Abstract:
A membrane filtration device has a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes, or fibers, unconfined in a shell of a module; a first header and a second header disposed in vertically spaced-apart relationship; said first header and said second header having opposed ends of each fiber sealingly secured therein, all open ends of said fibers open to a permeate-discharging face of at least one header; permeate collection means to collect said permeate, sealingly connected in open fluid communication with a permeate-discharging face of at least one of said headers; means to withdraw said permeate; said fibers, said headers and said permeate collection means together forming an integrated combination wherein said fibers are essentially vertically disposed and ends of individual fibers are potted in closely spaced-apart relationship in cured resin; with opposed faces at a fixed distance; each of said fibers having a length from 0.1% to less than 5% greater.
Abstract:
A gas sparger produces an intermittent flow of bubbles even if provided with a continuous gas flow. The sparger has a housing to collect a pocket of gas and a conduit to release some of the gas from the pocket when the pocket reaches a sufficient size. Optionally, a cover over an outlet from the conduit may break up or distribute the released gas. A large sparger for use with a commercial membrane module can comprise a plurality of smaller units.
Abstract:
An aeration system for a submerged membrane module has a set of aerators connected to an air blower, valves and a controller adapted to alternately provide a higher rate or air flow and a lower rate of air flow in repeated cycles. In an embodiment, the air blower, valves and controller, simultaneously provide the alternating air flow to two or more sets of aerators such that the total air flow is constant, allowing the blower to be operated at a constant speed. In another embodiment, the repeated cycles are of short duration. Transient flow conditions result in the tank water which helps avoid dead spaces and assists in agitating the membranes.
Abstract:
A filtration device is provided for withdrawing permeate essentially continuously from a multicomponent aqueous substrate containing growing microorganisms in a reservoir. A vertical skein of fiber is scrubbed with coarse bubbles which emanate from a conversion baffle positioned under the skein. The substrate is aerated with fine bubbles in a size range small enough to transfer oxygen to the substrate efficiently. The baffle traps the fine bubbles and converts them to coarse bubbles which are effective to scrub the fibers. In the most preferred embodiment, the finished headers of the skein are derived from composite headers comprising a fixing lamina of resin in which the fibers are potted near their terminal ends, and a fugitive lamina of fugitive powdery material in which the terminal ends of the fibers are potted. The fugitive lamina is removed, preferably by dissolving the powder, e.g. finely divided common salt in water.
Abstract:
A method of purifying impure water to provide drinking water using an apparatus, the method comprising the steps of providing a microfiltration unit, a reverse osmosis unit and a CIP (clean-in-place) tank containing retentate interconnected to permit backflushing the microfiltration filter with retentate and continued or uninterrupted operation of the reverse osmosis unit by directing retentate thereto.
Abstract:
A gas-scrubbed vertical cylindrical skein of “fibers” has their opposed terminal portions held in headers unconfined in a modular shell, and aerated with a cleansing gas supplied by a gas-distribution means which produces a mass of bubbles serving the function of a scrub-brush for the outer surfaces of the fibers. The skein is surprisingly effective with relatively little cleansing gas, the specific flux through the membranes reaching an essentially constant relatively high value because the vertical deployment of fibers allows bubbles to rise upwards along the outer surfaces of the fibers. The effectiveness is critically dependent upon the length of each fiber in the skein. That length is in the range from at least 0.1% more than the fixed distance between opposed faces of the skein's headers, but less than 5% greater than the fixed distance. Lack of tension allows the fibers to sway in bubbles flowing along their outer surfaces making them surprisingly resistant to being fouled by buildup of deposits of inanimate particles or microorganisms in the substrate. For use in a large reservoir, a bank of skeins is used with a gas distributor means which has fibers preferably >0.5 meter long, which together provide a surface area >10 m2. The terminal end portions of fibers in each header are kept free from fiber-to-fiber contact with a novel method of forming a header.
Abstract:
A continuous flow reactor or method promotes aerobic granule formation. The reactor may comprise three or four zones that may comprise one or more of an aerobic zone, an alternately aerobic and anoxic zone or discrete aerobic and anoxic zones, and a settling zone. The reactor may have a single sludge removal flow. An anaerobic zone may be located at the bottom of a mass of settled granules. Feed may be introduced through the settled granules generally in a plug flow. An aerobic/anoxic zone may be structured or operated partially like a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) but with aeration varying in space or time. Sludge granules may move intermittently from an aerobic zone to an aerobic/anoxic zone, for example by an air lift pump. A settling zone may have an upflow of >4 m/hr or >5 m/hr and wash off flocculated biomass.
Abstract:
A membrane filtration device has a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes, or fibers, unconfined in a shell of a module; a first header and a second header disposed in vertically spaced-apart relationship; said first header and said second header having opposed ends of each fiber sealingly secured therein, all open ends of said fibers open to a permeate-discharging face of at least one header; permeate collection means to collect said permeate, sealingly connected in open fluid communication with a permeate-discharging face of at least one of said headers; means to withdraw said permeate; said fibers, said headers and said permeate collection means together forming an integrated combination wherein said fibers are essentially vertically disposed and ends of individual fibers are potted in closely spaced-apart relationship in cured resin; with opposed faces at a fixed distance; each of said fibers having a length from 0.1% to less than 5% greater.
Abstract:
A continuous flow reactor or method promotes aerobic granule formation. The reactor may comprise three or four zones that may comprise one or more of an aerobic zone, an alternately aerobic and anoxic zone or discrete aerobic and anoxic zones, and a settling zone. The reactor may have a single sludge removal flow. An anaerobic zone may be located at the bottom of a mass of settled granules. Feed may be introduced through the settled granules generally in a plug flow. An aerobic/anoxic zone may be structured or operated partially like a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) but with aeration varying in space or time. Sludge granules may move intermittently from an aerobic zone to an aerobic/anoxic zone, for example by an air lift pump. A settling zone may have an upflow of >4 m/hr or >5 m/hr and wash off flocculated biomass.
Abstract:
A hollow gas transfer fibre is arranged in tows and potted into a module. The module may be used to treat wastewater by supplying hydrogen containing gas via the interior of the fibers to a biofilm present on an exterior surface of the fibers.