The rapid increase in the demand on fresh water due the increase in the world population and scarcity of natural water puts more stress on the desalination industrial sector to install more desalination plants around the world. Among these desalination plants, multistage flash desalination process (MSF) is considered to be the most reliable technique of producing potable water from saline water. In recent years, however, the MSF process is confronting many problems to cut off the cost and increase its performance. Among these problems are the non-condensable gases (NCGs) and the accumulation of fouling which they work as heat insulation materials. As a result, the MSF pumps and the heat transfer equipment are overdesigned and consequently increase the capital cost and decrease the performance of the plants. Moreover, improved process control is a cost effective approach to energy conservation and increased process profitability. Thus, this study is motivated by the real absence of detailed kinetic fouling model and implementation of advance process control (APC). To accomplish the above tasks, commercial modelling tools can be utilized to model and simulate MSF process taking into account the NCGs and fouling effect, and optimum control strategy. In this research, gPROMS (general PROcess Modeling System) model builder has been used to develop the MSF process model. First, a dynamic mathematical model of MSF is developed based on the basic laws of mass balance, energy balance and heat transfer. Physical and thermodynamic properties of brine, distillate and water vapour are included to support the model. The model simulation results are validated against actual plant data published in the literature and good agreement with these data is obtained. Second, the design of venting system in MSF plant and the effect of NCGs on the overall heat transfer coefficient (OHTC) are studied. The release rate of NCGs is studied using Henry’s law and the locations of venting points are optimised. The results reveal that high concentration of NCGs heavily affects the OHTC. Furthermore, advance control strategy namely: generic model control (GMC) is designed and introduced to the MSF process to control and track the set points of the two most important variables in the MSF plant; namely the Top Brine Temperature (TBT) which is the output temperature of the brine heater and the Brine Level (BL) in the last stage. The results are compared to conventional Proportional Integral Derivative Controller (PID) and show that GMC controller provides better performance over conventional PID controller to handle a nonlinear system. In addition, a new control strategy called hybrid Fuzzy-GMC is developed and implemented to control the same aforementioned loops. Its results reveal that the new control outperforms the pure GMC in some areas. Finally, a dynamic fouling model is developed and incorporated into the MSF dynamic process model to predict fouling at high temperature and high velocity. The proposed dynamic model considers the attachment and removal mechanisms of calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide with more relaxation of the assumptions. Since the MSF plant stages work as a series of heat exchangers, there is a continuous change of temperature, heat flux and salinity of the seawater. The proposed model predicts the behaviour of fouling based on the physical and thermal conditions of every single stage of the plant.

Research on salts species formed by evaporation of aqueous solution of Na2 in the early 1930s. The thermodynamic, crystallographic and many other physical and chemical properties of most of the species formed from this solution has been known for decades. However, there was no complete information or reliable data to confirm the existence of a unique double salt that is rich in sodium carbonate, up until five years ago when a research identified the double salt (~2Na ₂ CO ₃ • Na ₂ SO ₄) from the ternary system Na₂CO ₃Na₂SO ₄ H₂O. Crystallization of this double salt so called sodium sulfate dicarbonate (~2Na ₂ CO ₃ • Na ₂ SO ₄) is known to be a primary contributor to fouling heat transfer equipment in spent-liquor concentrators used in the pulp and paper industry. Therefore, understanding the conditions leading to formation of this double salt is crucial to the elimination or reduction of an industrial scaling problem. In this work, double salts were generated in a batch crystallizer at close to industrial process conditions. X-ray diffraction, calorimetry, and microscopic observation were used to investigate the stability of the salts to in-process aging, isolation and storage, and exposure to high temperature. The results show that care must be taken during sampling on evaporative crystallization. Two apparent crystal habits were detected in the formation of sodium sulfate dicarbonate; the favored habit may be determined by calcium ion impurities in the system. The results also verify that sodium sulfate dicarbonate exists as a unique phase in this system and that remains stable at process conditions of 115-200℃

