Potted header for hollow fiber membranes

• US 6,294,039 B1
• Filed: 02/19/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zenon Technology Partnership
• Original Assignee: Zenon Environmental Incorporated (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Inventors: Deutschmann, Ake Adolf, Behmann, Henry, Henshaw, Wayne Jerald, Mahendran, Mailvaganam
• Primary Examiner(s): Fortuna, Ana
• Application Number:
  US09/507,438
• Time in Patent Office: 584 Days
• Field of Search: 210/500.23, 210/636, 210/321.78, 210/321.8, 210/321.9, 210/321.69, 210/220, 156/242, 156/245, 156/246, 264/DIG.48
• US Class Current: 156/242
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2315/06 Submerged-type; Immersion type
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/04 Backflushing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/12 Use of permeate
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/185 Aeration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/2066 Pulsated flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/20 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/0222 using centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/023 Encapsulating materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/0231 using supporting structures, e.g. filaments for weaving mats
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/026 Wafer type modules or flat-surface type modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/027 Twinned or braided type modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/04 comprising multiple hollow fibre assemblies
• 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: B01D 65/08 Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/1273 Submerged membrane bioreactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 264/48 Processes of making filters

Abstract

A filtration device is provided for withdrawing permeate essentially continuously from a multicomponent aqueous substrate containing growing microorganisms in a reservoir. A vertical skein of fiber is scrubbed with coarse bubbles which emanate from a conversion baffle positioned under the skein. The substrate is aerated with fine bubbles in a size range small enough to transfer oxygen to the substrate efficiently. The baffle traps the fine bubbles and converts them to coarse bubbles which are effective to scrub the fibers. In the most preferred embodiment, the finished headers of the skein are derived from composite headers comprising a fixing lamina of resin in which the fibers are potted near their terminal ends, and a fugitive lamina of fugitive powdery material in which the terminal ends of the fibers are potted. The fugitive lamina is removed, preferably by dissolving the powder, e.g. finely divided common salt in water.

Claims

1. A header in which a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes or “

fibers”

is potted, said header comprising,

a molded body of arbitrary shape striated in a fixing lamina in an upper portion and a fugitive lamina in a lower portion, said fugitive lamina formed from a fugitive powdery material and said fixing lamina formed from a fixing liquid integrally with a permeate collection pan;

said fibers having terminal portions thereof potted in said fugitive lamina which as a packed bed plugs ends of said fibers, said ends having an essentially circular cross-section, said fugitive lamina maintaining said ends in closely spaced-apart substantially parallel relationship;

said fugitive lamina having an aft face through which said ends protrude, and a fore face through which said fibers extend vertically;

said fugitive lamina having said fixing lamina adhered thereto, said fixing lamina having a thickness sufficient to maintain said fibers in substantially the same spaced-apart relationship relative to one and another as the spaced-apart relationship in said lower portion.

2. The header of claim 1 wherein said fixing lamina has a cushioning lamina embedding said fibers and coextensively adhered to said fixing lamina, said fixing lamina has a hardness in the range from about Shore D 50 to Rockwell R 110, and said cushioning layer has a hardness in the range from Shore A 30 to Shore D 45.