METHODS OF CLEANING MEMBRANE MODULES

1 . A method of backwashing a membrane filtration system including a vessel, a membrane module, piping, and a manifold comprising:

filtering a feed liquid through pores in walls of membranes of the membrane filtration system to produce a liquid permeate;

withdrawing the permeate from lumens of the membranes and through the manifold, a portion of the piping, and a valve while filtering the feed liquid;

stopping the filtration process;

to isolating the lumens of the membranes, the manifold, the portion of the piping, and a gas inlet when the filtration process is stopped, the lumens of the membranes, the manifold, and the portion of piping upstream of the valve during filtration, wherein the lumens of the membranes, the manifold, and the portion of piping consist of those through which permeate is withdrawn while filtering the feed liquid;

scouring surfaces of the membranes by flowing bubbles of a first gas past surfaces of the membranes;

supplying a second gas through a second gas inlet at a pressure less than a bubble point of the membranes;

applying the second gas to a portion of liquid permeate present in the isolated lumens, manifold, and portion of piping by introducing the second gas through the second gas inlet into the filtration system on a side of the valve in direct fluid communication with the membrane module;

directing the portion of liquid permeate into the membrane module through a first end of the membrane module and through a second end of the membrane module;

backwashing the membranes by displacing at least some of the portion of liquid permeate through pores in walls of the membranes, the second gas not penetrating into the membrane pores;

discharging backwash waste from the vessel;

refilling the vessel with feed liquid;

venting the second gas from the isolated lumens, manifold, and portion of piping; and

resuming filtration.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the permeate remaining present in the system when the filtration process is stopped consists of permeate present in the system on a side of a valve configured and arranged to isolate the filtration membranes from a second section of piping.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein isolating the membrane lumens, the manifold, and the gas inlet comprises closing the valve, the valve configured and arranged to to isolate the membranes from a second section of piping.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein backwashing is performed without the use of a backwash pump or a permeate holding tank.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the permeate remaining present in the system when the filtration process is stopped consists of at least one of permeate remaining in at least one manifold in fluid communication with at least one membrane module, in at least one membrane module header, in piping associated with the at least one manifold and the at least one membrane module header, and in a permeate side of filtration membranes

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising draining down liquid suspension including the displaced backwashing liquid.

7 . A method of filtering solids from a liquid suspension comprising:

immersing filtration membranes in the liquid suspension;

filtering the liquid suspension through pores in walls of the filtration membranes;

producing a liquid permeate within lumens of the filtration membranes;

drawing off liquid permeate from the lumens;

withdrawing the permeate from the lumens and through a manifold and a valve;

periodically suspending the filtration process;

isolating the lumens, the manifold, a gas inlet, and a portion of piping when the filtration process is suspended, the lumens, the manifold, and the portion of piping upstream of the valve during filtration, wherein the lumens, the manifold, and the portion of piping consist of those through which permeate is withdrawn;

directing liquid permeate present in the isolated manifold and portion of piping into the lumens through a first end of the filtration membranes and through a to second end of the filtration membranes; and

applying a gas at a pressure below a bubble point of the filtration membranes to the liquid permeate to displace at least some of the liquid permeate through the pores in the walls of the filtration membranes in a direction opposite to that of filtration, the gas not penetrating into the membrane pores.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein displacing at least some of the liquid permeate through the pores in the walls of the filtration membranes comprises removing solids from the filtration membranes into the liquid suspension surrounding the filtration membranes.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising reducing the volume of the liquid suspension surrounding the filtration membranes before displacing at least some of the liquid permeate through the pores in the walls of the filtration membranes.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the volume of liquid suspension surrounding the filtration membranes is reduced by suspending provision of the liquid suspension while providing a pressure differential across walls of the filtration membranes and drawing permeate from the filtration membranes.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising removing at least part of the liquid suspension surrounding the filtration membranes containing the removed solids by a sweep, drain-down or by a feed and bleed process to at least partially discharge the liquid suspension surrounding the filtration membranes.

12 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising using permeate remaining in ancillaries such as headers, and piping in addition to that in the filtration membrane lumens and manifold as a source of backwash liquid.

13 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising increasing the amount of permeate available for backwashing when filtration is suspended by providing a further chamber or reservoir in a permeate flow circuit.

14 . A method of filtering solids from a liquid suspension comprising:

applying the liquid suspension to lumens of filtration membranes;

filtering the liquid suspension through pores in walls of the filtration membranes;

forming liquid permeate on a shell side of a pressure vessel in which the filtration membranes are mounted;

drawing off liquid permeate from the shell side of the pressure vessel;

periodically suspending the filtration process; and

applying a gas at a pressure below a bubble point of the filtration membranes to liquid permeate remaining within the shell side of the pressure vessel, the liquid permeate remaining within the shell side of the pressure vessel consisting of the liquid permeate formed on the shell side of the pressure vessel, to displace at least some of the liquid permeate through the filtration membrane pores in a direction opposite to that of filtration, the gas not penetrating into the membrane pores.