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Comparison Between Built-in MBR Membrane and External MBR Membrane
In today's society, with the acceleration of industrialization and the pressure brought by population growth, water pollution problems are becoming increasingly serious, and the importance of sewage treatment technology is becoming more and more prominent. Among them, membrane bioreactor (MBR), as an efficient and energy-saving sewage treatment technology, has been widely used in various sewage treatment scenarios. According to the installation position of the membrane component, MBR can be divided into two types: built-in and external. Today, we will explore in depth the characteristics and applicable scope of these two MBR technologies to help everyone better understand the differences and connections between them.
- Built-in MBR Membrane: Compact And Efficient
(1) Structural features
The membrane components of the built-in MBR are directly installed inside the bioreactor and are closely connected to the biological reaction area. This design makes the entire system compact and occupies a small area, making it very suitable for use in places with limited space.
- Operation Mechanism
In the built-in MBR system, the activated sludge is in close contact with the membrane assembly, and solid-liquid separation is achieved through membrane filtration. Since the membrane is directly placed in the reactor, a high sludge concentration can be maintained, which helps to improve the removal rate of pollutants.
- Application scenarios
Due to its compact design and efficient treatment capacity, built-in MBR is very suitable for small sewage treatment facilities such as residential areas, hotels, schools, etc.
- External MBR Membrane: Flexible And Changeable
(1) Structural features
Different from the built-in type, the membrane components of the external MBR are independent of the bioreactor, usually using tubular or plate-and-frame membrane components. This design makes the membrane components easier to maintain and replace.
(2) Operation Mechanism
In an external MBR system, the mixed liquor is pumped out of the bioreactor by a pump and then enters the external membrane module for filtration. The filtered clean water can be directly discharged or further treated, while the concentrated sludge is returned to the bioreactor for further treatment.
(3) Application scenarios
External MBR has obvious advantages in large-scale sewage treatment plants or industrial wastewater treatment due to its independent membrane component design. In addition, when treating high-concentration organic wastewater or wastewater containing large particles, external MBR can play a better role.
- Comparative Analysis
(1) Membrane fouling control
Since the membrane components of the built-in MBR are directly exposed to the mixed liquid in the bioreactor, they are easily affected by sludge clogging, resulting in a more prominent membrane fouling problem. In contrast, the membrane fouling degree of the external MBR is lower because the fouling can be reduced by adjusting the pressure difference on both sides of the membrane.
(2) Ease of maintenance
The membrane components of built-in MBR are difficult to maintain and need to be shut down for cleaning or replacement. However, since the membrane components of external MBR are independent, maintenance work can be carried out without stopping the system.
(3) System scalability
When the treatment capacity needs to be increased, the built-in MBR may require major changes to the existing equipment. However, the external MBR can achieve system expansion by simply increasing the number of membrane modules.
- 4. Conclusion
In general, built-in MBR membrane and external tube membrane have their own advantages. The choice depends on the specific conditions and goals of use. Whether pursuing high efficiency and compactness or focusing on flexibility and scalability, there are corresponding solutions. In the future, with the advancement of materials science and technology, MBR technology will develop in a more efficient and intelligent direction, contributing more to solving water resource problems for mankind.