Membrane Bio Reactor Varsseveld

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The new wastewater treatment plant in Varsseveld is the first full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) for the treatment of domestic wastewater in the Netherlands. The plant produces 755 cubic metres of clean water per hour using membranes through which the wastewater is passed.

Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander officially opened the Varsseveld WWTP on 3 May 2005. See the press release for more information.

On 25 April 2005 an international MBR Symposium was held at the plant in Varsseveld. Click here for more information, photos and to download all handouts.

April 2005 the third MBR Special of the Dutch H2O magazine was published. Download it now here.

The membrane surface at the Varsseveld plant totals more than 20,000 square metres (approximately the size of four football pitches). If you want to see how a membrane tank is constructed, take a look at this video.
 

Background

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The Rhine and IJssel Water Board decided to modernize the Varsseveld wastewater treatment plant in order to comply with the following requirements and preconditions:

  • improvement of effluent quality due to stricter requirements;
  • prevention of sludge leaching;
  • expansion of biological capacity;
  • limiting odour and noise emissions;
  • general upgrading of the technical installations.

Improvement of the effluent quality is necessary because the effluent of the treatment plant at Varsseveld is discharged into a small and ecologically vulnerable inland waterway called the Boven Slinge, which forms part of an ecological corridor. The desired improvement of effluent quality could have been achieved using conventional technology in combination with effluent polishing through sand filtration. In the past few years, however, an alternative has been developed in the form of MBR technology. In early 2000, this prompted the Rhine and IJssel Water Board to commission DHV Water NV to conduct a feasibility study into the application of the MBR concept at the Varsseveld treatment plant. The results of this study were so interesting that it was decided to make the plans more specific.

The innovative character of MBR technology played an important role in the decision-making process. This model installation showcasing MBR technology was constructed with support from all the Dutch water boards through a fund for technological innovation.

MBR technology

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Membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology is a hot item in the water treatment industry. The combination of biological purification processes with membrane filtration seems to have a promising future when it comes to purifying (waste)water. Nevertheless, much is still unknown about MBR: How does it work? Where can it be applied? What are the benefits and costs? What are the latest technological innovations?

Together with the Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA), WaterForum Online is closely following developments in this area and compiling news items, background information, project details, products and links in the ‘Membrane bioreactor file’ at www.waterforum.net.

Planning

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Construction work on the wastewater treatment plant in Varsseveld started in the second half of 2003. Based on an extensive system selection study, the decision to construct a membrane bioreactor (MBR) was already taken in 2001. The treatment plant in Varsseveld is the first MBR installation for the treatment of domestic wastewater in the Netherlands.

Construction work took place between the end of 2003 and the end of 2004. The various installations and the control software were tested and completed in November 2004 and the membranes were placed in the installation on 1 and 2 December. After the membranes had been tested, the MBR plant was started up just before Christmas 2004, using sludge from the existing wastewater treatment plant in Varsseveld. In February 2005, the biological start-up process of the MBR plant was completed and the installation was fully operational.

The official opening of the plant took take place on 3 May 2005.

Design

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rwzi Varsseveld

Load
The load of the Varsseveld wastewater treatment plant will total 23,150 population equivalents and 755 cubic metres per hour in 2015. The design is based on stricter effluent requirements than stipulated by law, namely nitrogen < 5 mg Ntotal/l and phosphate < 0.15 mg Ptotal/l. Because weather conditions in the Netherlands lead to a high level of rain drainage via the sewer system, this aspect played an important part in the design. As a result, the maximum hydraulic load of the MBR plant is almost three times the average supply level. The treatment of wastewater from a nearby cheese factory also played an important role in the design.

Pre-treatment
Because the membranes are vulnerable to contamination and damage, a great deal of attention was paid in the design to the pre-treatment of raw wastewater. Leaves, plastic, sand, grease, hairs and the like must all be removed from the water supply. To achieve this, the wastewater is first led over a screen with a rod distance of 6 mm. It then flows through an aerated sand and grease trap and finally through microsieves with a perforation of 0.8 mm.
Even when this pre-treatment procedure is followed, solid content (e.g. encrusted sludge or falling leaves) may end up in the activated sludge installation and impair the operation of the membranes or damage them. To keep the activated sludge clean, it is therefore continually recirculated over the microsieves from the activated sludge tank. When the membrane tank is emptied during a purification cycle, the entire content of the tank is also circulated over the microsieves.

Biological purification
In principle, the biological processes taking place in an MBR plant do not differ from those in a conventional activated sludge plant. Because a lower dry matter content can be used and no final sedimentation tanks are needed, an MBR plant can be constructed in a much more compact manner. The design of the biological purification process and the control of the biological processes require a different approach because of shorter accumulation times and a different oxygen balance. A dynamic simulation model of the MBR plant was therefore developed for design and process control purposes. The model was based in part on the IAWQ-1 model in the SIMBA software application.

Membrane filtration
Following a European tender procedure, the contract for membrane filtration was awarded to the membrane supplier Zenon. Positive experiences were gained with capillary membranes in a number of treatment plants, including one in Beverwijk, a town in the west of the Netherlands. The key design parameters for the membrane filtration process are listed below in Table 1.

table 1 – Design data for the membrane installation

Parameter
Unit
Value
Capacity RWA
Average
m3/h
m3/d
755
5.000
Flux RWA
l/(m2.h)
37,5
Required membrane surface
Surface area per element
Number of elements per cassette
Surface area per cassette
Required number of cassettes
Number of compartments
Number of cassettes per compartment
m2
m2
-
m2
-
-
-
20.160
31,5
40
1.260
16
4
4

All the required membranes will be installed in four separate compartments. To ensure that the membranes function properly, the load must be distributed as evenly (i.e. symmetrically) as possible. To this end, special attention was paid to the design of the inflow and outflow facilities of these tanks.

The undersides of the membrane modules have been fitted with coarse bubble aeration. The air bubbles cause turbulence, so that activated sludge particles cannot attach themselves to the membrane surface. The inclusion of a back-flush step in the process cycle prevents membrane pore blockage. The division into compartments makes it possible to take membranes out of service in case of low supply levels, when full capacity is not needed. This option saves energy because the membranes do not have to be continually aerated and are given sufficient time for relaxation. Periodic chemical cleaning is also required, in addition to the continuous cleaning of the membrane surface.

 

Financing

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The costs for the entire installation amounted to approximately EUR 10 million. Because the investment and operating costs for a membrane bioreactor (MBR) are higher than for a conventional wastewater treatment plant, the Rhine and IJssel Water Board sought additional financing. Key support was provided by the Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA). To cover the additional costs and risks, STOWA created an Innovation Fund with support from all Dutch water boards. The Fund was established to enable the entire Dutch water treatment sector to provide incentives for innovative technological development, such as the MBR plant in Varsseveld.

The broader importance of the MBR project was also recognized by the European Union, the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. For instance, the European Union provided a financial contribution as part of LIFE, the EU’s financial instrument for the environment. The Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment concluded that the project serves the interests of environmental protection and issued a so-called ‘green declaration’ for it (meaning that the MBR project qualifies for incentive schemes for ‘green investment’). The Minister of Economic Affairs allocated subsidies to the project as part of the subsidy scheme for energy supplies in the non-profit and special sectors (EINP scheme).

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Stowa Innovation Fund

Innovative technologies such as the membrane bioreactor (MBR) are generally not yet competing with conventional technologies because they are still under development and market forces are therefore not yet functioning. Additionally, putting such technologies into practice is not entirely without risk. After all, the infrastructure of the water boards must be used to do so.

To jointly bear the risk of damage and the additional costs, the Dutch water boards decided in 2001 to set up a so-called Innovation Fund. The Fund operates as follows: the costs of the plant to be designed are estimated and compared to the costs of a similar (fictitious) conventional plant. After deducting a substantial extra contribution from the water board that is to ‘host’ the proposed plant, the difference is paid out of the Innovation Fund. Should the project fail to succeed, the renovation costs will also be borne jointly and paid from the Fund. The Fund is managed by the STOWA Foundation for Applied Water Research and is financed on the basis of the number of pollution units produced by the control areas of the various water boards.

The annual contribution by the water boards was based on the costs of the Varsseveld project. The water boards made a four-year commitment, which was initially intended only for the application of MBR technology. The water boards agreed to evaluate the operation of the Fund after four years and to decide on the Fund’s future on the basis of that evaluation. The Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management made a one-off contribution of approximately EUR 1.4 million when the Fund was established. In the period 2002-2005, the water quality managers have managed to raise over EUR 4.4 million for the Fund.

