Membrane filtration system

• US 6,872,305 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: US Filter Wastewater Group Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Johnson, Warren Thomas, Rogers, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): FORTUNA, ANA M
• Application Number:
  US10/406,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20030234221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 210/257.2, 210/321.8, 210/195.1, 210/323.2, 210/406, 210/456, 210/636, 210/650
• US Class Current: 210/257.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2315/06 Submerged-type; Immersion type
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/04 Backflushing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/185 Aeration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/20 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/02 Hollow fibre modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/046 in separate housings
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/06 Tubular membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/069 comprising a bundle of tubular membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/0821 Membrane plate arrangements for submerged operation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/00 Accessories or auxiliary operations, in general, for separation processes or apparatus using semi-permeable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/02 Membrane cleaning or sterilisation ; Membrane regeneration

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reducing volume of feed liquid required in a porous membrane filtration system having a number of porous membranes (6) submersed in a volume of feed liquid to be filtered is provided, the method comprising the step of providing filler elements (9) within said volume of feed liquid to be filtered.

Claims

1. A membrane filtration system comprising a plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes arranged in bundles forming membrane modules submerged in a feed liquid to be filtered and comprising at least one filler member positioned in a void between said membrane modules, wherein said filler member is immersed in said feed liquid to be filtered so as to occupy a space that would otherwise be occupied by feed liquid, wherein the void between the modules is at least partially filled with the filler member.

2. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the modules are submerged in said feed liquid in a tank or a cell open to an atmospheric pressure.

3. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the filler member comprises a number of elements which fit together to form an integral unit.

4. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein said filler member is neutrally buoyant with respect to said feed liquid.

5. A membrane filtration system according to claim 4 wherein said filler member is hollow and is configured to be filled with a fluid to provide said neutral buoyancy.

6. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein said filler member is spherical in shape.

7. A membrane filtration system according to claim 6 wherein said filler member is hollow and is configured to be filled with a fluid to provide said neutral buoyancy.

8. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the filler member comprises a plurality of complementary segments comprising a central element comprising two sets of parallel opposed semi-circular, in cross-section, channels extending longitudinally along a length of the central element, each channel have a diameter sized to accommodate and fit closely around a fibre bundle, and a plurality of side filler segments of generally T-shaped cross-section with half-semi circular sides of a same diameter as said channels configured to engage with said central element to form said filler member.

9. A membrane filtration system according to claim 8 wherein each filler member comprises complementary engagement formations for engaging with associated engagement means on other filler members.

10. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the filler member comprises a foamed plastic material.

11. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the filler member comprises a blow-moulded plastic material.

12. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the filler member comprises a rotor-moulded plastic material.

13. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of filler members.

14. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of voids.