Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
University of British Columbia
$173,597.00
Sustainable membrane management
EF 2019-20
Résumé
Low pressure membranes are increasingly being used for drinking water treatment. The rapid adoption of this relatively new technology largely results from its greater ability to effectively remove contaminants of concern. As of 2011, more than 10% of all potable water produced in Canada was treated using membranes. By 2020, this number is expected to increase to approximately 25%. Periodic chemical cleaning (in addition to hydraulic cleaning) is used to prevent extensive accumulation of material retained on the membrane surface. Although effective, chemical cleaning agents have been documented to 'age' membranes, irreversibly changing their characteristics. Over time, these changes decrease membrane performance such that they must be replaced. For our public utility partners, and other users of membranes, replacement represents a significant capital expenditure, ranging from ~$1,000,000 to over ~$20,000,000. Unfortunately, there are no adequate tools to empower our public utility partners (and others) to plan for the large capital expenditures associated with membrane replacement. The primary objective of the proposed research is to develop the knowledge and tools required by our public utility partners (as well as by other public utilities throughout Canada and internationally which use membranes for water treatment) such that they may better plan the operation and management of their water treatment assets in an effective and sustainable manner. This objective will be achieved by employing a focused approach to identify conditions that promote/minimize membrane ageing, develop protocols that can be used to estimate the actual (remaining) life expectancy, identify approaches that can be used to maximize membrane operating life expectancy, and develop tools to operate and manage membrane facilities using an evidence-based approach. The originality of this research stems from the knowledge-based approaches that will be developed to formulate strategies to address long-term aging of membranes.
Programme
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
British Columbia, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
533755-2018
Name nom
Berube, Pierre
Department département
Civil Engineering
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2019
Competition year année de concours
2018
Award amount
173597
Program id
CRDPJ
Program name en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
400
Area of application group en
Environment
Area of application group fr
Environnement
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
1007
Research subject group en
Civil engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie civil
Research subject en
Water resources and supply
Research subject fr
Ressources et approvisionnement en eau
Installment
inst:1 - 1
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Sustainable membrane management
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Low pressure membranes are increasingly being used for drinking water treatment. The rapid adoption of this relatively new technology largely results from its greater ability to effectively remove contaminants of concern. As of 2011, more than 10% of all potable water produced in Canada was treated using membranes. By 2020, this number is expected to increase to approximately 25%. Periodic chemical cleaning (in addition to hydraulic cleaning) is used to prevent extensive accumulation of material retained on the membrane surface. Although effective, chemical cleaning agents have been documented to 'age' membranes, irreversibly changing their characteristics. Over time, these changes decrease membrane performance such that they must be replaced. For our public utility partners, and other users of membranes, replacement represents a significant capital expenditure, ranging from ~$1,000,000 to over ~$20,000,000. Unfortunately, there are no adequate tools to empower our public utility partners (and others) to plan for the large capital expenditures associated with membrane replacement. The primary objective of the proposed research is to develop the knowledge and tools required by our public utility partners (as well as by other public utilities throughout Canada and internationally which use membranes for water treatment) such that they may better plan the operation and management of their water treatment assets in an effective and sustainable manner. This objective will be achieved by employing a focused approach to identify conditions that promote/minimize membrane ageing, develop protocols that can be used to estimate the actual (remaining) life expectancy, identify approaches that can be used to maximize membrane operating life expectancy, and develop tools to operate and manage membrane facilities using an evidence-based approach. The originality of this research stems from the knowledge-based approaches that will be developed to formulate strategies to address long-term aging of membranes.
