Siemens Successfully Introduces MBR and Discfilter Technologies in European Markets

Pleated filtration panels offer increased filtration area for disc filters. “Both innovations increase capacity of water treatment plants”, stated Roland Fischer, Head of Sales and Marketing of Siemens Water Technologies for Europe. “With the technologies, utilities can treat more water achieving better effluent quality and less footprint and energy consumption.” Both technologies will be applied in several projects in Europe, especially in Italy.

Mediterranea delle Acque in Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino will soon install one of the largest European MBR systems located off the Ligurian Sea. Once operational in 2009, the MBR plant will be able to easily meet fluctuating water demands from seasonal tourism while producing high-quality effluent for a variety of reuse purposes. Its small footprint will consume just one-quarter the space of traditional activated sludge biological processes, also making it easier to install in an underground bunker to hide from public view.

The plant’s modular configuration will enable it to achieve a biomass concentration of up to 10 g/L while eliminating the need for final sedimentation, filtration and disinfection treatment stages. The MemJet MBR system will contain four MBR filtration cells, each consisting of 224 hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane modules for a combined filtration surface area of 34,000 m2. The MBR system will also lower turbidity in the treated effluent; increase removal efficiency of organic matter, suspended solids and bacteria; and produce reuse-quality water that exceeds European Union standards.

Similarly, several Italian municipalities will install 15 Forty-X disc filters from Siemens over the next few months. The disc filters will treat a total combined flow rate of 4,381 m3/h, with the number of discs ranging from one to 14 per disc filter. The disc filters will be installed at the end of the plants to meet water reuse requirements. The Forty-X disc filter uses an inside-out filtration technique. Solids are deposited inside the filtration medium, while filtrate is produced on the outside. Backwash is initiated by headloss. High-pressure spray nozzles dislodge accumulated solids, propelling them back inside the medium where they are and collected in a trough that conveys the rejected solids out of the system by gravity. As the discs are only in filtrate water, sludge removal mechanisms are unnecessary. The disc filter’s pleated filtration panels offer increased filtration area, higher operating headloss capability, water pressure-assisted seals, and trash-tolerant filter boxes – all important attributes in reuse applications.

The Forty-X disc filter uses an inside-out filtration technique. Solids are deposited inside the filtration medium, while filtrate is produced on the outside.

Forty-X and MemJet are a trademarks of Siemens or its affiliates in most countries.

The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the world's leading supplier of production, transportation and building systems. Integrated hardware and software technologies combined with comprehensive industry-specific solutions enable Siemens to enhance the productivity and efficiency of its customers in industry and infrastructure. The Sector comprises six Divisions: Building Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility, Drive Technologies and Osram. In fiscal 2007 (ended September 30), Siemens Industry generated sales of approximately EUR40 billion (pro forma, unconsolidated) with around 209,000 employees worldwide.

With the business activities of Siemens VAI Metal Technologies, (Linz, Austria), Siemens Water Technologies (Warrendale, Pa., U.S.A.), and Industry Technologies, (Erlangen, Germany), the Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities. Using its own products, systems and process technologies, Industry Solutions develops and builds plants for end customers, commissions them and provides support during their entire life cycle.