Subsidies for the Varsseveld project were obtained as part of the LIFE regulation (an EU subsidy scheme) and the EINP scheme (a subsidy scheme of the Ministry of Economic Affairs providing energy investment incentives to non-profit organizations). These subsidies were partly allocated to the budget of the STOWA Innovation Fund. After deduction of the contribution to the Varsseveld project, the remaining amount was recently allocated to two hybrid MBR projects in Heenvliet and Ootmarsum.

In April 2004, the operation of the Innovation Fund was evaluated at a STOWA meeting attended by all the water boards. A proposal was put forward at this meeting to continue the contributions to the Innovation Fund after 2005. Proposals were also put forward to broaden the objectives of the Fund beyond MBR applications or projects related to wastewater treatment systems. All task areas of the water boards (water chain, water systems, and flood prevention and maintenance of water barriers) should qualify for funding, including projects of a non-technical nature. In mid-2004, the board of directors of the STOWA Foundation decided to accept this proposal. From 2005 onwards, the Innovation Fund will be integrated with the STOWA research program so that a mature R&D policy can be developed for the water boards. In the long-range planning process, innovation forms a separate theme across all task areas.

General

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The membrane bioreactor (MBR) at the Varsseveld wastewater treatment plant of the Rhine and IJssel Water Board serves as the demonstration installation for this technology in the Netherlands. The most important purpose of this installation is to scale up the MBR technology and demonstrate its operation on a practical level. Further research and development is necessary to achieve this. An extensive research programme will therefore be conducted from May 2004 to the end of 2005. The programme will deal with all aspects of MBR technology, i.e. pre-treatment, biological purification and membrane filtration. The goal of this research programme is to acquire more knowledge about MBR technology and to optimize the design guidelines for MBR installations.

Objectives

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In consultation with the STOWA supervision committee for MBR projects, the Rhine and IJssel Water Board and DHV drew up a research programme containing the following objectives:

  1. demonstrating the technical feasibility of scaling up the MBR technology;
  2. demonstrating the stability of the operational management;
  3. determining the technical results, subdivided into pre-treatment, biological operation and membranes;
  4. investigating the need for redundancy;
  5. optimising process management;
  6. evaluating the design (based on items 1 to 5 inclusive);
  7. comparing the costs of the MBR plant with the costs of a conventional plant.


Site studies

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Seven site studies have been defined based on the overall objectives. These studies and the parties involved in them are listed in the table below:

 

Site studies WRIJ Stowa DHV TNO Wetsus TU Delft BRCC
I Pre-treatment              
II Operational management              
III Effluent quality              
IV OC & Hydraulics              
V Sludge quality              
VI Process control technology              
VII Membranes              

 

Pilot installation

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The use of a pilot installation is an important part of the research being conducted at the Varsseveld MBR plant. Experiences gained worldwide with MBR technology have shown that the use of a simulation unit can simplify and accelerate the start-up and operational management of an MBR installation. In addition, the simulation unit, which contains wastewater from the town of Varsseveld, provides important support for practical research. Using the simulation unit, changes to the process management of the installation can now be tested before they are put into practice. This approach not only yields cost savings, but also reduces the risks involved in the operational management of the actual installation. The simulation unit also makes it possible to train the operators and other employees of the Rhine and IJssel Water Board involved.

In the pilot research, much attention has been paid to energy reduction by technical improvements. This part of the pilot research has been subsidised by the SenterNovem programme on "Energy reduction by innovation".

The Rhine and IJssel Water Board commissioned Zenon Environmental, Inc. to construct a simulation unit that was put into operation in May 2004. The simulation unit is a mirror image of the full-scale installation.

The pilot research is financially supported by SenterNovem.

Results: Pilot installation

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Membrane filtration
The most important results for the membranes of the pilot installation are as follows:

  • The so-called Clean Water Permeability (CWP), which is indicative of the quality of the membranes, is characteristic for high-end Zenon ZW500d membranes. The membranes were approved on the basis of these measurements.
  • Although the tests were performed at relatively high process temperatures, the membrane results were good. Most tests will be performed again in the winter in order to evaluate the functioning of the membranes at lower temperatures.
  • The chemical purification of the membranes was optimised in the simulation unit. The use of hydrogen peroxide proved to be ineffective due to the relatively high grease content of the local wastewater. Good results were obtained using a combination of sodium hydroxide and warm water.
  • A significant reduction of the energy consumption of the membrane installation seems possible on the basis of energy optimisation testing. Further research at lower temperatures and during longer testing periods should provide more insight.

