Komline-Sanderson

Cross-Rotational Membrane Filtration

....because performance counts.
Technological advancements in ultrafiltration/microfiltration devices have led to the
development of the CR Membrane Filter, a patented non-fouling membrane filtration
system for difficult to filter slurries in Industrial Process and Wastewater Treatment
Applications. The CR Membrane Filter imparts a Cross-Rotational Shear, via its
patented design features, to generate the force required to eliminate fouling and plugging
at the membrane surface.
CR Membrane Filtration has been selected as a proven alternative to conventional
vacuum, pressure, flotation, and membrane filtration technologies and pioneered new
successful filtration applications in Pulp & Paper Industrial Processing and Industrial
Waste Water Treatment. It is also an ideal pre-filter prior to nanofiltration and reverse
osmosis.
To find out more about Cross-Rotational Membrane Filter Solutions from KomlineSanderson, please click on your area of interest below.
Technology Overview
The CR Filter Solution - Is it right for my application?
Benefits of CR Membrane Filtration from Komline-Sanderson
Application Information
Chemical Process Industry
Food & Beverage
Pulp & Paper
Paints & Pigments
Mining
Oil Production/Processing
Biotech/Pharmaceutical Processing
Case Histories and CR Filter Solutions
Pulp & Paper - A Closed-Circuit Water System

Click here to submit a Process Filtration Applications Questionnaire to our

Filtration Products Group for evaluation.

or email the Filtration Products Group:

1-800-CALL 4 KS
1-800-225-5457

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
Traditional membrane filtration systems have utilized tangential flow to create the shear
force required to eliminate fouling and drive permeate through the membrane. In such
systems (spiral, tubular, hollow fiber and plate membrane filters), process or waste
slurries are pumped at high velocities and pressures to create the shear force at the
membrane surface.
Revolutionary technological advancements in membrane filtration led to the development
of the CR Membrane Filter for difficult to filter, high viscosity materials. The theory of
Cross-Rotational induced shear provides a unique alternative to traditional tangential
flow membrane filters because it causes solids and fouling materials to be removed from
the surface of the membrane and permits liquid to flow through the membrane pores
unhindered at a higher efficiency.
Because the CR Filter relies on Cross-Rotational Shear rather than tangential flow
induced shear, low operating pressures can be maintained and high viscosities can be
reached.
A CR Membrane Filter Production Unit consists of a series of vertically stacked circular
plates with membranes on both sides. In between each membrane a patented motor driven
rotor spins sufficiently close to the membrane surface to create the Cross-Rotational
shear force. This spinning rotor produces the high shear forces required to process high
viscosity or fibrous materials.
Increased clearances between membranes results in a low pressure drop through the
module and maximizes induced Cross-Rotational shear. Furthermore increased
intermembrane clearances and the patented rotor design enable the system to process
fibrous colloidal material which plug traditional membrane filters and prove unfilterable
on conventional filtration systems.

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THE CR FILTER SOLUTION Is it right for my application?

The CR Filter......
works where others have failed

Handles streams with high suspended solids concentrations.

Fibrous streams can be processed.
High concentration factors are possible.
High filtrate rates are obtained at low working pressures.
Is easily cleaned to maintain high production rates.

Is the CR Filter the optimum filtration device for your application?

Fifty (50) years of filtration application experience and years of extensive CrossRotational Membrane Filtration testing means that Komline-Sanderson has probably
worked with your process material or material very similar to it. As a result K-S is
prepared to offer the most efficient membrane or dewatering system available from our
wide range of process and wastewater equipment.
Whether or not application information is available for your particular process or
wastewater slurry, Komline-Sanderson is fully prepared to evaluate your sample in our
Filtration Laboratory located in Peapack, NJ. Comprehensive test reports are prepared
upon completion of sample testing outlining general performance parameters, application
feasibility and anticipated production unit performance.
Extensive on-site testing is also available to optimize process parameters, sizing and
membrane selection by utilizing a Komline-Sanderson CR Pilot System. The CrossRotational Pilot Membrane Filter consists of a series of vertically stacked plates with up
to 15 square meters of filtration area, slurry feed pump, feed tank, actuated valves, and
control panel with PLC.
More importantly, Komline-Sandersons capabilities include an Applications Department
willing to work with you to custom engineer and select the most efficient filtration device
for your facility.
To determine the optimum membrane or dewatering system to meet your needs, contact

