Water treatment systems and methods
AssigneeEconopure Water Systems, LLC
InventorsDiem Xuan Vuong, Michael Sean Motherway, Curtis Roth
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Abstract
Water treatment systems and methods are provided to minimize membrane fouling and the required maintenance that results therefrom. A water treatment system includes a pressure vessel with a plurality of spaced-apart membranes disposed therein, and an impeller or other means for circulating feed water through the interior of the vessel and past the membranes. Antifouling particles (such as diatomaceous earth or activated carbon) and/or pellets can be added to the feed water inhibit membrane fouling and extend the useful life of the membranes.
Claims30
A system for treating a liquid containing membrane foulants, the system comprising:
- a pressure vessel configured to hold a volume of a liquid containing membrane foulants, the pressure vessel having an inlet and a permeate outlet;
- a spiral-wound reverse osmosis or nanofiltration membrane element disposed within the pressure vessel, the spiral-wound reverse osmosis or nanofiltration membrane element having one or more membrane sheets spaced apart at a spacing of from about 1 mm to about 8 mm;
- a circulator configured to circulate the liquid past the spiral-wound reverse osmosis or nanofiltration membrane element in the pressure vessel;
- a supply of antifouling particles;
- and
- an antifouling apparatus configured to deliver the supply of antifouling particles to the liquid, wherein the antifouling particles are configured to coat membrane surfaces of the spiral-wound reverse osmosis or nanofiltration membrane element to form a protective layer that attracts and holds membrane foulants while allowing passage of permeate through the spiral-wound reverse osmosis or nanofiltration membrane element.
A system for treating a liquid containing membrane foulants, the system comprising:
- a pressure vessel configured to hold a volume of a liquid containing membrane foulants, the pressure vessel having an inlet and a permeate outlet;
- a spiral-wound reverse osmosis or nanofiltration membrane element disposed within the pressure vessel, the spiral-wound reverse osmosis or nanofiltration membrane element having one or more membrane sheets spaced apart at a spacing of at least 3 mm;
- a circulator configured to circulate the liquid past the spiral-wound reverse osmosis or nanofiltration membrane element in the pressure vessel;
- a supply of antifouling particles;
- and
- an antifouling apparatus configured to deliver the supply of antifouling particles to the liquid, wherein the antifouling particles are configured to coat membrane surfaces of the spiral-wound reverse osmosis or nanofiltration membrane element to form a protective layer that attracts and holds membrane foulants while allowing passage of permeate through the spiral-wound reverse osmosis or nanofiltration membrane element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.