CASE-043 · Engineering case

Ceramic Crossflow Filter System + Ion Exchange Trial

Integrated ceramic crossflow filtration with automated cleaning, plant utilities and electrical/control interfaces. Ion-exchange evaluation remains a separate trial component.

Conceptual engineering visualization: Ceramic Crossflow Filter System + Ion Exchange Trial
Conceptual engineering visualization · AI generated

Why the Work Mattered

Purpose and Operating Need

Reduced operating expense by $229K per year by eliminating consumables and extending CIP intervals.

Engineering Approach

Engineering Approach

Engineering scope: CIP Automation, Process Filtration & Clarification.

Outcome & Engineering Context

Outcome and Context

Recorded approximately $229k/year in operating-expense reduction. The separate 2018 filtration supplier laboratory baseline reported approximately 90% clean-water-flux recovery and 0.26–0.39 NTU filtrate turbidity. Commercial CIP records report more than 50% longer runs between cleaning cycles. The cost study identified $65k/year in labor reduction and an estimated 5,850 lb/year less landfill waste; these are components of the same system, not additional portfolio-wide totals. A 50% modular expansion route and future capital deferral were planning alternatives.

Workstream Results & Impact

Workstream Portfolio Rollup

18,317,000 USD

Wine Clarification and Vinegar Polishing Modernization

Recorded workstream portfolio reference. This is the workstream-level value and is not a project expenditure or a new total of reassigned projects.

Measures & Operating Detail

MeasureValueType & meaningAttribution & operating context
Acidity200.8 grainObservation
Bench observation

Applies to: Compared the bench-test acidity, transmittance, color and turbidity results to evaluate decolorization and product effects

WDV — Before treatment — Acidity — WDV — Before treatment

Acidity173.2 grainObservation
Bench observation

Applies to: Compared the bench-test acidity, transmittance, color and turbidity results to evaluate decolorization and product effects

WDV — After treatment — Acidity — WDV — After treatment

Transmittance96.8 %Observation
Bench observation

Applies to: Compared the bench-test acidity, transmittance, color and turbidity results to evaluate decolorization and product effects

WDV — Before treatment — Transmittance — WDV — Before treatment

Transmittance99.5 %Observation
Bench observation

Applies to: Compared the bench-test acidity, transmittance, color and turbidity results to evaluate decolorization and product effects

WDV — After treatment — Transmittance — WDV — After treatment

Turbidity0.692 NTUObservation
Bench observation

Applies to: Compared the bench-test acidity, transmittance, color and turbidity results to evaluate decolorization and product effects

WDV — Before treatment — Turbidity — WDV — Before treatment

Turbidity0.505 NTUObservation
Bench observation

Applies to: Compared the bench-test acidity, transmittance, color and turbidity results to evaluate decolorization and product effects

WDV — After treatment — Turbidity — WDV — After treatment

Acidity111.6 grainObservation
Bench observation

Applies to: Compared the bench-test acidity, transmittance, color and turbidity results to evaluate decolorization and product effects

Rice vinegar — Before treatment — Acidity — Rice vinegar — Before treatment

Acidity92.5 grainObservation
Bench observation

Applies to: Compared the bench-test acidity, transmittance, color and turbidity results to evaluate decolorization and product effects

Rice vinegar — After treatment — Acidity — Rice vinegar — After treatment

Color0.794 reported color valueObservation
Bench observation

Applies to: Compared the bench-test acidity, transmittance, color and turbidity results to evaluate decolorization and product effects

Rice vinegar — Before treatment — Color — Rice vinegar — Before treatment

Color0.176 reported color valueObservation
Bench observation

Applies to: Compared the bench-test acidity, transmittance, color and turbidity results to evaluate decolorization and product effects

Rice vinegar — After treatment — Color — Rice vinegar — After treatment

Turbidity1.92 NTUObservation
Bench observation

Applies to: Compared the bench-test acidity, transmittance, color and turbidity results to evaluate decolorization and product effects

Rice vinegar — Before treatment — Turbidity — Rice vinegar — Before treatment

Turbidity1.06 NTUObservation
Bench observation

Applies to: Compared the bench-test acidity, transmittance, color and turbidity results to evaluate decolorization and product effects

Rice vinegar — After treatment — Turbidity — Rice vinegar — After treatment

Sizing Workbook Sheets9 sheetsScope or Inventory Quantity
Analysis scope

Applies to: Developed exploratory bed-volume, column, pump, batch and resin calculations; identified formula-error cells for correction before final sizing

Exploratory sizing — Sizing workbook sheets — Exploratory sizing

Engineering scope and design basis

Reduced operating expense by approximately $229K per year by eliminating consumables and extending CIP intervals.

Project scope and individual work packages are presented separately; project totals are not additive to their component values.

11 detail rows; 12,159 K project-family value.

Actions, Methods & Controls

ACTIVITIES IN CONTEXT

Additional Technical Detail

Roles & contributions
  • Project Ownership

    Full lifecycle project ownership

    Owned the full project lifecycle: capital planning and prioritization, need definition, feasibility and scope development, engineering and AFE justification, procurement and vendor coordination, construction sequencing and field oversight, commissioning, turnover, and post-startup support. Connected operating requirements with technical scope, funding decisions, execution readiness, and the needs of operations and maintenance.

  • R&D Team

    Project Team Contribution

    Team Contribution

    R&D provided the resin-screening recommendation used to frame a manufacturer pilot.

  • Filtration Supplier

    Project Reference Context

    Reference Context

    Filtration supplier's 2018 membrane test supplied a separate laboratory baseline for the ceramic-filtration decision.

Workstream context
All portfolio connections
All portfolio connections (45)
Project ownership and delivery context

Owned the full project lifecycle: capital planning and prioritization, need definition, feasibility and scope development, engineering and AFE justification, procurement and vendor coordination, construction sequencing and field oversight, commissioning, turnover, and post-startup support. Connected operating requirements with technical scope, funding decisions, execution readiness, and the needs of operations and maintenance.

Compared filtration options against demand and lifecycle requirements, integrated CIP and instrumentation with dedicated electrical feeds, and developed clean-water-flux tracking and maintenance follow-up. Ion-exchange testing extended the investigation into product clarity and quality, while modular expansion planning connected the equipment choice with future operating demand.

Related methods and applications
Related analysis and application artifacts
Connected collections

WHAT COMES NEXT

Complex Challenge?
Let’s Work Through It.

Engineering leadership, capital projects, and independent consulting.

Start a conversation ↗