CN101128251A - Permeate Spacer Assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a permeate spacer assembly comprising spacer means and at least one collection means, the spacer means comprising a support member spaced apart by at least one insert element forming a flow space or flow channel between the support member and the insert element to separate The permeate is conducted into at least one permeate collection device connected to the flow space or flow channel. The invention also relates to a membrane system comprising the permeate spacer module, a method of operating the membrane system, a use of the membrane system, a membrane device and a use of the membrane device.

Description

Permeate Spacer Assembly

The present invention relates to a permeate spacer module, a membrane system, a method of operating the membrane system, the use of the membrane system, the membrane device and the use of the membrane device.

Background of the invention

Fluid passing through the diaphragm must be transferred to or in contact with the diaphragm before passing through the diaphragm. After passage the fluid is collected into the discharge system and diverted out of the system. Many diaphragms use spacers that transfer fluid to and from the diaphragm. Diaphragm spacers are disclosed in EP 11201150, WO 2004/103535 and WO 2004/103536.

The drain system, which collects the fluid, can be an obstruction to the fluid, thus creating a back pressure that causes a pressure drop. This back pressure can restrict flow through the diaphragm, and the pressure drop can cause fouling of the diaphragm and limit its performance.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the design of the discharge system, thereby enhancing the performance of the diaphragm.

Another object is to provide a membrane with an improved energy balance.

invention

Membranes can be used for microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration or reverse osmosis. Microfiltration is the coarsest grade of membrane filtration typically in the 0.1-10 micron (μm) range. Ultrafiltration membranes are classified by molecular weight cut-off, which is defined as the molecular weight of the smallest molecule, 90% of which is retained by the membrane. The ultrafiltration range spans 1000-500,000 molecular weight cut off. Nanofiltration membranes retain solute molecules in the molecular weight range of 100-1,000. Reverse osmosis involves the densest membranes capable of separating even the smallest solute molecules.

The fluid that has passed through the membrane or membrane-membrane is defined as permeate. The remaining fluid is defined as the concentrate or hereinafter as the retentate of the concentrate. The membranes may be separated by intervening elements, spacers or spacer elements. The spacer or insert element may be fabricated from corrugated, folded, cast, extruded, or machined materials that provide a structure that allows free flow of fluid to the collection system or collection device.

Hereinafter, a spacer is defined as the member separating the membrane or membrane of the membrane, the spacer comprising a support member and an insertion element. Interposers are defined as elements that space support members.

The invention relates to a permeate spacer assembly comprising spacer means comprising at least one insert element and a support member selected from at least one of the following members: a support surface unit (13), a solid surface with perforations, and at least one collection means Material, porous surface material, composite surface material with perforations or pores or combinations thereof, sandwich surface material with perforations or pores or combinations thereof, the support member is separated by at least one intervening element, a flow is created between the support member and the intervening element Spaces or flow channels for directing permeate to at least one permeate collection device connected to the permeate spacer assembly.

The shape of the holes or perforations, their frequency or amount can be adjusted according to the pressure range, viscosity or temperature of the fluid. The perforations may be holes, slots, slits or combinations thereof.

The insert element may be a longitudinal wall, a corrugated sheet, a folded sheet, a cast sheet, a molded sheet, an extruded sheet, a sheet with tubes, a sheet with notched or flat peaks, a single pass aid or a combination thereof.

