Cleaning hollow core membrane fibers using vibration

• US 20050077227A1
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Phase Incorporated
• Inventors: Fuller, Berkeley F., Kirker, Curtis
• Granted Patent: US 7,282,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/321.690
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/36 Energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/185 Aeration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/2066 Pulsated flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/2075 Ultrasonic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/02 Hollow fibre modules
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/36 ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/385 by centrifuging suspensions centrifuges B04B
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/44 by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis general membrane separation processes B01D61/00, membrane modules B01D63/00, electrodialysis C02F1/4693, combination of membrane modules and bioreactors C02F3/1268
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/16 Regeneration of sorbents, filters

Abstract

A filtration system is provided with hollow membrane filter elements operable to remove solids, particulate and colloidal matter from a process fluid. Acoustic, vibration and ultrasonic energy may be used to clean exterior portions of the hollow membrane filter elements to allow substantially continuous filtration of process fluids. The filtration system may be satisfactorily used with process fluids having a relatively high concentrations of solids, particulate and colloidal matter.

Claims

1. A centrifuge for removing more dense material from a fluid medium, comprising:

a fluid separation wall placed within a non-rotating sleeve to form a containment zone therebetween;

the containment zone operable to receive a portion of the fluid medium having a greater concentration of the more dense material;

the fluid separation wall aligned generally parallel to an axis of rotation and operable to rotate around the axis of rotation, the fluid separation wall having an inner surface and an outer surface;

at least one receptacle formed on the inner surface of the fluid separation wall;

the receptacle operable to aid in separation of the more dense material from the fluid medium by forming a void space between the inner surface and the outer surface;

an excitation apparatus associated with the receptacle, the excitation apparatus operable to create a vibration within the receptacle;

at least one flow path extending through the fluid separation wall from the void area to the outer surface of the receptacle; and

the flow path operable to transport the more dense material to the containment zone.

2. The centrifuge of claim 1, further comprising:

the fluid separation wall having a middle section formed between the inner surface and the outer surface;

a respective geometry formed on the inner surface for each receptacle;

a receptacle shape formed in the middle section of the receptacle; and

the receptacle shape in communication with the fluid medium.

3. The centrifuge of claim 2, wherein each receptacle further comprises a respective geometry selected from the group consisting of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a diamond, a rhombus, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, a circle, an oval, and a multi-sided figure.

4. The centrifuge of claim 2, wherein each receptacle further comprises a respective shape selected from the group consisting of pyramidal, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, trapezoidal, and multi-walled shape.

5. The centrifuge of claim 4, wherein the respective shape further comprises a wall selected from the group consisting of a curved wall, a compound curved wall, a steep sloped wall, a shallow sloped wall, a straight wall, a flat wall, an asymmetric shaped wall, an irregular shaped wall, and any combination thereof.

6. The centrifuge of claim 1, further comprising an activation switch operable to activate the excitation device causing the vibration.

7. The centrifuge of claim 1, further comprising a flexible middle layer disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface, the flexible middle layer operable to dampen the vibration from the excitation device.

8. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the excitation apparatus comprises an electro-mechanical vibration inducing device.

9. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the excitation apparatus comprises an object operable to rotate in a substantially circular pattern to create the vibration.

10. The centrifuge of claim 1, the excitation apparatus comprising:

a projection extending from a center core disposed in the centrifuge; and

the projection operable to extend into the fluid medium placed in the receptacle to impart a vibration into the fluid medium.

11. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the excitation device and the opening are formed in part by a vibration inducing nozzle.

12. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the vibration comprises a frequency of 100 hertz (Hz) to 40,000 Hz.

13. The centrifuge of claim 1, wherein the vibration comprises an amplitude of 0.1 milliwatts to 150 kilowatts.

14. A fluid separation wall for separating more dense material from a fluid medium in a centrifuge, comprising:

an outer shell operable to receive a plurality of replaceable receptacles;

the plurality of replaceable receptacles to aid in the separation of more dense material from a fluid medium;

each replaceable receptacle having an inner surface, a middle section, and an outer surface;

a respective geometry formed on the inner surface for each receptacle;

a receptacle shape formed in the middle section of the receptacle, the receptacle shape operable to interact with the fluid medium;

the inner surface of the replaceable receptacle operable to be in communication with the fluid medium;

the outer surface of the replaceable receptacle operable to couple to the outer shell; and

a vibratory device associated with the replaceable receptacle.

15. The fluid separation wall of claim 14, further comprising the vibratory device operable to reduce the frictional effect of the inner surface on the fluid medium such that the more dense material separates from the fluid medium causing the more dense material to compact in the receptacle.

16. The fluid separation wall of claim 14, further comprising the vibratory device operable to disassociate a build up of more dense material formed in the receptacle.

17. The centrifuge of claim 14, wherein each receptacle further comprises a respective geometry selected from the group consisting of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a diamond, a rhombus, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, a circle, an oval, and a multi-sided figure.

18. The centrifuge of claim 14, wherein each receptacle further comprises a respective shape selected from the group consisting of pyramidal, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, trapezoidal, and multi-walled shape.

