Monitoring of the Operating Membrane Condition Using PZT Based EMI of External Steel Pipe

Membrane systems are increasingly being used for treating water, wastewater, and reused water. However, membrane damage can decrease removal efficiency and hinder downstream applicability. Thus, the operating conditions of the membrane should be monitored. This study monitored the operating conditions of the membrane using lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-based electro-mechanical impedance (EMI) measurements in an external air pipe. Pilot-scale tests were performed to verify the performance of the proposed method. A pressure decay test (PDT) was performed using a PZT-attached air pipe, in which the pressure was measured using PZT, and a pressure gauge was employed to measure the reference pressure. The EMI signals changed according to the variations in the pressure inside the steel air pipe. To index the signal variation, the amplitude of the major peak was extracted and compared with the reference pressure. The amplitude of the major peak was inversely proportional to the pressure change. The pressure estimation equation was derived using a linear regression between the amplitudes of the major peak and the reference pressures. According to the results, the proposed monitoring system that utilizes the EMI of an external steel pipe is a potential solution to improve the sensitivity and speed of the PDT.