Apparatus for withdrawing permeate using an immersed vertical skein of hollow fibre membranes

• US 6,620,319 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• 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: Pedersen, Steven Khristian, Behmann, Henry, Henshaw, Wayne Jerald, Mahendran, Mailvaganam
• Primary Examiner(s): FORTUNA, ANA M
• Application Number:
  US09/849,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20030136746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 210/636, 210/500.23, 210/321.78, 210/321.79, 210/321.69, 210/650, 210/321.8, 210/321.89
• US Class Current: 210/321.69
• 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

An apparatus for treating a multi component liquid substrate while leaving particulate matter therein as a skein of hollow fiber filtering membranes immersed in the substrate which is contained in a non-pressurized reservoir. A pumping fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes draws a component of the substrate as permeate through the membranes by applying a section to the lumens of the membranes. In various embodiments, an aeration system as a gas distributor for discharging air directly into the substrate within the skein, upper and lower headers of the skein are spaced apart by a gas tube, and a gas distribution system has through passages through the lower header to discharge bubbles into the substrate above the lower header.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating a multicomponent liquid substrate while leaving particulate matter therein, comprising,

(a) a non-pressurized reservoir for containing the substrate;

(b) a skein of hollow fiber filtering membranes immersed in the substrate wherein the membranes are disposed generally vertically between upper and lower headers such that (i) outsides of ends of the membranes are sealingly secured in closely spaced-apart relationship in the headers, (ii) lumens of the membranes are in fluid communication with at least one permeate collection means, and, (iii) the membranes have a length between opposed surfaces of the headers such that the membranes may move against each other but wherein the length is less than 5% greater than the distance between opposed surfaces of the headers;

(c) a pump in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes, the pump operable to apply suction to the lumens of the membranes to draw a component of the substrate as permeate through the membranes; and

,

(d) an aeration system having a gas distributor for discharging air directly into the substrate within the skein.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the length is at least 0.1% but less than 1% longer than the distance between the opposed surfaces of the headers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas distributor comprises a pipe with holes for discharging air throughout its circumference.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the upper and lower headers are cylindrical and the gas distributor is a centrally located gas tube which also spaces the lower and upper headers relative to one another.

5. An apparatus for treating a multicomponent liquid substrate while leaving particulate matter therein, comprising,

(a) a non-pressurized reservoir for containing the substrate;

(b) a skein of hollow fiber filtering membranes immersed in the substrate wherein the membranes are disposed generally vertically between upper and lower headers such that (i) outsides of ends of the membranes are sealingly secured in closely spaced-apart relationship in the headers, (ii) lumens of the membranes are in fluid communication with at least one permeate collection means, and, (iii) the membranes have a length between opposed surfaces of the headers such that the membranes may move against each other but wherein the length is less than 5% greater than the distance between opposed surfaces of the headers;

(c) a pump in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes, the pump operable to apply suction to the lumens of the membranes to draw a component of the substrate as permeate through the membranes; and

,

(d) a gas distribution system having through-passages adapted to discharge bubbles to rise through and around the skein, the gas distribution system including one or more gas tubes which space the first and second headers apart and also duct air to the through-passages.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the upper and lower headers are cylindrical and the one or more gas tubes are a single centrally located gas tube.

7. An apparatus for treating a multicomponent liquid substrate while leaving particulate matter therein, comprising,

(a) a non-pressurized reservoir for containing the substrate;

(b) a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes immersed in the substrate wherein the membranes are disposed generally vertically between upper and lower headers such that (i) outsides of ends of the membranes are sealingly secured to the headers in a closely spaced apart relationship, (ii) lumens of the membranes are in fluid communication with at least one permeate collection means, and, (iii) said membranes having a length between opposed surfaces of the headers such that the membranes may move against each other but wherein the length is less 5% greater than the distance between opposed surfaces of the headers;

(c) a pump in fluid communication with said lumens of said membranes, said pump operable to apply a suction to the lumens of the membranes to draw a component of the substrate as permeate through said membranes; and

,

(d) a gas distribution system having through-passages through the lower header to discharge bubbles into the substrate above the lower header.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the gas distribution system comprises a manifold, and the through-passages are connected to a source of pressurized gas through the manifold.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the through-passages connect to a plenum directly below the lower header into which air may be introduced.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein openings of the through-passages are located between membranes.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the length is at least 0.1% but less than 1% longer than the distance between the opposed surfaces of the headers.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the length is at least 0.1% but less than 1% longer than the distance between the opposed surfaces of the headers.