GE’s New LEAPprimary Technology Reduces the Energy Consumption and Increases the Reliability of MBR Technology While Enabling Maximum Energy Generation from Wastewater

• High Removal of Total Suspended Solids (50-70 Percent) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (25-40 Percent)
• Reduces Energy for Biological Treatment by 25 Percent and Enables Energy Recovery
• Replaces Conventional Clarifier/Fine Screen Technology and Fits in as Little as One-Tenth the Space
• Helps Extend ZeeWeed* Membrane Life

CHICAGO — GE (NYSE: GE) today introduced LEAPprimary, an innovative primary treatment technology for use with GE’s ZeeWeed* membrane bioreactor (MBR) and LEAPmbr* systems. LEAPprimary significantly reduces overall energy usage, costs and physical space requirements by combining separation, thickening and dewatering of primary wastewater solids into one compact, high-performance unit. It replaces conventional clarification and fine screening in a typical MBR plant.

LEAPprimary offers high removal of total suspended solids (50-70 percent) and biochemical oxygen demand (25-40 percent), and the removed solids can be dewatered to 20-30 percent dry matter, minimizing handling costs. Energy usage for biological treatment is reduced because solids and organic material are removed prior to secondary biological treatment. The dewatered residual product also enables energy recovery, as it is rich in organics and can be used in anaerobic digestion, incineration or other processes that convert the organics in wastewater to energy.

Overall cost savings are achieved because the technology replaces multiple unit operations and the reduced organic load results in smaller biological reactors and blowers. The enhanced influent solids screening also helps extend ZeeWeed MBR membrane life. LEAPprimary fits into as little as one-tenth the space required by conventional technology and is well-suited for where site availability is limited or where land can be better used for other processes or for expansion.

“The combination of LEAPprimary with LEAPmbr is the world’s latest innovation in MBR technology, and it demonstrates that exceptional effluent quality with low energy consumption is possible,” said Yuvbir Singh, general manager, engineered systems—water and process technologies for GE Power & Water. “LEAPprimary is the result of GE’s paying attention to customer needs and making the commitment and investments required to satisfy them.”

GE’s LEAPmbr technology builds on decades of membrane bioreactor experience to deliver the most advanced MBR solution to date. It dramatically lowers energy costs, increases productivity, offers operational simplicity and has a flexible design that can fit within a smaller footprint than conventional MBR technology.

ZeeWeed is ecomagination qualified. GE’s ZeeWeed 500 MBRs incorporate advanced membrane aeration controls that significantly reduce energy consumption compared to membranes without these controls. ecomagination is GE’s business strategy to help meet customers’ demand for products that improve their bottom line and reduce their impact on the environment.

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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. Power & Water’s six business units include Distributed Power, Nuclear Energy, Power Generation Products, Power Generation Services, Renewable Energy and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.

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