Method of cleaning membrane modules
First Claim
1. A method for cleaning a membrane filtration module, the module comprising at least one membrane located in a feed-containing vessel, the membrane comprising a permeable wall, the method comprising:
- a) conducting a filtration operation wherein a feed containing a contaminant is applied to a first side of the permeable wall and a filtrate is withdrawn from a second side of the permeable wall;
b) suspending the filtration operation;
c) performing a cleaning process on the permeable wall to dislodge a contaminant therefrom into a liquid surrounding the membrane;
d) performing a high velocity sweep of the feed-containing vessel to remove the liquid containing the dislodged contaminant; and
e) recommencing the filtration operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module (6), the module (6) including at least one membrane (8) located in a feed-containing vessel (7), the membrane (8) having a permeable wall which is subjected to a filtration operation wherein feed containing contaminant matter is applied to one side of the membrane wall and filtrate is withdrawn from the other side of the membrane wall. The method comprising the steps of: suspending the filtration operation; performing a cleaning process on the membrane wall to dislodge contaminant matter therefrom into liquid surrounding the membrane (8); performing a high velocity sweep of the feed-containing vessel (7) to remove the liquid containing the dislodged contaminant matter; and recommencing the filtration operation. An improved gas scouring method is also disclosed.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for cleaning a membrane filtration module, the module comprising at least one membrane located in a feed-containing vessel, the membrane comprising a permeable wall, the method comprising:
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a) conducting a filtration operation wherein a feed containing a contaminant is applied to a first side of the permeable wall and a filtrate is withdrawn from a second side of the permeable wall;
b) suspending the filtration operation;
c) performing a cleaning process on the permeable wall to dislodge a contaminant therefrom into a liquid surrounding the membrane;
d) performing a high velocity sweep of the feed-containing vessel to remove the liquid containing the dislodged contaminant; and
e) recommencing the filtration operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module, the module comprising at least one elongate membrane positioned in a feed-containing vessel, the membrane having a permeable wall, the method comprising:
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a) subjecting the permeable wall to a filtration operation wherein a feed containing a contaminant is applied to a first side of the permeable wall, and filtrate is withdrawn from a second side of the permeable wall;
b) suspending the filtration operation; and
c) dislodging the contaminant from the permeable wall into a liquid surrounding the membrane by flowing gas bubbles along the first side of the membrane wall, wherein the gas bubbles are formed by feeding a gas into the feed-containing vessel through an opening in the feed-containing vessel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification