Cost Modeling and Optimization Considerations for Low Pressure Membrane Filtration Systems

A cost model for crossflow ultrafiltration and microfiltration processes is presented. The model incorporates separate correlations for several major categories of capital costs, thus accounting for different economies of scale associated with different equipment and facilities. In contrast to previous cost modeling exercises that have inherently assumed a constant economy of scale for capital costs, this work considers changing overall economies of scale of the entire membrane system with the design mix. The cost model is coupled with a previously developed permeate flux model to predict optimal system recoveries as a function of particle size and concentration in the raw water.