The spread of exotic species is considered to be one of the most significant threats to ecosystems and emphasises the need for appropriate management interventions. The majority of marine non-indigenous species (NIS) are believed to have been introduced via ship biofouling and their domestic spread continues to take place via this mechanism. In some countries, biosecurity systems have been developed to prevent the introduction of NIS through biofouling. However, implementing biosecurity strategies is difficult due to the challenges around identifying high-risk vectors. Reliable predictors of risk have remained elusive, in part due to a lack of scientific knowledge. Nonetheless, invasion ecology is an active scientific field that aims to build this knowledge. Propagule pressure is of particular interest in invasion ecology as it describes the quantity and quality of the propagules introduced into a recipient region and is considered to be an important determinant in the successful establishment of NIS. Environmental history affects health and reproductive output of an organism and, therefore, it is beneficial to examine this experimentally in the context of biofouling and propagule pressure. The aim of this thesis was to examine how voyage characteristics influence biofouling recruitment, survivorship, growth, reproduction and offspring performance through the ship invasion pathway. This was to provide fundamental knowledge to assist managers with identifying high-risk vessels that are likely to facilitate the introduction or domestic spread of NIS, and to understand the processes affecting biofouling organisms during long-distance dispersal events. Chapter One provides an introduction to the issues addressed in this thesis. Each data chapter (Chapters Two – Five) then focused on a stage of the invasion process and included field experiments using a model organism, Bugula neritina. Finally, Chapter Six provides a summary of key findings, discussion and the implications to biosecurity management. Throughout this thesis, the effect of donor port residency period on the success of recruits was highlighted. Chapter Two focused on recruitment in the donor region. As expected, recruitment increased with residency period. Importantly, recruitment occurred every day on vulnerable surfaces, therefore, periods as short as only a few days are able to entrain recruits to a vessel hull. The study presented in Chapter Three showed that there was high survivorship of B. neritina recruits during 12 translocation scenarios tested. In particular, the juvenile short-residency recruits (1-8 days) survived voyages of 8 days at a speed of 18 knots; the longest and fastest voyage simulated. Interestingly, variation in voyage speed and voyage duration had no effect on the survivorship of recruits, but did have legacy effects on post-voyage growth. Again, B. neritina which recruited over very short residency periods of 1 day continued to perform well after translocation and had the highest level of reproductive output after the voyage scenarios (Chapter Four). Recruits that were older (32-days) and reproductively mature at the commencement of the scenarios failed to release any propagules. Even though the number of ‘at sea’ and ‘port residency’ days were equal, reproductive output was higher after short and frequent voyages than after long and infrequent voyages. Finally, the study presented in Chapter Five examined transgenerational effects of B. nertina. Results showed that although the environmental history of the parent colony had a carry-over effect on offspring performance, it was the offspring environment that was a stronger determinant of success (measured by reproductive output and growth). Although cross-vector spread is possible (i.e. parent and offspring both fouling an active vessel), offspring released from a hull fouling parent into a recipient environment will perform better. In combination, these studies have provided new insights into NIS transport via vessel biofouling. Although shipping pathways are dynamic and complex, these results suggest that juvenile stages that recruit over short residency periods and are then translocated on short voyages, may pose a higher risk for NIS introduction than originally assumed. This has implications for marine biosecurity management as short residency periods are common and short, frequent voyages are typical of domestic vessel movements which are largely unmanaged.

