Scouring method
First Claim
1. A method of removing accumulated solids from outer surfaces of porous hollow fiber membranes arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted between potting heads with a cured potting material, wherein the membranes are situated in a vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
- backwashing the membranes to dislodge accumulated solids from the outer surfaces of the membranes;
restricting movement of the membranes;
providing, through at least one porous tube disposed among and substantially parallel to the membranes, uniform gas bubbles which pass out among the membranes scouring solids on the outer surfaces of the membranes;
providing gas bubbles through a porous sheet and a plurality of gas distribution openings in a first potting head, the plurality of gas distribution openings each having a diameter from about 0.01 mm to about 5 mm, and the porous sheet having uniformly distributed pores and a smaller pore size relative to the gas distribution openings in the first potting head; and
removing dislodged accumulated solids from the vessel.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for removing fouling materials from the surface of a plurality of porous membranes (9) arranged in a membrane module (4) by providing, from within the module, by means (10) other than gas passing through the pores of said membranes, gas bubbles in a uniform distribution relative to the porous membrane array such that the bubbles move past the surfaces of the membranes (9) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. The membranes (9) are arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween. The bubbles also produce vibration and rubbing together of the membranes to further assist removal of fouling materials.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of removing accumulated solids from outer surfaces of porous hollow fiber membranes arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted between potting heads with a cured potting material, wherein the membranes are situated in a vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
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backwashing the membranes to dislodge accumulated solids from the outer surfaces of the membranes; restricting movement of the membranes; providing, through at least one porous tube disposed among and substantially parallel to the membranes, uniform gas bubbles which pass out among the membranes scouring solids on the outer surfaces of the membranes; providing gas bubbles through a porous sheet and a plurality of gas distribution openings in a first potting head, the plurality of gas distribution openings each having a diameter from about 0.01 mm to about 5 mm, and the porous sheet having uniformly distributed pores and a smaller pore size relative to the gas distribution openings in the first potting head; and removing dislodged accumulated solids from the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A membrane module, comprising:
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a plurality of porous membranes, the membranes being arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted between potting heads with a cured potting material, means for restricting membrane movement; at least one porous tube located within the module; a plurality of gas distribution openings in a first potting head each having a diameter from about 0.01 mm to about 5 mm; and a porous sheet having uniformly distributed pores and a smaller pore size relative to the gas distribution openings in the first potting head; the module constructed and arranged such that, in use, gas moves through the porous sheet, the gas distribution openings and the at least one porous tube but not through the pores of said membranes producing uniform bubbles which pass out among the membranes scouring solids on the membranes, wherein the membranes comprise hollow fibre membranes and the at least one porous tube extends longitudinally between the potting heads among the membranes.
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Specification