Fluid flow distribution device

• US 9,914,097 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2011
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Inventors: Biltoft, Bruce Gregory, Cao, Zhiyi, Law, Jen Thai, Lazaredes, Huw Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Pranav N
• Application Number:
  US13/643,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20130037467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,542 Days
• Field of Search: 210636, 21032169, 210650, 2103218, 21050023, 2103216, 210220, 21033301, 2102212, 210258, 2103219, 210644, 210649, 210106, 210108, 210275, 21032172, 261 98
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/08 Flow guidance means within the module or the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/10 Specific supply elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/26 Specific gas distributors or gas intakes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/04 Backflushing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/185 Aeration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/02 Hollow fibre modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/02 Membrane cleaning or sterilisation ; Membrane regeneration

Abstract

In a first membrane filtration module comprises a membrane module comprising a plurality of permeable hollow membranes; a fluid distribution device adapted to removably surround at least a portion of the membranes of the membrane module, the fluid distribution device comprising a plurality of through-hole openings for distributing a fluid, and the fluid distribution device adapted to distribute a flow of fluid along a surface of the permeable hollow membranes. In a second membrane filtration device comprises a membrane module comprising a plurality of permeable hollow membranes, each of the permeable hollow membranes having a surface; and a gas distribution device: adapted to distribute gas bubbles to the surface of the permeable hollow membrane, adapted to removably surround at least a portion of the plurality of permeable hollow membranes, and defining a plurality of through openings for distributing the gas bubbles to the membranes.

Claims

1. A filtration module comprising:

a membrane module having a plurality of permeable hollow membranes vertically extending between an upper header and a lower header;

an end cap encasing the lower header and including a groove defined by a pair of cap shoulders;

a feed supply manifold positioned below the lower header and configured to deliver a feed to the permeable hollow membranes;

a gas supply device positioned below the lower header and configured to deliver a gas to the permeable hollow membranes;

a fluid distribution device configured and positioned around the plurality of permeable hollow membranes to equalize and uniformly distribute the feed and the gas upwardly to and along surfaces of the permeable hollow membranes and restrict and distribute a waste fluid flow downwardly, the fluid distribution device including an inner surface disposed in the groove, the fluid distribution device surrounding a portion of the membranes and including a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses separated from one another by radially extending ridges spanning an entire width of the fluid distribution device, each of the recesses defining a single through-hole opening formed in and surrounded by a reduced-width base region of each of the recesses, each of the single through-hole openings centrally located in the reduced-width base region, each of the single through-hole openings, configured to distribute a fluid along surfaces of the permeable hollow membranes; and

a connecting sleeve including a sleeve shoulder defined on an inner surface thereof, the sleeve shoulder engaging an upper surface of the fluid distribution device, the connecting sleeve further including a bottom portion sealed with the feed supply manifold.

2. The filtration module of claim 1, wherein the fluid distribution device includes at least two detachable inter-engaging components.

3. The filtration module of claim 2, wherein the fluid distribution device includes a pair of semi-circular inter-engaging components.

4. The filtration module of claim 3, wherein the fluid distribution device supports the membrane module within a vessel casing of the filtration module.

19. The filtration module of claim 1, wherein the fluid distribution device is positioned above the lower header.

5. A filtration module comprising:

a membrane module having a plurality of permeable hollow membranes;

a fluid distribution device surrounding a portion of the membrane module, the fluid distribution device including a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses separated from one another by radially extending ridges spanning an entire width of the fluid distribution device, each of the recesses defining a single through-hole opening formed in and surrounded by a reduced-width base region of each of the recesses, each of the single through-hole openings centrally located in the reduced-width base region, each of the single through-hole openings configured to equalize and uniformly distribute a fluid along surfaces of the permeable hollow membranes and restrict and distribute a waste fluid flow downwardly.

6. The filtration module of claim 5, wherein the filtration module further includes an end cap encasing a lower header in which lower ends of the membranes are potted, and wherein the fluid distribution device includes an inner surface engaged with a groove formed in the end cap.

7. The filtration module of claim 6, wherein the filtration module further includes a connecting sleeve surrounding the end cap and extending between a feed supply manifold and a housing of the filtration module, the connecting sleeve having a shoulder defined on an inner surface, the shoulder engaged with an upper surface of the fluid distribution device.

8. The filtration module of claim 7, wherein the fluid distribution device includes a plurality of detachable inter-engaging components.

9. The filtration module of claim 7, wherein the fluid distribution device includes a pair of semi-circular inter-engaging components.

10. The filtration module of claim 9, wherein the fluid distribution device mechanically supports the end cap in the filtration module against motion along a longitudinal axis of the membrane module.

20. The filtration module of claim 5, wherein each reduced-width base region is generally rectangular in shape.

11. A filtration system comprising:

a vessel;

a membrane module including a plurality of permeable hollow membranes positioned within the vessel;

a first system configured to provide a pressure differential across walls of the membranes;

a second system configured to withdraw permeate from the membranes; and

a fluid distribution device surrounding a portion of the membrane module, the fluid distribution device including a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses separated from one another by radially extending ridges spanning an entire width of the fluid distribution device, each of the recesses defining a single through-hole opening formed in and surrounded by a reduced-width base region of each of the recesses, each of the single through-hole openings centrally located in the reduced-width base region, each of the single through-hole openings configured to equalize and uniformly distribute a fluid along surfaces of the permeable hollow membranes and restrict and distribute a waste fluid flow downwardly.

12. The filtration system of claim 11, wherein the fluid distribution device comprises an aeration distribution system mounted externally from the plurality of permeable hollow membranes.

13. The filtration module of claim 12, wherein the filtration system further includes an end cap encasing a lower header in which lower ends of the membranes are potted, and wherein the fluid distribution device includes an inner surface engaged with a groove formed in the end cap.

14. The filtration module of claim 13, wherein filtration system further includes a connecting sleeve surrounding the end cap and extending between a feed supply manifold and a housing of the filtration system, the connecting sleeve having a shoulder defined on an inner surface thereof, the shoulder engaged with an upper surface of the fluid distribution device.

15. A filtration system comprising:

at least one filtration module having a plurality of permeable hollow membranes vertically extending between an upper header a lower header and disposed in a vessel, the module having;

an end cap encasing the lower header;

a fluid distribution device engaged with the end cap, the fluid distribution device surrounding a portion of the membranes and positioned and configured to uniformly direct liquid feed from a liquid feed supply manifold and gas from a gas supply device upwardly to contact surfaces of the plurality of permeable hollow membranes, and restrict and distribute a waste fluid flow downwardly, and including a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses separated from one another by radially extending ridges spanning an entire width of the fluid distribution device, each recess defining a single through-hole opening formed in and surrounded by a reduced-width base region of each of the recesses, each of the single through-hole openings centrally located in the reduced-width base region, each of the single through-hole openings configured to distribute a fluid along surfaces of the permeable hollow membranes; and

a connecting sleeve engaged with the fluid distribution device, the connecting sleeve surrounding the end cap and coupling a lower manifold of the filtration system to a housing surrounding the at least one filtration module.

16. The filtration system of claim 15, wherein the fluid distribution device includes at least two detachable inter-engaging components.

17. The filtration module of claim 15, wherein the fluid distribution device mechanically supports the end cap against motion along a longitudinal axis of the filtration module.

18. The filtration module of claim 15, wherein the fluid distribution device urges the end cap to an extended position with respect to the at least one filtration module.