Cleaning hollow core membrane fibers using vibration

Abstract

A filtration system is provided with hollow membrane filter elements operable to remove solids, particulate and colloidal matter from a process fluid. Acoustic, vibration and ultrasonic energy may be used to clean exterior portions of the hollow membrane filter elements to allow substantially continuous filtration of process fluids. The filtration system may be satisfactorily used with process fluids having a relatively high concentrations of solids, particulate and colloidal matter.

1 - 5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . A filtration system operable to separate a process fluid into a clarified fluid and a concentrated fluid comprising: 
 a housing having at least one inlet operable to receive the process fluid;    the housing having at least a first outlet for the concentrated fluid and a second outlet for the clarified fluid;    at least one array of hollow fiber membranes disposed within the housing;    each hollow fiber element having a first end and a second end spaced from each other;    exterior portions of each hollow fiber element exposed to contact with the process fluid and operable to separate the process fluid into the concentrated fluid and the clarified fluid;    a flow path coupling interior portions of each hollow fiber membrane with the second outlet to allow clarified fluid to exit from the housing; and    a first energy source operable to vibrate the hollow fiber membranes without interruption of an associated filtration process.    
     
     
         7 . The filtration system of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 a plurality of conduits disposed within the housing; and    the conduits operable to inject gas bubbles into the process fluid contained within the housing.    
     
     
         8 . The filtration system of  claim 6  wherein the housing further comprises at least one flexible portion generally aligned with each array of hollow fiber membranes to facilitate vibratory cleaning of associated hollow fiber membranes.  
     
     
         9 . The filtration system of  claim 8  further comprising a second flexible portion disposed in the housing generally opposite from the first flexible portion.  
     
     
         10 . The filtration system of  claim 9  further comprising a second energy source coupled with the flexible outer wall and operable to regulate vibration of the hollow fiber membranes.  
     
     
         11 . A method for separating a process fluid stream into a clarified fluid stream and a concentrated fluid stream comprising: 
 communicating the process fluid to at least one inlet of a filtration system;    directing the process fluid to contact at least one skein of hollow fiber membrane disposed within the housing;    separating the clarified fluid from the process fluid by the clarified fluid flowing through an exterior surface of each hollow fiber membrane to a respective interior flow path disposed within each hollow fiber membrane;    directing the clarified fluid from the interior flow path of each hollow fiber membrane to at least a first outlet from the housing;    directing the concentrated fluid to at least a second outlet from the housing; and    applying energy to each skein of hollow fiber membranes to remove or inhibit buildup of scale, solids cake or film on exterior portions of the associated hollow membrane tubes.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising directing sonic energy to clean exterior portions of the associated hollow membrane tubes.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising directing ultrasonic energy to clean exterior portions of the associated hollow membrane tubes.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising directing mechanical fibration energy to clean exterior portions of the associated hollow fiber membranes.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising combining a first method for cleaning each skein with a second method for cleaning each skein.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising alternatively tensioning and relaxing the hollow fiber membranes disposed within each skein to remove or inhibit any buildup of scale, solids cake or film on exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising moving mounting elements attached to respective ends of each skein to remove or inhibit buildup of scale, solids cake or film on exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes by changing the shape of the hollow fiber membranes.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising producing vibration energy using an air powered vibration driver.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising producing reciprocating linear mechanical vibration using a motor powered vibration driver.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising directing reciprocating energy selected from the group consisting of mechanical and acoustical vibration to generate friction between the process fluid and exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes resulting from the process fluid and the hollow fiber membranes moving at different rates.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 directing the energy in a direction generally perpendicular with the hollow fiber membranes; and    directing gas bubbles in a direction generally parallel with the hollow fiber membranes whereby the vibration energy and the flow of bubbles cooperate with each other to enhance cleaning exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising cleaning exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes by applying vibration energy to produce leading face turbulence and trailing face turbulence adjacent to exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising cleaning exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes by applying vibration energy to produce side face turbulence adjacent to respective exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising cleaning exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes by applying vibration energy to produce scouring and scrubbing of exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes resulting from physical contact and jostling between adjacent hollow fiber membranes.  
     