Cette thèse étudie le procédé d’ultrafiltration tangentiel assisté par ultrasons aux échellesmacro et nanométriques. Différentes dispersions colloïdales ont été filtrées (argiles, micelle decaséine, nanocristaux d’amidon et de cellulose). Les propriétés d'écoulement et les changementsinduits par les ultrasons (US) ont été caractérisés. Les organisations structurelles à proximité de lamembrane ont été mises en évidence pour la première fois aux échelles nanométriques, lors de lafiltration par diffusion de rayons X aux petits angles in-situ. L’application des US a permis uneaugmentation significative des flux de perméation d’un facteur 1,6 à 13,5, selon l'organisationstructurale des colloïdes. Trois mécanismes induits par les US ont été identifiés : une érosioncomplète, une rupture partielle ou pas de changement (nanométrique) des couches de particulesaccumulées. Grâce aux profils de concentration obtenus, une approche de modélisation a permisune prévision du flux perméation. / This thesis studies an ultrasonic assisted cross-flow ultrafiltration process from macro tonano scales. Different types of colloids were investigated: synthetic and natural clay dispersions,casein micelles (skim milk) and starch or cellulose nanocrystal suspensions. Firstly, flowproperties and the changes due to ultrasound (US) were investigated. Secondly, structuralorganizations at nanometer length scales in the vicinity of the membrane during filtration havebeen revealed for the first time by real-time in-situ Small Angle X-ray Scattering. The applied USincreased significantly the permeate flux of ultrafiltration by an enhancement factor of 1.6 to13.5, depending on the structural organization of the colloids. The applied US has led to threemain effects: a removal of accumulated particle layer, a partial disruption or no change of thenano-organization. Thirdly, thanks to the obtained concentration profiles, a modeling approachhas allowed a prediction of the permeate flux.

Les transferts de chaleur par convection forcée turbulente dans une conduite plane partiellement remplie par un milieu poreux sont étudiés numériquement. L’étude concerne l’analyse de l’encrassement dans un canal plan représentatif d’un échangeur de chaleur à plaques. Un fluide, ayant un fort pouvoir encrassant, est considéré en régime turbulent. L’objectif de cette étude est de proposer une technique qui repose sur l’utilisation de matériaux fibreux comme capteur de particules pouvant réduire les méfaits de l’encrassement. Cela consiste à essayer de réduire la résistance d’encrassement en agissant sur les propriétés thermiques du dépôt. L’étude de la cinétique de l’encrassement permet de déterminer la loi de variation de l’épaisseur du dépôt au cours du temps. Cette équation est couplée aux équations de conservation. Un modèle de conductivité thermique effective (fluide, dépôt, fibres poreuses) a été choisi et le phénomène de colmatage de la matrice poreuse est considéré. L’apport du milieu poreux sur les performances de l’échangeur est analysé / A numerical study is carried out to investigate the forced convection heat transfer induced by a turbulent flow in a parallel plate channel partly filled with a porous or fibrous material. The study involves the analysis of fouling in a plate heat exchanger, represented by a parallel plate channel with a high fouling potential liquid flow in turbulent regime. The objective is to come out with a technical solution that relies on the use of fibrous materials capability to capture deposited particles, and therefore to reduce the fouling impacts within heat exchangers. This solution focuses on reducing the fouling resistance on wall surfaces by modifying the thermal properties of the deposit. The deposit thickness evolution is obtained through a kinetics model of fouling, which is coupled to the conservation equations. An effective thermal conduction model (liquid, deposit, porous material) is selected in order to account for fouling within the porous matrix. The benefits of porous material on heat exchanger performance are analyzed

Kernthema der Dissertation ist die Weiterentwicklung von Kohle-Online-Messtechniken zur kontinuierlichen Bestimmung, das Brennstoffverhalten in Kraftwerkskesseln beeinflussender anorganischer Kohleinhaltsstoffe im Rheinischen Braunkohlerevier, die geologisch bedingt, natürlichen Schwankungen unterliegen. Im Rahmen dieses Vorhabens wurden die Gammastrahlenabsorptionsverfahren zur Aschegehaltsbestimmung und die Prompte-Gamma-Neutronen-Aktivierungs-Analyse (PGNAA) zur Multielement-Analyse als innovative Messmethoden zur Analyse des gesamten Kohlestroms auf Förderbandanlagen identifiziert, deren Eignung im Rahmen von Voruntersuchungen bestätigt, betrieblich eingeführt und unter Praxisbedingungen optimiert. Dabei wurde die Wechselwirkung zwischen Gamma- und Neutronenstrahlung unterschiedlicher Energien mit Braunkohlen und Fördergurten unterschiedlicher Eigenschaften sowie Einflüsse variierender homogener und inhomogener Elementzusammensetzungen bei verschiedenen Messsystemanordnungen und Förderleistungen auf die Messergebnisse systematisch erfasst und für die Versuchsanlagen in der betrieblichen Praxis umgesetzt. Die Gamma-Absorptionsmethode ist im betrieblichen Einsatz, die Erprobung der PGNAA-Prototypanlage steht bevor.

