PermaFlux
Ultrafiltration (UF) Crossflow Module &
Innovative Membrane Water Treatment Solution
Membrane Overview & Solution Description
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What is PermaFlux ?
➢ PermaFlux is not just a product, it is a UF treatment solution for high
strength/high solids wastewater streams that is energy efficient,
sustainable and simple.
➢ PermaFlux consists of a revolutionary membrane chemistry, unique
module design, and patented energy saving closed loop operating protocol
➢ PermaFlux is the world’s only pressurized outside-in crossflow UF
membrane filtration technology for high strength/ high solids wastewater.
A revolutionary approach for the 1B$ market (15,000 mg/L to 100,000
mg/L), dominated by tubular membranes.
➢ PermaFlux excels in high strength, high solids wastewater treatment or
thickening applications, providing UF quality effluent with minimal energy
consumption.
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Background & Development of PermaFlow & PermaFlux
CUT Membranes Canada
GE Water acquires founded, acquires all rights to
The birth of PermaFlow
Zenon PermaFlow
PermaFlow
1989 2006 2010 2015 2019
Hundreds of reference plants globally,
using PermaFlow membranes in the
MBR, food & beverage, automotive,
PermaFlux
metals processing, chemical,
pharmaceuticals, and oily wastewater
separation applications. The Birth of PermaFlux
Thetis was incorporated in 2015 as pure player, 100% dedicated to the development and
scale up of the new technology (PermaFlux ) and has been operating in various
applications since 2017.
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PermaFlow current users - New PermaFlux Candidates
PermaFlux
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PermaFlux : A Leap Forward in
Crossflow Filtration
• PermaFlux addresses the market currently serviced by
tubular membranes
• Over the last 25 years there has been no noticeable
improvement to tubular membrane technologies except
for reducing the tube diameter
• PermaFlux revolutionizes the crossflow membrane
module design and the operating protocol to minimize the
well-known pitfalls of tubular
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Mitigate the Risk of your UF Project
Based on the longtime history of manufacturing and operating
PermaFlow tubular membranes, combined with market feedback for
all applications using tubular membranes, Thetis’s innovation includes:
✓ Increased module surface area
✓ Controlled module permeate flow by regulating each module permeate
flowrate. This allows for more balanced and less extreme fouling
✓ Unique module inlet design for increased solids tolerance
✓ Tubular systems generally operate at aggressive flux rates. Thetis recommends
a design flux close to but not above the sustainable flux. This results in a system
that performs well both in the short and long term.
✓ Reduced pressure loss across the system results in significantly smaller pumps
(lower CapEx and OpEx)
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What Makes PermaFlux Unique?
Tubular Membranes (Incumbent) PermaFlux
Membrane coated on tube shaped Membrane coated directly on hybrid-
substrate/backbone woven sheet permeate carrier and
oriented in parallel channels
No/minimal BW capabilities Up to 15 psi BW capability to maintain
peak performance
Low membrane packing density High membrane packing density
(50-200 m^2/m^3) (700 m^2/m^3)
Inside-Out Permeation Outside-In Permeation
2.5-4 m/s velocity required 0.5-2 m/s velocity required means
smaller pumps/less energy is required
Concentrate returned to feed tank, or *ALL Concentrate returned to intake of
to pump intake with a percentage of recirculation pump to conserve kinetic
the flow returning to feed tank energy (lower energy consumption)
6-15 kWh/m^3 permeate produced 0.5-3 kWh/m^3 permeate produced
*Based on patented closed loop system
configuration. Alternatively, system can
7 operate in Feed and Bleed mode.
Other Currently Used Processes:
Issues and Challenges
Clarifier/DAF
• Poor effluent quality
• Expensive polymers. Once installed, you are
committed to using them for entire life of system and
have no control over cost. If polymer price triples, your
OpEx triples.
• Upsets are common
Centrifuge
• Poor effluent quality
• Clogging/frequent cleaning and labor intensive
• Extremely High Energy Consumption
• Very Inefficient until high concentration is achieved
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PermaFlux Solves the Issues and Challenges!
✓ High Quality Effluent
✓ No polymers required
✓ Energy Efficient
✓ Unique design that
minimizes/eliminates
clogging
10 Module system processing Anaerobic Digestate.
Let us show you how it’s done.
