Membrane cleaning with pulsed airlift pump
First Claim
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1. A membrane module comprising:
- a plurality of porous membranes immersed in a reservoir of liquid to be treated;
a gaslift pump comprising a gas collection chamber having a gas inlet and an open end in fluid communication with the reservoir of liquid; and
a tube positioned within the gas collection chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with the reservoir of liquid, an outlet in fluid communication with the plurality of porous membranes, and at least one opening positioned along a length of the tube, the at least one opening being in fluid communication with the gas collection chamber and positioned for receiving stored gas from the gas collection chamber.
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Abstract
A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.
638 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A membrane module comprising:
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a plurality of porous membranes immersed in a reservoir of liquid to be treated; a gaslift pump comprising a gas collection chamber having a gas inlet and an open end in fluid communication with the reservoir of liquid; and a tube positioned within the gas collection chamber having an inlet in fluid communication with the reservoir of liquid, an outlet in fluid communication with the plurality of porous membranes, and at least one opening positioned along a length of the tube, the at least one opening being in fluid communication with the gas collection chamber and positioned for receiving stored gas from the gas collection chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A membrane module comprising:
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a plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween; a first header mounting a first end of the porous hollow fiber membranes; a second header mounting a second end of the porous hollow fiber membranes, one or more openings being defined in the second header; an inverted gas storage chamber having a gas inlet, a closed upper end, and an open lower end; and a tube positioned within the inverted gas storage chamber and having an outlet in fluid communication with the membrane module wherein the tube comprises at least one opening positioned along the length of the tube, the at least one opening in fluid communication with the inverted gas storage chamber. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A water treatment system comprising:
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a gas chamber; a membrane module fluidly connected to the gas chamber; a tube positioned within the gas chamber having an open lower end, an outlet fluidly connected to the membrane module, and at least one opening positioned along a length of the tube, the at least one opening being in fluid communication with the gas chamber and positioned for receiving stored gas from the gas chamber; and a tubular trough having an open upper end and a closed lower end, the tubular trough extending around and upward from the tube, the closed lower end positioned below the at least one opening of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification