# US 9,873,089 B2 · Method for lifting membrane separation apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,873,089 B2 - Document ID: US9873089B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/157,198 - Filed: 2016-05-17 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-26 - Assignees: Kubota Corporation - Applicants: Kubota Corporation - Inventors: Yasunobu Okajima; Tadao Shinkai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9873089B2 ## CPC - B01D 65/08: Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation - B01D 61/14: Ultrafiltration; Microfiltration - B01D 61/20: Accessories; Auxiliary operations - C02F 3/1273: {Submerged membrane bioreactors} - B01D 61/18: Apparatus therefor - B01D 2313/025: Specific membrane holders - B01D 2313/21: Specific headers, end caps - B01D 2313/57: Tools used for removal of membranes - B01D 2315/06: Submerged-type; Immersion type - B01D 2321/18: Use of gases - C02F 2201/002: Construction details of the apparatus - 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) - 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 lifting a membrane separation device immersed in liquid to be treated so as to obtain permeated liquid passed through a filtration membrane provides a method for lifting the membrane separation device in a visible state without lowering the liquid level of a treatment tank. The method includes injecting a gas into a predetermined region of the membrane separation device, thereby raising the membrane separation device by a buoyancy generated by the injected gas through the liquid to be treated, and engaging an engaging portion of a lifting apparatus with an engageable portion provided to an upper portion of the membrane separation device, thereby lifting up the membrane separation device. The predetermined region may be a space constituting a flow path for the permeated liquid permeated through the filtration membrane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for lifting the membrane separation device immersed in liquid to be treated so as to obtain permeated liquid through a filtration membrane, the method comprising: injecting a gas into a predetermined region of the membrane separation device, thereby raising the membrane separation device by a buoyancy generated by the injected gas through the liquid to be treated; and engaging an engaging portion of a lifting apparatus with an engageable portion provided to an upper portion of the membrane separation device, thereby lifting the membrane separation device, wherein the predetermined region is a space forming a flow path for the permeated liquid having passed through the filtration membrane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for lifting the membrane separation device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the membrane separation device includes a plurality of membrane elements each having a filtration membrane, the membrane elements being of a flat membrane type in which the filtration membranes are outwardly expanded so as to increase a volume of the flow path of the permeated liquid by increasing a pressure inside the flow path, and wherein the injection of the gas to the predetermined region is absorbed by the expansion of the filtration membranes of the membrane elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method for lifting the membrane separation device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: replacing at least part of the permeated liquid remaining in the predetermined region with the gas, by pressuring the gas into the predetermined region and draining the at least part of the permeated liquid remaining in the predetermined region into the liquid to be treated through the filtration membrane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method for lifting the membrane separation device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: replacing at least part of the permeated liquid remaining in the predetermined region with the gas, by sucking and discharging the at least part of the permeated liquid remaining in the predetermined region while exposing at least one portion of the predetermined region to the atmosphere. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method for lifting the membrane separation device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: replacing at least part of the permeated liquid remaining in the predetermined region with the gas, by sucking and discharging the at least part of the permeated liquid remaining in the predetermined region while pressure-injecting the gas into the predetermined region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method for lifting the membrane separation device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the predetermined region is a dedicated region which is not in communication with the flow path of the permeated liquid permeated through the filtration membrane, the dedicated region expanding when the gas is injected therein, and contracting when the gas is discharged therefrom. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method for lifting the membrane separation device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the membrane separation device is movable in an up-down direction along a guide member standing in the liquid to be treated, the membrane separation device being raised along the guide member by injecting the gas into the predetermined region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method for lifting the membrane separation device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the membrane separation device comprises a membrane module, the membrane module including: a plurality of membrane elements each having the filtration membrane; and a liquid collection case coupled to each side of the plurality of membrane elements arranged in parallel to each other, the liquid collection case including a liquid collection space in communication with the flow path of the permeated liquid of each of the membrane elements, and wherein the predetermined region is the space forming the flow path of the permeated liquid in the membrane module. ### Claim 9 A method for lifting the membrane separation device immersed in liquid to be treated so as to obtain permeated liquid through a filtration membrane, the method comprising: injecting a gas into a predetermined region of the membrane separation device, thereby raising the membrane separation device by a buoyancy generated by the injected gas through the liquid to be treated; and engaging an engaging portion of a lifting apparatus with an engageable portion provided to an upper portion of the membrane separation device, thereby lifting the membrane separation device, wherein the membrane separation device comprises a membrane module, the membrane module including: a plurality of membrane elements each having the filtration membrane; and a liquid collection case coupled to each side of the plurality of membrane elements arranged in parallel to each other, the liquid collection case including a liquid collection space in communication with the flow path of the permeated liquid of each of the membrane elements, and wherein the predetermined region is the space forming the flow path of the permeated liquid in the membrane module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method for lifting the membrane separation device in accordance with claim 9, further comprising: replacing at least part of the permeated liquid remaining in the predetermined region with the gas, by pressuring the gas into the predetermined region and draining the at least part of the permeated liquid remaining in the predetermined region into the liquid to be treated through the filtration membrane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method for lifting the membrane separation device in accordance with claim 9, further comprising: replacing at least part of the permeated liquid remaining in the predetermined region with the gas, by sucking and discharging the at least part of the permeated liquid remaining in the predetermined region while exposing at least one portion of the predetermined region to the atmosphere. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method for lifting the membrane separation device in accordance with claim 9, further comprising: replacing at least part of the permeated liquid remaining in the predetermined region with the gas, by sucking and discharging the at least part of the permeated liquid remaining in the predetermined region while pressure-injecting the gas into the predetermined region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method for lifting the membrane separation device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the membrane separation device is movable in an up-down direction along a guide member standing in the liquid to be treated, the membrane separation device being raised along the guide member by injecting the gas into the predetermined region.