Processes and apparatus for inhibiting membrane bio-fouling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9457320-B2
Application number	US-201213525798-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 18, 2012
Priority date	Jun 20, 2011
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

Certain embodiments are directed to a process and apparatus for cleaning and/or regeneration of permeable or semipermeable membranes comprising modulating pressure of a feed stream feeding the permeable or semipermeable membrane and providing intermittent pressure pulses for cleaning and/or regeneration of the permeable or semipermeable membrane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process for cleaning and/or regeneration of permeable or semipermeable membranes comprising:
providing a rotating impeller between a high pressure line and a low pressure line, the impeller having an orifice across its diameter and having adjustable vanes permitting fluid flow between the high pressure line and low pressure line;
allowing depressurization to occur when the orifice is aligned across the high pressure and low pressure lines;
modulating pressure of a feed stream feeding the permeable or semipermeable membrane by
providing intermittent pressure pulses for cleaning and/or regeneration of the permeable or semipermeable membrane by rotating the impeller, the impeller being configured to provide the intermittent pressure pulses across the membrane.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein pressure of the intermittent pressure pulses is in the range of 5 to 1500 psi.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the feed stream is seawater, brackish water, domestic wastewater, industrial wastewater, storm water, cheese whey, beer, or a liquid stream with a component of food.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein a time for a single intermittent pressure pulse is about 0.01 to 60 seconds in duration.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein a pressure pulse occurs about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 times every second, minute, or hour.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein a series of the intermittent pressure pulses is provided every 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 hours, days, or weeks.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein a membrane type is a hollow fiber, spiral, flat sheet, tubular, ceramic, or a capillary sheet.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein a pressure pulse is preceded and followed by a de-pressurization of the feed stream.

9. The process in claim 1 further comprising:
(a) providing a source of fluid to be treated;
(b) providing a pump moving the fluid along a piping and pressurizing fluid through the system to an outlet; and
(c) connecting components from the source to the outlet with the piping, the piping having the permeable or semipermeable membrane for removing inorganic ions from the aqueous feed
(d) providing processing stations for removing unwanted material.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the pulse pressure range is centered on the system operating pressure and bracketed by a 20% increase and decrease in the system operating pressure.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the pulse pressure range is centered on the system operating pressure and bracketed by a 15% increase and decrease in the system operating pressure.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the pulse pressure range is centered on the system operating pressure and bracketed by a 10% increase and decrease in the system operating pressure.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the pulse pressure range is centered on the system operating pressure and bracketed by a 5%increase and decrease in the system operating pressure.

Assignees

• Missimer Thomas M
• Ng Kim Choon
• Amy Gary
• Univ King Abdullah Sci & Tech

Inventors

• Missimer Thomas M
• Ng Kim Choon
• Amy Gary

Classifications

• C02F2303/16

  Regeneration of sorbents, filters · CPC title

• C02F2209/03

  Pressure · CPC title

• B01D65/02 Primary

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

• B01D61/025

  Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration · CPC title

• B01D2321/10

  Use of feed · CPC title