# US 10,765,976 B2 · Open bottom multiple channel gas delivery device for immersed membranes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,976 B2 - Document ID: US10765976B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/442,807 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2015-10-15 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-14 - Assignees: Bl Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Bl Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Gavin James Boyle; Zamir Alam; Reid Bayly; Michael David Theodoulou; Hongde Zhou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765976B2 ## CPC - B01D 29/66: by flushing, e.g. counter-current air-bumps - B01D 61/20: Accessories; Auxiliary operations - B01D 61/22: Controlling or regulating - B01D 63/02: Hollow fibre modules - B01D 65/08: Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation - B01F 23/2312: {Diffusers} - B01D 65/02: Membrane cleaning or sterilisation {; Membrane regeneration} - B01D 2313/26: Specific gas distributors or gas intakes - B01D 2315/20: Operation control schemes defined by a periodically repeated sequence comprising filtration cycles combined with cleaning or gas supply, e.g. aeration - B01D 2321/04: Backflushing - B01D 2321/185: Aeration - C02F 1/444: {by ultrafiltration or microfiltration} - C02F 1/727: {using pure oxygen or oxygen rich gas} - C02F 1/74: with air (aeration of stretches of water C02F7/00) - C02F 1/78: with ozone {(C02F1/4672 takes precedence)} - C02F 2303/14: Maintenance of water treatment installations - Y02W 10/10: Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract A method of air scouring an immersed membrane is described in this specification. The method comprising a step of adjusting one or more aeration parameters: between successive permeation, back pulse or relaxation cycles; during a permeation cycle; or, between a permeation cycle and a backpulse or relaxation cycle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of air scouring an immersed membrane comprising adjusting one or more aeration parameters: between successive permeation, backpulse or relaxation cycles; during a permeation cycle; or between a permeation cycle and a backpulse or relaxation cycle wherein air scouring during the backpulse or relaxation cycle comprises releasing a series of bursts of bubbles; wherein aeration is provided by a gas delivery device comprising: a manifold adapted to be connected to a source of a pressurized gas; and a plurality of open-bottomed channels, each of the plurality of channels having a single outlet and being in fluid communication with the manifold through a distinct associated port. ### Claim 2 A method of air scouring an immersed membrane comprising adjusting one or more aeration parameters: between successive permeation, backpulse or relaxation cycles; during a permeation cycle; or between a permeation cycle and a backpulse or relaxation cycle wherein air scouring during the backpulse or relaxation cycle comprises releasing a series of bursts of bubbles; wherein aeration is provided by a gas delivery device comprising: a distribution plenum adapted to be connected to a source of a pressurized gas; and, a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels being in fluid communication with the distribution plenum through a distinct associated port, each of the plurality of channels having an outlet at the end of the channel adapted to discharge gas, wherein the ports have a smaller area than the channels and the ports are located close together relative to a variation in the lengths of the channels. ### Claim 3 A method of air scouring an immersed membrane comprising adjusting one or more aeration parameters: between successive permeation, backpulse or relaxation cycles; during a permeation cycle; or between a permeation cycle and a backpulse or relaxation cycle wherein air scouring during the backpulse or relaxation cycle comprises releasing a series of bursts of bubbles; and further comprising: bringing a flow of pressurized gas into a tank to a manifold near or below the bottom of a membrane module; splitting the flow of pressurized gas into multiple flows of pressurized gas extending from the manifold; directing each of the multiple flows of pressurized gas to a different lateral position, such that each of the multiple flows of pressurized travel a different distance from the manifold; and releasing bubbles from the different lateral positions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein an aeration flow rate is varied between successive permeation cycles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein air scouring during the permeation cycle comprises releasing a series of bursts of bubbles and an aeration flow rate is increased during a backpulse or relaxation cycle relative to the aeration flow rate during a preceding permeation cycle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein an aeration flow rate is increased within a permeation cycle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein aeration is provided intermittently during a permeation cycle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein aeration is provided only during a backpulse or a relaxation cycle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a continuous or instantaneous aeration flow rate increases generally linearly over time during a permeation cycle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein an aeration flow rate is varied between successive permeation cycles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein air scouring during the permeation cycle comprises releasing a series of bursts of bubbles and an aeration flow rate is increased during a backpulse or relaxation cycle relative to the aeration flow rate during a preceding permeation cycle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein an aeration flow rate is increased within a permeation cycle.