Apparatus and method for cleaning membrane filtration modules
First Claim
1. A filtration system comprising a membrane module, a junction, a gas source, and a liquid source, wherein the membrane module comprises a plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes, wherein a first end of each hollow fiber membrane is mounted in an upper potting head, wherein a second end of each hollow fiber membrane is mounted in a lower potting head, wherein the lower potting head comprises a plurality of aeration openings, wherein the junction is connected to the gas source and the liquid source, and wherein the junction is adjacent to or connected to the lower potting head and configured to inject a liquid flow having entrained therein a plurality of gas bubbles into the lower potting head.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for cleaning a membrane module, the membrane module having a plurality of porous membranes, the membranes being arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween and means for providing, from within the module, by means other than gas passing through the pores of the membranes, gas bubbles entrained in a liquid flow such that, in use, the liquid and bubbles entrained therein move past the surfaces of the membranes to dislodge fouling materials therefrom, the gas bubbles being entrained in the liquid by flowing the liquid past a source of gas to draw the gas into the liquid flow. The gas bubbles are preferably entrained into the liquid using a venturi type device. The membranes are preferably partitioned into discrete groups to assist cleaning while maintaining high packing density.
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Citations
35 Claims
- 1. A filtration system comprising a membrane module, a junction, a gas source, and a liquid source, wherein the membrane module comprises a plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes, wherein a first end of each hollow fiber membrane is mounted in an upper potting head, wherein a second end of each hollow fiber membrane is mounted in a lower potting head, wherein the lower potting head comprises a plurality of aeration openings, wherein the junction is connected to the gas source and the liquid source, and wherein the junction is adjacent to or connected to the lower potting head and configured to inject a liquid flow having entrained therein a plurality of gas bubbles into the lower potting head.
Specification