DRAIN-FLUSH SEQUENCE AND SYSTEM FOR FILTER MODULE
First Claim
1. A method of operating a membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment system, which system comprises a bioreactor and one or more membrane filtration modules, each module having a proximal end and a distal end and housing a plurality of membrane filters, in which influent is introduced into the bioreactor and from which bioreactor a feed liquid is obtained which is introduced, in turn, to the proximal end of the one or more membrane filtration modules, a substantial portion of which feed liquid is recovered from the distal end thereof and returned to the bioreactor, but at least a portion of which feed liquid is allowed to pass from one side of said plurality of membrane filters and out an opposite side thereof to provide a permeate, said method comprising:
- interrupting the introduction of said feed liquid to said proximal end of the one or more membrane filtration modules;
allowing at least a portion of said feed liquid present in the one or more membrane filtration modules to drain therefrom, along with at least a portion of any residue that might have accumulated on the said one side of said plurality of membrane filters; and
resuming the introduction of said feed liquid to said proximal end of the one or more membrane filtration modules.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed system and apparatus can be used to improve the operation of a membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment system. The system may include one or more membrane filtration modules having a proximal end and a distal end in which each module houses one or more membrane filters. The system and method can be configured to include the steps of interrupting the introduction or flow of feed liquid, allowing at least a portion of the feed liquid present in the one or more membrane filtration modules to drain therefrom, and to resume the introduction or feed of the feed liquid. Optionally, the system and method can include the step of allowing at least a portion of the recovered permeate to backflush the one or more membrane filters.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of operating a membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment system, which system comprises a bioreactor and one or more membrane filtration modules, each module having a proximal end and a distal end and housing a plurality of membrane filters, in which influent is introduced into the bioreactor and from which bioreactor a feed liquid is obtained which is introduced, in turn, to the proximal end of the one or more membrane filtration modules, a substantial portion of which feed liquid is recovered from the distal end thereof and returned to the bioreactor, but at least a portion of which feed liquid is allowed to pass from one side of said plurality of membrane filters and out an opposite side thereof to provide a permeate, said method comprising:
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interrupting the introduction of said feed liquid to said proximal end of the one or more membrane filtration modules; allowing at least a portion of said feed liquid present in the one or more membrane filtration modules to drain therefrom, along with at least a portion of any residue that might have accumulated on the said one side of said plurality of membrane filters; and resuming the introduction of said feed liquid to said proximal end of the one or more membrane filtration modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of maintaining a membrane filtration module having a proximal end and a distal end, said module housing one or more tubular membrane filters through which a substantial portion of a feed liquid is allowed to flow into the proximal end and out the distal end of the membrane filtration module and in which at least a portion of the feed liquid is allowed to pass from one side of the one or more membrane filters and out an opposite side thereof to provide a permeate, the method comprising:
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interrupting the flow of feed liquid; allowing at least a portion of said feed liquid present in the membrane filtration module to drain therefrom, along with at least a portion of any residue that might have accumulated on one side of the one or more tubular membrane filters; flushing the one or more tubular membrane filters by allowing an effective amount of permeate to flow from said opposite side of the one or more tubular membrane filters and out the one side thereof or to flow from said one side of the one or more tubular membrane filters and out said other opposite side thereof; and resuming the flow of feed liquid. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A membrane wastewater filtration system comprising:
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one or more membrane filtration modules having a proximal end and a distal end, each module housing one or more tubular membrane filters; at least one inlet for introducing feed liquid; at least one drain positioned below the one or more tubular membrane filters; at least a first outlet for recycling a substantial portion of feed liquid introduced; at least a second outlet for recovering permeate; and at least one controller configured to (i) interrupt the introduction of feed liquid, (ii) allow at least a portion of feed liquid present in the one or more membrane filtration modules to drain therefrom, and (iii) allow at least a portion of recovered permeate to backflush the one or more tubular membrane filters. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification