The test site in Saudi Arabia was well selected. In 2010 the team has piloted, installed and operated the first ceramic flat sheet membrane equipment and invented the necessary cake layer filtration process for the removal of heavy metals. Over the past 5 years two other ceramic suppliers have been tested and installed inside the trains. Hence, the plant is the ideal site for comprehensive performance benchmark tests.
PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM
BLOWER FOR AIR-SCOURING
RAPID MIXER
RETENTION TANK FOR CHEMICAL OXIDATION OF Fe & Mn
RETENTION TANK FOR ADSORPTION OF HEAVY METALS
RAW WATER FROM WELLS
INJECTION POINT OF CHLORINE GAS
PACKED AERATION TOWER FOR Rn & H2S STRIPPING, Fe OXIDATION
CERAFILTEC WITH 1 MODULE
FILTRATION PUMP
SPRINKLER PUMP
BACKWASH PUMP
CIP CIRCULATION LINE
INJECTION POINT HMO
FILTERED WATER TANK
FILTERED WATER TO RO
CONCENTRATED SLUDGE DISCHARGE
PERFORMANCE DATA
PARAMETER
UNIT
FEED WATER
FILTERED WATER
Fe
ppm
1.4
0.01
Mn + HMO-Mn
ppm
1.0
0.014
TOC
ppm
< 1.0
< 1.0
TSS
ppm
> 10
< 1 (nil)
TDS
ppm
885
885
Turbidity
NTU
8.6
0.12
SDI 15
%/min
5.9
0.09
PARAMETER
UNIT
VERSION 1
VERSION 2
VERSION 3
CERAFILTEC
Module design
Single plateSteel frame
Multi plate Block module
Multi plate Block module
Single plate Module 6.0 S
Membrane type
Alumina 0.1 µm
Alumina 0.2 µm
SiC 0.1 µm
SiC 0.1 µm
Filtration time
hrs
2 x 11.9
2 x 11.9
2 x 11.9
2 x 11.9
Backwash time
sec
2 x 60
2 x 60
2 x 60
2 x 60
Flux rate
LMH
350 - 420
375 - 420
500
1,000 - 1,200
TMP (avg)
bar
-0.40
-0.30
-0.15
-0.18
Recovery rate
%
99.0
99.0
99.2
99.8
Fe
Feed water 1.4 ppm Filtered water 0.01 ppm
Mn + HMO-Mn
Feed water 1.0 ppm Filtered water 0.014 ppm
TOC
Feed water < 1.0 ppm Filtered water < 1.0 ppm
TSS
Feed water > 10 ppm Filtered water < 1 ppm (nil)
TDS
Feed water 885 ppm Filtered water 885 ppm
Turbidity
Feed water 8.6 NTU Filtered water 0.12 NTU
SDI 15
Feed water 5.9 %/min Filtered water 0.09 %/min
Module design
VERSION 1: Single plate + Steel frame VERSION 2: Multi plate + Block module VERSION 3: Multi plate + Block module CERAFILTEC: Single plate + Module 6.0 S
Membrane type
VERSION 1: Alumina 0.1 µm VERSION 2: Alumina 0.2 µm VERSION 3: SiC 0.1 µm CERAFILTEC: SiC 0.1 µm
Filtration time
FOR ALL: 2 x 11.9 hrs
Backwash time
FOR ALL: 2 x 60 sec
Flux rate
VERSION 1: 350 - 420 LMH VERSION 2: 375 - 420 LMH VERSION 3: 500 LMH CERAFILTEC: 1,000 - 1,200 LMH
TMP (avg)
VERSION 1: -0.4 bar VERSION 2: -0.3 bar VERSION 3: -0.15 bar CERAFILTEC: -0.18 bar
Recovery rate
VERSION 1: 99.0 % VERSION 2: 99.0 % VERSION 3: 99.2 % CERAFILTEC: 99.8 %
TECHNOLOGY PROSPECTS
The breakthrough high flux performance has been confirmed by the operator and CERAFILTEC received the product approval by the Ministry in August 2018 with certified maximum design flux rate up to 1,500 LMH. CERAFILTEC is currently testing alternative ceramic flat sheet membrane suppliers for high flux applications.
AT CURRENT BENCHMARK STAGE
an up to
0x
HIGHER FLUX PERFORMANCE
is expected by using single Alumina ceramic flat sheet membrane plates with CERAFILTEC’s high flux module housing design in water treatment applications.