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PermaFlux Module Technical Specifications
Parameter V8 Module V10 Module
Active Surface Area 10.7 m2 (115 ft2) 35.8 m2 (385 ft2)
Housing Size 8” Diameter X 1.5 m Length 10” Diameter X 3 m Length
Membrane Configuration 28 parallel filaments 34 parallel filaments
Flow Path Outside - In Outside - In
Membrane Material PVDF, PESU PVDF, PESU
Surface Non-ionic & Hydrophilic Non-ionic & Hydrophilic
Pore Size 0.04 𝜇m 0.04 𝜇m
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) Range 0 - 150,000 mg/L 0 - 150,000 mg/L
Emulsified Oil Concentrations ≤ 50,000 mg/L ≤ 50,000 mg/L
1 - 24 gpm 3.2 - 80 gpm
Permeate Flow Range (application specific)
(5.4 – 130 m3/day) (17.5 – 436.6 m3/day)
Trans-Membrane Pressure (TMP) Range ≤ 207 kPa (30 psig) ≤ 207 kPa (30 psig)
Operating pH range 5 – 12 5-12
Operating Temperature Range 5 - 60 oC (41-140 oF) 5 - 60 oC (41-140 oF)
Cross Flow Velocity Range 0.5 – 2.0 m/s 0.5 – 2.0 m/s
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PermaFlux vs. Tubular
Due to the large pressure drop across a tubular membrane module the Trans-
Membrane Pressure (TMP) also changes along the module length. This results in
imbalanced permeation, with some membrane operating above the sustainable
flux. Operating above the sustainable flux accelerates fouling, decreasing the
productivity over time. The low pressure loss along a PermaFlux module keeps the
TMP consistent and allows all of the membrane area to be utilized evenly,
balancing the fouling and maintaining productivity.
PermaFlux
Module Module
Inlet Tubular Outlet End
End
Dark Blue = High Permeability
Light Blue = Moderate Permeability
Light Brown = Low Permeability
11 Dark Brown = No Permeability
PermaFlux vs. Tubular
Module Header Design
In tubular membranes the velocity at the center of the tube is significantly higher than
along the membrane, meaning the membrane experiences a fraction of the flow
produced by the circulation pump.
The unique membrane orientation and module design optimizes the liquid velocity
along the membrane surface. Similar shear at the membrane surface is achieved with
lower velocity.
PermaFluxTM Tubular
Velocity Velocity
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PermaFlux Flow Path
Largest Channel and Smallest Channel
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PermaFlux vs. Tubular
Module Inlet
PermaFlux module design minimizes flow dead zones and is more resistant to solids
sludging/system upsets than incumbent tubular technologies. Below is a comparison
of the size of the open flow path through a PermaFlux module compared to various
tubular membrane tube sizes:
How Much Larger is
Flow Path Open
Module Type PermaFlux V10XL
Area (mm^2)
Flow Path?
Tubular 5 mm 19.6 Up to 38X
Tubular 8 mm 50.3 Up to 15X
Tubular ½” 126.7 Up to 6X
PermaFlux V10XL 230.0 → 761.6 -
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PermaFlux Systems – Closed Loop Operating Protocol
This PermaFlux Membrane System is designed to operate in a
closed loop configuration, meaning:
• Feed water is recirculated continuously within the loop while permeate is extracted
through the PermaFlux module
• By removing clean permeate from the loop and replacing it with feed water, the
concentration within the loop increases over time
• Once the concentration setpoint has been reached (based on amount of permeate
treated and influent concentration) the system will pump the concentrated contents
of the loop to disposal and draw fresh feed into the loop to begin another
concentration cycle.
This method of operation is both energy efficient and allows
the contaminants within the loop to be concentrated to a high
degree (minimizing sludge handling costs).
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Loop Operation – Concentration Mode
Permeate
With or without additional treatment (case
specific) UF quality permeate can be reused for
cooling, rinsing, washing, boiler feed, etc…
PRODUCTION:
Wastewater Permeate is extracted through
Influent the membrane and replaced with
Tank fresh influent. Once the target
concentration is met the system
ejects the concentrate and begins
a new fed-batch cycle.
