DE29624608U1 - Multi-component liquid micro-filtration apparatus with surface cleaning - has vertical skeins formed of a number of equal length hollow fibres each end held in headers where air discharged at skein base produces bubbles in quantity large enough to scrub the fibres. - Google Patents

Abstract

A micro-filtration appts. has first and second headers vertically spaced apart at a fixed distance, the lower within the liq. substrate. Each header securely holds one end of a number of hollow fibre membranes each of equal length which is 0.1 to 5% greater than the length between the headers permitting restricted movement of the central fibre portion independent of the movement of another fibre which are subjected to transmembrane pressure differential in the range 0.1 to 50 psi. Also claimed are: (i) permeate collecting means sealing connected in fluid communication with permeate discharge face of each header and a means to withdraw the permeate; (ii) gas scrubbing assembly; (iii) process for maintaining the outer surfaces of the membranes free from build-up; (iv) method of forming a skein; and (v) a header having potted hollow fibre membranes.

Description

BACKGROUND THE INVENTION

The The present invention relates to a membrane device comprising a Improvement over represents a frameless array of hollow fiber membranes, and a method of maintaining clean fiber surfaces during filtering of a substrate for removing a permeate, which is also the subject of the US patent No. 5,248,424; and a method of manufacturing a header for one Fiber strand. In particular, the term "vertical strand" (hereinafter referred to as "strand") used in the title refers to to an integrated combination of structural elements, including (i) a plurality of vertical fibers of substantially equal length; (Ii) two head elements, in each of which opposite each other Terminal areas of the fibers are cast to open their ends to keep; and (iii) a permeate trap located at the Periphery in liquid-tight Engagement with each head element is kept to permeate from the Catch the ends of the fibers. The ones used in the parent application expressions are summarized in the glossary contained herein.

The in particular, this invention relates to relatively large systems for microfiltering liquids and sets big Value on the simplicity and efficiency of a configuration, at which involved making a module in which the fibers are trapped are waived. As with the '424 patent, the novel configuration Air exiting near the base of a strand on efficient Way to create bubbles in a specific size range and in an amount sufficient to wash the fiber, and to Effecting controlled scrubbing of the fibers together ("inter-fiber washing"). Different than in the '424 patent described system, the fibers run vertically in a strand and have no arcuate Configuration over a horizontal plane through the horizontal centerline of a header on. Consequently, runs the path of the ascending bubbles substantially parallel to the Fibers and is not crossed by the fibers of a vertical strand. Nevertheless, the bubbles wash the fibers.

The limited reciprocating fibers become entangled due to their defined Length not and do not rub against each other as described in the '424 patent Array is likely. The one from one side to the other Displacement of an intermediate region of each fiber within the "constraint zone" or "bubble zone" is limited by the fiber length. The length defined here the fibers minimize (i) shear forces, when the upper fibers are held in the upper header, (ii) excessive rotation the upper portion of the fibers; and (iii) excessive inter-fiber abrasion. Such a reciprocation of a fiber with a shift from one side to the other is different from a vibration, which occurs when a fiber is stretched, d. H. if the length of the towards the substrate exposed potted fiber is not larger as the distance between the opposite sides of the Fibrous upper and lower headers. Such a vibration will according to the US patent No. 5,209,852 to Sunaoka et al. In a process of splitting and deposition of dense particles induced by bubbles. Different to in the case of fibers which, according to the Patent '852 described process held in the module, consists of our novel strand no tension in each fiber, because the opposite Sides of the headers by a distance smaller than the length of a single fiber, are spaced from each other.

The Use of an array of fibers in the direct treatment of a activated sludge in a bioreactor is in an article with the title "Direct Solid-Liquid Separation Using Hollow Fiber Membrane in Activated Sludge Aeration Tank "by Kazuo Yamamoto et al in Wat. Sci. Tech., Vol. 21, Brighton, pp. 43-54, 1989, and in the '424 patent be written and the description is included by reference, so as if she were Completely listed here. The relatively poor performance achieved by Yamamoto et al. was mainly due to that It has not been recognized how important it is to maintain one Electricity by supplying a fiber strand with air from within and below the strand. It has not been realized that It is necessary to use essentially the entire surfaces flowing through the strand Wash bubbles to keep the fibers flooded with bubbles. These Requirement becomes more important when the number of fiber in the Strand rises.

