HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.b. Receive update on the Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor Pilot, District Project 100055Page 1 of 9
Item 12.b.
110ENTRAL SAN
CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT
December 19, 2024
110111 An
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
GOAL SIX: Infrastructure Reliability
Strategy 1 - Manage assets optimally
GOAL SEVEN: Innovation and Agility
Strategy 1 - Leverage data analytics to become a more efficient utility
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Presentation
December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 60 of 97
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 excefllent
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.
December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 61 of 97
Page 3 of 9
Consultant and Vendor Project Team
Mike Falk, P.E., Ph.D
VEOLIA Equipment Vendors
HDR, Inc. (Lead Consultant)
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lb 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)
Thanks, Central San Project Team!
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Special thanks to Capital Projects, Maintenance -Mechanical and Electrical Shops,
Laboratory, and Interns!
December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 62 of 97
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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 solids retention time
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
0 Nitrogen Removal
Secondary Treatment
(Current at Central San)
5 10+
December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 63 of 97
Sludge Age, Days
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
Page 5 of 9
Low Pressure
Air
Biofilm grows on membrane surface
Carbon &
Oxygen (02) diffuses from membrane to bulk 0 Nitrogen
solution; carbon (food) and nitrogen (growth, to
energy) diffuse into biofilm
Different food and 02 concentrations across
biofilm help grow a diverse bacteria culture
which removes nitrogen
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Carbon&� W
Nitrogen 31
Hollow Fiber
3
Membrane
December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 64 of 97
Page 6 of 9
MABR Equipment Modules
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Zeel-ung filament Zeel-ung cord Zeel-ung module Zeel-ung cassette
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December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 65 of 97
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
Intensification�r
ReductionPrEnpough Total,.,
Inorganic
Nitrogen (TIN)
»
Existing
F Existing
Secondary
ess
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Upgrades
IN
,
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
December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 66 of 97
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 Innovative
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.
December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 67 of 97
Page 8 of 9
Page 9 of 9
CWEA and BACWA MABR Tour on September 26, 2024
and October 18, 2024 at Central San
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.
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December 19, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 68 of 97