The most significant environmental problems related to the food industry is water consumption and pollution, energy consumption and waste production. Most of the water that does not become a part of the products ultimately leaves plants in the form of wastewater, which is often very specific and requires adequate handling / treatment / disposal. For the purpose of this thesis, brewery industry was chosen, because of its very long tradition in the Czech history and culture. Anaerobic technologies are applied for still wider range of industrial wastewater treating. In general anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) can very effectively treat wastewater of different concentration and composition and produce treated water (outlet, permeate) of excellent quality, that can be further utilised. At the same time, it can promote energy self-sufficiency through biogas production usable in WWTPs / plants. Main disadvantages include unavoidable membrane fouling and generally higher CAPEX / OPEX. Within the framework of Ph.D. studies and related research activities, immersed membrane modules for anaerobic applications were selected and lab-scale tested (designed and assembled laboratory unit), an AnMBR pilot plant was designed, built and subsequently tested under real conditions - at Černá Hora Brewery WWTP (waste waters from the brewery and associated facilities). The pilot AnMBR and the technology itself has been verified over more than a year (5/2015 – 11/2016) of trial operation - the initial and recommended operational parameters have been set up, minor construction adjustments / modifications and measurement & regulation optimizations have been made, the recommended membrane cleaning and regeneration procedure has been verified. Last, but not least, conclusions and recommendations of the trial operation were summarised - some key findings and recommendations for further operation, use and modifications of the existing AnMBR pilot plant are presented.

Membrány z dutých vláken jsou široce využívány v aplikacích týkajících se úpravy kapalin jako např. při čištění odpadních vod, v membránových kontaktorech a bioreaktorech, membránové destilaci apod. I když jsou často využívány při separacích směsí plynů, je jejich použití pro mechanickou filtraci aerosolů velmi vzácné. Tato práce se zabývá filtrací vzduchu pomocí polypropylenových membrán z dutých vláken včetně jejich filtrační účinnosti, tlakových ztrát a také zanášením při dlouhodobé filtraci. Filtrační účinnost byla proměřena za použití různých aerosolů jako TiO2 a síran amonný. Tlakové ztráty byly měřeny při různých konfiguracích, tj. různé filtrační ploše a průměru vlákna membrány. Zanášení membrán bylo testováno použitím normovaného prachu definovaného normou ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2. Predikční modely pro filtrační účinnost a permeabilitu/tlakovou ztrátu membrány byly aplikovány na parametry membrán z dutých vláken a porovnány. Tyto membrány mají velikost pórů kolem 90 nm a poměrně nízkou porositu a tím vysoký potenciál pro separaci nanočástic ze vzduchu. Dále byla provedena analýza filtračního koláče a vyhodnocení energetických nároků a porovnány s teoretickými modely. V závěru práce je nastíněn odhad ceny životního cyklu při filtraci pomocí těchto membrán.

