Development of a data-based model predictive control tool for the SMARTIER project
SMARTIER = Scalable Membrane-based Adaptive Recycling Technology (SMART) for Industrial Effluent Reuse (IER)
- Other people involved: Jeff Wood (promotor), Sander Haase (co-promotor)
- Duration: 2025-2029
- Funding: EFRO Oost for the consortium formed by Jotem Water Solutions, Waterstromen and UTwente
Description
The Netherlands is a water-scarce country. It is therefore necessary to focus on circular reuse of water within industrial and drinking water settings, and minimizing energy and water footprints in separation processes. Although membrane separations are mature and energy-efficient processes, widespread adoption of this technology for industrial wastewater reuse has not been achieved yet. A major reason is the highly variable nature of industrial wastewater. For that reason, the SMARTIER project was defined.
Within this project, the partners aim to develop the tools and know-how to enable robust and economical recycling and reuse of industrial effluent using membrane technology (ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis = UF-RO). The intention is to do this by combining fundamental know-how relating to membranes, transport phenomena and interface science (University of Twente) with the practical experience in building (Jotem Water Solutions) and operating (Waterstromen) membrane-based wastewater treatment plants. Besides building a pilot installation and doing long-term pilot tests at different locations, the SMARTIER project also involves an EngD and PhD project.
PhD assignment
In this PhD project, we will select and develop appropriate system level models for various unit operations within a wastewater treatment plant, implement a suitable model predictive controller for the process, identify relevant model parameters via online measurements and assess which quantities provide the maximum amount of information necessary to enable robust control of membrane-based effluent recycling. The ultimate goal is to use the developed MPC algorithm in larger-scale pilot plant studies in the SMARTIER project at various industrial wastewater treatment sites within the Netherlands.