Biological process
The first biological start-up procedure of the simulation unit was cut short due to software problems. As a result, the simulation unit did not receive sufficient wastewater during the start-up procedure, leading to poor sludge quality and excessive foaming. After the software had been repaired, the biological process was restarted on 7 June 2004.

Although the initial research objectives of the simulation unit did not include demonstrating the effectiveness of the biological processes, the results are promising. The effluent requirement for the Varsseveld MBR plant is 5.0 mg Ntotal/l. The nitrogen content of the effluent stayed below this level during the entire study period, with the exception of a few minor exceedances. During a period of a few weeks, we even managed to achieve the MTR standard value of 2.2 mg Ntotal/l. This makes the simulation unit at Varsseveld the first installation in the Netherlands to meet the MTR standard for nitrogen removal without dosage from a carbon source. These positive results can largely be explained by the favourable composition of the influent, the advantageous process conditions and the optimal process design.

The phosphate content of the effluent is largely dependent on the values set for iron dosage. Since the beginning of September 2004, we have managed to achieve a phosphate content of approximately 0.1 to 0.3 mg Ptotal/l at an iron dosage level of approximately 0.8 mol Fe/mol P. Iron dosage was discontinued at the beginning of November 2004. The effects of relocating the dosage point will be examined during a later stage of the study.

The pilot installation was dismantled on Thursday 20 January 2005. The biological media were removed and the filtration unit was relocated and directly connected to the full-scale MBR plant. The key research objective for the filtration unit is the continuing investigation of energy savings in process mode (permeate extraction) and in stand-by mode (no permeate extraction).

Results: Full scale installation

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The MBR plant at Varsseveld has been in operation since the end of December 2004. The installation was inoculated using activated sludge from the existing Varsseveld wastewater treatment plant, which continued to operate during the start-up process of the new plant. The sludge content after inoculation amounted to approximately 2.5 g DS/l. In a period of about seven weeks, the sludge content increased to the desired level of 10 g DS/l.

The biological results are promising. Five weeks after start-up, the total nitrogen content in the effluent dropped below the required maximum level of 5 mg/l. Since then, the effluent content has varied between 2 and 4 mg Ntotal/l at a process temperature of around 12ºC. The phosphate content ranges between 2 and 5 mg Ptotal/l. The iron-salt dosage system will soon be put into operation in order to further decrease the effluent content to the desired level of 0.15 mg Ptotal/l.

The four membrane channels have been in operation since the beginning of 2005 and are functioning according to expectations. In the coming weeks, the membranes will undergo further capacity testing.

Photos

Opening 3 May 2005









Construction

October 2003
December 2003
April 2004
June 2004
Pre-treatment

fine mesh screen
sand trap
micro sieves
micro sieve inside
Biology

aeration tank
areation screens
overview
aeration tank
Membrane filtration

supply pumps
pump area
membranes
membrane tanks with sliding roofs
Other parts

sludge line
lavafilters
old and new
permeate

sludge is being drained off for further treatment		      

 

© DHV
photos opening: © Harry Brouwer / TNO

Photos


bedrijfsgebouw
bedrijfsgebouw
bedrijfsgebouw
bedrijfsgebouw

oud en nieuw
overzicht
overzicht
overzicht

overzicht
overzicht
overzicht
overzicht

Film material

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Structure of a membrane tank
At the MBR plant in Varsseveld, we use so-called ZeeWeed® membranes manufactured by Zenon Environmental, Inc. Thousands of these spaghetti-shaped membranes, each over 2 metres in length, have been packed into one membrane module. At Varsseveld, 40 of these modules have been placed into one membrane cassette. Each of the four membrane tanks at the Varsseveld plant contains four of these cassettes.

The membrane surface at the Varsseveld plant totals over 20,000 square metres (equivalent to the surface area of four football pitches).

Start video (AVI, 7,5 MB)

 

Demonstration of filtration, back-flush and aeration process
Each membrane tank has a central pipeline through which the extracted water (known as the permeate) is discharged. The permeate is also ‘flushed back’ through this pipeline. This back-flush process removes the contamination present on the membrane, as demonstrated in the video below. Note the activated sludge particles and the aeration bubbles.

Start video (AVI, 11 MB)

 

A video player, such as the Windows Media Player, is required to watch this video.

 

© Zenon

Opening of membrane bioreactor in Varsseveld

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The opening program started on Wednesday 20 April 2005 and concluded with the official opening by Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander on Tuesday 3 May. Click here for the photos.

