# US 12,005,397 B2 · Method for introducing a gas and gas introducing device

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- Number: US 12,005,397 B2
- Document ID: US12005397B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/722,321
- Filed: 2022-04-16
- Published: 2022-10-06
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-10-28
- Assignees: Membion GmbH
- Applicants: Membion GmbH
- Inventors: Klaus Vossenkaul; Dirk Volmering
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005397B2

## CPC

- B01D 63/02: Hollow fibre modules
- B01D 63/04: comprising multiple hollow fibre assemblies
- B01D 63/06: Tubular membrane modules
- B01D 65/02: Membrane cleaning or sterilisation {; Membrane regeneration}
- B01D 65/08: Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
- B01F 23/23112: {comprising the use of flow guiding elements adjacent or above the gas stream}
- B01F 23/237611: {Air}
- C02F 1/44: by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis {(general membrane separation processes B01D61/00, membrane modules B01D63/00, electrodialysis C02F1/4693, combination of membrane modules and bioreactors C02F3/1268)}
- C02F 3/1278: {Provisions for mixing or aeration of the mixed liquor}
- B01D 2313/26: Specific gas distributors or gas intakes
- B01D 2315/06: Submerged-type; Immersion type
- B01D 2321/18: Use of gases
- B01D 2321/185: Aeration
- C02F 3/1273: {Submerged membrane bioreactors}
- C02F 3/208: {Membrane aeration (C02F3/201 takes precedence)}
- C02F 2203/006: details of construction, e.g. specially adapted seals, modules, connections
- C02F 2303/16: Regeneration of sorbents, filters
- 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 for introducing a gas into a liquid, the method including filling a gas volume enclosed below a free surface of the liquid and defined in a downward direction by an enclosed level of the liquid with the gas in sequential pulses wherein the gas simultaneously displaces the liquid top down from a gas lifting channel until the enclosed level of the liquid drops below an inlet cross section of a gas flow out channel; subsequently flowing the gas out of the gas volume downward through the gas lifting channel, a deflection portion adjoining at a bottom of the gas lifting channel, in upward direction through the inlet cross section and through the gas flow out channel adjoining the inlet cross section at a top to the free surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for introducing a gas into a liquid, the method comprising:
filling a gas volume enclosed below a free surface of the liquid and defined in a downward direction by an enclosed level of the liquid with the gas in sequential pulses wherein the gas simultaneously displaces the enclosed level of the liquid top down in a gas lifting channel until the enclosed level of the liquid drops below an inlet cross section of a gas flow out channel; subsequently
flowing the gas out of the gas volume downward through the gas lifting channel, a deflection portion connected at a bottom of the gas lifting channel and closed at a bottom side, from the deflection portion in an upward direction through the inlet cross section and through the gas flow out channel connected to the inlet cross section at a top of the inlet cross section to the free surface of the liquid, wherein a blocking flow of the liquid flows downward through a compensation inlet that is arranged below a gas lifting channel inlet and above the inlet cross section into a compensation channel that is separated from the gas lifting channel by a compensation channel wall that extends between the compensation inlet and the inlet cross section so that the liquid flows into the inlet cross section and is moved along by the gas until the liquid fills the downward closed deflection portion and thereby closes the inlet cross section;
initially only flowing the gas through the gas flow out channel after the enclosed level of the liquid has dropped below the inlet cross section until the enclosed level of the liquid rises above the compensation inlet; and only thereafter
running the blocking flow downward through the compensation inlet to the inlet cross section.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method for filtering a liquid in a membrane filter submerged in the liquid, the membrane filter including membranes, the method comprising:
flowing the gas through the gas flow out channel according to the method according to claim 1; and subsequently
introducing the gas into the membrane filter from below for cleaning the membranes.

### Claim 3

A gas introduction device, comprising:
a downward open gas collection cavity, defined by an upper wall and a lateral wall;
a gas inlet configured to let a gas into the downward open gas collection cavity;
an upward open and downward closed gas lifting channel configured to lift the gas out of the downward open gas collection cavity and empty the downward open gas collection cavity, wherein the upward open and downward closed gas lifting channel includes a gas lifting channel inlet arranged at a top of the upward open and downward closed gas lifting channel in at a top portion of the gas collection cavity;
a downward closed deflection portion connected at a bottom of the upward open and downward closed gas lifting channel;
an inlet cross section arranged at a top of the deflection portion wherein a gas outlet channel is connected at the top of the deflection portion;
a compensation inlet separate from the gas lifting channel inlet and arranged below the gas lifting channel inlet and open towards the inlet cross section; and
a compensation channel that is separated from the gas lifting channel by a compensation channel wall that extends between the compensation inlet and to the inlet cross section,
wherein the compensation inlet is arranged above the inlet cross section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The gas introduction device according to claim 3, wherein the compensation inlet is arranged at the upward open and downward closed gas lifting channel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The gas introduction device according to claim 3, wherein the compensation channel adjoins the compensation inlet in a direction towards the downward closed deflection portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The gas introduction device according to claim 5, wherein the compensation channel leads into the upward open and downward closed gas lifting channel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The gas introduction device according to claim 5, characterized in that the compensation channel runs parallel to the upward open and downward closed gas lifting channel and leads into the downward closed deflection portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The gas introduction device according to claim 5, wherein a cross section of the compensation inlet is greater than a minimum cross section of the compensation channel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

A filter device, comprising:
a membrane filter configured to filter a liquid and including membranes and a gas introduction device arranged below the membranes and configured to introduce a gas into the membrane filter,
wherein the gas introduction device is configured according to claim 3.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The filter device according to claim 9, further comprising:
a housing that laterally envelops the membranes and adjoins the gas introduction device on top,
wherein the gas introduction device includes a liquid flow channel that vertically penetrates the gas collection cavity and that is configured to let the liquid flow into the membrane filter at a bottom of the membrane filter.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The filter device according to claim 10, wherein the housing is a configured as a continuous tube.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The filter device according to claim 9, further comprising:
a gas distributor arranged below the membranes,
wherein the gas flow out channel leads into the gas distributor.