Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol.51, No.28, 9679-9686, 2012
Visualization of Models Predicting Transmembrane Pressure Jump for Membrane Bioreactor
Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have been widely used to purify wastewater for reuse. However, MBRs are subject: to fouling, which is the phenomenon whereby foulants absorb or deposit on the membrane. After the operation of MBRs in the long term under constant-rate filtration, transmembrane pressure (TMP) increases rapidly. We previously proposed a model predicting the time of this TMP jump, but it is difficult to investigate optimal operating conditions and parameters where TMP jumps can be prevented from occurring. In this paper, we have proposed to visualize the domains where the discriminant model estimates TMP jumps will happen by using visualization methods. In prediction, new data are projected to the map, and accordingly, we can discuss the possibility of TMP jumps and optimal MBR conditions in the future. The performance of the proposed method was confirmed through the analyses of two data sets obtained from other papers.