The international MBR symposium ‘Varsseveld in international perspective’ was held on Monday 25 April. More information can be found here.

The plant was open to the public on Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May from 10.00 am to 16.00 pm. About 1,100 people visited the plant.

Tuesday 3 May the official opening took place by Prince Willem-Alexander. More information can be found here.

MBR Symposium:
Varsseveld in international perspective

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Monday 25 April 2005 an international MBR Symposium was organized at the WWTP Varsseveld.

Speakers from Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan talked about how the technology has matured.

click to enlarge click to enlarge
C. Roos, Rhine and IJssel		 click to enlarge
N. Engelhardt, Erftverband		 click to enlarge
click to enlarge
T. Murakami, Japan Sewege Works Agency		 click to enlarge
P. Pearce, Thames Water		 click to enlarge
H. v.d. Roest, DHV		 click to enlarge
P. Schyns, Rhine and IJssel

© Jan Lieftink

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Eerste full-scale zuivering met membraanbioreactor vrijwel gereed

De nieuwe rioolwaterzuiveringsinstallatie Varsseveld is bijna gereed. Deze eerste full-scale zuivering met een membraanbioreactor wordt momenteel getest. Op 3 mei 2005 vindt de officiële opening plaats. De nieuwe zuivering zorgt ervoor dat meer fosfaat en stikstof uit het afvalwater gehaald wordt en dat schoner water geloosd kan worden op de Boven Slinge, een beek die is aangemerkt als ecologische verbindingszone.

De rwzi van Waterschap Rijn en IJssel gaat uiteindelijk 755 kubieke meter schoon water per uur leveren. Naast de nu in aanbouw zijnde MBR-installatie is al enige tijd een ‘klein broertje’ in bedrijf om ervaring op te doen met het opstarten en de elektronica voor de ‘grote’ installatie. Ook is met deze unit onderzocht welke chemicaliën het best bij de reiniging kunnen worden gebruikt.

Sinds begin november worden de diverse installaties en software van de grote zuivering getest. De membranen zijn begin deze maand geplaatst (zie foto) en worden nu getest. Het waterschap en de andere betrokken partijen bij de bouw van de installatie (STOWA, DHV en Zenon) verwachten dat het opstarten van de membraanbioreactor over enkele weken hierdoor zonder problemen zal verlopen.

© H2O

 

 

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Filters vormen hart in zuivering Varsseveld

De nieuwe hightech rioolwaterzuivering in Varsseveld heeft een hart gekregen. Gisteren en vandaag zijn de zestien grote filters geplaatst die het slib in de laatste fase van de zuivering van het rioolwater van vrijwel alle verontreinigingen zullen ontdoen.
In de nieuwe rioolwaterzuivering (een investering van 10 miljoen euro) arriveert, net als in de verouderde installatie uit 1972, het vloeibare afval van ruim twintigduizend inwoners en een aantal bedrijven uit Mariënvelde, Heelweg, Halle en Westendorp.
Alleen schoon water en pesticiden kunnen de filters passeren. Zelfs de uiterst kleine virussen en bacteriën die met traditionele technieken amper zijn tegen te houden, worden zo uit het oppervlaktewater gehouden.
En dat is belangrijk, want het Varsseveldse rioolwater komt na de zuivering terecht in de Boven Slinge. Die maakt daar deel uit van een ecologische verbindingszone. Het water moet daar van de hoogst haalbare kwaliteit zijn.
Het is voor het eerst dat de filters, honderdduizenden membranen in een pakket van 2 bij 2,5 meter, in Nederland op deze schaal wordt toegepast. Als het komende anderhalf jaar blijkt dat deze zuiveringstechniek in typisch Nederlandse omstandigheden werkt en ook nog financieel haalbaar is, zal ze naar verwachting door tal van waterschappen in het hele land worden toegepast.
Na kleinere testopstellingen is Beverwijk en Varsseveld, is projectleider Philip Schyns van het Waterschap Rijn en IJsel er van overtuigd dat het gezuiverde water voor de Boven Slinge aan de wettelijke eisen zal voldoen. Maar het hoge en dus dure energieverbruik is mogelijk een hobbel voor een verdere invoering van het systeem.
Om te voorkomen dat er verstopping ontstat in de uiterst fijne gaatjes in de membranen, moet het rioolslib met enorme bellenblazers voortdurend in beweging worden gehouden. Voorlopig zullen de apparaten een kwart van de tijd blazen, de helft minder dan de fabrikant van de membranen heeft voorgeschreven. Zo kan alvast op de energierekening worden bespaard, verwacht Schyns.

