Membrane Filter System

Abstract

A guide member for directing gas bubble flow along a member surface, the guide member having first and second side edges defining a channel for gas bubbles to flow along, the channel having an open bottom end through which the gas bubbles can enter the channel and an open top end through which the bubbles can exit the channel, and a diverting means adjacent the channel bottom end arranged to direct at least some of the incident gas bubbles in a first direction towards the channel bottom end. A membrane module assembly and a membrane filter system including the guide member.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A membrane module assembly for treating water, the membrane module assembly comprising:
 at least one guide member comprising-first and second side edges defining a channel for a plurality of gas bubbles to flow along, the channel having an open bottom end through which the plurality of gas bubbles enter the channel and an open top end through which the bubbles exit the channel; and a diverting means adjacent the channel bottom end configured to direct a first portion of the plurality of gas bubbles in a first direction towards the channel bottom end; and   at least one membrane module having at least one membrane surface, the membrane module being sized and shaped to be placed adjacent the guide member in use so that the channel is adjacent the membrane surface.   
     
     
         13 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the membrane module comprises an attachment means for detachably attaching the membrane module to the guide member or to a housing. 
     
     
         14 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 12 , the membrane module having two membrane surfaces, one on each side of a backing plate. 
     
     
         15 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the backing plate includes at least one support strut for further supporting the membrane surfaces. 
     
     
         16 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 12 , the membrane module having at least one effluent outlet on a first side edge. 
     
     
         17 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 16 , further comprising a manifold connectable to the at least one effluent outlet. 
     
     
         18 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 13 , the attachment means comprising at least one tab having an opening extending from a second side edge of the membrane module. 
     
     
         19 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 18 , the membrane module being detachably attachable to a housing or to the guide member or to another membrane module by a bar extending through the opening of the attachment means and a corresponding hole in an attachment means of the housing or the guide member or the other membrane module. 
     
     
         20 . A membrane module assembly for treating water, the membrane module assembly comprising first and second membrane modules having oppositely facing membrane surfaces, separated by a guide,
 wherein the guide member comprises first and second side edges defining a channel for a plurality of gas bubbles to flow along, the channel having an open bottom end through which the plurality of gas bubbles enter the channel and an open top end through which the bubbles exit the channel, and a diverting means adjacent the channel bottom end configured to direct a first portion of the plurality of gas bubbles in a first direction towards the channel bottom end;   wherein the channel is adjacent both of the oppositely facing membrane surfaces and the guide member diverts the plurality of gas bubbles to the oppositely facing membrane surfaces or to an adjacent membrane surface.   
     
     
         21 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein each of the first and the second membrane modules comprise an attachment means for attaching the respective membrane module to the guide member or to a housing or to another membrane module. 
     
     
         22 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 20 , each membrane module having two membrane surfaces, one on each side of a backing plate. 
     
     
         23 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein the backing plate includes at least one support strut for further supporting the membrane surfaces. 
     
     
         24 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 20 , each membrane module having at least one effluent outlet on a first side edge. 
     
     
         25 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 24 , further comprising a manifold connectable to the at least one effluent outlet. 
     
     
         26 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 21 , the attachment means comprising at least one tab, having an opening, extending from a second side edge of the membrane module. 
     
     
         27 . A membrane module assembly according to  claim 26 , the membrane module being attachable to a housing or to the guide member or to another membrane module by a bar extending through the opening of the attachment means and a corresponding hole in an attachment means of the housing or the guide member or the other membrane module. 
     
     
         28 . A membrane filter system for treating water, the membrane filter system comprising: a membrane module assembly of  claim 12 ; and a diffuser for supplying the plurality of gas bubbles to the membrane module assembly. 
     
     
         29 . A method for gas scouring a membrane surface, the method comprising:
 providing a flow of gas bubbles; and   directing at least some of the flow of gas bubbles towards an open bottom end of a channel of a guide member adjacent a first membrane surface using a diverting means of the guide member.   
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 providing a second membrane surface adjacent the first membrane surface; and   directing at least some of the flow of gas bubbles towards the second membrane surface using the diverting means of the guide member.   
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30 , further comprising imparting a different velocity on the gas bubbles directed to the first and second membrane surfaces.