Kernthema der Dissertation ist die Weiterentwicklung von Kohle-Online-Messtechniken zur kontinuierlichen Bestimmung, das Brennstoffverhalten in Kraftwerkskesseln beeinflussender anorganischer Kohleinhaltsstoffe im Rheinischen Braunkohlerevier, die geologisch bedingt, natürlichen Schwankungen unterliegen. Im Rahmen dieses Vorhabens wurden die Gammastrahlenabsorptionsverfahren zur Aschegehaltsbestimmung und die Prompte-Gamma-Neutronen-Aktivierungs-Analyse (PGNAA) zur Multielement-Analyse als innovative Messmethoden zur Analyse des gesamten Kohlestroms auf Förderbandanlagen identifiziert, deren Eignung im Rahmen von Voruntersuchungen bestätigt, betrieblich eingeführt und unter Praxisbedingungen optimiert. Dabei wurde die Wechselwirkung zwischen Gamma- und Neutronenstrahlung unterschiedlicher Energien mit Braunkohlen und Fördergurten unterschiedlicher Eigenschaften sowie Einflüsse variierender homogener und inhomogener Elementzusammensetzungen bei verschiedenen Messsystemanordnungen und Förderleistungen auf die Messergebnisse systematisch erfasst und für die Versuchsanlagen in der betrieblichen Praxis umgesetzt. Die Gamma-Absorptionsmethode ist im betrieblichen Einsatz, die Erprobung der PGNAA-Prototypanlage steht bevor.:1 Hintergrund und Motivation 5 1.1 Belagsbildungen bei der Verbrennung von Braunkohlen in Dampferzeugern 5 1.2 Bildungsbedingungen von Schmelzphasen in Mehrstoffsystemen 6 1.3 Methoden zur Bewertung des Ansatzbildungspotenzials 9 1.4 Geologie des Rheinischen Braunkohlenreviers 9 1.4.1 Tektonische Vorgeschichte der Niederrheinischen Bucht 9 1.4.2 Stratigrafischer und lithologischer Überblick des Rheinischen Braunkohlenreviers 11 1.5 Lagerstätten des Rheinischen Braunkohlenreviers 14 1.5.1 Tagebau Garzweiler 14 1.5.2 Tagebau Hambach 15 1.5.3 Tagebau Inden 16 1.6 Kohlesortenkonzept des Rheinischen Braunkohlenreviers 17 2 Ziel der Arbeit 21 3 Stand von Wissenschaft und Kohle-Online-Messtechnik 22 3.1 Röntgenfluoreszenzanalyse (RFA) 22 3.2 Laser-induzierte-Plasma-Spektroskopie (LIPS) 23 3.3 Gammastrahlenabsorption 24 3.4 Prompte-Gamma-Neutronen-Aktivierungsanalyse 28 3.5 Eingesetzte Messtechniken im Rheinischen Revier 30 4 Anforderungen an Kohle-Online-Messtechniken 31 4.1 Revierweite Anforderungen an Kohle-Online-Messtechniken 31 4.2 Anforderungen an Kohle-Online-Messtechniken zur Aschegehaltsbestimmung 31 4.3 Standortspezifische Anforderungen an Kohle-Online-Messtechniken 32 5 Arbeits- und Versuchsprogramm 33 5.1 Radiometrische Aschegehaltsbestimmung mittels Gammastrahlenabsorption 33 5.2 Prompte Gamma-Neutronen-Aktivierungsanalyse (PGNAA) 36 6 Versuchsergebnisse und Diskussion 41 6.1 Radiometrische Aschegehaltsbestimmung mittels Gammastrahlenabsorption 41 6.1.1 Vorversuche mit einer Americiumquelle (Am-241) am Teilstrom (Firma Berthold) 41 6.1.2 Gammastrahlenabsorption eines stahlarmierten Fördergurts 46 6.1.3 Anlagengeometrie der betrieblichen Versuchsanlagen 57 6.1.4 Vollständige Erfassung der Bandbelegung (Detektorgeometrie) 59 6.1.5 Auswirkungen der Elementverteilungen auf die Gammastrahlenabsorption 60 6.1.6 Fehlerbetrachtungen der Gammastrahlenabsorption und Optimierungsansätze 66 6.1.7 Probennahme-Techniken für Referenzwerte der Kalibrierung 68 6.1.8 Anlagen-Kalibrierung für unterschiedliche Aschegehalte 75 6.1.9 Anlagen-Kalibrierung bei unterschiedlichen Förderleistungen 76 6.1.10 Langzeitversuche zu Lagerstättendaten und weiteren Analysetechniken 77 6.1.11 Zusammenfassung der Ergebnisse 81 6.2 Prompte Gamma-Neutronen-Aktivierungsanalyse (PGNAA) 83 6.2.1 Testmessungen mittels MEDINA-Anlage am Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) 83 6.2.2 Simulationsrechnungen für heterogen verteilte Sandfrachten am FZJ 95 6.2.3 Testmessungen mittels Coalscan-Anlage bei der Firma Scantech (Australien) 99 6.2.4 Zusammenfassung der Ergebnisse 105 7 Schlussfolgerungen und Fazit 106 7.1 Radiometrische Aschegehaltsbestimmung mittels Gammastrahlenabsorption 106 7.2 Prompte Gamma-Neutronen-Aktivierungsanalyse (PGNAA) 107 8 Ausblick 108 8.1 Radiometrische Aschegehaltsbestimmung mittels Gammastrahlenabsorption 108 8.2 Prompte Gamma-Neutronen-Aktivierungsanalyse (PGNAA) 109 9 Abbildungsverzeichnis 111 10 Tabellenverzeichnis 118 11 Abkürzungsverzeichnis 120 12 Literaturverzeichnis 123 13 Anhang 126

