Inverted air box aerator and aeration method for immersed membrane
First Claim
1. An aerator for filtering membranes immersed in a liquid to be filtered, comprising:
- an aerator shell having openings for discharging bubbles from its upper surface, having a shape capable of temporarily containing a volume of a gas in fluid communication with the openings for discharging bubbles, and open to the liquid such that the liquid can act on the volume of contained gas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An aerator for immersed filtering membranes has an aerator shell with openings for discharging bubbles from its upper surface and a shape capable of temporarily containing a volume of air in fluid communication with the openings. The shell is open to tank water below it and located so that discharged bubbles will rise through an assembly of the filtering membranes. The shell may be wholly or partially made of parts of the assemblies of filtering membranes. A supply of air is provided to the air space in the aerators alternating between a high flow rate and a low flow rate in short cycles of between about 10 seconds and 100 seconds. A filtration system has an inlet for adding substrate and an outlet for retentate are located so as to create a horizontal flow of substrate through the tank. Membrane assemblies are located within the horizontal flow of substrate. Aerators as described above are provided and operated as described above.
74 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An aerator for filtering membranes immersed in a liquid to be filtered, comprising:
an aerator shell having openings for discharging bubbles from its upper surface, having a shape capable of temporarily containing a volume of a gas in fluid communication with the openings for discharging bubbles, and open to the liquid such that the liquid can act on the volume of contained gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An aerator for filtering membranes immersed in a tank of liquid, comprising:
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a) an upper surface having holes for discharging bubbles below the membranes;
b) sides extending downwardly from the upper surface which surround a space for trapping a variable volume of air in communication with the holes; and
c) an opening between the space and the liquid in the tank so that liquid can be displaced from or enter into the aerator as the volume of trapped air changes. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18)
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12. The process of claim 11 wherein the change between the high flow rate and low flow rate is performed in less than about 3 seconds.
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16. The process of claim 15 wherein air flows through the holes for about ½
- of the cycle duration.
Specification