Fluid flow distribution device

A filtration system for removing fine solids from a liquid suspension comprising:

• a vessel adapted to contain the liquid suspension;
• a plurality of permeable, hollow membranes extending between vertically spaced upper and lower headers and positioned within the vessel;
• a first system adapted to provide a pressure differential across walls of the membranes, wherein some of the liquid suspension passes through the walls of the membranes to be drawn off as permeate;
• a second system adapted to withdraw permeate from the membranes;
• an end cap encasing the lower header;
• and
• a fluid distribution device for distributing a flow of fluid along the surfaces of the permeable, hollow membranes, the fluid distribution device engaged with the end cap and adapted to surround at least a portion of the membranes, and defining a number of circumferentially spaced recesses separated from one another by radially extending ridges, each recess containing a single and centrally located through-hole opening passing between upper and lower recessed horizontal surfaces of the fluid distribution device for distributing the fluid along the surfaces of the membranes.

A filtration system for removing fine solids from a liquid suspension comprising:

• a vessel adapted to contain the liquid suspension;
• a plurality of permeable, hollow membranes extending between vertically spaced upper and lower headers and positioned within the vessel;
• a first system adapted to provide a pressure differential across walls of the membranes, wherein some of the liquid suspension passes through the walls of the membranes to be drawn off as permeate;
• a second system adapted to withdraw permeate from the membranes;
• an end cap encasing the lower header;
• and
• a gas distribution device for distributing gas in the form of bubbles to the surfaces of the permeable hollow membranes, the gas distribution device engaged with the end cap and adapted to surround at least a portion of the membranes, the gas distribution device defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses separated from one another by radially extending ridges, each recess containing a single and centrally located through-hole opening passing between upper and lower recessed horizontal surfaces of the fluid distribution device for distributing the gas bubbles along the surfaces of the permeable, hollow membranes.