© de Gelderlander

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Compacte rioolwaterzuivering Varsseveld

Door Paul Versluis
Varsseveld – Eind volgend jaar beschikt Varsseveld over de meest geavanceerde compacte grote zuivering voor huishoudelijk afvalwater in Nederland.
Het water dat hier vandaan op de Boven-Slinge wordt geloosd is schoner dan voorheen: geen enkele vaste stof zal de nieuwe ‘membraan-reactor’ kunnen passeren. Ook nitraten en fosfaten zullen vaker dan ooit achterblijven. “Het gezuiverde water komt er bijna als drinkwater uit”, voorspellen de betrokkenen.

Klik hier (PDF, 553 kB) voor het volledige artikel.

© de Gelderlander

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Rioolwater zuiveren met een MBR-installatie

TNO coördineert het onderzoek rond de opstart van de eerste full-scale MBR-waterzuiveringsinstallatie.
(…) TNO is, door middel van een uitgebreid onderzoeksprogramma, betrokken bij de voorbereidingen en de opstart van de MBR-installatie. Het onderzoek – in nauwe samenwerking met de hoofdaannemer en ontwerper, ingenieursbureau DHV – moet de risico’s minimaliseren die de opstart van een dergelijke innovatieve installatie met zich meebrengt, en daarnaast kennis opleveren voor het ontwerpen van andere, nog grotere installaties.
Ook de TU Delft en universitair onderzoekscentrum WETSUS zijn betrokken bij het onderzoek.

Klik hier (PDF, 44 kB) voor het volledige artikel.

© TNO magazine

Articles

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H2O MBR Special III, April 2005:
Download the special (PDF, 4,6 MB)

H2O MBR Special II, April 2003:
MBR Varsseveld, a demonstration of progression
Authors: ir. P.F.T. Schyns, ir. C. Petri, ir. A.G.N. van Bentem,
ing. L.S.D.M. Kox M.Sc

H2O MBR Special II, April 2003:
MBR-technology, the Dutch contribution to the worldwide hype
Authors: ir. J. Leenen, ir. H.F. van der Roest

H2O MBR Special I, October 2001:
First Dutch full scale MBR application on WWTP Varsseveld
Authors: ir. J. Leunk, drs. C. Roos, ir. P.F.T. Schyns

 

Press releases

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Press release 3 May 2005, Waterboard Rhine and IJssel
Crown Prince Willem-Alexander has opened Varsseveld WWTP

Press release 1 April 2005, Waterboard Rhine and IJssel
Crown Prince Willem Alexander to open Varsseveld wastewater treatment plant

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Persbericht 1 december 2004, Waterschap Rijn en IJssel

Rioolwaterzuiveringsinstallatie Varsseveld bijna gereed

De nieuwe rioolwaterzuiveringsinstallatie Varsseveld van Waterschap Rijn en IJssel nadert zijn voltooiing. Het is Nederlands eerste full-scale membraan-bioreactor, dus innovatief van opzet. De installatie gaat met behulp van membranen, waar het afvalwater doorheen wordt gezogen, per uur 755 m3 schoon water afleveren. Belangrijkste doelstellingen voor de nieuwbouw waren: stiller produceren, meer fosfaat en stikstof uit het afvalwater halen en helder en schoner water lozen op de Boven Slinge, een beek die is aangemerkt als ecologische verbindingszone.

Simulatie-unit
Al een tijdje is naast de in aanbouw zijnde membraanbioreactor (MBR) een klein broertje in bedrijf. Het is een simulatie-unit, waarmee de juiste opstartmethode voor de echte MBR is bepaald. Ook is met deze unit besturingselektronica getest en is onderzocht welke reinigingschemicaliën het beste kunnen worden toegepast. Het waterschap en zijn partners bij de bouw van de installatie, de Stichting Toegepast Waterbeheer (Stowa), ingenieursbureau DHV en Zenon, verwachten dat daardoor het opstarten van de MBR over een paar weken, zonder problemen verloopt. De simulatie-opzet is ook gebruikt voor het verder opleiden van het waterschapspersoneel. De zuiveringsresultaten van de unit zijn uitstekend.

Testen en opstart
Sinds begin november worden de diverse installaties en software getest en worden onderdelen in gebruik genomen. Ook is gestart met het testen van de membraaninstallatie, zonder de aanwezigheid van de membranen zelf. Deze zijn/worden woensdag 1 en donderdag 2 december in de installatie gehesen. Daarna wordt opnieuw getest en begin volgend jaar is de biologische opstart van de MBR.
Op 3 mei 2005 vindt de officiële opening plaats.

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Persbericht 20 oktober 2003, Waterschap Rijn en IJssel

Start bouw high tech zuiveringsinstallatie Varsseveld

Vrijdag j.l. is officieel de bouw gestart van Nederlands eerste membraanbioreactor op de rioolwaterzuiveringsinstallatie Varsseveld. Met de nieuwbouw is een bedrag gemoeid van twaalf miljoen euro. Eind 2004 wordt de membraanbioreactor in bedrijf genomen. Alle waterschappen in Nederland en ook de Europese Gemeenschap ondersteunen het innovatieproject en kijken uit naar de resultaten van deze primeur.

Membraantechnologie
De rioolwaterzuiveringsinstallatie Varsseveld, die afvalwater van huizen en bedrijven binnenkrijgt uit Varsseveld, Mariënvelde, Heelweg, Halle en Westendorp, is één van de kleinere zuiveringsinstallaties van de 14 die in het beheersgebied van Waterschap Rijn en IJssel werkzaam zijn.
Deze rwzi wordt de eerste in Nederland die huishoudelijk afvalwater met membranen zuivert. De membraan technologie is een nieuwe ontwikkeling in de afvalwaterwereld, die zowel betere resultaten levert als minder ruimte nodig heeft dan de huidige zuiveringsinstallaties. In een membraanbioreactor wordt het vuil in het afvalwater, net als in het ‘normale’ zuiveringsproces, ook afgebroken door bacteriën. Deze zuiverende bacteriën blijven in de zuiveringsinstallatie aanwezig. Normaliter worden ze in grote bezinktanks van het gezuiverde water gescheiden. In Varsseveld zal deze scheiding via membranen plaatsvinden. De membranen zijn een soort kunststof rietjes met minuscuul kleine gaatjes. Het gezuiverde water wordt door deze gaatjes gezogen, maar deze gaatjes zijn zo klein dat de bacteriën er niet doorheen kunnen. Zij blijven dus achter in de zuivering en gaan door met hun zuiverende werk.
Het water wordt op deze manier heel schoon, bevat geen enkel vast deeltje meer en erg weinig fosfaat en stikstof.

Vervolg
De waterkwaliteit van de Boven Slinge, die als ecologische verbindingszone fungeert, vaart er wel bij. Daarin komt namelijk het effluent (=gezuiverde water) terecht. Voor Nederland, waar ruimte schaars is en de oppervlaktewaterkwaliteit nog beter moet, is dit een prima oplossing.
Op basis van de resultaten met de rwzi Varsseveld zullen naar verwachting ook grotere zuiveringsinstallaties in Nederland worden uitgerust met membranen.
De realisatie van het project wordt mede mogelijk gemaakt met financiële steun van de STOWA (innovatiefonds van alle Nederlandse waterschappen) en subsidie van de Europese Gemeenschap via LIFE.

Planning
Eind 2004 is de nieuwbouw gereed. Gedurende de bouw zal het zuiveringsproces in de huidige zuiveringsonderdelen vrijwel ongehinderd doorgaan. De bestaande onderdelen zullen pas worden gesloopt nadat de nieuwe zuivering bewezen heeft betrouwbaar te functioneren.

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Press release 1 April 2005, Waterboard Rhine and IJssel

Crown Prince Willem-Alexander to open Varsseveld wastewater treatment plant

On Tuesday 3 May 2005 at 10.00 am, His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange will perform the official opening of the wastewater treatment plant in Varsseveld. This plant is the first in the Netherlands to purify domestic wastewater using membranes. Thanks to the membrane bioreactor, the wastewater will be considerably cleaner. Based on the results of the Varsseveld plant, larger treatment plants in the Netherlands are expected to be fitted with membranes as well. All Dutch Water Boards, the STOWA Foundation for Applied Water Research and the European Community are supporting the project and are eagerly awaiting the results.

 

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Press release 8 april 2005, Waterboard Rhine and IJssel

Welcome to WWTP Varsseveld

 

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Press release 3 May 2005, Waterboard Rhine and IJssel

Crown Prince Willem-Alexander has opened Varsseveld WWTP

On Tuesday 3 May 2005, His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange has performed the official opening of the wastewater treatment plant in Varsseveld. This plant is the first in the Netherlands to purify domestic wastewater using membranes.
Children from the local towns of Varsseveld and Ulft and the Children’s Choir of the city of Baarn, led by Majel Lustenhouwer joined in the opening.
Thanks to the membrane bioreactor, the wastewater will be considerably cleaner. Based on the results of the Varsseveld plant, larger treatment plants in the Netherlands are expected to be fitted with membranes as well. All Dutch Water Boards, the STOWA Foundation for Applied Water Research and the European Community are supporting the project and are eagerly awaiting the results.


Guided Tour

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Guided tours are organized on demand every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

To apply, please fill out the application form below and click 'Send’.

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Contact

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For more information, please contact:

Rhine and IJssel Water Board
P.F.T. (Philip) Schyns
+31 314 369 613


Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA)
C.A. (Cora) Uijterlinde
+31 30 2321199


DHV, Consultancy and Engineering
ir. H.F. (Helle) van der Roest
+31 33 4682407

Colophon

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This website is an initiative of the project team MBR Varsseveld consisting of the Rhine and IJssel waterboard, the Dutch Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA) and engineering and consultancy group DHV.

The purpose of this website is to disclose all information on the Varsseveld membrane bioreactor project: the realization of the MBR Varsseveld as well as the accompanying research program.

The editorial board consists of:
ir. P.F.T. Schyns, Rhine and IJssel waterboard
ir. C.A. Uijterlinde, Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA)
ir. H.F. van der Roest, Engineering and consultancy group DHV

Editing: Suzette Schreuder, DHV, +31 33 4682026
Design: Claudia Mulder, DHV.

itinerary

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BY CAR:

Arnhem:
• From Arnhem via the A12 towards Zutphen, Oberhausen • After 18 km take the Doetinchem / Enschede junction: A18 • At the end of the A18, turn right towards Enschede / Winterswijk • At the traffic lights, turn left towards Zelhem • After 60 m turn right onto the Vlakkeeweg.
You are now at WWTP Varsseveld. Follow the parking instructions.

Germany (Border crossing at Beek, Germany A3 / Holland A12):
• A3 towards Arnhem (after border crossing: A12) • Direct after the border, take the A18 towards Enschede / Doetinchem • At the end of the A18 turn right towards Enschede / Winterswijk • At the traffic lights, turn left towards Zelhem • After 60 m turn right onto the Vlakkeeweg.
You are now at WWTP Varsseveld. Follow the parking instructions.

Groenlo:
Head for Doetinchem over the N18 (Twente route) • After approximately 16 km at the traffic lights, turn right towards Zelhem • After 60 m turn right onto the Vlakkeeweg.
You are now at WWTP Varsseveld. Follow the parking instructions.

Winterswijk:
N318 towards Aalten / Varsseveld • At the end of the N318 turn left on the N18 (Twente route) towards Doetinchem • After nearly 800 m turn right towards Zelhem, N330 • After 60 m turn right onto the Vlakkeeweg.
You are now at WWTP Varsseveld. Follow the parking instructions.

Zelhem:
Head for Varsseveld (through Halle) • After approx. 10 km (from Zelhem) turn left, onto the Vlakkeeweg.
You are now at WWTP Varsseveld. Follow the parking instructions.

Varsseveld centre:
• Follow the signs towards Doetinchem / Zelhem (Doetinchemseweg)
• Turn right at the roundabout: Zelhemseweg • At the crossroads with the N18 (Twente route) carry straight on towards Zelhem. • After 60 m turn right onto the Vlakkeeweg.
You are now at WWTP Varsseveld. Follow the parking instructions.


BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

Arnhem:
At Arnhem central station, take the train to Doetinchem / Winterswijk; get out at Varsseveld station.
WWTP Varsseveld is approximately 4 km from the station.

Zutphen:
At Zutphen central station, take the train to Winterswijk; get out at Lichtenvoorde / Groenlo (Lievelde) station.
WWTP Varsseveld is approximately 10 km from the station.

Partners

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The membrane bioreactor in Varsseveld is the first full-scale MBR installation in the Netherlands en therefore a demonstration project.

The project comprises of the realization and research of the MBR and is completed in close collaboration between:

  • Rhine and IJssel Water Board;
  • STOWA (Dutch acronym for the Foundation for Applied Water Research);
  • DHV, Consultancy and Engineering.

 

 

 

The project has been made possible through a LIFE subsidy, the EU instrument for the environment.

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