US3794169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for dissociating collected solids from a filtration membrane
Assignee: Graftech Technology LLC
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Filing: 1972-05-15
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1992-05-15
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for producing a rapid reduction in the pressure followed by a high velocity slug of liquid to dissociate collected solids from a filtration membrane surface utilizing an air accumulator, check valve and a timed rapid pressure blowdown to dislodge the collected solids and flush them from the membrane; or utilizing a high volume recirculating pump for recirculating liquid suffused with air and periodically stopping the pump for a predetermined time interval and draining liquid from adjacent the membrane, resulting in a reduction of the pressure, and then starting the recirculating pump to provide a high velocity flow of liquid to flush collected solids from the membrane.
Inventors
- 👤 F Sisk
- 👤 R Watson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:28
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D65/00; B01D65/02; B01D2321/00; B01D2321/04; B01D2321/18; B01D2321/185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
Apparatus for dissociating solids, which tend to collect adjacent one surface of a filtration membrane from said one surface, said apparatus comprising means for supporting said membrane, a housing for containing said membrane and said supporting means, said housing comprising an inlet port for influent fluid having undissolved solids disposed therein, an outlet port for effluent fluid having undissolved solids disposed therein, the inlet and outlet ports being in fluid communication with each other and with said one surface of said membrane, and a filtrate port disposed to remove filtrate from said housing, a vessel in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet ports, said vessel being adapted to have a liquid level disposed therein, means for blowing down said vessel to remove concentrated solids, means for supplying pressurized influent liquid having undissolved solids suffused therein to the inlet port, means for admixing a gas with said influent liquid and means for providing a periodic decrease in pressure in the housing for a predetermined time interval followed by a slug of high velocity liquid adjacent said one surface to excite the boundary layer of liquid adjacent said one surface of the membrane to produce transient shear forces between the slug of liquid and said one surface of the membrane to dissociate the solids, which tend to collect adjacent said one surface of the membrane and flush them from the housing, thereby improving the rate at which filtrate flows through the membrane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
Apparatus for dissociating solids, which tend to collect adjacent one surface of a filtration membrane from said one surface, said apparatus comprising means for supporting said membrane, a housing for containing said membrane and said supporting means, said housing comprising an inlet port for influent fluid having undissolved solids disposed therein, an outlet port for effluent fluid having undissolved solids disposed therein, the inlet and outlet ports being in fluid communication with each other and with said one surface of said membrane, and a filtrate port disposed to remove filtrate from said housing, a vessel in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet ports, said vessel being adapted to have a liquid level disposed therein, means for blowing down said vessel to remove concentrated solids, means for supplying pressurized influent liquid having undissolved solids suffused therein to the inlet port, means for admixing a gas with said influent liquid and means for providing a periodic decrease in pressure in the housing for a predetermined time interval followed by a slug of high velocity liquid adjacent said one surface to excite the boundary layer of liquid adjacent said one surface of the membrane to produce transient shear forces between the slug of liquid and said one surface of the membrane to dissociate the solids, which tend to collect adjacent said one surface of the membrane and flush them from the housing, thereby improving the rate at which filtrate flows through the membrane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a tank disposed in fluid coMmunication with the filtrate port, said tank being adapted to separate the filtrate from the gas and means for maintaining a predetermined pressure in said tank, thus providing an energy source to produce a back flow through the membrane during the time interval when the pressure in the modules is decreased to assist in the dissociating collecting solids from the one surface of the membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising a first conduit connecting the vessel and the outlet port, a second conduit in fluid communication with the inlet port and adapted to supply the influent liquid thereto, a third conduit in fluid communication with the second conduit and the vessel, means for preventing back flow of liquid from the vessel to the outlet port disposed in the first conduit and means for preventing the back flow of liquid from the second conduit to the vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means for pressurizing the influent fluid and means for suffusing a gas in said pressurized fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 and further comprising means for rapidly discharging effluent fluid from said outlet port.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and further comprising a reservoir from which the means for pressurizing the fluid obtains its suction and into which the discharging means discharges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the filtrate discharges to atmosphere.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means for circulating the liquid from the inlet to the outlet port at a high rate, means for inducing a pressurized stream of liquid having dissolved solids and suffused gas disposed therein in the influent liquid flowing to the inlet port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and further comprising ejecting means for mixing gas from above the liquid level in the vessel with influent liquid to produce a gas suffused liquid which flows from the inlet to the outlet port of the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 and further comprising timing means which shuts off the circulating means for a predetermined time interval to drain liquid from the housing and allow the gas to fill the housing and diffuse through the membrane reducing the pressure in the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 and further comprising a reservoir from which the pressurizing means obtains its supply of liquid and into which the blowdown means discharges.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |