SPECIFICATION SHEET

IDENTIFICATION
Name of Equipment Microfilter
Equipment Code ?
Number of Elements 2
Number of tubes per element 100
Function To separate the cell mass and other solids
from the fermented medium
Operation Continuous
Type Tubular Microfiltration Membrane
Materials Handled Calcium Lactate, Cell Mass, Calcium
Carbonate, Sodium Carbonate, Calcium
Sulfate, Residual sugars and Water
Number Required 1 unit
BASIC DESIGN DATA
Pressure <2 bar
Pressure Drop 1.9738 atm = 2 bar
Temperature 25 30 C
Filtrate Flow 0.2438 m3/h
Permeate Flux 18.7402 L/m2-hr
Permeability 329.3533 L/ m2-hr-atm
MEMBRANE DESIGN
Filter Membrane Used Polyether sulfone (PES)
Total element Area 9.3 m2
No. of tubes 100
Area of membrane/per module 0.093 m2
Pore Size 0.1 micron
Membrane Diameter 1.55 x 10-3 m
Length 1.022 m
Operating Mode Crossflow Filtration
HOUSING DESIGN
Type 2-port style
Materials of Construction Stainless steel AISI 316/316L
Length 1.044 m
PUMP DESIGN
Pump Type Centrifugal Pump

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DIAGRAM FOR ULTRAFILTER (S-1):

1.2 m

0.0765 m

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ASSUMPTIONS:

1. The microfiltration is operated at constant pressure filtration.

2. Type of Microfiltration Membrane: Tubular Membrane

- Membrane Filtration Handbook, pg.16

3. Pressure Drop: 1.9738 atm

- Table 14 from Membrane Filtration Handbook

4. Membrane Material: Polyether sulfone (PES)

- Pentair X-Flow R-100 Microfiltration Membrane Brochure
5. Theoretical Internal Diameter of permeate tube: 1 in = 0.0254 m
- Table 8 Types and Variables of Tubular Membranes, Membrane Filtration
Handbook, p.18

6. Viscosity () of the filtrate, since it is composed mostly of water has a value of = 0.85
cP or 8.5x10-4 Pa-s
7. Unit Operation, of Chemical Engineering Appendix

8. The velocity is assumed to be 5 m/s that gives a turbulent flow and good mass transfer, -
pg.1036, Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, 7th Edition

9. Size range of calcium lactate: 0.000394 0.0015 microns

- Molecular Recipes: Calcium Chloride, Calcium Lactate and Calcium Lactate

Gluconate
Size range of cell mass: 0.5 0.8 microns
- JGI Genome Portal

10. Length of tube: 1.022 m

- Pentair X-Flow R-100 Microfiltration Membrane Brochure

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DETAILED DESIGN COMPUTATION
MEMBRANE PROCESS SELECTION

According to Table 2 from Membrane Filtration Handbook, among the four membrane

processes: reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and microfiltration; it is best to use

microfiltration since its primary purpose in the process is to separate the cell mass and other solids

from the fermented medium. Thickness should be in range of 10-150 m. The pore size will be

ranging between 4 - 0.02 m with membrane module allowed are tubular and hollow fiber.

Membrane materials allowed are ceramic PP, PSO (polysulfone) and PVDF

(polyvinylidenedifluoride). The operating pressure should be <2 bar (Wagner, 2001).

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MEMBRANE MATERIAL SELECTION

Means high resistance

Means low resistance
Means either that the information is based on theory of that practical results have
proved to be dubious

According to Table 4 in Membrane Filtration Handbook as shown, it is suitable to use

Polyether sulfone (PES) because of its high resistance with most of the organic and inorganic

compounds. It is suitable even at high operating temperatures and has high resistance in a wide

range of pH.

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From Material Balance:

Table 1: Input/Feed to the Microfilter

Component Mass Mass Density Volume Xi
(kg/day) Fraction (kg/m3) (m3/day)
(Xi)
Calcium Lactate 576.83 0.0946 1,490.00 0.3871 140.954
Water 5,395.31 0.8853 1,000.00 5.3953 885.300
CaCO3 7.44 0.0012 2,710.00 0.0027 3.252
Na2CO3 6.14 0.0011 2,540.00 0.0024 2.794
Cell Mass 3.2329 0.0005 600.00 0.0037 0.300
CaSO4 7.88 0.0013 2,320.00 0.0033 3.016
Glucose 97.55 0.0160 1,540.00 0.0633 24.640
Total 6,094.38 5.8578 1060.256