Tests conducted with the Yamamoto et al device show that when the air is provided off-the-wire, the flow decreases much faster over a period of only 50 hours, thereby confirming the results achieved by Yamamoto. This goes out 1 which is described in greater detail below and in which the graphs show results achieved by Yamamoto et al and with the array described in the '424 patent and with a vertical strand where the headers are rectangular, with all three arrangements identical Fa were used under essentially identical conditions.

The carried out by Yamamoto et al Investigation with hanging down Fibers continued, and most recent Developments were reported in an article entitled "Organic Stabilization and Nitrogen Removal in Membrane Separation Bioreactor for Domestic Wastewater Treatment "by C. Chiemchaisri et al., And in a discussion at the Conference on Membrane Technology at Wastewater Management in Cape Town, South Africa, on 2.-5. March 1992 and also described in the '424 patent. The fibers were after hung down, and it was a highly turbulent stream of water in alternate directions important.

It is obvious that the description in the reference both Yamamoto et al. as well as Chiemchaisri et al. has shown that the airflow over the surfaces the hanging Fibers little or nothing contributes to the attachment of microorganisms to inhibit the substrate.

Later became in the European Patent Application 0 598 909 A1 to Yamamori et al. Seeks to solve the problem of the construction on the fibers by "spreading the hollow fibers into shape a flat sheet "(see page 4, lines 46-47) to avoid, and there is no indication of how the fibers at actual Use be kept in a spread position. Further For example, each array in a "structure element for Enclose and holding the fastener "(see page 3, line 42 and Figs Lines 51-52), what contrary to the concept of a frameless array. FIGS. 14 and 18 highlight the horizontal configuration in which the Array is used. In terms of of fighting FIG. 13 shows how the fibers would form troughs when the array of being vibrated or shaken container would be taken. A prior art module is shown in FIG. 16. in the both ends of each fiber into a cylindrical head element are cast, each fiber forms a loop and the to the loop formed ends are free. According to the data shown in FIG was the use of the prior art cylindrical Module in which the ends formed into loops are free in the substrate were less effective than the frameless array shown in FIG with spreading fibers formed into loops.

SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF THE INVENTION

It has been found that, for no known reason, fibers that were more than 5% but less than 10% longer than the fixed distance between the opposite sides of the headers of a vertical strand tended to shear off at the side; and the 10 longer ones tended to clump together in the bubble zone; and that a gas-scrubbed vertical strand with limited reciprocable fibers provides optimum configuration of the fibers through which bubbles of a fiber-cleaning gas ("wash gas"), when flowing vertically upwards, flow parallel to and along the fiber surfaces. In a strand having any desired surface area in the range of about 0.1 m ² to 1000 m ² or more formed by densely packed fibers, bubbles in such a configuration are more effective cleansers than bubbles which are formed by arcuate fibers containing the Path of ascending bubbles cross, intercepted. A comparison is made between strands with different fiber orientations. Blowing an oxygen-containing gas to promote the growth of microbes unexpectedly fails to cause microbial growth on the surfaces of reciprocating fibers, as the surfaces are "air-cooled" vertically. Deposits of living and / or non-living particles on the fibrous surfaces are minimized when the constrained reciprocable fibers are flooded with bubbles rising in the same direction that rise at a rate sufficient to provide physical detergency (the motive force provides the wicking force) Energy) with which the fibers are kept substantially free of harmful deposits. Thus, an unexpectedly large current is maintained in the fibers over each area of the strand fiber surface over a long period of time.

In a "gas-scrubbed" string and gas distribution arrangement, the strand fibers are held in spaced apart headers such that when inserted into the substrate, the fibers assume a substantially vertical profile in the substrate and in at least one of them Bladder column formed bubble zone to move back and forth independently. The fiber length between opposing surfaces of headers from which they protrude lies in a critical region where it is at least 0 1% (percent) but less than 5% greater than the distance between these opposing sides. Normally, the length of the fibers is less than 2% larger, more typically less than 1% larger, such that the reciprocation of the fibers is confined within a vertical travel zone, with the periphery of that zone facing away from one Movement of the outer strand fibers is defined from one side to the other; and the majority of these fibers move in a zone slightly larger than the zone defined by a region that one head element projects onto the other. Although the distance between the headers is fixed during operation, the distance is preferably adjustable to produce an optimum fiber length within the aforementioned ranges between the headers.

