A high efficiency effluent purification technology that helps municipal, commercial and industrial users to recycle sewage as service water is being introduced to Australia by Eimco Water Technologies-AJM Environmental Services (EWT-AJM).
The Huber Vacuum Rotation Membrane VRM bioreactor from Eimco Water Technologies-AJM Environmental Services is particularly useful in situations where increasing drinking water shortages require at least partial reuse of treated wastewater as service water, including applications such as irrigation.
The technology is ideally suited to blackwater treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, hotels and high-rise buildings. Capacities extend up to 1000 m3 a day and operating costs are as much as 65 per cent less than alternatives because of the technology’s unique rotating carriage, which significantly reduces air scour demand.
John Koumoukelis, EWT/AJM National Sales Manager, Industrial and Municipal said that the HUBER VRM process is a system of ultra filtration membranes submerged within aeration tanks that delivers high effluent quality that meets the most stringent current international regulations.
He also stated that while being simple and compact in operation, the technology is already sufficiently highly advanced to meet the increasingly higher effluent disposal legislative demands anticipated in the future. Already it complies with the latest legal standards, including EC standards for bathing waters, California Title 22.
Cost-efficient to purchase and operate with energy saving features. The HUBER VRM system is a combination of biological wastewater treatment and high-efficient solids/liquid separation. Pre-screened wastewater is aerated, clarified biologically and all solids within the flow (particles, bacteria, viruses) are removed by the ultra filtration membrane in accordance with the low pressure principle.
By increasing the concentration of the active biomass to 12 – 16 g/l, the system can improve the efficiency of a conventional wastewater treatment plant without the need to increase tank volumes.
The system also eliminates the need for subsequent secondary clarification tanks, sand filters or a disinfection plant that are otherwise often required for advanced wastewater treatment. Existing secondary clarification tanks can, however, be used for process optimisation.
Benefits of the system include:
- Maximum effluent quality due to the complete particle separation.
- Compliance with hygienic standards due to the high bacteria and virus separation achieved by the UF membranes (37 nm, 150 kDa).
- High concentrations of active biomass allow for a reduction in the aeration tank volume by up to 70%.
- Membrane covering layer removal with minimum energy consumption through sequential cleaning of the rotating membranes.
- Minimum scouring air requirement for covering layer control (VRM 30 < 200 l/m²h).
- Reduced energy consumption for scouring air due to the centrally positioned air intake and low pressure.
- No periodic permeate back washing during filtration.
- Fully automatic filtration, depending on the flow rate.
- Transmembrane pressures are low and tranquil because of the high membrane permeability. This has a positive effect upon membrane life and helps to minimise energy consumption.
- Patented innovative permeate discharge system prevents contamination on the permeate side.
- Complete stainless steel design.
The HUBER VRM unit can be installed into existing or new concrete tanks or stainless steel or steel tanks.