19. The centrifuge of claim 18, wherein the respective shape further comprises a wall selected from the group consisting of a curved wall, a compound curved wall, a steep sloped wall, a shallow sloped wall, a straight wall, a flat wall, an asymmetric shaped wall, an irregular shaped wall, and any combination thereof.

20. The fluid separation wall of claim 14, further comprising a flexible layer disposed between the receptacle and the outer shell.

21. The fluid separation wall of claim 20, wherein the flexible layer comprises a compressible urethane material.

22. The fluid separation wall of claim 14, wherein the vibration device comprises a ball traveling in a substantially circular track formed substantially concentric to a flow path of the more dense material to impart a vibration substantially perpendicular to the flow path.

23. The fluid separation wall of claim 22, further comprising an air inlet channel operable to power the circular object.

24. The fluid separation wall of claim 14, further comprising an air inlet for powering the vibratory device.

25. The fluid separation wall of claim 14, further comprising:

the vibratory device operable to create a vibration in at least one vibration direction; and

the vibration direction selected from the group consisting of axial vibration, radial vibration, linear vibration, torsional vibration, and arced vibration.

26. A method of removing more dense material from a fluid medium, comprising:

forming a centrifuge core with at least one receptacle having an opening and a flow path extending therethrough;

forming a centrifuge with the centrifuge core disposed within an outer non-rotating collecting sleeve;

rotating the centrifuge core around an axis of rotation to create centrifugal force to separate the more dense material from a fluid medium by directing the more dense material through the opening into a void area formed by the receptacle and through the flow path to a collection zone between the centrifuge core and the non-rotating sleeve; and

during rotation of the centrifugal core, creating an excitation force within the centrifuge such that the excitation force imparts a vibration on the more dense material.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising compacting the more dense material in the receptacle with the aid of the excitation force.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the excitation force comprises a vibratory device operable to partially fluidize the more dense material causing the more dense material to move towards the opening.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising controlling a removal rate of the more dense fluid with the excitation force.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising dampening the excitation force with a flexible middle layer such that the excitation force is substantial limited to the receptacle.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising creating a motion with the excitation force, wherein the motion is selected from the group consisting of axial, radial, linear, torsional, and arced.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

separating the fluid medium into a clarified fluid and a waste fluid whereby the clarified fluid stream includes the fluid medium with a smaller percentage of more dense material and the waste fluid includes the fluid medium with a higher percentage of the more dense material; and

removing and the waste fluid through the flow path in each receptacle.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising creating the excitation force with a frequency in the range of 100 Hertz (Hz) to 40,000 Hz.

34. The method of claim 26, further comprising creating the excitation force with an amplitude in the range of 0.1 milliwatts to 150 kilowatts.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising activating the excitation force during the operation of the centrifuge such that the excitation force is continuous.

36. The method of claim 26, further comprising activating the excitation force based on the operating conditions of the centrifuge such that the excitation force is condition responsive.

37. The method of claim 26, further comprising activating the excitation force at periodic intervals such that the excitation force is cyclical.

38. A centrifuge for removing more dense material from a fluid medium, comprising:

a fluid separation wall placed within a non-rotating sleeve to form a containment zone therebetween;

the containment zone operable to receive a portion of the fluid medium having a greater concentration of the more dense material;

a fluid separation wall aligned generally parallel to an axis of rotation and operable to rotate around the axis of rotation, the fluid separation wall having an inner surface, middle section, and an outer surface;

at least one receptacle formed on the inner surface of the fluid separation wall;

a respective geometry formed on the inner surface for each receptacle;

a receptacle shape formed in the middle section of the receptacle, the receptacle shape in communication with the fluid medium;

the receptacle operable to aid in separation of the more dense material from the fluid medium by forming a void space between the inner surface and the outer surface;

at least one flow path extending through the fluid separation wall from the void area to the outer surface of the receptacle;

the flow path operable to transport the more dense material to the containment zone; and

means for vibrating the receptacle such that the more dense material moves toward the flow path to the containment zone.

39. A centrifuge for removing more dense material from a fluid medium, comprising:

a fluid separation wall placed within a non-rotating sleeve to form a containment zone therebetween;

the containment zone operable to receive a portion of the fluid medium having a greater concentration of the more dense material;

the fluid separation wall aligned generally parallel to an axis of rotation and operable to rotate around the axis of rotation;

a plurality of replaceable receptacles forming a part of the fluid separation wall, the plurality of replaceable receptacles to aid in the separation of more dense material from the fluid medium;

an inner shell forming a part of the replaceable receptacle, the inner shell including a flanged surface and at least one opening, wherein the inner shell is in communication with the fluid medium;

an outer shell segment forming a part of the replaceable receptacle and including a mounting surface, the mounting surface operable to couple to the flanged surface of the inner shell;

at least one flow path extending through the fluid separation wall and out the at least one opening of the inner shell to the containment zone, the flow path operable to transport the more dense material to the containment zone; and

an excitation apparatus associated with the replaceable receptacles, the excitation apparatus operable to create a vibration within the replaceable receptacle.

40. The centrifuge of claim 39 further comprising a shell wall forming a part of the inner shell, the shell wall including a receptacle shape operable to interact with the fluid medium.