Self-manifolding sheet membrane module

• US 20030121855A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Triple I
• Original Assignee: Triple I
• Inventors: Kopp, Clint
• Granted Patent: US 6,979,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/650
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2315/06 Submerged-type; Immersion type
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/04 Backflushing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/185 Aeration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/2058 by vibration of the membrane, e.g. with an actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/30 Mechanical cleaning, e.g. with brushes or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/081 Manufacturing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/084 at least one flow duct intersecting the membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/02 Membrane cleaning or sterilisation ; Membrane regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/04 with movable bodies, e.g. foam balls
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/08 Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration

Abstract

A filtration device having a plurality of membrane modules is provided. Each of the plurality of membrane modules has first and second permeable sheets that are separated by a spacer, a first ring disposed around a perimeter of a first hole in the first permeable sheet, and a second ring disposed around a perimeter of a second hole in the second permeable sheet, the second hole in alignment with the first hole. The first ring of each of the plurality of membrane modules is in abutment with the second ring of a preceding one of each of the plurality of membrane modules so that the plurality of membrane modules are interconnected for communication therebetween. Some embodiments further provide a third sheet that disposed between successively adjacent membrane modules.

Claims

1. A filtration device comprising:

a self-supporting membrane module suspendable within a fluid environment, the membrane module comprising;

an envelope comprising a pair of permeable sheets that form a permeable boundary of the envelope;

a spacer disposed between the pair of permeable sheets; and

each of the pair of permeable sheets having a hole passing therethrough, wherein the hole of one of the sheets is aligned with the hole of the other sheet.

2. The filtration device of claim 1, further comprising a ring disposed around a perimeter of the hole of each of the permeable sheets.

3. The filtration device of claim 1, wherein the pair of permeable sheets are integral.

4. The filtration device of claim 1, further comprising a hanger attached to the membrane module.

5. The filtration device of claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a mesh.

6. The filtration device of claim 1, wherein the spacer acts to prevent substantial deflection of each of the pair of permeable sheets.

7. The filtration device of claim 1, wherein the fluid environment is contained within a flow channel.

8. The filtration device of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of permeable sheets comprises permeable and non-permeable materials.

9. A filtration device comprising:

a plurality of membrane modules, each of the plurality of membrane modules having first and second permeable sheets that are separated by a first spacer, a first ring disposed around a perimeter of a first hole in the first permeable sheet, and a second ring disposed around a perimeter of a second hole in the second permeable sheet, the second hole in alignment with the first hole; and

wherein the first ring of each of the plurality of membrane modules is in abutment with the second ring of a preceding one of each of the plurality of membrane modules so that the plurality of membrane modules are interconnected for communication therebetween.

10. The filtration device of claim 9, further comprising a clamp disposed across the plurality of membrane modules for maintaining the first and second rings in abutment.

11. The filtration device of claim 9, further comprising a hanger attached to each of the membrane modules.

12. The filtration device of claim 9, further comprising a second spacer disposed between successively adjacent membrane modules, wherein the second spacer is resilient.

13. The filtration device of claim 9, wherein each of the membrane modules is self-supporting.

14. The filtration device of claim 9, wherein the abutment of the first and second rings forms a single manifold of the filtration device.

15. The filtration device of claim 9, wherein the first spacer comprises a mesh.

16. The filtration device of claim 9, wherein the first and second permeable sheets comprise permeable and non-permeable materials.

17. A filtration device comprising:

a plurality of self-supporting membrane modules, each of the plurality of membrane modules having first and second permeable sheets that are separated by a spacer, wherein the plurality of membrane modules are interconnected for communication therebetween; and

a third sheet disposed between successively adjacent membrane modules.

18. The filtration device of claim 17, further comprising a hanger attached to each of the membrane modules.

19. The filtration device of claim 17, wherein the third sheet contacts an exterior surface of one of the successively adjacent membrane modules.

20. The filtration device of claim 17, wherein the third sheet is suspended between successively adjacent membrane modules so as to have one free end.

21. The filtration device of claim 17, wherein the third sheet is flexibly supported between successively adjacent membrane modules.

22. The filtration device of claim 17, wherein the first and second permeable sheets comprise permeable and non-permeable materials.

23. A method for assembling a filtration device, the method comprising:

abutting a first ring of each of a plurality of membrane modules against a second ring of a preceding one of each of the plurality of membrane modules to form a manifold that interconnects the membrane modules for communication therebetween, each of the membrane modules having first and second permeable sheets that are separated by a first spacer, wherein the first ring is disposed around a perimeter of a first hole in the first permeable sheet and the second ring is disposed around a perimeter of a second hole in the second permeable sheet so that the first and second rings are aligned.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising clamping the membrane modules so that the first ring is maintained in abutment with the second ring.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising attaching a hanger to each of the membrane modules.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising disposing a second spacer between successively adjacent membrane modules, wherein the second spacer is resilient.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising disposing a third sheet between successively adjacent membrane modules.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein disposing the third sheet between successively adjacent membrane modules comprises suspending the third sheet between successively adjacent membrane modules so that one end of the sheet remains free.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein disposing the third sheet between successively adjacent membrane modules comprises flexibly supporting the third sheet between successively adjacent membrane modules so that the sheet can float.

