Degree of separation of ultrafiltration

Summary of the various membrane processes

In principle a distinction is made between the following filtration processes: - reverse osmosis - nanofiltration - ultrafiltration - microfiltration

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membrane membrane
nanofiltration 0,01 - 0,001 m ultrafiltration 0,1 - 0,01 m

95 % demineralised water

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membrane membrane

product

service pressure

reverse osmosis < 0,001 m

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microfiltration > 0,2 m

partially demineralised

drinking water, service water, free of germs

service water, with germs zooplankton algae turbidity bacteria suspended particles

inlet raw water

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retention of univalent ions bivalent ions organic compounds macromolecules viruses colloids

The water will be pressed through the membrane between the raw water side and the filtrate side caused by a pressure difference. The selection of the membrane process is depending on the type of water ingredients who need to be eliminated.

Description and advantages

Ultrafiltration (UF)

Quality of the filtrate is independent from the quality of the water inlet. Ultrafiltration will also remove chlorine resistant germs such as cryptosporidium.

The concentrate (waste water) will include only the materials removed from the raw water. The compact system can considerably reduce construction costs for new developments.

Full automation possible.

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Bundling of many filtration tubes in filter modules creates the surface required for a higher water flow rate. Depending on the application, the modules have different sizes allowing different filter capacities. Therefore all water treatment requirements can be covered.

By removal of almost all filmforming substances all subsequent membrane processes, e.g. reverse osmosis, can be designed for a higher surface load and therefore reduced in size.

Ultrafiltration (UF) in size comparison with known water germs

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Giardia approx. 8 15 m Cryptosporidium approx. 4 6 m Anthrax spores approx. 1 5 m

The big advantage of ultrafiltration compared to conventional filtration methods is the absolute sterility of the filtered water. The pores of the UF membranes are so tiny, that bacteria and even viruses are too large to be able to pass the UF membrane.

Can be easily included with existing machinery.

Legionella species 0,5 - 1,5 m

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Escherichia Coli 0,5 - 1,5 m B. Subtilis approx. 0,3 m
pore size UF approx. 0,05 m

Virus / coliphage

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In ultrafiltration the raw water will be pressed through small tubes in plastic material with an inner diameter of approx. 0.5 2 mm. The actual filter medium is the porous walls of these small tubes whose filter pores have a size of 0.01 0.05 m (for comparison: a human hair has a diameter of approx. 50 m this is 5000 times as much). Contaminations larger than 0.05 m will be kept back reliably and washed out again in regular time intervals. Dissolved matters and salts can pass through the membranes of the filter tubes.

Complete barrier for micro organisms and particles.

Ultrafiltration in practice

Filtration and backwashing

Filtration process: The raw water will be pressed into the filtration module from below. The shown process is called dead end process. During filtration, residuals will deposit on the inner side of the hollow fibres while the filtrate emerges on the outside of the hollow fibre. The clear water will be collected between the hollow fibres and discharged.

Filtration

Backwashing process:

Primary backwashing (forward flush)

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Raw water Waste water cleaning of the inside of the hollow fibres flushing of the hollow fibre Main backwashing

cleaning of the filter pores by inversion of the water flow direction from outside to inside

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Backwash
Backwash Secondary backwashing (forward flush) Same procedure as for primary backwashing for removal of any possible residual contaminations. The entire backwashing procedure will be realised fully automatic Forward flush

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Clean water

The shown sketches explain the principle of membrane filtration and its backwashing.

Treatment procedure with ultrafiltration

Cross flow and dead end

In the cross flow procedure, a big water volume will be led by a circulation pump along the membrane in a circle. A part of it will be pressed through the membrane and another part will be disposed into the sewer as concentrate. These circulation losses will continuously be made up by means of the feed pump. The advantage of the cross flow is that there is no interruption of the treatment process for membrane backwashing needed. The disadvantages are higher investment costs and higher energy consumption. In the dead end procedure the water will be pressed through the membrane as in a dead end road. The contaminations will be collected in the capillaries; this is why the membrane must be washed in regular intervals. Even though this procedure requires short interruptions for backwashing, the advantages are the lower energy consumption and the low-price compact construction of the treatment units.

Cross-Flow

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Feed Raw water approx. 20% Backwash approx. 5%

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Dead-End
Feed Raw water 100%

Recirculation approx. 80%

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In W.E.T. ultrafiltration systems the water will be treated by means of capillary membranes in the dead end process. The ultrafiltration modules of the treatment unit contains several thousand hollow fibres who are accommodated in a pressure pipe. These ultrafiltration modules are arranged in lines, so that only a certain number will be operated or backwashed respectively. The number of membrane modules and treatment lines depends on the water ingredients and the temperature.

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Waste water concentrate approx.10%

There are two different procedures:

Permanent extraction of concentrate (waste water) out of the loop

Filtrate approx.10%

Membrane

Membrane cleaning by regular backwashing

Filtrate approx. 95%

Membrane

Filter types in use:

Single pore membrane

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Raw water (feed)

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Filtrate (permeate)

Waste water (concentrate)

Backwash water

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Capillaries grouted in resin for fixing PVC pressure pipe

Capillary membranes

Perforated filtrate collecting pipe Filtration layer with pores 0,01 0,05 m Inside diameter 0,5 or 2 mm Depending on the use Supporting material

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Module Pressure pipe Hollow fibres 1.5 mm Permeate collecting pipe Raw water distribution channels

Filter types in use:

Muli pore membrane

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PVC pressure pipe

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PVC pressure pipe Grouting resin Multi pore hollow fibre 7 x 0,9 mm Outlet treated water

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Raw water (feed)
Filtrate (permeate) Waste water (concentrate)

Capillary membranes

The filtrate will be collected in the external annular gap.

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Backwash water

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Capillaries grouted in resin for fixing Multi pore membrane Supporting material Filtration layer with pores 0,01 0,05 m Inside diameter 0,9 mm

Ultrafiltration in comparison

Ultrafiltration Chlorine dioxide disinfection

No 100 % disinfection (barrier) Elimination of Legionella in amoeba is not guaranted.

Completely germ free in the filtrate

Complete elimination of parasites, complete elimination of all particles > 0,05 micrometer

Total failure of ClO2 disinfection possible, all germs can pass without any treatment From bad to no disinfection in case of turbidity

The killed germs (dead bodies) will remain within the system Disinfecting effects in the distribution system

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High operating costs caused by power and chemical consumption and work expenditure in case of failures (rejection of the prepared solution)

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No 100 % disinfection Not efficient for parasites (cryptosporidium)

UV disinfection

No effect on sheathed germs, e.g. legionella in amoeba Total failure of UV disinfection possible, all germs can pass without any treatment From bad to no disinfection in case of turbidity

Operating costs caused by power consumption and spare lamps

Damage to the germ DNS, but regeneration is possible

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Completely free of germs

Only partial failure possible e.g. in case of fibre rupture; the majority of germs will be held back Will remove turbidity completely, no disturbance of disinfection at all by turbidity Low consumption in power and chemicals, no regular changing of parts; no pumping energy required when used as bacteria barrier in drinking water networks Complete removal of the germs out of the drinking water Complete removal of the germs at the start, the distribution system will remain totally unaffected

Complete removal of parasites Complete removal of all particles > 0,1 micrometer Only partial failure possible e.g. in case of fibre rupture; the majority of germs will be held back Will remove turbidity completely, no disturbance of disinfection at all by turbidity Low consumption in power and chemicals, no regular changing of parts; no pumping energy required when used as bacteria barrier in drinking water networks Complete removal of germs

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