Gas sparger for an immersed membrane

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020009508-A1
Application number	US-201916578217-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 20, 2019
Priority date	Sep 3, 2009
Publication date	Jan 9, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A gas sparger produces an intermittent flow of bubbles even if provided with a continuous gas flow. The sparger has a housing to collect a pocket of gas and a conduit to release some of the gas from the pocket when the pocket reaches a sufficient size. Optionally, a cover over an outlet from the conduit may break up or distribute the released gas. A large sparger for use with a commercial membrane module can comprise a plurality of smaller units.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A membrane filtration unit comprising a gas sparger and an immersed membrane module, wherein the immersed membrane module is elongated in plan view, the gas sparger being adapted to contain a series of gas pockets in a line parallel with the immersed membrane module, each of the gas pockets being associated with a conduit, wherein each conduit defines a closed channel extending from a first opening inside of an associated one of the gas pockets downwards to a low point and then upwards to a second opening above the first opening and outside of the associated gas pocket.

2 . The membrane filtration unit of claim 1 having a distribution pipe extending generally along the length of the gas sparger and having gas outlets associated with the gas pockets.

3 . The membrane filtration unit of claim 2 wherein the distribution pipe is located near the bottom of the sparger.

4 . The membrane filtration unit of claim 1 wherein the conduits are J-shaped.

5 . The membrane filtration unit of claim 1 further comprising a cover with a plurality of holes over the second openings of the conduits.

6 . A process for gas sparging a membrane module immersed in a liquid, the process comprising the steps of,
immersing the membrane module in the liquid, wherein the membrane module is elongated in plan view, providing a flow of a gas to a series of gas pockets arranged in a line parallel with the immersed membrane module, each of the gas pockets being associated with a conduit, wherein each conduit defines a closed channel extending from a first opening inside of the associated gas pocket downwards to a low point and then upwards to a second opening above the first opening and outside of the associated gas pocket, wherein the flow of gas is at a rate sufficient to cause a burst of gas to emerge from the second openings of the conduits at least once every 30 seconds.

7 . The process of claim 6 further comprising a step of dispersing the burst of gas over a larger horizontal area or breaking the burst of gas into bubbles or smaller bubbles.

Assignees

• Bl Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Cumin Jeffrey Ronald
• Behmann Henry
• HONG Yongseck
• Bayly Reid

Classifications

• B01D2315/06

  Submerged-type; Immersion type · CPC title

• B01D2313/26

  Specific gas distributors or gas intakes · CPC title

• B01D61/22

  Controlling or regulating · CPC title

• B01D61/18 Primary

  Apparatus therefor · CPC title

• B01D65/02 Primary

  Membrane cleaning or sterilisation {; Membrane regeneration} · CPC title