SYSTEM DESIGN &
OPERATION MANUAL
Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) System
Membrane Bioreacotr Operation &
Maintenance Guideline
MBR Introduction
MBR (Membrane Brio-Reactor) can be broadly defined as systems integrating biological
degradation of waste products with membrane filtration.
Set up of MBR plant is mainly utilizing a bioreactor and membrane filtration as one unit process
for wastewater treatment thereby replacing, and in some cases supplementing, the solids
separation function of secondary clarification and effluent filtration, resulting the possibility to
eliminate the secondary clarification and operate at higher MLSS concentration.
In summary, the MBR system is the combination of traditional Actitived Sludge Treatment with the
membrane technology. The design criteria of the system shall be base according to the traditional
way of Activated Sludge Treatment principle. However, on top of that, the MBR modules are
immersed and located in the air blow tank/ aeration basin (biological reactor tank), the clear water
is pumped(sucked) out from the MBR modules. This shall possibly eliminate the needs of
secondary clarifier.
Advantages of the MBR:
• Better control of biological activity
• Effluent that is free of bacteria and pathogens
• Smaller plant size
• Biodegradation efficiency enhanced 10%~30%
• Short Hydraulic Residence Time (HRT) & Long Sludge Residence Time (SRT)
• Activated sludge increase by 2~3 times
• No secondary settling and disinfecting tank required
• Higher organic loading rates
Typical Applications
• Living wastewater treatment, medical water treatment and reuse (residential area, hotel
etc.)
• Food industry wastewater (bean factory, cake factory etc.)

/cm
2
• S • cmHg
• Porosity : 40 ~ 50%
• Lengthways strength : 120,000 kPa
• Designed flux : 6 ~ 9 L/M
2
/H
• Area of membrane module : 8 m
2
/module
• Operating Pressure : -0.01 ~ -0.03 MPa
• Abnormal Pressure : > -0.05 kpa
• Flow-rate : 1.0 ~ 1.2 m
3
/ day
Parameters of installation
• Material of installation frame: UPVC or A3 steel with antirust
• Connection pipe: PPR pipe, galvanize pipe or high strength tube
• Space between MBR unites: 80-100mm
• Space between installation frame and the wall of reactor: ≥400mm
• Space between installation frames: ≥500mm
Sizing
• Treatment Flowrate, m
3
/hr = Tank Volume, m
3
/ HRT, hr
• Module required = Treatment Flowrate, m
3

for manual cleaning as part of supplementary periodic maintenance.
Module & Spacing Dimension
Membrane Individual Module Connected Membrane Cassette/
Frame
MBR – SIDE VIEW
Module Assembly Arrangement (e.g. 75 pcs. MBR Module for capacity 75 TPD)
MBR
Module
3 modules = 1
Frame
5 Frames
= 1 Cassettes
Total 5 Cassettes
In Tank
NOTE:
Keep the distance between header-to-header closer (< 810mm) so that the MBR Membrane Module will not be
stretched too stiff when installed while the air scouring/ scrubbing effect can be applied better on the membrane
capillary.
System Component/ Facilities required:
• Suction Pump @ capacity -0.01 ~ -0.03 MPa vacuum pressure/ 5~10 T/Hr suction rate.
• Air Blower
• Air diffuser facilities, diameter 215mm.
• Control & sensing elements: Pressure Gauge, Vacuum Gauge, flow-meter, pH/ DO Meter.
In the reactor tank, the MBR modules are fixed on a modular frame network. Below the MBR
modules, there are these air-diffusers. The vacuum pump connect with the MBR modules. The
MBR modules are submerged in the waste-water.
Maintenance of MBR module
MBR modules could have deterioration in flow-rate due to many reasons in the following:
• In the system of waste-water treatment, the aerobic germs are easy to propagate in
membrane because of the compatible temperature, oxygen and sedimentation.

2. Feed clean water into the membrane cassette for backwash flushing process until the
discharge water is clear.
3. Immerse the MBR module in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution with 5% concentration for
2~3hours in order to remove the organic compound and the colloid material on the surface of
membrane.
4. Then, immerse the MBR module in sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution with 0.5%
concentration for ½ ~1 hour in order to disinfect the micro-organism on the surface of
membrane.
CAUTION:
• During the cleaning operation above, the maintenance personnel must
be extra careful in handling the MBR module to avoid breakage of the
UF membrane!
• Keep the distance between header-to-header closer (< 810mm) so that the
MBR Membrane Module will not be stressed too stiff when installed while the
air scouring/ scrubbing effect can be applied better on the membrane capillary.
Contact us at:
Hydro One Marketing Sdn. Bhd.
32, Jalan Bukit Rawang Putra 6, Taman Bukit Rawang Putra,
48000 Rawang, Selangor, Malaysia.
(648758-P)
Tel: +60-3-6092 0120
Fax: +60-3-6093 0305
E-Mail: [email protected]
URL: www.hydro1.com.my