The flow space between the support member and the insert element forms a channel, flow space or flow channel. A channel, flow space or flow channel may be connected or attached to at least one permeate collection device. According to an alternative embodiment, the channels, flow spaces or flow channels can extend forward of one another. According to a further embodiment, the insert elements form channels, flow spaces or flow channels hereinafter referred to as flow channels, such flow channels extending parallel to one another. The permeate collection device may be an expanded frame or any means of collecting permeate, or the permeate collection device may be in the form of a tubular or U-shaped extrusion. A U-shaped extruded form collection device can be connected to the flow channels at the open end of the U-shape and can include all parallel flow channels on at least one side of the spacer assembly and guide and collect permeate from the flow channels. Tubular collection devices can be connected with parallel flow channels into which permeate can flow through holes, slits, slots, or through any type of means of passage in the tube, or the tube can have cuts along the tube to facilitate infiltration with the connection to the permeate spacer assembly, and directs and collects permeate from the flow channel. The flow channel can be attached or connected vertically with at least one collection device. According to another alternative, at least one collecting means may be connected or attached to all flow channels around the spacer means, the flow space communicating with at least one permeate collecting means for collection before transfer to storage or further treatment.

The thickness of the permeate spacer can be at least 0.1 mm and can be as thick as about 20 mm or less. According to an alternative embodiment, the thickness may be at least 0.2 mm, and in yet another alternative embodiment, the thickness may be at least 0.5 mm. According to yet another alternative embodiment, the thickness may be in the range of about 0.1 mm to about 20 mm. According to yet another alternative embodiment, the thickness may be in the range of about 0.5 mm to about 15 mm. According to yet another alternative embodiment, the thickness may be in the range of about 1 mm to about 5 mm. According to yet another alternative embodiment, the thickness may be in the range of about 0.1 mm to about 2.0 mm. According to yet another alternative embodiment, the thickness may be in the range of about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm.

The support member and insert element may be made from the same material, or the support member may be made from one material and the insert element from another material. The material can be metal, ceramic, plastic, composite, paper, porous material, polymer or combinations thereof. According to an alternative embodiment, the material may be selected from at least one of the following materials: polyolefin elastomers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate terpolymers, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymers polyurethane, polybutene, polybutene copolymer, polyisoprene, polyisoprene copolymer, acrylate, polysiloxane, natural rubber, polyisobutylene, butyl rubber, polypropylene, poly Propylene copolymers, polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers, polycarbonates, fluoropolymers, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, nylon, polyvinyl chloride and their copolymers and blends .

The invention also relates to a membrane system comprising a permeate spacer to which a membrane or a membrane of the membrane can be attached to both sides of the permeate spacer.

The membrane may be welded to the spacer, glued to the spacer, cast or extruded with the spacer as one membrane unit, affixed to the spacer or as part of the spacer construction.

The system may comprise at least one permeate collection device, which may be in tubular or U-shaped extruded form, the sides of the system may be welded or glued, and at least one support list or bar may be provided.

The present invention also relates to a method of collecting permeate, the method comprising the steps of,

i) contacting the membrane system of the present invention with a fluid to transfer the permeate through the membrane;

ii) generating a permeate stream through channels, flow spaces or flow channels within the permeate spacer; and

iii) collecting permeate into at least one permeate collection device connected or attached to the channel, flow space or flow channel.

The method may also comprise the additional step of: iv) transferring the permeate collected in step iii) to a collection tank, container or well by hydrostatic pressure.

The present invention relates to the use of a membrane system comprising a membrane for a permeate spacer and a membrane for the treatment of waste water, sea water, surface water or well water.

Membrane systems can be used for pretreatment of water, such as seawater, surface water or well water, before reverse osmosis type desalination plants. The membrane system can also be used to prepare drinking water from surface water or well water. The membrane system can be used as pretreatment or final treatment of water. In this case the diaphragm will be installed in a tank where the static pressure will be used as the transmembrane pressure TMP.

Due to the low pressure drop in the membrane system, it is possible to treat water with nanofiltration membranes to remove divalent ions such as calcium, magnesium, etc., or low organic molecules such as pesticides. Membrane systems can also be used for sterile filtration, purification or concentration of high molecular weight substances. Membrane systems can be used for sterile filtration of wine, beer, juice concentrate, and milk.

The permeate spacer provides good support for the membrane, and the channels, flow spaces or flow channels allow free flow or flow of fluid without forming blockages that create back pressure. Permeate spacers can be sized to suit the application and can be integrated in different configurations such as plate and frame membranes, or membrane bioreactors (MBR) where the pressure drop across the permeate side must be maintained to avoid backpressure build-up especially at high permeate effluent rates.

Membrane systems can be used in different types of configurations and cover all pressure ranges, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration or reverse osmosis.

In plate and frame membrane configurations, the permeate spacer can be used as a membrane support plate.

The invention relates to a membrane plant comprising a membrane system according to the invention and which also comprises a collection tank, container or well.

In a membrane plant or membrane bioreactor, the membrane system can be placed in a biological treatment tank, and a collection tank, container or well can be connected to the membrane system outside the biological treatment tank. Permeate collected from the at least one permeate collection device may be transferred by static pressure to a collection tank, container or well connected to the at least one collection device inside the bioprocessing tank. The collected permeate can be stored or sent for use.

The membrane device may also contain a pump for transferring a portion of the collected permeate in the collection tank, vessel or well back to the biological treatment tank. According to another alternative, the membrane plant may consist of placing the membrane system in a continuous flow of the fluid to be treated, in a treatment tank that is not a biological treatment tank, perhaps for example the open ocean for seawater treatment, or for food Treatment tanks for other types of fluids in industry, chemical plants, pulp and paper industry, etc.

The invention relates to the use of membrane equipment in treating waste water, sea water, surface water or well water.

Due to the low pressure drop in the membrane system, it is possible to treat water with nanofiltration membranes to remove divalent ions such as calcium, magnesium, etc., or low organic molecules such as pesticides only by using static pressure.

Further developments are described in the independent and dependent claims.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by means of the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic partial view of an alternative embodiment of a permeate spacer.

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic partial view of another alternative embodiment of the membrane system.

Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic partial view of another alternative embodiment of the insert element.

Figure 4 shows a diagrammatic partial view of an alternative embodiment of a membrane device.

Figure 5 shows a diagrammatic partial view of another alternative embodiment of a membrane device.

Detailed description of the drawings

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a spacer 1 , which is an extruded spacer with an extruded support member 2 provided with perforations 3 . According to this alternative embodiment, the insertion element 4 is a longitudinal wall, between which the support member 2 forms a flow space 5 . Membranes 6 are attached to both sides of the spacer 1 . FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative membrane system 7 in which folded flaps 8 separate support members 9 forming flow spaces in the form of parallel channels 10 . On top of the support member 9 a diaphragm 6 is attached. The membrane system 7 is welded to at least two sides 11 . Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of an insert element 12 with flat peaks 13 acting as support surface elements.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the membrane device of the invention. According to this embodiment, the membrane system 14 is placed in a biological treatment tank. The membrane system 14 is constructed by welding three sides of the membrane system. The fourth side terminates with a collecting means 15 which may be in tubular or U-shaped extruded form. The welded sides can be provided with support stripes, support bars or anything else (not shown in Figure 4) that will keep the membrane system able to expand over as large an area as possible. In channels (not shown in Fig. 4) the fluid, ie permeate and air is conveyed to the collection device 15, from which it is conveyed to the vertical pipe 16 by means of hydrostatic fluid. The bottom of the tube 16 is at a lower level than the membrane system to allow static pressure to build up. The top of the tube 16 is above the water level and this end of the tube is open to let air out.

Figure 5 shows another alternative embodiment of a membrane device. The membrane system is fully submerged in the biological treatment tank below the water level of the tank. According to this embodiment, the collection tank or well 17 is placed outside the biological treatment tank. The difference in water head between the outlet of the permeate collection means 15 and the water level in the tank creates a static pressure sufficient to generate a transmembrane pressure capable of causing fluid to flow through the membrane in the permeate collection spacer. Fluid is collected from the permeate collection spacer into one, two or several collection devices 15, which may be tubular, U-shaped extruded form or other geometric configurations. The permeate enters the well or collection tank 17 by gravity, where the water level is lower than that of the main tank. This water head difference creates the static pressure necessary to operate the membrane system. The static pressure can be adjusted by controlling the water level in the well 17.

