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.
Design assignment
The EngD student will implement a robust model predictive control (MPC) algorithm in the operating and control system of the UF-RO installation, requiring good software design and engineering. The MPC algorithm is based on sensor and other system inputs that can be used to enable industrial effluent recycling under a variety of process conditions. The MPC tool will be validated using pilot-scale data from various locations with different effluent reuse challenges.
The key task of the EngD student is to design, develop and build a mobile and compact measurement setup that will enable a rapid and accurate analysis of the water matrix and other relevant membrane performance (or related parameters) for industrial end-users. This should allow companies to (i) more quickly implement a suitable treatment strategy based on reliable data, without the need for lengthy, uncertain, and expensive pilot tests and (ii) identify what key parameters should be measured to enable stable operation of said treatment plant.