30. A method for filtering a fluid, the method comprising:

suspending a plurality of communicatively coupled membrane modules within a fluid environment, wherein each of the plurality of membrane modules comprises first and second permeable sheets separated by a spacer; and

disposing a sheet between successively adjacent membrane modules.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising moving the sheet between the successively adjacent membrane modules.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising moving the plurality of membrane modules relative to the sheet.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein suspending the plurality of membrane modules within a fluid environment comprises suspending the plurality of membrane modules within a flow channel.

34. A method for filtering a fluid, the method comprising:

suspending a plurality of membrane modules within a fluid environment, wherein each of the plurality of membrane modules comprises;

first and second permeable sheets separated by a spacer, and

a first ring disposed around a perimeter of a first hole in the first permeable sheet and a second ring disposed around a perimeter of a second hole in the second permeable sheet, the second hole in alignment with the first hole, the first ring of each of the plurality of membrane modules in abutment with the second ring of a preceding one of each of the plurality of membrane modules so that the plurality of membrane modules are interconnected for communication therebetween; and

applying a pressure gradient across each of permeable sheets of each of the membrane modules for causing a filtered fluid to flow through the first and second permeable sheets.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein suspending the plurality of membrane modules within a fluid environment comprises suspending the plurality of membrane modules within a flow channel.

36. A method for operating a filtration device having a plurality permeable membrane modules suspended in an unfiltered fluid, the method comprising:

moving a sheet within a space between successively adjacent membrane modules, wherein the sheet is suspended between the successively adjacent membrane modules so that the sheet is free to move between the membranes.

37. The method on claim 36, further comprising backwashing each of the permeable membrane modules.

38. The method on claim 36, wherein moving the sheet is accomplished by directing a flow of bubbles against the sheet.

39. A method for cleaning a filtration device having a permeable membrane module suspended in an unfiltered fluid, the method comprising:

positioning the membrane module of the filtration device at a first angle so that a first exterior surface of the membrane module faces downward and a second exterior surface of the membrane module opposite the first exterior surface faces upward;

directing a flow of bubbles within the unfiltered fluid against the first exterior surface while the first exterior surface faces downward;

positioning the permeable membrane module at a second angle so that the second exterior surface faces downward and the first exterior surface faces upward; and

directing the flow of bubbles within the unfiltered fluid against the second exterior surface while the second exterior surface faces downward.

40. The method on claim 39, further comprising backwashing the permeable membrane module.

41. A method of operating a filtration device having a plurality permeable membrane modules suspended in a fluid, the method comprising:

expelling the fluid from a region located between successively adjacent membrane modules by moving adjacent membrane modules toward each other; and

drawing the fluid into the region by moving adjacent membrane modules away from each other.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein moving adjacent membrane modules toward each other comprises applying a compressive force to the filtration device to compress a resilient spacer disposed between each of the membrane modules.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein moving adjacent membrane modules away from each other comprises removing the compressive force so that the resilient spacer moves the adjacent membrane modules away from each other.

44. A method of operating a filtration device having a plurality permeable membrane modules suspended in a fluid, the method comprising:

directing a flow of bubbles between adjacent membrane modules; and

impeding the flow of bubbles by disposing a sheet between adjacent membrane modules.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein disposing a sheet between adjacent membrane modules comprises suspending the sheet between adjacent membrane modules so that the sheet moves between the adjacent membrane modules.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein disposing a sheet between adjacent membrane modules comprises contacting an exterior surface of one of the adjacent membrane modules with the sheet.

47. A method for replacing a first permeable membrane module of a filtration device disposed between second and third permeable membrane modules of the filtration device with a replacement permeable membrane module, the method comprising:

separating a first ring of the first membrane module from a second ring of the second membrane module, wherein the first ring of the first membrane module forms a first portion of a manifold that communicatively couples the first, second, and third membrane modules;

separating a second ring of the first membrane module from a first ring of the third membrane module, wherein the second ring of the first membrane module forms another portion of the manifold;

removing the first membrane from between the second and third membrane modules, whereby removing the first and second portions of the manifold;

inserting the replacement membrane module between the second and third membrane modules;

abutting a first ring of the replacement membrane module against the second ring of the second membrane module, wherein the first ring of the replacement membrane module replaces the removed first portion of the manifold; and

abutting a second ring of the replacement membrane module against the first ring of the third membrane module, wherein the second ring of the replacement membrane module replaces the removed second portion of the manifold.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising removing a compressive force from the filtration device before separating the first ring of the first membrane module from the second ring of the second membrane module and separating the second ring of the first membrane module from the first ring of the third membrane module.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising applying a compressive force to the filtration device after abutting the first ring of the replacement membrane module against the second ring of the second membrane module and abutting the second ring of the replacement membrane module against the first ring of the third membrane module, wherein the compressive force maintains the first ring of the replacement membrane module abutted against the second ring of the second membrane module and the second ring of the replacement membrane module abutted against the first ring of the third membrane module.