Membrane filtration processes are widely utilized across different industrial sectors for biological and environmental separations. Examples of the former are sterile filtration and protein fractionation via microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) while drinking water treatment, tertiary treatment of wastewater, water reuse and desalination via MF, UF, nanofiltration (NF) and reverse-osmosis (RO) are examples of the latter. A common misconception is that the performance of membrane separation is solely dependent on the membrane pore size, whereas a multitude of parameters including solution conditions, solute concentration, presence of specific ions, hydrodynamic conditions, membrane structure and surface properties can significantly influence the separation performance and the membrane’s fouling propensity. The conventional approach for studying filtration performance is to use a single lab- or pilot-scale module and perform numerous experiments in a sequential manner which is both time-consuming and requires large amounts of material. Alternatively, high-throughput (HT) techniques, defined as the miniaturized version of conventional unit operations which allow for multiple experiments to be run in parallel and require a small amount of sample, can be employed. There is a growing interest in the use of HT techniques to speed up the testing and optimization of membrane-based separations. In this work, different HT screening approaches are developed and utilized for the evaluation and optimization of filtration performance using flat-sheet and hollow-fiber (HF) membranes used in biological and environmental separations. The effects of various process factors were evaluated on the separation of different biomolecules by combining a HT filtration method using flat-sheet UF membranes and design-of-experiments methods. Additionally, a novel HT platform was introduced for multi-modal (constant transmembrane pressure vs. constant flux) testing of flat-sheet membranes used in bio-separations. Furthermore, the first-ever HT modules for parallel testing of HF membranes were developed for rapid fouling tests as well as extended filtration evaluation experiments. The usefulness of the modules was demonstrated by evaluating the filtration performance of different foulants under various operating conditions as well as running surface modification experiments. The techniques described herein can be employed for rapid determination of the optimal combination of conditions that result in the best filtration performance for different membrane separation applications and thus eliminate the need to perform numerous conventional lab-scale tests. Overall, more than 250 filtration tests and 350 hydraulic permeability measurements were performed and analyzed using the HT platforms developed in this thesis. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Membrane filtration is widely used as a key separation process in different industries. For example, microfiltration (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) are used for sterilization and purification of bio-products. Furthermore, MF, UF and reverse-osmosis (RO) are used for drinking water and wastewater treatment. A common misconception is that membrane filtration is a process solely based on the pore size of the membrane whereas numerous factors can significantly affect the performance. Conventionally, a large number of lab- or full-scale experiments are performed to find the optimum operating conditions for each filtration process. High-throughput (HT) techniques are powerful methods to accelerate the pace of process optimization—they allow for multiple experiments to be run in parallel and require smaller amounts of sample. This thesis focuses on the development of different HT techniques that require a minimal amount of sample for parallel testing and optimization of membrane filtration processes with applications in environmental and biological separations. The introduced techniques can reduce the amount of sample used in each test between 10-50 times and accelerate process development and optimization by running parallel tests.