Waste/Concentrate
(Only removed once target
concentration is achieved)
Loop Circulation Pump
Loop Operation – Feed and Bleed
Bleed
Continually return a portion of the loop contents
to the feed tank to maintain steady concentration Permeate
within the loop. With or without additional treatment (case
specific) UF quality permeate can be reused
for cooling, rinsing, washing, boiler feed,
etc…
Wastewater PRODUCTION:
Influent Permeate is extracted through
Tank the membrane and replaced
with fresh influent. Influent
also replaces the volume of
concentrate lost through the
bleed line.
Loop Circulation Pump
Conventional Tubular System Operation
Method:
Open Circuit: All kinetic energy is lost when water is sent
back to feed source (influent tank).
Permeate
Tubular Module
Wastewater
Influent
Tank
Process Pump
PermaFlux
vs. Incumbent Market Leader:
Since summer of 2019 PermaFlux has been operating in an industrial anaerobic
wastewater treatment plant in a side-by-side comparison to a small tube (8mm)
membrane system supplied by a market leader in tubular membranes. Results
included in the below table confirm the significant advantage of PermaFlux
technology over incumbent tubular products.
Operating
Specific
Feed Trans Crossflow
UF Technology Application Flux Membrane type Energy
TSS Membrane Velocity
Usage
Pressure
kWh/m^3
mg/L gfd psi m/s
permeate
Industrial
Outside-in, flat
Wastewater 15K-
PermaFlux Anaerobic 18K
23 filament, crossflow, 1-10 1.3 1.75
pressurized
Treatment
Competitor Inside-Out, 8mm
Industrial
tubular 15K- tubular UF
Wastewater
membranes 18K 23 membranes, 20-60 4 6.96
Anaerobic
manufactured in crossflow,
Treatment
Europe pressurized
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PermaFlux Crossflow UF Wastewater System
Skid Design & Engineering
PermaFlux systems can be designed and assembled in
1-12 modules loops. Each loop is fully automatic control,
skid mounted and modular. They are designed for easy
expansion, compact, safe and easy to maintain and operate.
PermaFlux 7 Module Loop
PermaFlux 2 x 7 Module Loop
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PermaFlux Systems – 8 V8 Modules System
Operating in algae harvesting and thickening
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PermaFlux 12 V8 Module System
✓ Treating Anaerobic Digestate
✓ Approx. dimensions of 4’X13’X11’
✓ Commissioned in 1 day
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PermaFlux 16 V10XL Module Container System
✓ Treating Oilfield produced
water
✓ Fully Containerized System
✓ Capable of treating over
440,000 gallons per day
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PermaFlux 10 V8 Module System
Treating Anaerobic Digestate fed with Agriculture Waste
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PermaFlux 4 – V10XL Module System
Treating Industrial Wastewater with Emulsified Oil
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PermaFlux Target Markets
PermaFlux is a UF technology used for liquid solids separation in many
applications.
PermaFlux provides end users with UF quality permeate effluent that is
reusable without subsequent treatment for many non-potable applications.
Food & Municipal Sludge Landfill Remediation
Pharma & Chemical Industry Beverage, Thickening, Small Algae Industry & leachate
Breweries and MBR applications
Wineries
Aerospace & Metals Automotive, Engine, Mining Electronics Pulp & Paper Agriculture
Oil & Grease
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Potential Applications for PermaFlux
✓ Anaerobic Digestate
✓ Aerobic MBR
✓ Oil/Water Separation
✓ Precipitation Chemistry
✓ Animal Wastewater
✓ Beverage/Wine Clarification
✓ Brewing WW
✓ Others
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Next Steps?
✓ Review past membrane projects:
▪ Any requiring increased concentration?
▪ Improved efficiency?
▪ Increased treatment capacity?
✓ Review new and upcoming projects
▪ Thetis can provide budgetary and formal proposals
✓ Partnership with Thetis for joint marketing of
applications
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Conclusions
✓ PermaFlux provides a much better solution to other
high solids treatment.
✓ PermaFlux allows easy retrofit of current tubular
systems, greatly reducing operating cost with no
detriment.
✓ PermaFlux can be easily designed into many new or
existing treatment systems for increased performance
and cost savings.
✓ Thetis Environmental can provide either the complete
process system or membrane modules.
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Questions?
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Contact Information for PermaFlux
Thetis Environmental Inc.
56 Ditton Drive, Unit A
Hamilton, ON
Canada
L8W 0A9
(905) 526-4860
[email protected]
Thetis Environmental - UF Membrane
Solutions
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