Methods And Apparatus For Removing Solids From A Membrane Module

• US 20080053923A1
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemen Water Technologies Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Johnson, Warren, Beck, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,506,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/797
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/10 Specific supply elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/12 Specific discharge elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2315/06 Submerged-type; Immersion type
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/02 Forward flushing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/185 Aeration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/14 Ultrafiltration; Microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/20 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/024 with a single potted end
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/043 with separate tube sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/02 Membrane cleaning or sterilisation ; Membrane regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration

Abstract

A method of operating a membrane filtration module (5), the module (5) including one or more membranes (7) extending longitudinally between vertically spaced upper and lower headers (8, 9) into which the ends of the membranes (7) are potted. The membranes (7) have 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operation wherein feed containing contaminant matter is applied to one side of the membrane wall and filtrate is withdrawn from the other side of the membrane wall. At least one of the upper and/or lower headers (8, 9) has one or more openings (10) therein and the method including flowing the feed, at least in part, through the one or more openings (10) for application to the membrane wall. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. :

A method of operating a membrane filtration module, said module including one or more membranes extending longitudinally between vertically spaced upper and lower headers into which the ends of the membranes are potted, the membranes 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operation wherein feed containing contaminant matter is applied to one side of the membrane wall and filtrate is withdrawn from the other side of the membrane wall, the method comprising the steps of;

providing one or more openings in said upper and/or lower headers; and

flowing said feed, at least in part, through said one or more openings for application to said membrane wall.

2. :

A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module, said module including one or more membranes located in a feed-containing vessel and extending longitudinally between vertically spaced upper and lower headers into which the ends of the membranes are potted, the membranes 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, at least one of said upper and/or lower headers having one or more openings therein, the method comprising the steps of;

a) performing a filtration operation wherein said feed, at least in part, is flowed through said one or more openings for application to said membrane wall;

b) suspending the filtration operation;

c) performing a cleaning process on the membrane wall to dislodge contaminant matter therefrom into liquid surrounding the membrane;

d) performing a sweep or drain-down of the feed-containing vessel substantially parallel to the longitudinally extending membranes to remove the liquid containing the dislodged contaminant matter, at least in part, through the openings in the header; and

e) recommencing the filtration operation.

3. :

A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module according to claim 2 wherein the openings are provided in the lower header and filtrate is withdrawn from the upper header.

4. :

A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module according to claim 3 wherein the openings are used to introduce gas into the module to produce bubbles for scouring the surface of the membranes during said cleaning process.

5. :

A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module according to claim 2 wherein the sweep is performed concurrently with the cleaning process.

6. :

A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module according to claim 2 wherein the sweep is a high velocity sweep.

7. :

A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module according to claim 2 wherein the feed-containing vessel is open to atmosphere.

8. :

A method of operating a membrane filtration module, said module including one or more membranes extending vertically from an upper header into which proximal ends of the membranes are potted, the membranes 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;

providing one or more openings in the module; and

flowing said feed during said filtration operation, at least in part, through said one or more openings in the module below said membranes for application to said membrane wall.

9. :

A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module, said module including one or more membranes located in a feed-containing vessel and extending vertically from an upper header into which proximal ends of the membranes are potted, the membranes 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;

a) performing a filtration operation wherein said feed, at least in part, is flowed through one or more openings in the module below said membranes for application to said membrane wall;

b) suspending the filtration operation;

c) performing a cleaning process on the membrane wall to dislodge contaminant matter therefrom into liquid surrounding the membrane;

d) performing a sweep or drain-down of the feed-containing vessel substantially parallel to the vertically extending membranes to remove the liquid containing the dislodged contaminant matter, at least in part, through said opening or openings in the module beneath said membranes; and

e) recommencing the filtration operation.

10. :

A membrane filtration module including one or more membranes extending longitudinally between vertically spaced upper and lower headers into which the ends of the membranes are potted, the membranes 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, at least one of said upper and/or lower headers having one or more openings therein and means for flowing said feed, at least in part, through said one or more openings for application to said membrane wall.

11. :

A membrane filtration module according to claim 10 wherein the openings are provided in the lower header and filtrate is withdrawn from the upper header.

12. :

A membrane filtration module according to claim 10 further including means for performing a cleaning process on the membrane wall to dislodge contaminant matter therefrom into liquid surrounding the membrane; and

means for removing said contaminant matter containing liquid through one or more of said openings.

13. :

A membrane filtration module according to claim 12 wherein the openings are used to introduce gas into the module to produce bubbles for scouring the surface of the membranes during said cleaning process.

14. :

A membrane filtration module including one or more membranes extending vertically from an upper header into which proximal ends of the membranes are potted, the membranes 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 module further including one or more openings in the module below said membranes wherein said feed, at least in part, is flowed through said openings for application to said membrane wall during said filtration operation.

15. :

A membrane filtration module according to claim 14 wherein the openings are used to introduce gas into the module to produce bubbles for scouring the surface of the membranes.

16. :

A membrane filtration module including one or more membranes extending longitudinally between vertically spaced upper and lower headers into which the ends of the membranes are potted, the membranes 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, at least one of said upper and/or lower headers having one or more openings therein, means for performing a cleaning process on the membrane wall to dislodge contaminant matter therefrom into liquid surrounding the membrane; and

means for removing said contaminant matter containing liquid through one or more of said openings.

17. :

A membrane filtration module according to claim 16 wherein the openings are provided in the lower header and filtrate is withdrawn from the upper header.

18. :

A membrane filtration module according to claim 16 wherein the openings are used to introduce gas into the module to produce bubbles for scouring the surface of the membranes during said cleaning process.

19. :

A membrane filtration module according to claim 16 wherein the removal of contaminant matter is performed concurrently with the cleaning process.

20. :

A membrane filtration system including a membrane filtration module, the membrane filtration module including one or more membranes located in a feed-containing vessel and extending longitudinally between vertically spaced upper and lower headers into which the ends of the membranes are potted, the membranes 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, at least one of said upper and/or lower headers having one or more openings therein, the membrane filtration system further including;

a) means for performing a filtration operation wherein said feed, at least in part, is flowed through said one or more openings for application to said membrane wall;

b) means for suspending the filtration operation;

c) means for performing a cleaning process on the membrane wall to dislodge contaminant matter therefrom into liquid surrounding the membrane;

d) means for performing a sweep or drain-down of the feed-containing vessel substantially parallel to the longitudinally extending membranes to remove the liquid containing the dislodged contaminant matter, at least in part, through the openings in the header; and

e) means for recommencing the filtration operation.

21. :

A membrane filtration system according to claim 20 wherein the openings are provided in the lower header and filtrate is withdrawn from the upper header.

22. :

A membrane filtration system according to claim 20 wherein the openings are used to introduce gas into the module to produce bubbles for scouring the surface of the membranes during said cleaning process.

23. :

A membrane filtration system according to claim 20 wherein the sweep is performed concurrently with the cleaning process.

24. :

A membrane filtration system according to claim 20 wherein the feed-containing vessel is open to atmosphere.