The Minneapolis Water Works (MWW) has been conducting long-term ultrafiltration
membrane studies for its future 70-mgd Columbia Heights Membrane Filtration Plant
(CHMFP) since May 2001. The first 6 months of membrane testing was a component of
the CHMFP membrane procurement and the performance data was used in the bid
evaluation process. After the contract was awarded, the selected membrane supplier,
Ionics, retained the pilot equipment onsite for the continuation of the long-term
membrane testing program. This testing program is intended to last until the completion
of the construction of CHMFP in 2006. The primary objective of this program is to
evaluate the variability of membrane performance at different water quality conditions
over the course of four years. Various operational issues, such as cold temperature
production, flexibility and the optimization of membrane cleaning regime, are also
scheduled to be investigated in this project. This paper focuses on the abrupt, excessive
membrane fouling phenomena observed during spring-runoff seasons. Although the
membrane permeability during the excessive fouling event was still higher than what the
CHMFP is designed for, it was important for MWW to understand the nature of this
unusual type of fouling. Also, identifying effective cleaning or preventive measures that
can be used to handle such an event in the full-scale plant is highly desirable. Substantial
collaborative efforts from the owner (MWW), consulting engineers (HDR/MP/SPI), and
membrane provider (Ionics/Norit) were incorporated into the extensive studies on fouling
identification and membrane permeability recovery approach. Includes tables, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 340 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 10 |
| Published : | 11/02/2003 |