In commercial wastewater treatment of all types, the strands are typically in the range of 30 m ² to 500 m ² ; in other specific applications, such. As in the treatment of water in a recreational vehicle, an aquarium for aquatic animals or to produce a solids-free sample of a fluid for analysis, is a strand with a much smaller range of 0.1 m ² to 5 m ² , as "more independent Ministrang "is designated, formed with its own gas supply device and permeate take-off pump.

Permeate can only be taken from one, usually the upper, permeate catcher (tub or end cap), or for large area strands of more than 200 m ² from both (upper and lower) tubs or end caps. In the most preferred variant, air is introduced into a strand of air in one of several configurations, depending on the configuration of the header in the strand or the configuration of multiple headers in a group of strands. Preferably, the air tube delivers air to a sparger near the base of the strand fibers and at the same time forms a spacer for positioning and spacing the bottom header at the required distance from the top header. The sparger is part of a gas supply device that supplies purge gas.

One novel composite head element is for a bundle of hollow fiber membranes or "fibers" provided, wherein the composite header having a molded laminated body having any shape, the upper laminating means of a "fixing" (casting) material comprising a lower lamination agent of a "volatile" casting material is laminated. The terminal areas of the fibers become the volatile casting material poured when this liquid is, preferably a substantially rectangular parallelepiped (Cuboid) is formed, in which the open ends of the fibers (to for pouring) embedded and plugged in, making the fibers close together are kept substantially parallel to each other. The inserted Ends of the fibers are not over the lower (back) side of the lower laminating before, while the remaining lengths the fibers pass through the upper side of the lower laminating agent. The upper laminating means extends over one Height along the length the fibers sufficient to keep the fibers spaced apart to keep equal to the spacing in the lower area. If desired can be the composite header additional Laminating agent, e.g. B a "cushion" laminating agent over the fixing laminating agent to cushion each fiber around its embedded outer circumference; and a "seal" laminating agent as suitable sealing material to which the permeate collecting device can be grown.

Even though for the Head element of any shape can be chosen is for the easier Manufacturing each head element of a pair either as a rectangular one Parallelepiped (cuboid) or cylindrical disc formed. Rectangular vertical fibers are poured into rectangular headers; Cylindrical vertical fibers are turned into cylindrical head elements cast. To be the maximum space utilization in a header the fibers close in rows or spirally by rolling up a huge Arrays to spiral Rolls packed, with each end of the spiral roll directly into one cylindrical resin sealing device is poured. Such Resin sealant is typically rectangular or cylindrical trough or end cap formed. Both header configurations can in a variety of different embodiments, as in the explanatory Examples are described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention Best of all, the following detailed description and the schematic representations of preferred embodiments of the invention understandable, in which like reference numerals designate like elements. Show it:

1 a graph showing the change in current as a function of time, showing three curves for three runs with three different arrays, in each case the same amount of air, identical membranes and the same membrane surface area were used. The results obtained by Yamamoto et al. Are as Curve 2 (under modified conditions, in question Points to consider according to the applied test method, as explained below) shown; the current obtained with the gas-scrubbed assembly of the '424 patent is shown as curve 1; and the current obtained with the gas-scrubbed arrangement of the invention is shown as curve 3;

2 an exploded perspective view in which a membrane device with strand fibers, which are not held between the head elements and not interconnected, is shown schematically, wherein the fiber ends are molded into a lower head member, which is shown in operation of the device, with a permeate collection tray and a permeate withdrawal line;

2A an enlarged side view of a section of a side wall of a drip pan showing the profile of a head-holding step on the periphery of the tub;

2 B a bottom view of the head member showing any open-ended pattern protruding from the back side of a head member when fibers are molded after being stacked in rows and adhered together prior to pouring;

3 a perspective view of a schematically illustrated single array of a series of substantially coplanar arranged parallel fibers, which are mounted near their opposite terminal ends between spaced cards. Typically, multiple arrays are assembled before being poured sequentially;

4 an end view of a stack of clamped-together arrays, wherein it is shown that the individual fibers (only the last fiber of each linear array is visible, the remaining fibers in the array are immediately behind the last fiber) of each array through the thickness of one with an adhesive provided strip are spaced apart when the stack is held vertically in the casting liquid;

5 a perspective view with a schematic representation of a strand with its finished head, its permeate tray and double-air tubes, which are all formed integrally with the strand, wherein the double-air tubes an integrally formed, along an outer edge of the strand fibers in the head element cast air distribution line supply;

6 a side view of a completed integrally formed head member showing details of a permeate immersed in the substrate, the walls of the head rest on the lower part of a container and integrally formed a plurality of air tubes, along each outer edge of the strand fibers 10 supply air distribution duct cast in the head element;

