Comparison of 2-year operational performance of mechanical vibration and air sparging in an MBR system

XUE Tao; GUAN Huanhuan; CHEN Chunsheng; YU Kaichang; HUANG Xia

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202506011

Volume 43 Issue 6

Jun. 2025

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Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2025 > 43(6): 105-114

XUE Tao, GUAN Huanhuan, CHEN Chunsheng, YU Kaichang, HUANG Xia. Comparison of 2-year operational performance of mechanical vibration and air sparging in an MBR system[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(6): 105-114. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202506011

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XUE Tao, GUAN Huanhuan, CHEN Chunsheng, YU Kaichang, HUANG Xia. Comparison of 2-year operational performance of mechanical vibration and air sparging in an MBR system[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(6): 105-114. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202506011

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Comparison of 2-year operational performance of mechanical vibration and air sparging in an MBR system

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202506011

1. Beijing OriginWater Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing 102206, China;
2. School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Received Date: 2023-09-05
Accepted Date: 2023-12-06
Rev Recd Date: 2023-11-02

Abstract

Abstract

Mechanical vibration has been proven to be an effective and energy-saving method for controling MBR membrane fouling in many lab-scale and pilot-scale studies. The Beijing Doudian Wastewater Treatment Plant （WWTP） is the first project treating real municipal wastewater with vibrating MBR （V-MBR） and air sparging MBR （AS-MBR） processes in parallel around the world. During two years of operation， data showed that when the COD/TN ratio of the influent was as low as 5， the TN concentration in the effluent of the V-MBR process was at least 4 mg/L lower than that of the AS-MBR process. The COD， NH₄⁺-N， and TP concentrations in the effluents of two processes were comparable. The difference in endogenous nitrogen removal in the V-MBR membrane tank and endogenous nitrogen release in the AS-MBR membrane tank contributed to approximately 70% of the enhanced nitrogen removal capacity in the V-MBR process. The nitrification， denitrification， phosphorus release， and phosphorus uptake rates of the V-MBR sludge were 18%， 19%， 19%， and 14% higher than those of the AS-MBR sludge， respectively. Nitrosomonas and Nitrospira were the main nitrfiers. Denitratisoma， Terrimonas， and Thauera were the main denitrifiers. Dechloromonas and Ca. Accumulibacter were the main phosphorus-accumulating organisms （PAO）. The comparative abundances of nitrifiers， denitrifiers， and PAOs in the V-MBR sludge were all higher than those in the AS-MBR sludge. The energy consumption of the V-MBR process was 0.35 kW·h/m³， which was 0.13 kW·h/m³ lower than that of the AS-MBR. The energy consumption difference between the vibrating motor of the V-MBR and the air-sparging blower of the AS-MBR accounted for 85% of the total energy saving. The chemical cost for phosphorus removal in the V-MBR process was 33.3% lower than that in the AS-MBR process. The V-MBR process demonstrated evident advantages in enhancing nitrogen and phosphorus removal while saving energy. The mechanical structure of the vibrating devices could be further optimized.
- MBR,
- mechanical vibration,
- air sparging,
- nitrogen and phosphorus removal,
- membrane fouling

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References(26)

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