KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT, Feb. 20, 2015 -- Following an agreement to drive expansion, Kuwait's Sulaibiya Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plantis is set to install ZeeWeed 1000 submerged hollow-fiber membranes and AG LF low-fouling reverse osmosis (RO) membranes provided by GE (NYSE: GE) that will enhance the plant's production capacity from 375,000 to 600,000 cubic meters per day, making it the largest facility of its kind in the world.
GE's immersed ZeeWeed ultrafiltration membrane system is ideal for retrofits and large plants. The technology is applicable in direct filtration, coagulation, tertiary filtration, multimedia filter retrofits, and pretreatment for RO. It brings a high-efficiency design with low-capital, operating and lifecycle costs. The water produced meets stringent water standards while using lesser chemicals, reducing the environmental footprint and producing less residual waste compared to typical conventional wastewater treatment systems.
The AG LF series proprietary thin-film RO membrane elements are characterized by high-flow, high-sodium chloride rejection and low-fouling surface properties. They help resist degradation from water containing bacteria, colloids and other materials that foul and shorten membrane element life. The membranes require fewer cleaning cycles compared to conventional brackish membranes and can benefit from increased time between cleanings by up to 50 percent. They feature a unique coating technology that improves cleaning cycles, reducing pressure and friction on the surface of the membranes, making them resistant to organic fouling.
"Kuwait ... is serving as a model by meeting its water requirements through investments in water infrastructure, headlined by the Sulaibiya plant," said Heiner Markhoff, president and CEO, water and process technologies for GE Power & Water. "With demand for water increasing at an estimated 6 percent annually and Kuwait having one of the world's largest per-capita consumptions of water, Kharafi National is focused on strengthening wastewater treatment capacity to meet water reuse goals in non-potable and industrial applications, alleviating the pressure on more pristine desalinated water supplies."
Apart from its partnership on the world's largest wastewater treatment plant in Sulaibiya, GE has established long-term business relations in the healthcare, aviation, energy, and oil and gas sectors in Kuwait for nearly eight decades. The company also is focused on driving the competencies of the Kuwaiti professionals through dedicated training and knowledge transfer programs.
See also:
"Az Zour, Kuwait desalination plant recycles power station cooling water"
"Wastewater infrastructure to get $281 million in Kuwait"
About GE Power & Water
GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world's most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. For more information, visit www.gepower.com.
###