Table 2: Filtrate/Permeate
Component Mass Mass Density Volume Xi
(kg/day) Fraction (kg/m3) (m3/day)
(Xi)
Calcium Lactate 576.74 0.0948 1,490.00 0.3871 141.252
Water 5,394.48 0.8870 1,000.00 5.3945 887.000
Na2CO3 6.14 0.0010 2,540.00 0.0024 2.540
CaCO3 6.84 0.0011 2,710.00 0.0027 2.981
Glucose 97.54 0.0161 1,540.00 0.0633 24.794
Total 6,081.74 5.8500 1058.567

Table 3: Residue/Retentate
Component Mass Mass Density Volume Xi
(kg/day) Fraction (kg/m3) (m3/day)
(Xi)
Calcium Lactate 0.08 0.006329 1,490.00 0.0000537 9.43021
Water 0.82 0.064873 1,000.00 0.00080 64.87300
Cell Mass 3.23 0.255538 600.00 0.0054 153.32280
CaSO4 7.88 0.623418 2,320.00 0.0034 1446.32976
Glucose 0.01 0.000791 1,540.00 0.0000065 1.21814
CaCO3 0.59 0.046677 2,710.00 0.00022 126.49467
Total 12.64 0.00988 1801.66858

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MEMBRANE AREA CALCULATION
Diffusivity (Dv):
From Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by McCabe and Smith, 7th Edition, page 538
7.32 1016
Dv=

Where:
Dv = diffusivity (cm2/s)
T= operating temperature (K)
ro = radius of particles (cm)
Size range of calcium lactate: 0.000394 0.0015 microns (Molecular Recipes: Calcium
Chloride, Calcium Lactate and Calcium Lactate Gluconate)
Size range of cell mass: 0.5 0.8 microns (JGI Genome Portal)

0.000394+0.0015 106 100

Dave of calcium lactate = = 9.47 x 10-8 cm
2 1 1

0.5+0.8 106 100

Dave of cell mass = = 6.5 x 10-5 cm
2 1 1

9.47 108 +6.5 105

Dave = = 3.2547 x 10-5 cm
2
3.2547 105
r0 ave = = 1.6274 105 cm
2

= viscosity (cP)
Assume that the bulk concentration comprises major component of the solution which is
composed of water with viscosity of 0.85 cP or 8.5x10-4 Pa-s.
7.32 1016 (30+273.15)
Dv =
(1.6274 105 ) (0.85 )

= 1.6042 x 10-8 cm2 /s

Schmidts Number (NSc):

From Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by McCabe and Smith, 7th Edition, p. 539

NSc =

17
Where:
= viscosity of major component in solution fed as assumed (cP)
= average density of feed (g/cm3) = Xi = 1060.256 kg/m3 = 1.060256 g/cm3
Dv = diffusivity (cm2 /s)

0.085
NSc =
(1.060256 /3) (1.6042 x 108 cm2 /s)
= 4997399.827
Reynolds Number (NRe):
From Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by McCabe and Smith, 7th Edition, p.53

NRe =

Where:
D = diameter of tube (cm)
D= 1 in 2.54 cm
V= velocity of fluid (cm/s)
= average density of the feed (g/cm3)
= viscosity of major component in solution fed as assumed (g/cm-s)
Table 8 p.18 Types and Variables of Tubular Membranes, Membrane Filtration Handbook

Assume V=5m/s that gives turbulent flow and good mass transfer ( pg. 1036 of Unit Operations
of Chemical Engineering, McCabe Smith, 5th Edition)

2.54 (500 )
NRe =
0.085

= 14,941.1765

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Sherwood Number NSh (for high Schmidt Number):
From Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by McCabe and Smith, 7th Edition, p.552
NSh = 0.0096 NRe0.913 NSc 0.346
Where:
NSh= Sherwood Number
NSc= Schmidt Number
= 0.0096 (14,941.1765)0.913 (4997399.8270)0.346
= 12,919.6280

Mass Transfer Coefficient (Kc):

Unit Operations of ChE McCabe and Smith Equation 17.71 p.545 7th Edition

kc =

Where:
NSh = Sherwood Number
D = diameter of tube (cm)
Dv = diffusivity (cm2/s)

(12,919.6280)(1.6042 x 108 cm2 /s)

kc = = 8.1597 x 10-5 cm/s
2.54

Permeate flux ():

From Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by McCabe and Smith, 7th Edition, p. 1042

= kc ln 2
1 2

where:
= permeate flux (L/m2-h)
Kc = Mass Transfer Coefficient
Cs = cell mass and CaSO4 concentration in the retentate (kg/m3)

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C1 = cell mass and CaSO4 concentration in the feed (slurry) (kg/m3)
C2 = maltose, dextrin and insoluble solid concentration in (kg/m3)
According to Overall Material balance sheet, since there will be no component of cell mass and
CaSO4 in filtrate/permeate, C2 = 0.
Permeate flux equation will be:

= kc ln 1

For Cs and C1 calculation:

Based on Overall Material Balance Data Sheet:

( +4 )
Cs =

(3.23+7.88)/
=
0.009883 /

= 1124.4939 kg/m3

( +4 )
C1 =

(7.88+3.2329)/
=
5.8578 3 /
= 1.8971 kg/m3

Since C2 = 0, = kc ln 1
-5
1124.4939 /3
= (8.1597 x 10 cm/s) ln
1.8971 /3
= 5.2098 x 10-4 cm/s = 5.2098 x 10-6 m/s
From Table 30.4 Conversion Factors for Permeate Flux in Unit Operations of Chemical
Engineering by McCabe Smith

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 1 2.78 107
=
2
1
2
= 5.2098 x 10 m/s x
-6
2.78107

= 18.7402 L/m2- h
According to the Membrane Filtration Handbook by Wagner, p. 94, there is no general rule for
the permeate flux of Microfiltration, and,if in doubt, a low flux value should be used, given that
there is also no given permeate flux from the brochures used, thus, this value of permeate flux is
acceptable.

Permeability (Qm):
From Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering by McCabe and Smith, 7th Edition, p.885

Qm =
()

Where:

= permeate flux
Qm = membrane permeability
P = pressure drop
= osmotic pressure difference
= average viscosity of water as assumed major component in feed
water = viscosity of water (0.85cP)

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Osmotic Pressure Difference ():

= (Cs -C1)

Where:
R= 0.08206 L-atm/mol-K
MWave = average molecular weight of cell mass and CaSO4
Cs = cell mass and CaSO4 concentration in the retentate (kg/m3)
C1 = cell mass and CaSO4 concentration in the feed (slurry) (kg/m3)

(29000+136.14)/
MWave = = 14568.07 g/mol
2
Cs = 1124.4939 kg/m3 = 1124.4939 g/L
C1 = 1.8971 kg/m3 = 1.8971 g/L

(0.08206 )(30+273.15)
= (1124.4939-1.8971) g/L
14568.0700 /

= 1.9169 atm

Pressure Drop (P):

For Microfiltration (Process Liquid) from Table 15 of Membrane Filtration Handbook, p.24

Typical Number of Elements = 2 (Table 15 from Membrane Filtration Handbook, p. 23)

Maximum allowed pressure drop = 1.0 bar per element (Table 14 from Membrane Filtration
Handbook)

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 1
P= 1 bar (2 elements) = 2 bar ( ) = 1.9738 atm
1.01325
P = 1.9738 atm = 200 kPa

Permeability (Qm):
()
Qm=
()

.
2
(0.85 )
=
(1.97381.9169 )(0.85)

Qm = 329.3533 L/m2-hr-atm

From Membrane Filtration Handbook, Table 37 Necessary Steps for Designing a System, p.117:
Actual Area of Membrane:

( )
=

( )
2
Where:
A= area of membrane (m2)

v = Permeate flux ( )
2
Number of tubes per element required:

No. of ultrafilter unit =
/

= ( ) ( )

But since there is a given 9.3 m2 of total membrane area and 100 number of tubes in the Pentair
X-Flow R-100 Microfiltration Membrane Brochure, the total membrane area and no. of tubes
were not computed.
9.3 2
Ratio of total membrane area / no. of tubes = = 0.093 m2 (Filter Area)
100

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To solve for total time of filtration:
From the Pentair X-Flow R-100 Microfiltration Brochure, the flowrate is 13.7 m3/hr
3 1 3
(5.8578 ) = 0.2441
24

Time of Filtration:
0.2441
3
= 0.0178
13.7

HOUSING DESIGN
Membrane Housing material is Stainless Steel, SS 316 for Tubular Membranes, from

Table 8, Types and Variables of tubular membrane pg. 18 and also based from Unit Operations

from McCabe Smith pg.1038

POWER REQUIREMENTS FOR ULTRAFILTRAFILTER

From ChE Handbook 7th Edition, pg.10-23 Equation 10-50

P=
3.559 10^6
Where:
H= total dynamic head (Pa)
H= 9.87 atm = 898,675 Pa
Q= capacity = 94.4569 m3/day

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Assume = 1day= 24 hour operation
Q= 3.936 m3/hr

898,675 3.936 3/
Ptheo = = 0.994 KW
3.559 10^6

2.98
Pactual = = = 1.420 KW
0.70
Pactual = 2 KW

TYPE OF PUMP USED: CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

From Perrys Chemical Engineers Handbook 7th Edition, pg. 10-24

Centrifugal pump is used due to its capacity ranging from 0.5 m3/hr to 2 x 104 m3/h (2

gal/min to 105 gal/min (2 gal/min to 105 gal/min, this type of pump is widely used in the

chemical industry for transferring liquids of all types.

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