Apparatus for withdrawing permeate using an immersed vertical skein of hollow fibre membranes
First Claim
1. An apparatus for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate, including a reservoir containing substrate at ambient pressure;
- a plurality of membrane assemblies, each assembly having, a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes, immersed in the reservoir;
at least one permeating header having the membranes sealingly secured therin; and
, a permeate collector to collect the permeate, sealingly connected to the at least one permeating header and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes;
one or more sources of suction in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes of each assembly through the permeate collectors of each assembly and operable to apply sufficient suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes; and
an aeration system for discharging bubbles to assist in keeping the membranes clean, the aeration system including a pipe with holes for discharging bubbles which contact the membranes, pipe oriented generally verically above the first header and located within the plurality of membranes, wherein the membranes of each assembly extend generally vertically upwards from a first header during permeation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is described for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate contained in a reservoir at ambient pressure. The apparatus includes a plurality of membrane assemblies. Each assembly has a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes, immersed in the reservoir, at least one permeating header with the membranes sealingly secured therein, and a permeate collector to collect the permeate sealingly connected to the at least one permeating header and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes. The membranes of each assembly extend generally vertically upwards from a first header during permeation. One or more sources of suction are provided in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes of each assembly through the permeate collectors and apply sufficient suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes. An aeration system for discharging bubbles assists in keeping the membranes clean. In other aspects, a method of removing fouling materials from the surface of a plurality of porous membranes includes providing, from within a membrane module, gas bubbles in a uniform distribution relative to the membranes. The bubbles move past the surfaces of the membranes to dislodge fouling materials from them. The membranes are arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement.
20 Citations
57 Claims
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1. An apparatus for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate, including
a reservoir containing substrate at ambient pressure; -
a plurality of membrane assemblies, each assembly having, a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes, immersed in the reservoir;
at least one permeating header having the membranes sealingly secured therin; and
,a permeate collector to collect the permeate, sealingly connected to the at least one permeating header and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes;
one or more sources of suction in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes of each assembly through the permeate collectors of each assembly and operable to apply sufficient suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes; and
an aeration system for discharging bubbles to assist in keeping the membranes clean, the aeration system including a pipe with holes for discharging bubbles which contact the membranes, pipe oriented generally verically above the first header and located within the plurality of membranes, wherein the membranes of each assembly extend generally vertically upwards from a first header during permeation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate, including
a reservoir containing substrate at ambient pressure; -
a plurality of membrane assemblies, each assembly having, a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes immersed in the reservoir;
at least one permeating header having the membranes sealingly secured therein; and
,a permeate collector to collect the permeate, sealingly connected to the at least one permeating header and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes;
one or more sources of suction in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes of each assembly through the permeate collectors of each assembly and operable to apply sufficient suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes; and
,an aeration system having openings of air passages at first ends of through-passages, the openings located to discharge bubbles which contact the membranes, the through-passages passing through the first header, wherein the membranes of each assembly extend generally vertically upwards from a first header during permeation;
- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate, including
a reservoir containing substrate at ambient pressure; -
a plurality of membrane assemblies, each assembly having, a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes, immersed in the reservoir;
at least one permeating header having the membranes sealingly secured therein; and
,a permeate collector to collect the permeate, sealingly connected to the at least one permeating header and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes;
one or more sources of suction in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes of each assembly through the permeate collectors of each assembly and operable to apply sufficient suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes; and
, an aeration system for discharging lines of bubbles from openings near the first headers, the lines of bubbles separated by 30 fibres or less,wherein each assembly has at least a first header and the membranes extend generally vertically upwards from the first header during permeation.
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11. An apparatus for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate, including a reservoir containing substrate at ambient pressure;
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a plurality of membrane assemblies, each assembly having, a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes, immersed in the reservoir;
at least one permeating header having the membranes sealingly secured therein; and
,a permeate collector to collect the permeate, sealingly connected to the at least one permeating header and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes; and
,one or more sources of suction in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes of each assembly through the permeate collectors of each assembly and operable to apply sufficient suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes, each assembly having at least a first header which is elongated in plan view, the membranes extending generally vertically upwards from the first header during permeation, the first headers of the assemblies being located in a spaced side by side relationship; and
,an aeration system having through-passages for discharging lines of bubbles between and at the sides of the elements from openings located near the first headers and, there being n+1 lines of bubbles for n elements. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An apparatus for withdrawing filtered permeate from a substrate, comprising:
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a header having a first face and a second face;
a receptacle for collecting permeate, the receptacle being in fluid communication with the second face of the header and having a permeate outlet;
a plurality of hollow fibre membranes, the hollow fibre membranes sealingly secured in the header and protruding from the first face of the header, and having ends open to the receptacle for collecting permeate such that a portion of the substrate drawn into the lumens of the fibres as permeate may flow into the receptacle; and
,a pipe with holes for discharging bubbles, the holes located near the first face of the header, the pipe protruding from the first face of the header from a location within or adjacent to the plurality of membranes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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- 27. A method of removing fouling materials from the surface of a plurality of porous membranes arranged in a membrane module by providing, from within the module, by means other than gas passing through the pores of said membranes, gas bubbles in a uniform distribution relative to the porous membrane array such that said bubbles move past the surfaces of said membranes to dislodge fouling materials therefrom, said membranes being arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween.
- 35. A membrane module comprising a plurality of porous membranes, said membranes being arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween, and means for providing, from within the module, by means other than gas passing through the pores of said membranes, gas bubbles such that, in use, said bubbles move past the surfaces of said membranes to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.
- 45. A membrane module comprising a plurality of porous hollow membrane fibres extending longitudinally between and mounted at each end to a respective potting head, said membrane fibres being arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween, one of said potting heads having a distributed array of aeration holes formed therein and said fibres being substantially uniformly mounted in said one potting head relative to said aeration holes.
- 49. A method of removing accumulated solids from the surface of a plurality of porous hollow fibre membranes mounted and extending longitudinally in an array to form a membrane module, said membranes being arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween, the method comprising the steps of providing, from within said array, by means other than gas passing through the pores of said membranes, uniformly distributed gas bubbles, said distribution being such that said bubbles pass substantially uniformly between each membrane in said array to scour the surface of said membranes and remove accumulated solids from within the membrane module.
- 56. A method of removing accumulated solids from the outer surface of a plurality of porous hollow fibre membranes mounted and extending longitudinally in an array to form a membrane module, said membranes being arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween, the method comprising the steps of providing, from within said array, by means other than gas passing through the pores of said membranes, gas bubbles, said gas bubbles generating movement of said membranes by passing therebetween and causing removal of said accumulated solids.
Specification