Managing Membrane Health and Performance – A Case Study

Operating a membrane plant can be challenging insomuch as there are limited direct observations that can made to asses condition. In this respect, it is much like piloting a submarine; you are dependent on indirect observation by means of on-board instrumentation. However, when it comes to assessing the health of a membrane system such as a microfiltration (MF) or reverse osmosis (RO) system, operational parameters such as flow changes or environmental factors such as temperature changes can manifest themselves in the operating data. Therefore, it is important to dampen or lessen these effects such that only effects from key performance indicators like transmembrane pressure, differential pressure, permeability, and salt passage can be properly evaluated. The following discussion chronicles operational challenges faced by the operations staff at the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s (EBMUD) Richmond Advanced Recycle Expansion (RARE) treatment facility with the RO system, how it was corrected, and the operating cost savings resulting from the correction.

This presentation is available to AMTA Members only.