Membrane Bioreactor System Using Reciprocating Membrane

• US 20140097132A1
• Filed: 04/30/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tech Vision Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited
• Inventors: Ho, Jaeho, Smith, Shaleena, Kim, Gyu Dong, Patamasank, Jaren, Tontcheva, Petia, Roh, Hyung Keun
• Granted Patent: US 9,884,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/150
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2315/06 Submerged-type; Immersion type
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/2058 by vibration of the membrane, e.g. with an actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/02 Membrane cleaning or sterilisation ; Membrane regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/08 Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/34 with mechanical oscillations
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2203/006 details of construction, e.g. specially adapted seals, modules, connections
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/20 Prevention of biofouling
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/1263 Sequencing batch reactors [SBR]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/1273 Submerged membrane bioreactors
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/302 Nitrification and denitrification treatment C02F3/308 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/308 Biological phosphorus removal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

The present invention relates to membrane bioreactor (“MBR”) system that includes a mechanical membrane reciprocation system to reduce or eliminate membrane fouling. The disclosed MBR system can be operated with higher flux and lower fouling than MBR systems using air scouring. Furthermore the system can remove nitrogen and phosphorous with one RAS and one or no internal recirculation line. The membrane can be reciprocated by a low RPM motor connected to a pulley via belt to rotate rotor to convert rotational motion into reciprocating motion of membrane. Various mechanical means can also be employed to create the reciprocating motion.

Claims

1. A membrane reciprocation system comprising:

a submerged membrane; and

means for reciprocating the submerged membrane, whereby the reciprocation reduces membrane fouling.

13. A sequencing batch reactor eliminating a settling cycle and utilizing the mechanical membrane reciprocation system described in claim 1.

2. Reciprocating membrane bioreactor system comprising:

a biological treatment train (50) for receiving influent (10) to be treated, the biological treatment train (50) producing treated wastewater;

a membrane tank (60) housing a membrane (70), the treated wastewater from the biological treatment train (50) being filtered through the membrane (70) to produce effluent (40);

a reciprocation apparatus (80) for reciprocating the membrane (70), the reciprocation reducing fouling on the membrane (70) and providing oxygen depleted conditions in the membrane tank (60).

3. The system as described in claim 2 wherein the reciprocation apparatus (80) includes a rotor (100) that is interconnected to a sliding frame (90) via a shaft (110), the sliding frame (90) interconnected with the membrane (70), and wherein reciprocating the sliding frame (90) reciprocates the membrane (70).

4. The system as described in claim 2 wherein the reciprocation apparatus (80) further comprises a low RPM motor (103) connected to a pulley (101) via a belt (102) to rotate a rotor (100) and thereby convert rotational motion into reciprocating motion of a sliding frame (90) through a shaft (110).

5. The system as described in claim 3 wherein shock load due to reciprocating motion can be reduced by a dampener (94) in between sliding frame (90) and shaft (110), and wherein sliding frame (90) can move along sliding rails with linear bearings and pillow block (91) supports.

6. The system as described in claim 4 wherein shock load due to reciprocating motion can be reduced by a dampener (94) in between sliding frame (90) and shaft (110), and wherein sliding frame (90) can move along sliding rails with linear bearings and pillow block (91) supports.

7. The reciprocating membrane bioreactor system as described in claim 2 wherein the biological treatment train comprises:

an anaerobic treatment tank (51) for biologically treating the influent in the absence of dissolved oxygen;

an anoxic treatment tank (52) for denitrifying the treated wastewater under oxygen-depleted conditions;

an aerobic treatment tank (53) for biologically treating the wastewater in the presence of dissolved oxygen; and

an membrane tank (60) for producing effluent through membranes (70) reciprocated repetitively via reciprocation apparatus (80)

8. The membrane bioreactor as described in claim 7 further comprising an activated sludge return line (31) for delivering the activated sludge from the membrane tank (60) to the anoxic treatment tank (52) and an internal recirculation line (32) from anoxic tank (52) to anaerobic tank (51).

9. The membrane bioreactor as described in claim 7 further comprising an activated sludge return line (33) for delivering the activated sludge from the membrane tank (60) to the anaerobic treatment tank (51) and an internal recirculation line (34) from aerobic tank (53) to anoxic tank (52).

10. The membrane bioreactor as described in claim 7 further comprising an activated sludge return line (31) for delivering the activated sludge from the membrane tank (60) to the anoxic treatment tank (52).

11. The reciprocating membrane bioreactor system as described in claim 2 wherein the biological treatment train comprises:

an anoxic treatment tank (52) for denitrifying the treated wastewater under oxygen-depleted conditions;

an aerobic treatment tank (53) for biologically treating the wastewater in the presence of dissolved oxygen; and

a membrane tank (60) for producing effluent through membranes (70) reciprocated repetitively via reciprocation apparatus (80).

12. The membrane bioreactor as described in claim 11 further comprising an activated sludge return line (31) delivers the activated sludge from the membrane tank (60) to the anoxic treatment tank (52).