Immersed membrane apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for filtering a liquid in a tank comprising, a) a plurality of elements, each having, (i) an upper header;
- (ii) a lower header;
(iii) a plurality of hollow fibre membranes attached to and suspended between the headers, the membranes having each at least one open end and an outer surface, the outer surface of the open ends of the membranes connected to at least one header with a water impermeable connection; and
, (iv) one or more permeate channels in at least one of the headers in fluid communication with the interior of the hollow fibre membranes for collecting permeate;
b) a frame for holding the plurality of elements while the membranes are immersed in the liquid in the tank; and
, c) releasable attachments between the headers of the elements and the frame allowing the frame to releasably hold the elements by their headers, wherein the size and configuration of the frame determines the positions of the upper headers of each element relative to the lower headers of each element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for filtering a liquid in a tank has a plurality of elements and a frame for holding the elements while they are immersed in the liquid. The elements have a plurality of hollow fibre membranes attached to and suspended between an upper header and a lower header. The membranes are in fluid communication with one or more permeate channels in one or more of the headers. Releasable attachments between the headers and the frame allow the frame to releasably hold the elements by their headers. The size and configuration of the frame determines the positions of the upper and lower headers of each element relative to each other. Connections between the permeate channels and one or more permeate collection tubes attached to the frame are releasable and resealable connections which are made or broken automatically by the movements involved in inserting or removing an element into or out of the frame.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for filtering a liquid in a tank comprising,
a) a plurality of elements, each having, (i) an upper header; -
(ii) a lower header;
(iii) a plurality of hollow fibre membranes attached to and suspended between the headers, the membranes having each at least one open end and an outer surface, the outer surface of the open ends of the membranes connected to at least one header with a water impermeable connection; and
,(iv) one or more permeate channels in at least one of the headers in fluid communication with the interior of the hollow fibre membranes for collecting permeate;
b) a frame for holding the plurality of elements while the membranes are immersed in the liquid in the tank; and
,c) releasable attachments between the headers of the elements and the frame allowing the frame to releasably hold the elements by their headers, wherein the size and configuration of the frame determines the positions of the upper headers of each element relative to the lower headers of each element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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13. A filtration apparatus comprising;
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a) a plurality of elements, each element having, an upper header;
a lower header;
a plurality of hollow fibre membranes attached to and suspended between the headers, the hollow fibre membranes having each an outer surface and at least one open end, the outer surface of the open ends of the membranes connected to at least one header with a water impermeable connection; and
,one or more permeate channels in at least one of the headers in fluid communication with the interior of the hollow fibre membranes for collecting permeate; and
,b) a frame having cross bars for holding the headers of the elements, wherein c) the elements themselves have no means for preventing one header of an element from moving vertically in relation to the other header of that element; and
,d) he cross bars holding either the upper headers, the lower headers or both is movable relative to the remainder of the frame so as to permit adjustment of the degree of slack of the membranes.
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14. A filtration apparatus comprising;
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c) a plurality of elements, each element having, an upper header;
a lower header;
a plurality of hollow fibre membranes attached to and suspended between the headers, the hollow fibre membranes having each an outer surface and at least one open end, the outer surface of the open ends of the membranes connected to at least one header with a water impermeable connection; and
,one or more permeate channels in at least one of the headers in fluid communication with the interior of the hollow fibre membranes for collecting permeate; and
,d) a frame having cross bars perpendicular to the headers for holding the headers of the elements, wherein e) the elements have keys which engage with slots in the cross bars to support the elements in the frame but permit the elements to be slid into or out of the frame in a direction parallel to the headers.
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Specification