AMBR LE™ system installed at a food processing factory
An AMBR LE™ installed in an "end to end" configuration
Aquabio Ltd - AMBR LE™
AMBR LE™ is a low energy cross-flow membrane separation process. The membrane separation is provided by banks of horizontally mounted cross-flow membranes. For a detailed description of the cross flow MBR principles please see our AMBR™ page.
The AMBR LE™ wastewater treatment plants are designed to provide full aerobic biological treatment using Aquabio’s low footprint and low energy membrane bioreactor technology to allow high quality discharge for UF treated water.
Each bank has a variable speed membrane recirculation pump to provide the necessary cross-flow through the horizontally mounted membrane modules. This means that the mixed liquor is drawn from the bioreactor and pumped through the membranes bank recirculation loops and then back to the bioreactor.
The AMBR LE™ process has a unique backwashable membrane which guarantee high flux rates with optimised economic and reliable operation.
AMBR LE™ utilises intermittent backflushing for the control of membrane fouling and hence allows a reduction in crossflow velocity and a significant saving in energy. Medium to high MLSS concentrations are accommodated and AMBR LE™ is aimed at medium to high flow and low to high strength wastewater. The variable speed recirculation pumps allows for a managed flux rate which is used to optimise energy consumption relative to the plant load.
A comparison of membrane technologies and performance can be found in this table.
Plants remain very compact, with low membrane area and moderate membrane replacement costs. Plants also operate on a direct link to level in the bioreactor, automatically adjusting membrane permeate production (and energy use) to suit the inlet flow conditions. AMBR LE™ is particularly suited to applications with inconsistent or variable wastewater flows, high peak or seasonal loads, or when electricity costs are moderate to high.
An Editorial can be found in our downloads section describing the operation of an AMBR LE™in a salad processing facility.
The graph below shows the range of operation of a twin bank installation. The plant design envelope can be focussed on the end user's financial criteria by optimising capital cost against energy costs.
Power v Flow graph for an AMBR LE™ System (Click image for a larger Version)
The backflushing valve arrangement on an AMBR LE™system
Advantages of the AMBR LE™ System
- Reduced separation energy consumption (typically 75% reduction compared to conventional crossflow)
- Backwashable membranes for optimized control of fouling
- Safe, easy insitu cleaning
- Process optimisation, energy saving and output control with variable speed pumps
- Small footprint
- Safe and easy maintenance
- High flux rates at low operating pressure
AMBR LE™ Mobile Pilot Plant
Aquabio have a pilot plant available within a 30 ft ISO container to provide pilot trials. Please contact us for further information.
AMBR LE™ For Total Nitrogen Removal
Aquabio's membrane bioreactor technology has been applied for total nitrogen removal in high strength wastewaters. This enables very strict discharge requirements to be met using single and multiple nitrification and denitrification stages. One such plant has been designed and constructed for DEFRA in 2006. For more information please see this case study.