7A a perspective view with a schematic representation of an air manifold, ascend from the vertical air ducts;

7 a perspective view with a schematic representation of a tubular air manifold with a transverse perforated region, which is positioned by opposing terminal areas;

8th a perspective view of a finished integrally formed header having a plurality of cast into a common head strands, which is formed in an integrally molded permeate catcher, ascend from the air tubes between adjacent strands and along the outer periphery of the outer strands vertically from the head element;

9 an off-scale portion of a gas distributor directing gas between the arrays in a header and optionally along the sides of the lower header;

10 a perspective view with a schematic representation of two strands in a group, the upper head elements are mounted with their ends on the vertical wall of a tank. The strands, together with a gas distributor, form a "gas wash assembly" which is inserted into the substrate with the fibers hanging substantially vertically in the substrate. By positioning the gas scrubber between the lower headers (and optionally on the outside of the strands), masses (or "columns") of bubbles are created which rise vertically in the same direction as the fibers, the bladders washing the outer surfaces of the fibers;

11 a perspective view of another embodiment of the washing arrangement with Dar positioning a plurality of strands (only two of which are shown) connected in series, with a gas distributor arranged between successive strands, and optionally another gas distributor being provided in front of and behind the first and last strands, respectively;

12 a side view with a schematic representation of a group of strands which are attached to the wall of a bioreactor, wherein all pipe joints are outside the liquid;

13 a top view of the in 12 in which a plurality of groups of strands can be positioned around the circumference of the bioreactor to form a large permeate withdrawal zone, while a clearing zone of baffles is formed in the middle region;

14 a cross-section with a schematic representation of a cylindrical strand with integrally formed with the end caps upper and lower headers, each having a fiber array is cast directly into a finished head member which is sealed at its periphery against the wall of the Endkanne without seal;

14A a bottom view of a cast-in array held as a roll in a Fasereinsetzform before the end of the roll is poured into a ring to form a one-piece head element in which the fiber pattern is spiral;

14B a bottom view of a series of embedded cylindrical arrays, which are referred to as "ring arrays", since the ends are fixed in rigid cylindrical rings, the arrays are nested with each subsequent ring array, which is pushed over the previous one.

These interleaved rings are then poured into a resin sealing ring;

14C a bottom view of a series of planar arrays, the width of which is chosen so that they can be stranded (ie, as successive strands in the resin sealing ring) stacked before the stack is poured into the ring;

15 a cross-section with a schematic representation of a cylindrical strand and integral with the end caps formed head elements, as in 14 with the exception that permeate is taken only from the top header;

15A a perspective view of a cross-shaped injection tube with a centrally disposed air tube and injection arms;

16 a side view with a schematic representation of a cylindrical strand in which initially an annular head element is formed. The annular head element is then enclosed by an end cap. In addition to the permeate tube, a rigid air feed tube is inserted through the upper end cap and upper header into the central region of the string, with the lower portion of the air feed tube being molded into the lower header and thus serving as a spacer and at the same time as a support for the upper end cap;

l7 a schematic representation of another embodiment of the strand in which the permeate tube is arranged concentrically in the air supply pipe and both are poured near the lower ends in the lower head element. Ports in the lower end of the air supply tube provide air near the base of the strand fibers;

18 a bar graph showing the average current over a 24-hour period for each of the three different orientations of the string;

19 a plot of the current as a function of time until the current reaches an equilibrium value, for the same strand with internal and external air supply;

20 a plot of current as a function of time until the current reaches equilibrium for strands of identical area except that the fibers are once stretched and once relaxed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Vertical strand and Arrays that form this

Of the inventive strand is used in liquid-liquid microfiltration process for removing solid suspended matter in micron, submicron and larger area, such as B. organic molecules, emulsified organic liquids and colloidal or suspended matter, normally used in water. Typical applications include (i) a membrane bioreactor for producing permeate as purified water; (ii) filtering from secondary Wastewater from wastewater treatment to remove solid suspended matter and pathogenic bacteria; (iii) clarifying water flows to Production of drinking water (removal of colloids, long-chain carboxylic acids and pathogens); (iv) depositing a permeable liquid component in biotechnical nutrient solutions; (v) Drain of metal hydroxide sludges; and (vi) filtering oily Sewage.

typically, the string is configured so that all connections for in the Strand entering or leaving the strand fluids in the upper Head element are provided. Permeate is the most preferred Variant taken through a pipe passing through the upper head element, if (i) the lower header does not catch any permeate (such as explained below); or (ii) permeate in both the upper and lower ones Head element accumulates. The strand preferably works in one Substrate, which is in a container with atmospheric Pressure (1 bar) or above is in a range of up to about 10 bar under pressure Vessel, without in the case limited to one module to be.