the K-S Applications Department so that we may recommend the most effective filtration
device for your application. Please e-mail us at the address below.
Komline-Sanderson Filtration Products Group
e-mail: fpg@komline.com
1-800-CALL 4 KS
1-800-225-5457

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BENEFITS OF CR MEMBRANE FILTRATION

High Throughput Rates
The CR Membrane Filter yields higher flux rates than tubular, spiral, or hollow fiber
membrane systems via Cross-Rotational induced shear. Where product loss is
unavoidable with conventional filtration systems, 100% recovery is obtainable with the
CR membrane filter.

Low Operating Pressure

Low transmembrane pressure drop, approximately 10 psi (0.7-0.8 bar), prevents pressure
dewatering in intermembrane space and prevents protein infiltration/blinding at the
membrane surface.

Fouling Resistant
The CR Membrane Filter uses a patented Cross-Rotational shear force to prevent
fouling boundary layer buildup at the membrane surface. The Cross-Rotation force
imparted keeps the membrane surface clean and provides the driving force necessary to
remove liquid effluent from the feed material.

High Solids Capabilities

Large intermembrane space and patented Cross-Rotational design, enables the system
to remain efficient even as the viscosity of feed materials increases and other filtration
systems plug. Should the concentration factor increase beyond a fluid viscosity, the
Cross-Rotational design enables the system to recover its performance and maintain its
fouling resistant properties.

Flexibility of Design

Variability of plate diameters and quantities within individual production units enables
Komline-Sanderson to customize the design of the CR Filtration System to specifically
meet the process requirements for your facility. CR Filter modularity simplifies
expansion and installation of additional modules in existing facilities.

Limited Plant Space Requirement

The compact design of the CR Filter results in 30 square feet of plant floor space
supporting over 900 square feet (84 square meters) of membrane filtration area. A small
footprint eliminates the necessity for large plant expansions typically required with other
types of membrane filtration systems.

Experience, Experience, Experience

The wide variety of process and waste treatment technologies, 50 years of Filtration
Equipment Manufacturing Experience, over 100,000 square feet of Manufacturing
Capabilities, support facilities in Peapack, NJ, Toronto, Canada, and London, England,
and numerous CR Membrane Filter Installations make Komline-Sanderson a valuable
partner from technology selection to after start-up product support.

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APPLICATION EXPERIENCE
Numerous Cross-Rotational Membrane Filter Installations, 50 years of Filtration
Application Expertise, and years of extensive CR Laboratory and Pilot Studies have
provided Komline-Sanderson with the necessary application information to recommend
the most efficient, cost effective membrane filter solution for your project.
Some applications for the CR Membrane Filter are listed below, to review actual Case
Histories of successful CR Filter Production Unit Solutions, please click here.

Chemical Process Industry

Latex Concentrating
Catalyst Washing and Concentration
Titanium Dioxide Filtration
Kaolin Clay Thickening
Calcium Carbonate Filtration
Othalic Acid Catalyst Fines

Pulp & Paper

Closed-Circuit Water Treatment Systems

Coating Recovery and Reuse
Lignin Recovery
Wire Pit Water
TSS/BOD/COD/Color Removal
Clarifier Overflow
Whitewater Clarification
Black Liquor

Food & Beverage

Fructose & Dextrose Filtration
Wine Clarification
Juice Clarification
Starch Processing
Whey Processing
Soy Protein Concentration
Modified Starch Recovery
Steeps Water Purification

