BGU and Rotec – the many reversals in
trying to get flow reversal into the market
J. Gilron,
Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, BGU
CTO Rotec Ltd.
Israeli Innovation In Greentech – American Univ. – 7 Feb 2012
The Problem
Scaling: Mineral deposits that harm performance of water
treatment and industrial process equipment
Membranes Systems
Industrial Systems
The outcome:
1. Increased energy, chemical and equipment costs
2. Reduced water production
Early detection of onset of scaling, allows more timely and
cost-effective intervention to prevent scaling and reverse its
effects.
Technology – Scaling prevention
Flow reversal technology - basic principles
Flow Reversal at
induction time or
before:
Permeate
(product)
Feed
(entrance)
Concentrate /Brine
(exit)
Feed (Undersaturated)
Brine (Oversaturated)
Permeate
Induction
Inductiontime
timerestarted
reached- Flow
reversal
performed
Technology – Scale Sensor
U/S Scale Sensor technology - basic principles
Unfouled
Shell/Feed Solution Echo
Transducer
Feed Solution
Membrane
Amplitude
No scaling occur
Shell
Support
Arrival Time
Shell
Support
Fouling Layer
Membrane
Shell/Feed Solution Echo
Amplitude
Fouled
Transducer
Feed Solution
Algorithm output
Crossover point –
scaling starting
Δ A; Δ t
Arrival Time
U/S Scale Sensor technology – R&D phases
q  Phase I – Flat sheet scale sensor development
q  Phase II – Spiral-Wound membrane scale sensor development
Technology – Scale Sensor
Sensor A
Sensor B
In
Product channel
1
Sensor C
FLOW DIRECTION
4
3
2
5
Out
U/S Signal
upstream 60
60
Channel 1
55
10
20
30
40
50
56
54
52
channel 2
50
60
58
Flux (L/m2h)
65
Flux (L/m2h)
Flux (L/m2h)
Sensor
area product flux
70
0
Crossover
downstream point –
scaling detected
midstream 60
Time (min)
Channel 3
50
0
10
20
30
40
50
Time(min)
58
56
54
Channel 4
52
Channel 5
50
60
0
20
40
60
Time (min)
Membrane image @ sensor area
Ultrasound sensor picked up presence of CaCO3 scaling before any
flux decline detected! It detected deposits as small as 20 micron
(~1/5th the thickness of a human hair) covering less than 10% of
the membrane area.
Upstream
Midstream
Downstream
80
How did we get there?
BGU Seminar on New
LPRO organized by Prof. O.
Kedem
Idea – Flow
Reversal
Idea – Zero the
induction clock
1996
Optical
triggering
NATO SfP
Call for
proposals
U/S
Triggering
UCLA
CU
Aug 2005
TAMASHigh Tech
Incubator
BGN, Mekorot, Angel
PILOT PROJECT
CONCEPT
2006
TAMAS
90/10
ROTEC 2009
WORKING
PILOT
2010 PLANT
HOW TO
TRIGGER
FR?
2003
Proof of
principle
2004
PATENTS!
BGN
Beta
customers
PRODUCTS OUT
THE DOOR!
Angels, VC’s
Lessons
•  University as site for generating/exchanging
ideas/knowledge
•  Israel Ministry of Industry and Trade (Tamas)
programs for partnering industry and academy
played key role
•  Israel’s needs and geopolitical situation offer
opportunities as well as challenges (NATO SfP)
•  Key role played by the right people
(collaborators, CEO and engineer of Rotec)
CHALLENGE:
Crossing the “valley of death”
•  We have prototypes for some (F/R), proof of
principle for other parts (U/S)
•  We need to develop salable products
•  Most VC’s want to invest where products are
already sold but need to expand/develop
markets, but we need investment to complete
product development – Catch ‘22
•  Key issue is developing business model – who
are the customers and how does Rotec get
remunerated for the benefit they provide
customers?
Acknowledgements
•  Sponsors: American Univ. (hosts), American
Associates of Ben Gurion Univ., Israel Embassy
•  Academic collaborators (E. Korin, Y. CohenUCLA, A. Greenberg – CU, M. Peterson, UM)
•  Support staff (N. Daltrophe, M. Waisman Y.
Volkman)
•  B.G. Negev (O. Horowitz, N. Cohen)
•  Students (N. Pomerantz, M. Millman, G. Mizrahi,
Y. Goldkine)
•  Rotec (Noam Perlmutter, CEO; Dan Peled
(engineer)