Membrane filtration system
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for reducing volume of feed liquid required in a porous membrane filtration system having a number of porous membranes ( 6 ) submersed in a volume of feed liquid to be filtered is provided, the method comprising the step of providing filler elements ( 9 ) within said volume of feed liquid to be filtered.
1. A membrane filtration system comprising a plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes arranged in bundles forming membrane modules submerged in a feed liquid to be filtered and comprising at least one filler member positioned in a void between said membrane modules, wherein said filler member is immersed in said feed liquid to be filtered so as to occupy a space that would otherwise be occupied by feed liquid, wherein the void between the modules is at least partially filled with the filler member.
2. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the modules are submerged in said feed liquid in a tank or a cell open to an atmospheric pressure.
3. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the filler member comprises a number of elements which fit together to form an integral unit.
4. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein said filler member is neutrally buoyant with respect to said feed liquid.
5. A membrane filtration system according to claim 4 wherein said filler member is hollow and is configured to be filled with a fluid to provide said neutral buoyancy.
6. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein said filler member is spherical in shape.
7. A membrane filtration system according to claim 6 wherein said filler member is hollow and is configured to be filled with a fluid to provide said neutral buoyancy.
8. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the filler member comprises a plurality of complementary segments comprising a central element comprising two sets of parallel opposed semi-circular, in cross-section, channels extending longitudinally along a length of the central element, each channel have a diameter sized to accommodate and fit closely around a fibre bundle, and a plurality of side filler segments of generally T-shaped cross-section with half-semi circular sides of a same diameter as said channels configured to engage with said central element to form said filler member.
9. A membrane filtration system according to claim 8 wherein each filler member comprises complementary engagement formations for engaging with associated engagement means on other filler members.
10. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the filler member comprises a foamed plastic material.
11. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the filler member comprises a blow-moulded plastic material.
12. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the filler member comprises a rotor-moulded plastic material.
13. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of filler members.
14. A membrane filtration system according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of voids.