One or more arrays are cast in headers whose upper (or "front") and lower (or "back") surfaces in horizontal (x-y) planes lie. Instead of a single continuous one Arrays are made up of multiple arrays and end to end connected together to form a much larger array, the is expandable.

Of the Operation of the strand is determined by (a) the selected fiber, (b) the amount used air and (c) affects the substrate to be filtered. The goal is to filter a slow, moving or arrested one Substrate in a big one container under ambient or elevated Pressure, but preferably substantially below ambient pressure, and maximizing the efficiency of this (filtering) practical and economical Way performing Train.

By the operation at ambient pressure, the incorporation of the integrally formed Head elements of the strand in a container of the substrate and the Enable a restricted Movement of the fibers in the bubble zone in a substrate becomes a damage minimizes the fibers. As in a header at least 10, preferably from 50 to 50,000 fibers, each of which is in the is at least 0.5 m long, is in one strand greater area for the Filtering the substrate provided.

Fibers and like these tight are packed

The Fibers share a container into a "feed zone" and a withdrawal zone, referred to as "permeate zone". The influx of substrate occurs outside (as "from the outside to in "successful Current) of the fibers, and the substrate splits into "permeate" and "concentrate" streams. The strand of the invention or a group of strands of the invention is most preferred Variant for the Microfiltration with "from Outside inside " Electricity used. Although at least one strand is interchangeable in one small container with a volume of up to about 10 l (liters) and even up to about 100 l or more is arranged, a group of strands is preferred in a relatively large container with a volume of more than 1000 l, such as. B. a flowing watercourse or more typically a pond or a tank. In the most typical variant is a group or groups of reception facilities for the permeate into a big one Tank with atmospheric Pressure built and permeate is removed from the tank.

The Fibers used to make the strand may be of a conventional type Membrane material can be made, provided that the fibers are flexible are and one for the microfiltration average pore cross-sectional diameter have, namely in the range of about 1000 Å to 10,000 Å. Typically, the fibers are 1 meter to about 5 meters long, depending on the dimensions of the substrate body (Depth and width) in which the strand is inserted.

preferred Fibers operate at a transmembrane differential pressure in the range of 7 kPa (1 psi) - 69 kPa (10 psi) and are under ambient pressure, with the permeate is taken under the action of gravity. These fibers will be from the point of view of the desired Function selected, and the dimensions of the strand are determined by the geometry of the headers and the length the fibers determined. It is unnecessary, to restrict a fiber in a modular housing, and This is not the case.

at Hollow fiber membranes is the outside diameter ("AD") of a fiber at least 20 microns and can until about 3 mm in size, it is typically in the range of about 0.1 mm to 2 mm. The bigger the AD, the less desirable is the area ratio per Volume unit of the fiber. The fiber wall thickness is at least 5 μm and can be up to 1.2 mm, it is typically in the range of about 15% to about 60% the AD of the fiber and in the most preferred variant in the range from 0.5mm to 1, 2mm.

Any number of fibers may be present in a single array, typically ranging from about 1,000 to about 10,000 for commercial applications, and the preferred area for a strand being at least> 1 m ² , typically from 10 m ² to about 100 m ² . The pitch of adjacent fibers is preferably 1.2- (1.2d) to about 5-times (5d) the AD 'd' of a fiber. A preferred center spacing is between about 1.5d and 2d. The packing density of fibers, ie the number of fibers per unit area of a head element, is preferably in the range of 4 to 50 fibers / cm ² , depending on the fiber diameter.

