Membrane cleaning with pulsed airlift pump
First Claim
1. A method of cleaning a membrane module in an array of membrane modules immersed in a liquid feed tank, the module comprising a plurality of membrane bundles, the method comprising:
- applying a pressurized gas to a gas collection chamber of a gas-lift pump device positioned below the membrane bundles of the module, a single gas-lift pump device positioned below each single module in the array of membrane modules and each single module in the array of membrane modules associated with a single gas-lift pump, wherein, the gas applied to the gas collection chamber displaces feed liquid within the chamber until the gas reaches an opening in a central riser tube that extends through the gas collection chamber and has a first end in fluid communication with the membrane bundles and a second end fluidly connected to the liquid feed tank,whereupon a surge of gas passes through the opening and creates a bubble slug that flows into the membrane module, the surge of gas providingan ejection phase, which ejects gas and feed liquid through the first end of the riser tube to the membrane module to clean the plurality of membrane bundles, anda suction phase, which creates a reduction in pressure and pulls feed liquid through the second end of the riser tube.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of cleaning a membrane module in an array of membrane modules immersed in a liquid feed tank, the module comprising a plurality of membrane bundles, the method comprising:
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applying a pressurized gas to a gas collection chamber of a gas-lift pump device positioned below the membrane bundles of the module, a single gas-lift pump device positioned below each single module in the array of membrane modules and each single module in the array of membrane modules associated with a single gas-lift pump, wherein, the gas applied to the gas collection chamber displaces feed liquid within the chamber until the gas reaches an opening in a central riser tube that extends through the gas collection chamber and has a first end in fluid communication with the membrane bundles and a second end fluidly connected to the liquid feed tank, whereupon a surge of gas passes through the opening and creates a bubble slug that flows into the membrane module, the surge of gas providing an ejection phase, which ejects gas and feed liquid through the first end of the riser tube to the membrane module to clean the plurality of membrane bundles, and a suction phase, which creates a reduction in pressure and pulls feed liquid through the second end of the riser tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of cleaning a membrane module immersed in a liquid feed tank, the module comprising a plurality of membrane bundles mounted in and extending from a lower potting head, the lower potting head having openings to allow flow of fluids therethrough from a distribution chamber positioned below the lower potting head, the method comprising:
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applying a pressurized gas to a gas collection chamber positioned below the distribution chamber, wherein the gas applied to the gas collection chamber displaces feed liquid within the chamber until the gas reaches an opening in a central riser tube that extends through the gas collection chamber and has a first end fluidly connected to a base of the distribution chamber and a second end fluidly connected to the liquid feed tank, whereupon a surge of gas passes through the opening and creates a bubble slug that flows through the distribution chamber and into the membrane module through the openings in the lower potting head, the surge of gas providing an ejection phase, which ejects gas and feed liquid through the first end of the riser tube to the membrane module to clean the plurality of membrane bundles, and a suction phase, which creates a reduction in pressure and pulls feed liquid through the second end of the riser tube.
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Specification