Apparatus for withdrawing permeate using an immersed vertical skein of hollow fibre membranes

An apparatus for treating a multicomponent liquid substrate while leaving particulate matter therein, comprising,

• (a) a non-pressurized reservoir for containing the substrate;
• (b) a skein of hollow fiber filtering membranes immersed in the substrate wherein the membranes are disposed generally vertically between upper and lower headers such that (i) outsides of ends of the membranes are sealingly secured in closely spaced-apart relationship in the headers, (ii) lumens of the membranes are in fluid communication with at least one permeate collection means, and, (iii) the membranes have a length between opposed surfaces of the headers such that the membranes may move against each other but wherein the length is less than 5% greater than the distance between opposed surfaces of the headers;
• (c) a pump in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes, the pump operable to apply suction to the lumens of the membranes to draw a component of the substrate as permeate through the membranes;
• and,
• (d) a gas distribution system having through-passages adapted to discharge bubbles to rise through and around the skein, the gas distribution system including one or more gas tubes which space the first and second headers apart and also duct air to the through-passages.

An apparatus for treating a multicomponent liquid substrate while leaving particulate matter therein, comprising,

• (a) a non-pressurized reservoir for containing the substrate;
• (b) a plurality of hollow fiber filtering membranes immersed in the substrate wherein the membranes are disposed generally vertically between upper and lower headers such that (i) outsides of ends of the membranes are sealingly secured to the headers in a closely spaced apart relationship, (ii) lumens of the membranes are in fluid communication with at least one permeate collection means, and, (iii) said membranes having a length between opposed surfaces of the headers such that the membranes may move against each other but wherein the length is less 5% greater than the distance between opposed surfaces of the headers;
• (c) a pump in fluid communication with said lumens of said membranes, said pump operable to apply a suction to the lumens of the membranes to draw a component of the substrate as permeate through said membranes;
• and,
• (d) a gas distribution system having through-passages through the lower header to discharge bubbles into the substrate above the lower header.