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Home My WebLink About04.a. Receive update on the Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor Pilot, District Project 100055Page 1 of 9 Item 4.a. F__1_448�411C_S0 October 15, 2024 TO: REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANNING COMMITTEE FROM: MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM, ASSOCIATE ENGINEER NITIN GOEL, OPTIMIZATION DIVISION MANAGER REVIEWED BY: GREG NORBY, DEPUTY GM - ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS ROGER S. BAILEY, GENERAL MANAGER SUBJECT: RECEIVE UPDATE ON THE MEMBRANE AERATED BIOFILM REACTOR PILOT, DISTRICT PROJECT 100055 The Operations Optimization Division and consultants associated with the Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor Pilot will present an update on the project. Strategic Plan re -In GOAL ONE: Customer and Community Strategy 2 - Promote initiatives to advance affordable and equitable access to services GOAL TWO: Environmental Stewardship Strategy 1 - Achieve compliance in all regulations, Strategy 4 - Identify and advance sustainability initiatives, including reducing energy usage and emissions GOAL SIX: Infrastructure Reliability Strategy 1 - Manage assets optimally, Strategy 2 - Execute long-term capital renewal and replacement program GOAL SEVEN: Innovation and Agility Strategy 1 - Leverage data analytics to become a more efficient utility, Strategy 2 - Implement organization -wide optimization, Strategy 3 - Be adaptable, resilient, and responsive ATTACHMENTS: 1. MABR Presentation October 15, 2024 Special REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 15 of 31 Page 2 of 9 Executive Summary To meet the third Watershed Permit, the Central San treatment plant will require substantial upgrades Conventional solutions involve significant new infrastructure: new aeration basins and clarifiers Intensification ("doing more with less") offers promising upgrade solutions at reduced capital and operating costs The Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) pilot has proven to be very successful with excellent and consistent performance under various conditions Next steps include full-scale detailed modeling of MABR upgrades using the pilot data, cost analysis, and potential full-scale testing i 9 Attachment 1 October 15, 2024 Special REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 16 of 31 1 Page 3 of 9 Consultant and Vendor Project Team Mike Falk, P.E., Ph.D Q VEOIIA Equipment Vendors HDR, Inc. (Lead Consultant) s Paul Pitt, P.E., Ph.D, BCEE Glen Daigger, P.E., Ph.D, BCEE NAE Hazen and Sawyer One Water Solutions, LLC (Peer Review) (Peer Review) IP41 l` Thanks, Central San Project Team! rV I 1 Special thanks to Capital Projects, Maintenance -Mechanical and Electrical Shops, Laboratory, and Interns! October 15, 2024 Special REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 17 of 31 2 Page 4 of 9 MABR Progression at Central San What makes the MABR pilot at Central San innovative? Current Central San: 1.2-day Secondary Treatment (SRT) Fundamental Challenge: Higher Sludge Age Required for Nitrogen Removal (Requires Additional New Aeration Basins and Secondary Clarifiers) Central San Pilot: Evaluating Intensification Technology to Remove Nitrogen while Maintaining Existing 1.2-day Sludge Age Nitrogen Removal Secondary Treatment - (Current at Central San) 5 10+ Sludge Age, days October 15, 2024 Special REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 18 of 31 3 Page 5 of 9 MABR Process Benefits Installation is well suited for retrofits to existing tanks High-energy efficiency Intensification maximizes value of existing infrastructure by providing additional treatment Cassettes allow for future flexibility MABR Biofilm Operating Principles Biofilm grows on membrane surface Oxygen (02) diffuses from membrane to bulk solution; Carbon (food) and Nitrogen (growth, energy) diffuses into biofilm Different food and Oz concentrations across biofilm help grow a diverse bacteria culture which removes nitrogen d Low Pressure Air w I I Carbon & Nitrogen m 00 Air 4— Air o0 Carbon &� o0 0 Nitrogen Hollow Fiber Membrane October 15, 2024 Special REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 19 of 31 4 Page 6 of 9 MABR Equipment Modules AL f ZeeLung filament ZeeLung cord ZeeLung module i r ZeeLung cassette October 15, 2024 Special REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 20 of 31 5 Page 7 of 9 MABR Could Intensify Treatment Within Existing Aeration Tanks to Delay and/or Avoid Significant Plant Expansion, Saving on Capital, Operations, and Maintenance Costs �r 1 InorganicIntensification PrEnpouh Total,., 'Secondary Process Nitrogen (TIN) 'L Reduction in Existing Existing Upgrades Pilot Goals & Objectives Overall_ Evaluate nutrient removal within existing tankage via intensification Technology Specific: Evaluate the ability to form a biofilm to remove ammonia at ambient cyanide levels Verify ability to remove ammonia/TIN loads while maintaining low suspended growth sludge age Determine specific nitrification rates and denitrification performance to confirm TIN removal in the existing tankage October 15, 2024 Special REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 21 of 31 6 Page 8 of 9 How is the MABR Pilot Performing? Research Question #1: can a biofilm form on MABR and remove ammonia? Yes, the MABR formed a biofilm that removes ammonia Research Question #2: can MABR remove ammonia/TIN while maintaining low sludge age (i.e., current operating mode)? Yes, ammonia removal (limiting step) occurred within 2-weeks of startup (TIN removal up to 50%) Research Question #3: determine ammonia removal rate to confirm ability to remove within existing tankage? Yes, the ammonia removal rates have been quantified and concluded the potential within existing tankage Steps and Experience Adopting Innovate Secondary Treatment Technologies at Full -Scale Central San is using pilot project results to calibrate and refine a process model. This will help compare performance and cost to well -established conventional process upgrades. Pilot data and experience help to compile a list of challenges and mitigation measures. To gain an additional level of confidence and to fully understand operations and maintenance requirements, Central San is exploring the possibility of full-scale testing. October 15, 2024 Special REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 22 of 31 7 Page 9 of 9 CWEA MABR Tour September 26, 2024 at Central San PLO-....iY 85 operators and engineers from local treatment plants and consultants from across the Bay Area registered for the tour and presentation. They were excited to learn about the MABR pilot project and asked many interesting questions. I October 15, 2024 Special REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 23 of 31 8