     
         25 . A filtration system operable to separate a process fluid into selected components comprising: 
 a housing having at least one inlet operable to receive the process fluid;    the housing having at least a first outlet for a concentrated fluid and a second outlet for a clarified fluid;    at least one array of hollow fiber membranes disposed within the housing;    each hollow fiber membranes having a first end and a second end spaced from each other;    each hollow fiber membranes having an interior fluid flow path operable to receive clarified fluid;    exterior portions of each hollow fiber element exposed to contact with the process fluid and operable to separate the process fluid into the concentrated fluid and the clarified fluid;    a first flow path coupling the concentrated fluid with the first outlet;    a second flow path coupling interior portions of each hollow filter element with the second outlet to allow clarified fluid to exit the housing; and    a vibration energy source operable to vibrate exterior portions of each hollow fiber membrane without interruption of an association filtration process.    
     
     
         26 . The filtration system of  claim 25  further comprising the housing selected from the group consisting of a generally rectangular shaped tank, a generally circular shaped tank, a generally oval shaped tank or a pressurized tank.  
     
     
         27 . The filtration system of  claim 25  further comprising: 
 the vibration energy source selected from the group consisting of a linear reciprocating mechanical vibrator, a first ultrasonic vibrator, a first sonic vibrator and a first plurality of piezo-electric transducers; and    a system for managing vibration energy selected from the group consisting of energy absorbing material disposed within the housing, a linear reciprocating mechanical vibrator, a second linear reciprocating mechanical vibrator disposed opposite from the first linear reciprocating linear vibrator, a second ultrasonic vibrator disposed in the housing opposite from the first ultrasonic mechanical vibrator, a second sonic vibrator disposed in the housing opposite from the first sonic vibrator and a second plurality of piezo-electric transducers disposed in the housing opposite from the first plurality of piezo-electric transducers.    
     
     
         28 . The filtration system of  claim 25  further comprising a low pressure vacuum source operably coupled with the second outlet to assist with clarified fluid flow through the interior flow path of each hollow fiber tube.  
     
     
         29 . The filtration system of  claim 25  further comprising energy absorbing material disposed within the housing opposite from vibration the energy source.  
     
     
         30 . A method for forming a filtration system operable to separate a process fluid into selected components comprising: 
 forming a housing having at least one inlet operable to receive a process fluid;    forming at least a first outlet from the housing for a retentate fluid to exit from the housing;    forming at least one second outlet from the housing for a permeate fluid to exit the housing;    forming at least one array of hollow fiber membranes;    installing the at least one array of hollow fiber membranes in the housing;    connecting at least one conduit with an interior flow path disposed within each hollow fiber membrane to allow communication of permeate fluid to the second outlet from the housing; and    installing at least one primary energy source coupled with the housing to apply primary vibration energy to the hollow fiber membranes to clean any scale, solids cake and biological film from exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising: 
 attaching the hollow fiber membranes with a first end cap and a second end cap; and    installing the first end cap and the second cap within respective portions of the housing operable to move the end caps relative to each other to change the frequency rate associated with the hollow fiber membranes to induce rubbing between adjacent hollow fiber membranes to remove any scale, solids cake or biological film disposed on exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising attaching a source of gas bubbles with the housing operable direct gas bubbles generally parallel with exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising placing energy absorbing material within the housing to absorb primary vibration energy after the primary vibration energy has cleaned exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising: 
 installing at least one secondary energy source coupled with the housing to apply vibration energy thereto; and    installing a control system connected with the primary energy source and the secondary energy source to equalize, cancel or reduce primary vibration energy after the primary vibration energy has cleaned exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising forming one or more passageways extending from the housing to allow escape of primary vibration energy after the primary vibration energy has cleaned exterior portions of the hollow fiber membranes.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising installing one or more flow paths operable to return primary vibration energy to a location proximate the primary energy source after the primary vibration energy has cleaned exterior portions of the hollow fiber membrane.