Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EKO_MEMOF (Ekoservis Membrane Modular Filtration system)

Teaser

The intention of the innovation project itself is to solve the technological system of wastewater treatment using flat sheet membranes to achieve a high degree of cleaning. The project focuses on municipal and industrial sewage treatment plants meeting the requirements of...

Summary

The intention of the innovation project itself is to solve the technological system of wastewater treatment using flat sheet membranes to achieve a high degree of cleaning. The project focuses on municipal and industrial sewage treatment plants meeting the requirements of Directive 76/160/EEC concerning the quality of bathing water.
The project contributes to the protection of water and water resources, to the re-use of waste water, and to the improvement of water quality in watercourses and reservoirs. The project provides advanced solutions for water purification and its further use in a sustainable manner.
The aim of the innovation project is to introduce a process of membrane filtration into practice. We want to show that the opportunities for use of membrane filtration are wide - ranging from a single family house to the water treatment plants with a capacity of more than 50,000 m3 of purified waste water per day, which are intended for cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants.

In the study, we will assess three levels - technical, economical and updated market information. Thematically we will deal with waste water treatment with membrane filtration.
The purpose of the study is:
1. To optimize the technological system of wastewater treatment with membrane filtration, verify and specify the technical conditions
2. To analyse the market – to complete the missing and validate the current information on the size and needs of the market, to improve the value proposition and to update information about competitors
3. To process the draft implementation plan for the innovation project and assess its demands on human and financial resources (business plan and implementation risks)
During the study, we will test our technological system of wastewater treatment on polygon, using flat sheet membranes (phase TRL7 - system of prototype demonstration in operational environment). The information will be crucial for the implementation of the innovative project and for the shift of technological system to the phase of TRL8 (system complete and qualified). We will monitor technological, hydraulic and qualitative measurements on our prototype. Based on the results, we will propose the project with the implementation of wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 2000 PE.

In the horizon to 2020, we have the ambition to get the system to the level TRL 9 and implement projects in the number: EU Member States, 10-20 projects, States outside the EU, 5-10 projects, WORLDWIDE, 5-10 projects

Work performed

2.3.2016, kick of meeting, FS, place SK-Velky Slavkov,
During the period from March to July 2016, we monitored the amount of filtered water per m²/h reflecting membrane permeability
Task 2, A - Intake: 16 samples were taken and 112 analyses in the following parameters were made
Task 2, B - Biological process: 96 samples were taken and 96 analyses were made:
Task 2, C - MBR module, 814 samples were taken and 814 analyses were made with the following result (figure 3)
Task 2, D - Outflow, 32 samples were taken and 192 analyses were made (figure 3)
Task 2, E – Designing technological scheme, Based on the obtained data the design department elaborated proposals for type series in three versions:
1) internal version up to 250 PE (all-in-one)
2) external version – container up to 1500 PE (ext_container)
3) external version (ext_membrane dispatch into concrete)
Task 2, F – Design of the automatic management system (ASRTP) and Task 2, G – Software design
We finalized the management of the membrane module, which created a design for control system (hereinafter ASRTP), which we plan to deploy in electrical switchboards of the WWTP.

During April to Jun 2016 we carried out the market analysis in the following steps:
1- Market research and survey of customer (sending questionnaires via email/post and evaluation).
2- Price analysis and pricing policy - total cost, the end price for the customer, determining the lifecycle
3- Analysis of competitors, implemented similar and alternative solutions. Their comparison with us, specification of the Value Proposition, clarification of the competitive advantage, specification of the target group for market entry and update of the Business Model.
Finally in the august, we processed the SWOT and assessed the risks to the project implementation.
In the august we perform finnal study evaluation a prepare draft plan for implementation of the phase II.
Based on the new findings obtained from the study, in terms of its evaluation and conclusions, we want to implement a project that will fulfil our long-term strategy, move the innovation of the WWTP into the phase TRL8 and prepare it for its introduction on the market. We have designed a size type line and for us to verify the results achieved, we chose to implement the following WWTP sizes for implementation in phase 2:
1) all-in-one, BCTS15, 250 PE, 15 m³/d
2) ext_container, BCTS240, 1500 PE, 240 m³/d
3) ext_membrane dispatch_in_concrete, BCTS2500EXTDP, 2500 PE, 375 m³/d
We determined dimensions, technical conditions for the implementation, the management system and two-way transfer of data for the WWTP management from the centre. We would like to implement these reference WWTPs in phase 2. Implementation means that on the basis of their technical documentation, we will manufacture, install and operate them for a particular client in order to confirm the results we have achieved in the phase 1.

Final results

.The study showed that in terms of the economy there is a limit that brings the necessity to change the method of application of the technical solution. For devices up to 250 PE it is optimal (in terms of costs) to implement a solution in one tank - biological treatment and separation process. In this case, the membrane dispatch is mounted directly in the tank of the biological purification process. In case of the requirement for a higher performance (more than 250 PE; 15 m³/d), from a technical point of view i.e. dimensional reasons, the membrane has to be solved externally. For a solution over 250 PE to the maximum of 1500 PE e.g. 240 m³/d of wastewater, one container can be used for the installation of three membranes. This solution will allow us to unify production, on the level of logistics it will allow us to ship the final product in a standard way (truck) to the place of installation to the customer. This solution will bring several benefits - versatility and scalability of the solution, factory production, product quality control, logistics in transportation and world-wide, unified technological system, its operation and control with the possibility of optimizing the parameters in operation. In case of requirements of a higher capacity (more than 1500 PE), it is possible to link the container design and multiply the performance (2 to 4 times). In case of further requirements for a higher performance, the membrane secondary settlement tanks need to be implemented externally with installation directly in the concrete tank. In this case, the entire structure has no longer space limitations given by the size of the container.
As a result, the following solutions arose: 1) Solution with a membrane in the purification process, as internal design up to 250 PE (all-in-one), 2) Solution with a membrane outside of the purification process, as external design - one container up to 1500 PE (ext_container), 3) Solution with the membrane in a concrete tank for 2500 PE and more as an external design (ext_membrane dispatch)

Website & more info

More info: http://www.ekoservis.sk/waste-water-treatment/.