
equipment utilizing temporary piping connections, cleaning systems, and other ancillary
equipment. The first 2-mgd of replacement equipment was installed, tested, and started up
within 3 weeks during July 2004. Conversion of the original 3 mgd ultrafiltration system to
the replacement 4.5 mgd system was executed within 6 months, while maintaining a firm
plant capacity of 3 mgd.
This paper discusses lessons learned in executing installation, startup, and operation of
the two alternate systems in parallel with the original system, as well as logistics involved in
retrofitting a membrane system into an operating treatment plant on a fast-track basis.
These lessons are valuable for utilities considering retrofit of membrane filtration
systems into existing plants where production must be kept uninterrupted. Includes table, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 1.2 MB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 12 |
| Published : | 03/01/2005 |