In the following examples, flow rate and outflow velocity versus time studies were performed and a comparison was made between a conventional spiral wound membrane spacer and a membrane system according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The purpose of the examples is to illustrate the performance of permeate spacers and permeate systems and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Example 1

Tests were performed using the membrane device disclosed in FIG. 4 . Permeate influx and permeate efflux were monitored over 16 days. During the test, the membrane system was able to operate without applying pressure or using a vacuum on the diaphragm. The static pressure is sufficient to force water through the diaphragm. Variations in static pressure regulate the flow of permeate through the membrane. These changes can be controlled by the water level in the tank or well. The area of the membrane system is 3.753m ² , and the air temperature is between -5°C and 5°C during the test. The results are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1

number of days Permeate level H1[m] Tank level H2[m] Static pressure H1-H2 [bar] Total permeate flow [dm ³ /h] Water temperature [°C] Permeate flow at 0.1 bar and 25°C [dm ³ /(m ² ×h)] 1 1.3 0.55 0.075 35.6 7.8 19 2 1.3 0.55 0.075 38.8 7.8 twenty one 3 1.3 0.55 0.075 39.8 7.8 twenty one 4 1.3 0.58 0.072 29.4 8.4 16 5 1.3 0.60 0.070 26.6 8.8 15 6 1.3 0.54 0.076 18.3 8.0 10 7 1.3 0.55 0.075 24.1 8.2 13 8 1.3 0.60 0.070 24.8 8.6 14 9 1.3 0.62 0.068 24.9 8.7 14 10 1.3 0.55 0.075 24.5 8.1 13 11 1.3 0.60 0.070 21.9 7.8 13 12 1.3 0.65 0.065 20.4 8.0 13 13 1.3 0.62 0.068 20.5 8.0 12 14 1.3 0.62 0.068 20.0 8.1 12 15 1.3 0.62 0.068 21.0 8.1 12 16 1.3 0.62 0.068 20.2 8.1 12

Embodiment 2 (comparison)

In this example, a conventional helically wound spacer element attached to the collection device is compared with a permeate spacer attached to the collection device according to FIG. 1 . Both the helically wound spacer element and the permeate spacer are provided with a membrane on each side. The static pressure is 1.2m, the measured flux of the conventional spacer is 16dm ³ /m ² ×h, and the flux of the permeate spacer is 100dm ³ /m ² ×h, which shows that the permeate spacer of the present invention is different from the conventional The spacer has a ratio of 6.25. The conclusion drawn from the results is the importance of free flow on the permeate side even at low flux, and the ratio increases at higher flux levels.

Claims (27)

1. permeate spacer module that comprises escapement and at least one gathering-device, described escapement comprises at least one insertion element and support member, described support member is selected from least one with lower member: support surface unit (13), solid surface material with perforation, the porous surface material, composite surface material with perforation or hole or its combination, sandwiching surface material or its combination with perforation or hole, described support member is spaced apart by described at least one insertion element, between described support member and described insertion element, form the flowing space, passage or flow channel, with penetrant is directed at least one be connected with described permeate spacer module or attached permeate collection device in.

2. the permeate spacer module of claim 1, wherein said flow channel is parallel to each other, and is connected or attached with described at least one permeate collection device is vertical.

3. the permeate spacer module of claim 1, the wherein said flowing space is connected with described at least one permeate collection device or is attached, and described at least one permeate collection device all is connected with this escapement or attached in each side periphery of described escapement.

4. each permeate spacer module in the claim 1,2 or 3, wherein said insertion element is vertical wall, corrugated sheet, pleated sheet, casting sheet, molded tablet, extruded sheets, the sheet with pipe, the sheet with otch or flat peak, one way adminicle or its combination.

