Aspiral™ Flex

Modular Containerized Wastewater Treatment Solutions

Mix and match wastewater treatment units to get the solution you need, quickly and cost-effectively.

Whether you are looking for a complete plant or a unit to complement an existing plant, the Aspiral™ Flex line includes a variety of modular containerized wastewater treatment blocks so that you can get just the solution you need.

All blocks are pre-engineered and factory-tested, offering reliable treatment quality with minimal onsite labor. The technology is packaged in 20- or 40-foot trusted weatherized carbon steel containers for low shipping costs and quick delivery.

We understand that each client has unique techno-economical drivers based on their specific application. There are many different potential block combinations, and our experts will work with you to ensure that you’re choosing the most cost-effective solution to achieve your treatment goals.

Benefits of Aspiral™ Flex

Can meet the most stringent US EPA effluent limits
Pre-engineered solutions, factory tested
Fast installation: delivered and setup in standard 20- or 40- ft containers
Completely encapsulated: low odor and noise
Can accommodate different treatment processes (MABR/MBR/activated sludge)
Modular and scalable
Low maintenance and operation cost
Lower total CAPEX compared to similar systems
Built-in resilience to flow and temperature fluctuations

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Aspiral™ Flex Wastewater Treatment Units

All-in-one units:

These units offer biological wastewater treatment and produce disinfected effluent. Each unit can be customized according to your project requirements. They can stand alone or combine with other units.

Aspiral™ S

Fine screen
Activated sludge or MABR bioreactor
Secondary clarifier for solid-liquid separation
Disinfection with chlorine
Maximum Capacity: 13,000 GPD (50 m³/d)
Footprint: 20 ft x 8 ft

Aspiral™ M

Fine screen
Activated sludge or MABR bioreactor
Low DO basin
Secondary clarifier for solid-liquid separation
Optional tertiary treatment
Disinfection with chlorine or UV
Maximum Capacity: 30,000 GPD (115 m³/d)
Footprint: 40 ft x 8 ft

Treatment units:

The following units can be combined with one another or with the Aspiral™ S and Aspiral™ M for a custom wastewater treatment plant, or they can be integrated into your existing wastewater treatment design.

Aspiral^TM EQSL

A unit for equalization and/or sludge holding, depending on the customer's needs.

Fine screen
Decanting mechanism
Coarse bubble diffusers powered by external blower skid
Holding capacity: 17,000 gallons (65m³) or 8,500 gallons (32m³)
Footprint: 40 ft x 8 ft or 20 ft x 8 ft

Aspiral^TM Bio

This bioreactor features activated sludge or Fluence’s proprietary MABR (Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor) for highly efficient nutrient removal and lower energy consumption.

Activated sludge or MABR
Low DO basin, powered by external blower skid
Maximum Capacity: 75,000 GPD (300 m³/d)
Footprint: 40 ft x 8 ft

Aspiral^TM UF

The UF unit provides ultrafiltration and disinfection.

Fine screen
1-4 UF membrane cassettes for solid-liquid separation
Disinfection with chlorine or UV
Auxiliary operation tanks, pumps, and blowers
Maximum Capacity: 200,000 GPD (757 m³/d)
Footprint: 40 ft x 8 ft

Aspiral^TM Clarifier

The clarifier unit includes secondary clarification, optional tertiary treatment, and disinfection.

Fine screen
1-3 secondary clarifiers for solid-liquid separation
Optional tertiary treatment
Disinfection with chlorine or UV
Maximum Capacity: 75,000 GPD (284 m³/d)
Footprint: 40 ft x 8 ft

Example Combinations

Aspiral^TM MBR Plant

Aspiral^TM MABR Plant

Aspiral^TM Flex is great for anyone looking for efficient and effective nutrient removal in a small package. Common applications include:

Condos and developments
Hotels and resorts
Rest stops (high concentration)
RV parks
Lagoon side stream treatment
Packaged plant upgrades

We’re flexible!

These are our standard building blocks. The best combination will be based on your project’s specific characteristics. Don’t see what you want? Not sure where to start? Contact us to discuss your project needs, and our experts will work with you on the optimal solution.

Wastewater treatment technology that uses a self-respiring membrane to remove biological nutrients from wastewater. Learn more about MABR.

Aspiral™ Flex Case Studies

Aspiral™ Wastewater Treatment for Highway Service Area

In China, a Fluence Aspiral™ system was chosen to provide a highway service area with decentralized, environmentally friendly wastewater treatment. Because the area includes restaurants, accommodations, and shopping, the plant had to be aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly, with minimal noise and odor. The 200 m³/d plant was commissioned within two months.

Aspiral™ Wastewater Treatment for Worker Encampment

When an RV park for oilfield workers in Carlsbad, New Mexico, needed to bring its wastewater disposal into compliance, it installed an Aspiral™ Smart Packaged wastewater treatment plant, meeting regulations and producing water to be used for dust control.

Aspiral™ Wastewater Treatment for Environmental Quality

A Chinese town, which had been discharging sewage directly into a local river, is now producing Class 1A effluent for release. In the past, domestic wastewater from local residents was discharged directly into the Zhixi River without treatment, which seriously affected the local environment. Now the town has an 800 m³/day Aspiral™ decentralized plant that's producing an effluent that meets Class 1A standards.

Aspiral™ Flex FAQ

What is the capacity of an Aspiral™ Flex plant?

Aspiral™ is a good fit for small- to medium- sized treatment plants with a capacity of 5,000 to 250,000 gallons per day (20 to 950 cubic meters per day), or populations from 50 to 3,000 people. For larger populations, we offer other solutions such as SUBRE.

What’s the difference between Aspiral™ S and M?

The Aspiral™ S is a 20’ container and has a maximum treatment capacity of 13,000 GPD while the Aspiral™ M is a 40’ container, which can treat up to 30,000 GPD. Both include fine screen, biological treatment (either activated sludge or Fluence’s proprietary MABR), a low DO basin, solid/liquid separation, and disinfection. The M also provides an option for tertiary treatment.

Do you sell MBR?

Fluence now welcomes Aspiral™ UF, which when combined with Aspiral™ Bio, creates an MBR plant.

What is MABR?

Fluence’s patented MABR, or membrane aerated biofilm reactor, is a wastewater treatment technology that offers high nutrient removal and energy savings, without additional footprint. The MABR modules have a semi-permeable membrane, which allows for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in the same basin. When the modules are submerged in an anoxic environment (the reactor), oxygen molecules passively diffuse (not driven by pressure) through the membrane to the nitrifiers that grow on the outside of the membrane, creating aerobic conditions. The nitrified ammonia (in the form of nitrate) dissolves back into the anoxic environment where heterotrophic bacteria grow in the mixed liquor. The heterotrophs consume the nitrate (denitrification) to complete the nitrogen removal process. It all happens at the same time in the same reactor.

What’s the difference between MABR and MBR?

Although MBR has a similar acronym to MABR, the processes are distinct and serve different purposes. While MABR uses membrane technology to aerate water and excels at nutrient removal, MBR uses advanced UF filtration membranes to lower biological oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS), clarifying and disinfecting effluent. MABR provides rigorous nutrient removal, while MBR exceeds the requirements of today's most challenging regulatory frameworks.

How does the Aspiral™ Flex offer lower total project cost?

Shippers and general contractors already have the experience and equipment to transport shipping containers, so containerizing the units eliminates the logistical challenges that have inflated the cost of transportation since the pandemic. Additionally, blocks are tested at the factory before shipping, reducing last-minute surprises that could require on-site engineering during installation.

Does the building-blocks approach make plants less customizable?

No, plants are still fully customizable. Aspiral™ Flex processes are tailored to your project’s influent parameters and desired effluent quality targets.

What do the plants look like? Can we customize them?

Each block is a 20’ or 40’ standard container made from weatherized carbon steel that can easily be transported on the back of a truck for quick delivery and relocation as needed. External coatings are available with custom color schemes and graphic elements for branding or to blend with the landscape.

What if I need wastewater treatment for more than 3,000 people?

We offer SUBRE concrete plants, featuring our MABR technology, and hybrid Aspiral^TM -SUBRE solutions for larger capacity projects.

What are the options for biological treatment?

Aspiral^TM S and M, and Aspiral^TM Bio offer activated sludge, with the option for MABR. The customer can add Aspiral^TM UF to create an MBR plant.

Wastewater Treatment Resources