Operating Strategies in Filtration Processes

• US 20090001018A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sneddon, Ashley, Nguyen, Tina, Zha, Fufang, Phelps, Roger William
• Application Number:
  US12/160,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20090001018A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/636
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2311/14 Pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/48 Mechanisms for switching between regular separation operations and washing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/04 Backflushing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/185 Aeration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/22 Controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/02 Membrane cleaning or sterilisation ; Membrane regeneration

Abstract

A method of operating a membrane filtration system having a number of repeated operation cycles, the method including the step of varying the values of one or more operating parameters of the system associated with a particular operation cycle between and/or during one or more repetitions of the operation cycle. Membrane filtration systems operating in accordance with the method are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a membrane filtration system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of repeated operation cycles; and

varying a value of one or more operating parameters of said system associated with a particular operation cycle between one or more repetitions of said operation cycle.

3. A method according to claim 1 including adjusting parameters according to the load to membranes.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of varying the duration of the operation cycle.

5. A method according to claim 1 including varying the values of one or more operating parameters instead of using constant values for such parameters.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said parameters include one or more of the following:

operating flux, transmembrane pressure and membrane scour air flow-rate.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the variation includes alternating the value of the operating parameter and/or the duration of the operating cycle between two or more predetermined values or durations.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the membrane filtration system includes at least two membranes or groups of membranes having distinct operating cycles and wherein the variation is alternated between said membranes or groups of membranes.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said cycle duration is varied in dependence on an operating parameter value.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the operating parameter is transmembrane pressure (TMP).

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein the operating parameter is operating flux.

2. (canceled)

12. A method of operating a membrane filtration system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of repeated operation cycles, and;

varying the duration of a particular operation cycle between one or more repetitions of said operation cycle.

13. (canceled)

14. A membrane filtration system comprising:

means for operating said system with a number of repeated operation cycles and;

control means for varying the values of one or more operating parameters of said system associated with a particular operation cycle between one or more repetitions of said operation cycle.

15. A membrane filtration system comprising:

means for operating said system with a number of repeated operation cycles and;

control means for varying the values of one or more operating parameters of said system associated with a particular operation cycle during one or more repetitions of said operation cycle.

16. A membrane filtration system comprising

means for operating said system with a number of repeated operation cycles and;

control means for varying the duration of a particular operation cycle between one or more repetitions of said operation cycle.

17. A method of operating a membrane filtration system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of repeated operation cycles; and

varying the values of one or more operating parameters of said system associated with a particular operation cycle during one or more repetitions of said operation cycle.

18. A method according to claim 17 including adjusting parameters according to the load to membranes.

19. A method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of varying the duration of the operation cycle.

20. A method according to claim 17 including varying the values of one or more operating parameters instead of using constant values for such parameters.

21. A method according to claim 17 wherein the membrane filtration system includes at least two membranes or groups of membranes having distinct operating cycles and wherein the variation is alternated between said membranes or groups of membranes.