5. each permeate spacer module in the aforementioned claim, wherein said support member are solid material or the porous materials with perforation.

6. each permeate spacer module in the aforementioned claim, wherein said perforation are hole, groove, slit or its combination.

7. each permeate spacer module in the aforementioned claim, wherein said support member and described at least one insertion element are respectively by being selected from least a following material preparation: metal, pottery, plastics, composite, paper, cellulose, porous material, polymer, glass, glass fibre or its combination.

8. the permeate spacer module of claim 7, wherein said support member and described at least one insertion element are respectively by being selected from least a following material preparation: polyolefin elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, the ethylene vinyl acetate terpolymer, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer, polyurethane, polybutene, polybutene copolymer, polyisoprene, polyisoprene copolymers, acrylate, polysiloxanes, natural rubber, polyisobutene, butyl rubber, polypropylene, polypropylene copolymer, polyethylene, polyethylene and ethylene copolymers, Merlon, fluoropolymer, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, nylon, polyvinyl chloride and copolymer thereof and blend.

9. each permeate spacer module in the aforementioned claim, wherein said support member is spaced apart in the distance of 0.1mm at least.

10. each permeate spacer module in the aforementioned claim, wherein said support member is spaced apart in the distance less than about 20mm.

11. each permeate spacer module in the aforementioned claim, wherein said support member is spaced apart to the distance of about 5mm at about 1mm.

12. each permeate spacer module in the aforementioned claim, wherein said at least one permeate collection device are the frames that expands, or any means of collecting penetrant.

13. each permeate spacer module in the aforementioned claim, the frame of wherein said expansion are tubular or U-type extruded form.

14. a film system that comprises each permeate spacer module in the aforementioned claim, the film of wherein said barrier film, leaf or sheet are attached at the two sides of described escapement.

15. the film system of claim 14, wherein said support member and described at least one insertion element are prepared by membrane material, and film, leaf or the sheet of described support member, described at least one insertion element and described barrier film are made a unit in the two sides of described permeate spacer module by membrane material.

Support striped or support bar 16. the film system of claim 14 or 15, described system also comprise at least one.

17. each film system among the claim 14-16, wherein said barrier film to small part is welded, or is glued on the described escapement to small part.

18. a method of collecting penetrant, described method comprises the following steps

I) each film system among the claim 14-17 is contacted with fluid, penetrant is shifted by barrier film;

Ii), produce permeate stream by the flowing space, passage or flow channel in the described permeate spacer module; And

Iii) with described permeate collection in described at least one permeate collection device, this permeate collection device is connected with the described flowing space, passage or flow channel.

19. the method for claim 18, described method also comprises step

IV), the ii) middle penetrant of collecting of step I is transferred in collecting tank, container or the well by static pressure.

20. the purposes of each film system in waste water, seawater, surface water or well water are handled among the claim 14-17.

21. each film system is in high molecular weight material aseptic filtration, purification or the purposes in concentrating among the claim 14-17.

22. the purposes of each film system in the aseptic filtration of grape wine, beer, concentration of juices, breast is handled among the claim 14-17.

23. a film device, this film device comprise among the claim 14-17 each film system, and described film device also comprises collecting tank, container or well.

24. the film device of claim 23, wherein said film system places biological treatment tank.

25. the film device of claim 23 or 24, wherein said collecting tank, container or well are connected with described film system in the outside of described biological treatment tank, penetrant collected in described at least one permeate collection device that is connected with described permeate spacer module is connected with described collecting tank, container or well, and described penetrant is transferred to described collecting tank, container or the well from described at least one permeate collection device that is connected with described permeate spacer module by static pressure.

26. each film device among the claim 23-25, described equipment also comprises pump, and this pump is used for the described penetrant of a part is transported back described biological treatment tank from described collecting tank, container or well.

27. the purposes of each film device in waste water or water treatment among the claim 23-26.

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