Inverted cavity aerator for membrane module
First Claim
1. An aerator for filtering membranes immersed in a tank of liquid, comprising:
- an upper surface having holes for discharging bubbles below the membranes;
sides extending downwardly from the upper surface which surround a space for trapping a variable volume of air in communication with the holes; and
an opening to the liquid in the tank below the volume of trapped air so that liquid can be displaced from or enter into the aerator as the column of trapped air changes.
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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.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An aerator for filtering membranes immersed in a tank of liquid, comprising:
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an upper surface having holes for discharging bubbles below the membranes;
sides extending downwardly from the upper surface which surround a space for trapping a variable volume of air in communication with the holes; and
an opening to the liquid in the tank below the volume of trapped air so that liquid can be displaced from or enter into the aerator as the column of trapped air changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An aerator for filtering membranes immersed in a tank of liquid comprising:
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a plenum below the membranes, the plenum defined by an upper surface and sides extending downwards from the upper surface, the plenum adapted to contain a volume of air;
a plurality of air tubes each having one end with an opening extending downwardly from the upper surface into the plenum and another end with an opening extending upwardly from the upper surface such that air in the plenum may flow through the air tubes and be discharged between the membranes.
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Specification