Effects of Setting of Baffle Plates to Submerged Membrane Modules on the Production of Larger bubbles and Change of Fluid Flow Field

This study aims at elucidating fouling mitigation effect by setting of baffles to submerged flat-sheet membrane modules. Bubble size, shear stress and liquid-flow velocity were measured using laboratory scale MBR. It was found that L-shape baffles can generate larger size bubbles causing larger shear stress, whose value was 1.5 times larger than that inthe no-baffle case. Velocity field measurement revealed that slug flow is more effective than bubble flow in producing larger shear stress on membrane surface and that setting of baffle plate to submerged membrane modules is effective in producing larger shear stress on membrane surface. Thereby causing instantaneous large shear stress on membrane surface resulting in mitigating of membrane fouling.