Today at Aquatech China 2013, Dow Water & Process Solutions (DW&PS) launched its latest ultrafiltration (UF) innovation with a new efficient module design that is intended to provide high-quality water while reducing overall system costs.

New Dow IntegraFlo™ ultrafiltration modules have an enhanced design that is expected to deliver up to 85% more flow* compared to conventional UF modules. It also requires less piping and skid infrastructure, reducing UF system capital expenditure by up to 25 percent.* Available in two sizes, IntegraFlo modules offer design flexibility to suit a wide range of applications including industrial, municipal, sea-water desalination pretreatment and waste water reuse.

The ultra-efficient module design has an 85% more active membrane area than competitive modules* to facilitate higher productivity without an increase in module size or weight. Due to the larger membrane area, fewer modules are required, thus reducing the footprint of the installation by up to 45 percent.*

DW&PS global product director Rajat Mehta said: "We are excited to provide the industry with a solution that enables plant design to be elevated to the next level of ultrafiltration productivity. Dow’s proven, low-fouling, PVDF, outside-in ultrafiltration technology combined with a new, efficient module design can help boost plant efficiency for our customers."

Systems designed with Dow™ UF technology use an outside-in flow configuration, which allows for less plugging, higher solids loading, higher flow area and easy cleaning. In addition, such configuration enables the use of air-scour, which boosts cleaning efficiency. Dow’s advanced asymmetric H-PVDF hollow fibre membrane is formed from high-grade polymeric chemical PVDF which offers the best combination of mechanical properties and resistance to chemicals. Its uniform pore size and high pore density enables optimum flow distribution and high permeability. The use of the Dow UF membrane ensures that a perfect barrier is created without sacrificing performance.

DW&PS greater China commercial director Christina Fang said: "The new DOW IntegraFlo™ ultrafiltration modules are intended to help our customers in China meet the growing challenges for clean and affordable water supply."

*Compared to a competitive module with 55m2 active area operative at equivalent flux.