Cross-Flow Ultrafiltration Cleaning and FoulingCX(s) Applied: B3.6Date: 06/16/2010Location(s): Aiken, South CarolinaOffice(s): Environmental Management, Savannah River Operations Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
June 16, 2010
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CX(s) Applied: B3.6
Date: 06/16/2010
Location(s): Aiken, South Carolina
Office(s): Environmental Management, Savannah River Operations Office
Currently, cross flow filtration is deployed at both Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) and Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF). However, there is no strategy for determining the cleaning or backpulsing requirements for these facilities. The frequency of cleaning will significantly impact both process throughput as well as the sodium demand (through acid neutralization). This activity would develop the understanding of filter fouling to allow development of a cleaning/backpulsing strategy. Development of the cleaning/backpulsing requirements will produce much more efficient operations for both WTP and SWPF. The increased efficiency is anticipated to produce a significant increase in pretreatment throughput by limiting cleaning cycles. Cross-Flow Filter Testing activities in 786-A include using existing/modified Pilot Scale Cross-Flow Filter Testing equipment to: 1) Develop a predictive model that reflects the important physical mechanisms of fouling and cleaning for use in determining effective filter cleaning strategies for a variety of feeds. 2) Develop stimulants that can result in significant irreversible fouling, but also are representative of the types of materials that are present in high level waste. 3) Test these stimulants in bench-scale equipment to identify the cleaning requirements for these feeds. 4) Development of a cleaning strategy to optimize throughput while minimizing added sodium.