What's different about Zyramic flat sheet
Zyramic sheets are relatively small, which means less unsupported area to flex and less wear and tear. Each sheet is joined with strong wide membrane welds designed to resist delamination, and the membrane itself is thick, about 250 microns, for robust service. Swing uses PVDF thin-film composite sheets that ship and store dry; Palisade welds PES membrane to solid polypropylene plates. Both are assembled in Poughkeepsie, NY of domestic and imported components.
Hollow fiber, typical flat sheet and Zyramic cartridges
How the three approaches generally compare in service:
| Feature | Hollow fiber | Typical flat sheet | Zyramic cartridge (Swing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replacement | Whole bundle or module | Full panels or cassettes | Replace a cartridge quickly: swap one small cartridge in minutes without pulling the whole module |
| Owner maintenance | Bundle repair or replacement often needs specialist help | Panels or cassettes usually lifted as a unit | Surface servicing: sheets stay sealed in their small, cost-effective cartridge, so you swap the whole cartridge quickly, in minutes, in-house with basic tools and little downtime |
| Wear and tear | Fibers can break at the potting | Large sheets flex in service | Small sheets flex less, for less wear and tear |
| Edge seals | Potted fiber ends | Varies by design | Strong wide membrane welds, designed to resist delamination |
| Membrane | Thin fibers | Varies | Thick, about 250 microns including support, for robust service |
| Ragging | Hair can wrap fiber bundles | Open channels | Open channels between small sheets |
| Inspection | Bundle examined closely | Panel lifted to inspect | A lifted cartridge shows its condition at a glance |
| Custom sizing | Fixed module sizes | Often fixed sizes | Cartridge and module sizes tailored to your tanks in many cases |
Performance depends on pretreatment, design flux and operation.
Switching formats
Many hollow-fiber plants can move to flat sheet within existing tanks. See hollow fiber to flat sheet retrofit and the product comparison.
| Mild backwash (special cases only) |
|---|
| Backwashing is not a standard Swing operating mode and is not meant for routine use. Swing has been pressure-tested to 14.5 psi (1 bar) and held without breaking. If a site is in a bind even after relaxation and CIP, contact us; we may be able to work out a special mild-backwash procedure. |
Worked sizing example
Take a 237,755 gpd (900 m³/day) hollow-fiber plant evaluating flat sheet:
| Item | US | Metric | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average flow | 237,755 gpd | 900 m³/day | about 165 gpm (37,500 L/h) |
| Design flux (gross) | 11.8 gfd | 20 LMH | Zyramic design guidance |
| Derate for relaxation and cleaning | ~20% | ~20% | |
| Net flux | ~9.4 gfd | ~16 LMH | |
| Membrane area needed | ~25,228 ft² | ~2,344 m² | average flow ÷ net flux |
| Swing-8 cartridges | ~188 | ~188 | 135 ft² (12.5 m²) each |
| Peak factor | ~2.0 | ~2.0 | |
| Peak flow | ~475,510 gpd | ~1,800 m³/day | extra area, short-term higher flux, or equalization |
This is an illustration only; a real design also checks temperature, MLSS, redundancy and the cleaning schedule.
Tips for a smooth project
- Compare modules on lifecycle, not area alone
- Plan how replacement parts will be sourced later
- Allow room for handling and inspection
- Check cassette dimensions before ordering replacements
Next step
A good way to see which design choices matter most for your plant is to look at your own maintenance history. Tell us what has needed attention in the past, and we will explain which of our options fits it best.
Sizing considerations
To give a useful recommendation we usually need:
- Existing membrane type and tank dimensions
- Ragging or sludging history
- Operator inspection routine
- Flow and flux targets
- Any domestic-content requirements
Most relevant product: Swing MBR. See also replacement membranes, rentals and how to choose.
Why engineers look at Zyramic flat-sheet modules
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Smaller sheets, less wear and tear | each sheet flexes less in service, and a damaged unit affects less area. |
| Strong wide membrane welds | designed to resist delamination over the membrane's life. |
| Thick, robust membrane | about 250 microns including support. |
| Assembled in Poughkeepsie, NY | of domestic and imported components. In our Poughkeepsie shop we cut and weld membrane sheets to plates, build module frames and assemble complete modules. For funded projects, tell us your domestic-content requirements and we'll review what we can document. |
| Buy, rent or replace | new modules, rentals and pilots for US projects, and replacement membranes that fit many existing cassettes. |
Performance and life depend on pretreatment, design flux and operation; flux figures are Zyramic design guidance, sized to each project.
Frequently asked questions
Is flat sheet more expensive than hollow fiber?
It depends on the project. Compare lifecycle cost including replacement and cleaning.
Does flat sheet use more energy?
Energy depends on design and operation; ask us for a project-specific estimate.
Can flat sheet be backwashed?
Zyramic polymeric modules are not routinely backwashed (Swing allows a special mild-backwash procedure in rare cases); ceramic modules can be backwashed.
Where are your membranes and modules assembled?
MBR membranes and modules are assembled in Poughkeepsie, NY of domestic and imported components.
Which pore size should I choose?
0.04 µm UF is standard and suits most reuse goals; 0.4 µm MF is available where higher permeability is valued.
Does flat sheet handle high MLSS?
Flat sheet runs well within its recommended MLSS range; sludging risk rises if mixing or distribution is poor.