Research Tim Van Winckel

Abstract

Water scarcity is a major issue in Flanders. Up to 80% of our available water resources are utilized, meaning it is high time for integrative solutions that focus on water reuse, preferably decentralized. Source-separated grey water is the largest stream by volume and thus ideal candidate for decentralized domestic water reuse. Current state-of-the-art to achieve this is utilize a membrane biofilm reactor (MBR), which has the advantage of being compact. MBRs, however, have a high energy demand and maintenance, making them relatively expensive to maintain. TwinMemBio tackles these disadvantages by combining a membrane aeration biofilm reactor (MABR) with an MBR to create a system with low energy demand a decreased maintenance. TwinMemBio's unique control strategy makes it an excellent choice for places that require the highest standard for non-potable reuse while also requiring low energy and maintenance cost, making it an excellent choice for decentralized domestic source-separated water treatment and reuse.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Winckel Tim
• Co-promoter: Vlaeminck Siegfried

Research team(s)

• Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Environmental pressure, urbanisation and resource intensity have shifted the focal point of sewage treatment from public health protection to resource efficiency and recovery. Centralized sanitation is limited in its recovery potential while implementing extreme decentralization may be infeasible in a fast enough timeframe. As urine is highly concentrated in N, P and micropollutants, its decentralised treatment has promising application potential. This proposal argues that diverted urine can provide an overall bigger benefit when seen as a multi-resource product used within system boundaries of urban sanitation, rather than exported outside as a fertiliser or as N2. We hypothesize that the urban sanitation system can significantly improve its resource efficiency and sustainability by decentralized alkalinization, nitrification and activated carbon treatment to generate a multi-component (COD, N, S, P) benefit. Technologies and control strategies, such as energy-efficient membrane oxygenation and nitrified urine dosing in sewers, will be investigated and integrated in terms of kinetics, microbiomes, emissions and overall performance. This paradigm shift will lead to lower operational costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, better odour management, intensification at the central level and lower energy consumption than both a conventional centralised sanitation system as well as a system with extreme decentral urine management for nutrient recovery or efficient removal.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vlaeminck Siegfried
• Co-promoter: Van Winckel Tim
• Fellow: De Corte Iris

Research team(s)

• Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Legionella is a bacterium that can affect many processes operating at higher temperature or functioning discontinuously. Monitoring of this bacterium is currently done primarily through microbiological tests such as plating. This project investigates whether Legionella can be detected using artificial intelligence to monitor existing processes more efficiently.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vlaeminck Siegfried
• Co-promoter: Van Winckel Tim

Research team(s)

• Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)

Project type(s)

• Research Project