Paints & Pigments

Pigment Washing & Concentrating
Dye Thickening and Washing
Waste & Pollution Minimization
Metal Hydroxide Filtration
Scrubber Effluent Concentration

Mining
Mineral Clay Dewatering
Red Mud Recovery

Municipal Water/Waste Treatment

Drinking Water Purification
Surface Water Purification
Activated Sludge Dewatering and Thickening

Biotech/Pharmaceutical
Drug Washing and Concentration
Cell Harvesting
Enzyme Processing
Protein Recovery

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CASE HISTORY - Pulp & Paper Water Recovery

Metsa-Serla, Kirkniemi, Finland
Installs 16 CR Production Units for
a Closed-Circuit
Paper Mill Water System
After installing the Number 3 Paper Machine, Metsa-Serlas Kirkniemi, Finland Mill
became one of the largest integrated paper mills in Scandinavia producing over 350,000
tons per year of fine paper, 350,000 tons per year of magazine paper and its own SGW,
PRMP pulp.
In a continued effort to be a leader in forest industry environmental protection, the
Kirkniemi mill, the first to introduce a biological waste-water treatment plant in Finland,
installed a state-of-the-art ultrafiltration system to achieve record low levels of water
consumption per ton of paper produced.
Fresh Water Intake at the Kirkniemi Mill now stands at the record low level of less
than 1400 gallons per ton of paper produced.

First Full Scale CR Filter for Paper Machine Water Recovery

At the start of 1994, the first Cross-Rotational Membrane Filter was installed for
treatment of press water from the Number 1 and Number 2 Paper Machines in the
Magazine Paper Mill. The quality of the UF filtrate is sufficient in clarity (100%
Suspended Solids/Colloidal Material Removal) for use as, for example, shower waters
and dilution water for Paper Machine Chemicals.
Working directly with personnel from Metsa-Serla to close the entire white-water system,
a plant kidney was designed to process suspended solids, colloidal material, and
dissolved solids in the effluent. Implementing the solution in 1995, Metsa-Serla
Kirkniemi extended its ultrafiltration installation with another 15 Cross-Rotational
Membrane Filters; Three membrane filters were installed in the Magazine Paper Mill and
twelve filters in the new Fine Paper mill.

The CR Filter Solution for White-Water Treatment

The white-water plant kidney recirculation system on Paper Machine Number 3
consists of a disc filter, bow screens and Cross-Rotational Ultrafiltration System. When
the CR Solution is running at full capacity, approximately 880 Gallons Per Minute (200
cubic meters per hour), the fresh water intake is less than 1400 Gallons per Minute (5

cubic meters per hour) per ton of produced paper.

The pre-filtered and screened white-water is piped to the UF Systems Feed Tank and
pumped to the Cross-Rotational Membrane Filters. The number of filters in operation
regulate the clean UF permeate capacity.
The majority of the high quality permeate produced from the plant kidney is reused as
shower water, seal water, and make-up water throughout the plant. Excess water is
returned to the clear filtrate tank.
The concentrate from the CR Filter System is maintained at a volume reduction factor of
25 and is discharged to the facilities main effluent treatment facility. Reduction factors
greater than 100X are achievable, if necessary.

Installation Experience

The CR Membrane Filter Solution is fully automatic and is operated like other
systems in the mill from the control room. Continuous, 24 hours per day operation
has been achieved.
The CR Filters are washed once every two to three weeks.
The quality of the CR Filter effluent (filtrate) allows it to be reused at the paper
machine.
Maintenance is limited. During the first six months only two parts needed to be
replaced.

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For additional information please contact:

Komline-Sanderson Filtration Products Group
e-mail: fpg@komline.com
1-800-CALL 4 KS
1-800-225-5457

Copyright 1996-1998, Komline-Sanderson Engineering Corporation

Last Updated: May 23, 2001
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