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US 11,045,768 B2Granted
Method of operating membrane filter
AssigneeFibracast Ltd.
InventorIonel John Tomescu
Life of this patent
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AssigneeFibracast Ltd.
InventorIonel John Tomescu
Estimating the term…
A method of operating an immersed microporous membrane module includes a step of monitoring membrane performance to sense the onset of sludging in the module. Differences in permeability between permeation in backwashes, or trends in permeability during backwashing and permeability during permeation, or both, are monitored. Solid deposits formed during the onset of sludging may be removed with an in situ de-sludging process. For example, the deposits may be removed by stopping permeation while aerating the module, optionally at an increased rate. At other times, the module is optionally aerated while permeate is withdrawn at an aeration rate correlated to flux. The method may be used in particular with a membrane module having parallel textured flat sheet membranes suspended between a pair of vertically oriented headers. An aerator may be made from an open bottomed channel having an array of holes rising and concentrated towards the center of the channel.
An aerator for an immersed membrane, the aerator having a horizontal part with an open bottomed cross section and outlet holes,
An aerator for an immersed membrane, the aerator having a horizontal part with an open bottomed cross section and outlet holes, wherein the outlet holes are (i) more concentrated in a central third of the horizontal part than in either of the outer thirds of the horizontal part, or (ii) more concentrated in an outer third of the horizontal part than in a central third of the horizontal part, or (iii) more concentrated in an outer quarter of the horizontal part than in a central half of the horizontal part,
An aerator for an immersed membrane, the aerator having a horizontal part with an open bottomed cross section and outlet holes, wherein the outlet holes are (i) more concentrated in a central third of the horizontal part than in either of the outer thirds of the horizontal part, or (ii) more concentrated in an outer third of the horizontal part than in a central third of the horizontal part, or (iii) more concentrated in an outer quarter of the horizontal part than in a central half of the horizontal part,
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.