UNS Collaborative Research: Optimizing Microfilter Productivity During Water Treatment: Modeling and Experimental Verification

该合作项目源于微滤膜的优异过滤水质，微滤膜越来越多地用于环境和工业水/废水分离。人们对微滤过程中的污染机理进行了大量的研究；然而，通过反冲洗和空气冲刷来控制膜污染在很大程度上仍然是未被探索的话题。这项工作建立在PIs重要的过去合作开发膜过程模型的基础上。拟议的研究将产生严格的数学框架以及系统的实验验证，通过定期再生和电凝/絮凝预处理保持高通量来最大限度地提高微滤水生产率。该项目提供了一个独特的视角，以培养学生在各个层次的多学科研究和扩大参与科学和工程。这项拟议的研究代表了一位在膜过滤方面具有专业知识的实验学家和一位在建模、流体动力学和最优控制方面具有长期专业知识的数学家之间的协同合作，为污染控制做出了潜在的变革性贡献。该系统利用最优控制理论，结合周期性再生技术，解决了中空纤维微滤过滤后地表水累积体积最大化的问题。本研究还包括敏感性分析和数据同化，以及用于量化理论和实验研究中由于潜在随机过程、测量不确定性或近似误差而产生的变异性方面的互补数学过程。补充的实验室测量旨在为模型验证以及新的界面化学表征生成必要的数据，以辨别导致（ir）可逆污染的机制序列。此外，实验和建模将包括休斯敦湖的水预处理使用创新的电化学过程，即牺牲铝电极的电凝。潜在的数学方法需要特定的实验测量来确定参数（以及物理量）的敏感性排名，参数分布的统计似然估计，以及先进的最优控制分析。类似地，实验方法需要预测，例如要探索的关键参数制度，可以减少的不确定性的特定区域，以及验证实验，以将现实世界的行为与数学预测结合起来。在过去七年左右的时间里，他们建立了无缝的合作关系，为该项目带来了大量的实验和理论经验。还将从外部利益相关者那里获得投入，包括膜制造商（Pall Corporation）和水供应商（Orange County water District），他们将提供中空纤维以及长期试点研究的操作数据。他们还将评估我们的方法和结果，以尝试提高低压膜过滤的生产率。

1510743 Cogan 1510526 Chellam This collaborative project results from the excellent filtered water quality of microfiltration membranes which are increasingly implemented for environmental and industrial water/wastewater separations. Tremendous effort has been spent studying fouling mechanisms during microfiltration; however, membrane fouling control by backwashing and air scouring remain largely unexplored topics. This work builds upon the PIs significant past collaborations to develop models of membrane processes. The proposed research will yield a rigorous mathematical framework along with systematic experimental validation to maximize microfiltration water productivity by maintaining high flux with periodic regeneration and electrocoagulation/flocculation pretreatment. This project provides a unique perspective to train students at all levels in multidisciplinary studies and broadening participation in science and engineering. The proposed research represents a synergistic collaboration between an experimentalist with expertise in membrane filtration and a mathematician with long-term expertise in modeling, fluid dynamics, and optimal control to make potentially transformative contributions to fouling control. The PIs tackle the problem of maximizing the cumulative volume of surface water filtered by hollow-fiber microfiltration incorporating periodic regeneration using optimal control theory. This study also includes sensitivity analysis and data assimilation, complementary mathematical processes used to quantify aspects of variability that arise in both theoretical and experimental studies due to underlying stochastic processes, uncertainty in measurements, or errors in approximations. Complementary laboratory measurements are aimed at generating necessary data for model validation as well as novel interfacial chemical characterization, to discern the sequence of mechanisms that lead to (ir)reversible fouling. Additionally, experiments and modeling will encompass Lake Houston water pretreated using an innovative electrochemical process, namely electrocoagulation with sacrificial aluminum electrodes. The underlying mathematical approach requires specific experimental measurements to determine sensitivity rankings for parameters (and hence physical quantities), statistical likelihood estimates for parameter distributions, and advanced optimal control analysis. Similarly, the experimental approach requires predictions such as key parameter regimes to explore, specific areas of uncertainty that can be reduced, and validation experiments to consolidate the real-world behavior with the mathematical predictions. This is facilitated by seamless collaboration, established over the past seven years or so, that brings together substantial experience on experimental and theoretical aspects to the project. Input will also be obtained from external stakeholders including a membrane manufacturer (Pall Corporation) and a water purveyor (Orange County Water District) who will provide hollow fibers as well as operational data from their long-term pilot-studies. They will also evaluate our methods and results to attempt to increase the productivity during low-pressure membrane filtration.