OSCILLATORY CROSSFLOW MEMBRANE SEPARATION
Oscillatory crossflow membrane separation apparatus and methods are disclosed for effluent treatment. The apparatus include a membrane module with a housing containing a membrane element, said module having an input for receiving effluent for treatment and a treated effluent output. A crossflow pump is connected for moving oscillating fluid through the membrane module and a feed pressure pump is connected with the membrane module for applying membrane operating pressure. A fluid oscillator is active with either pump for pulsating fluid received thereat.
1 . A membrane separation apparatus for effluent treatment comprising:
a membrane module including a housing containing a membrane element, said module having an input for receiving effluent for treatment and a treated effluent output;
a fluid oscillator for pulsating fluid received thereat; and
a crossflow pump connected with said fluid oscillator and said membrane module input for moving oscillating fluid through said membrane module.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a feed pressure pump connected with said membrane module for applying membrane operating pressure.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid oscillator is a valveless pump.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a feed fluid filter receiving effluent for treatment and outputting filtered feed fluid to said crossflow pump.
5 . A membrane separation apparatus for effluent treatment comprising:
a membrane module including a housing containing a membrane element, said module having an input for receiving effluent for treatment and a treated effluent output;
a crossflow pump connected with said membrane module input for moving fluid through said membrane module;
a feed pressure pump connected with said membrane module for applying fluid establishing membrane operating pressure; and
a fluid oscillator for pulsating fluid applied by said feed pressure pump.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said fluid oscillator is a pump without certain suction and discharge check valves.
7 . The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said fluid oscillator is a double acting cylinder system.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cylinder system includes a single piston powered by an electrical crankshaft drive.
9 . The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a feed fluid filter receiving effluent for treatment and outputting filtered feed fluid to said crossflow pump.
10 . A method for vibratory membrane separation of an effluent fluid to be treated comprising the steps of:
directing effluent fluid to be treated to a membrane separation module through a fluid feed line;
applying fluid through a fluid pressure line at said membrane separation module to establish selected membrane operating pressure; and
oscillating fluid in one of said feed line and said fluid pressure line.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the step of oscillating fluid includes providing adequate oscillation amplitude height to produce effective shear thus minimizing thickness of membrane boundary layer.
12 . The method of claim 10 wherein the step of oscillating fluid includes providing adequate oscillation amplitude height to produce effective shear thus deterring excess scale formation.
13 . The method of claim 10 wherein the step of oscillating fluid includes modified fluid pumping.