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Microfiltration Cost Benchmarking for Large Facilities
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/1860/3168
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| Title: | Microfiltration Cost Benchmarking for Large Facilities |
| Authors: | Gurian, Patrick L. |
| Keywords: | cost benchmarking
cost model
survey
economics |
| Issue Date: | 14-Jan-2010 |
| Abstract: | A number of models of the cost of microfiltration treatment exist, but these models generally do not address, or are not validated for, larger facilities (facilities with design
flow of 5 mgd or greater). In the past, microfiltration was not cost-competitive for larger facilities, but it is now being adopted at plants with design flows as large as 20 mgd. Accordingly, there is a need to extend these cost models to include larger facilities. Data for the larger facilities is still somewhat sparse, as only a few have yet been constructed. Nevertheless, the information that is available on these facilities can provide a valuable guide as to the economies of scale that may be available to larger treatment plants. In this study a survey of costs at large microfiltration plants was conducted. Data was obtained for 10 facilities, including 3 facilities with design flows greater than 9 mgd. The results indicate that large systems can achieve economies of scale, despite the modular nature of most microfiltration units. The three largest facilities (design flows of 9 to 20 mgd) have costs of less than 50 cents/thousand gallons. The cost estimates for facilities with flows of less than 5 mgd closely match a previous survey of small microfiltration plants. In addition, this study provides a basis for extending the predictions of existing cost models up to design flows of 20 mgd. Results indicate that costs vary among systems of the same capacity with 95% of all systems being within roughly a factor of two of the mean cost. |
| Description: | A version of this paper appeared in the Proceedings of the AWWA 2009 Annual Conference and Exhibition, San Diego, CA |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1860/3168 |
| Appears in Collections: | Faculty Research and Publications (CAEE)
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