Fibre membrane arrangement

• US 20030226797A1
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: US Filter Wastewater Group Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: US Filter Wastewater Group Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Phelps, Roger
• Application Number:
  US10/423,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20030226797A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/321.89
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2315/06 Submerged-type; Immersion type
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/28 by soaking or impregnating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/0233 forming the bundle
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/031 Two or more types of hollow fibres within one bundle or within one potting or tube-sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/08 Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation

Abstract

A method of reducing solids fouling between porous membranes in a membrane filtration system of the type having a plurality of membranes mounted, at least at one end, to a header and operable to withdraw permeate from multicomponent liquid substrate in which said porous membranes are immersed, the method including rendering a portion of one or more of the membranes, adjacent the header, inoperative.

Claims

1. A method of reducing solids fouling between porous membranes in a membrane filtration system comprising a plurality of membranes mounted, at least at one end, to a header and operable to withdraw permeate from a multicomponent liquid substrate in which the porous membranes are immersed, the method comprising the step of rendering a portion of a membrane adjacent the header inoperative.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the membrane is rendered inoperative by sealing membrane pores in the portion of the membrane adjacent the header.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the membrane rendered inoperative extends for a distance from an interface between the header and the membrane.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the portion of the membrane rendered inoperative extends for a distance from an interface between the header and the membrane.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the porous membranes comprise hollow fibre membranes extending between spaced opposed headers.

6. A membrane filtration system comprising a plurality of membranes mounted, at least at one end, to a header and operable to withdraw permeate from a multicomponent liquid substrate in which the porous membranes are immersed, wherein a portion of a membrane adjacent the header is rendered inoperative.

7. A membrane filtration system according to claim 6 wherein membrane pores in the portion of the membrane adjacent the header are sealed to render the membrane pores inoperative.

8. A membrane filtration system according to claim 6 wherein the portion of the membrane rendered inoperative extends for a distance from an interface between the header and the membrane.

9. A membrane filtration system according to claim 7 wherein the portion of the membrane rendered inoperative extends for a distance from an interface between the header and the membrane.

10. A membrane filtration system according to claim 6 wherein the porous membranes are hollow fibre membranes extending between spaced opposed headers.