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IWW Wasser Zentrum

 
  
 
Research and consultation on all fields of water utilisation since 1986.

IWW Zentrum Wasser is located at Mülheim on the Ruhr and consists of two companies:

• IWW Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wasserforschung gemeinnützige GmbH (non-profit institute for water research)
• IWW Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wasser Beratungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (institute for consultation and development in the field of water utilisation)

The institute is a competent partner in the fields of water technology, water quality, management of water resources, applied microbiology and management consultation.
IWW deals with the planning and optimisation of conventional water treatment processes or with the introduction of innovative processes and technologies. Membrane technology is in the focus of IWW's resarch and consultation activities.
The market shares of environmentally-friendly membrane processes in the area of seawater desalination will considerably increase in the next few years. IWW will largely contribute to this area with its know-how.
IWW has numerous references, such as:

1. Elaboration of design data for one of the world's largest UF plants IWW is actively involved in the planning of one of the world's largest membrane filtration plant at Roetgen which has a capacity of 6,000 cubic metres per hour. In a research project sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the principal suitability of membrane filtration for the treatment of barrage water was proven. In order to confirm the test results and to deal with most recent issues, the test operation with large testing plants was continued. In so doing, several operational framework conditions were tested and optimised. Theoretical and experimental examinations of membrane processes Nanofiltration membranes have been available on the market for almost 15 years. They are used in drinking water treatment for softening the water and for removing organic substances. In the industrial sector, these membranes are used more and more frequently, however, their potential has not yet been completely exploited. In close cooperation with the Institut für Energie- und Umweltverfahrenstechnik EUT (institute for energy and environmental process engineering) of the University Duisburg-Essen, IWW noticeably improved the forecast for the retention of winding elements thanks to intensive research and modelling. Another focus of the joint research activities is the formation of layers in capillar membranes. The impacts of temperature and the concentration of organic substances and other particles in water on the process of combined flocculation / ultrafiltration are currently being thoroughly researched and modelled.
   
2. Element autopsy IWW conducts element autopsies for all kinds of modules on a European-wide basis. The Faculty of Applied Microbiology coordinates the orders which are jointly executed by all departments of IWW. Thanks to the interdisciplinary cooperation of microbiology, chemical analytics and engineering sciences, the causes of the problem are determined and suggestions for an improved operation are developed.
   
3. Integrity measurements of membrane systems With large membrane plants, it is impossible to completely avoid small defects of the membrane or its sealing system. Due to these defects, particles move from the feed side to the permeate side and thus affect the desired retention of particles to more or less noticeable extent.

IWW developed an on-line integrity test which is easy to carry out and yet reliable and helps to rapidly localise possible defects.
This test method offers the following advantages:

The test is effected on-line during the operation of the plant and does not impair the water treatment process.
It shows the current retention performance in real time.
It enables you to reliably assess existing defects (effects on retention performance).
It prevents the introduction of air into the modules (which would induce a high mechanical stress on the membrane).

Contact

Dr. Stefan Panglisch,
Phone: +49 (0) 208/40303-321
e-mail: s.panglisch@iww-online.de

Dr. Gabriela Schaule
Phone: +49 (0) 208/40303-411
e-mail: g.schaule@iww-online.de

For more Info click here: www.iww-online.de