The special methods of attaching the fibers in each header is not critical, the choice depends of the materials of the header and the fiber as well as the cost for the Application of a method other than the pouring off. However, it is important that each fiber be attached fluid tight in each header is to avoid pollution of the permeate. this happens by substantially vertical, closely spaced and substantially concentric pouring the fibers.

preferred Fibers are made of organic polymers and ceramics, they are isotropic or anisotropic and have a thin layer or "skin" on the outer surface of the Fibers on. The fibers can be off braided yarn with a cover made of water-insoluble Polymer material as described in US Patent No. 5,472,607. Preferred organic polymers for Fibers are polysulfones, polystyrenes, including styrene-containing copolymers, such as Acyl nitrile styrene, butadiene styrene and styrene vinyl benzyl halide copolymers, Polycarbonates, cellulose polymers, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, Polyethylene terephthalate and the like, as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,230,463; the description is by reference, as if it were completely here listed. Preferred ceramic fibers are aluminum oxide from E. I, duPont de Nemour Co. and described in U.S. Patent No. 4,069,157.

header

One one piece trained head element is in one direction relative to the other slidable, either in the longitudinal direction (x-axis) or in the transverse direction (y-axis), but before dipping the strand for surgical purposes. To use a strand, the headers become vertically spaced apart and parallel to each other in one container arranged, z. B. by mounting a header over the other against a vertical wall of the container, which serves as a spacer serves. This also applies to the spaced placement of one header over the other with others Spacing devices, such. As rods, rods, struts, I-beams, channels and ähnli chem, to assemble multiple strands to a "group or a tuft of strands "(for the sake of brevity referred to as "group"). To the assembly to a group is one between the cast in Ends of each individual fiber lying segment either along the x or y axis slidable, as the fibers are held loose in the strand.

at the most preferred variant is each integrally formed head element poured directly into a suitable material, from which the head element from hardened Cast resin is not removed, with no seal (thus referred to as "sealless") between the cured one Resin of the header and the inner periphery of the permeate collector is required. If that in one piece trained head element is adhesively attached in a tub or "end cap", again, to form a permeate capture zone, there is no seal required, although one can be used when the integrally formed head element to be expanded.

The fixing material for fixing the fibers in a finished header (or fixing laminating agent) in the most preferred embodiment is either a thermosetting or thermoplastic synthetic resin material optionally reinforced with glass fibers, boron or graphite fibers or the like. Thermoplastic materials may be crystalline, such as. As polyolefins, polyamides (nylon), polycarbonates and the like, be semi-crystalline, such as. Example, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), or be substantially amorphous, such as. As polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane and the like. Thermosetting resins typically include polyesters, polyacetals, polyethers, cast acrylates, thermosetting polyurethanes, and epoxy resins. In the most preferred variant, a "fixer" material (so called because it fixes the locations of the fibers relative to each other) is a material that is substantially rigid after curing over a thickness of about 2 cm and due to its hardness is generically referred to as "plastic". Such a plastic has a hardness in the range of about Shore D 30 to Rockwell R 110 and is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins, phenols, acrylic resin derivatives, polycarbonate, nylon, polystyrene, polypropylene and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW PE). Polyurethane, which is available from Uniroyal Chemical Company under the brand name Adiprene ^® and Air Products under the brand name Airthane ^®, and epoxy resins, which are available as Epon 828 commercially are excellent fixing.

The resulting membrane device comprises: (i) a vertical strand of a plurality of restricted reciprocable fibers which together have a surface area in the range from 1 m ² to 1000 m ² , preferably from 10 m ² to 100 m ² , and which are mounted only in spaced-apart headers; and (ii) a gas scrubber that creates a column of bubbles that rise within and near the base portion of the strand and encase the strand. The generated bubbles have an average diameter ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 25 mm or more. A liquid component is selectively removed from the substrate.

Gas washing arrangement

A gas scrubbing assembly comprises: (a) at least one strand or group of gas-scrubbed fiber strands which deposit a desired permeate from a larger body of a multicomponent substrate having finely divided particles sized within the range of 0.1 μm-44 μm (b each strand having at least 20 fibers having upper and lower spaced-apart terminal portions in the upper and lower headers, respectively, with the fibers reciprocally restrictedly reciprocated in a bubble zone, and (c) adapted gas distribution means for effecting distribution of vertically rising bubbles in a column above and very near the top of the lower header, wherein the length of the fibers is from at least 0.1% to less than 5% greater than the distance between opposite sides of the header. The adapted gas distribution device has passages through which gas flows continuously or intermittently, at a flow rate that is proportional to the number of fibers. The flow rate is substantially in the range of 0.47 - 14 cm ³ / sec. per fiber (0.001 - 0.03 scfm / fiber) (standard ft ³ per minute per fiber), typically in the range of 1.4 - 4.2 cm ³ / sec / fiber (0.003 - 0.009 scfm / fiber). In a mini strand, the area of the fibers does not serve to define the amount of air used because the air flows substantially vertically along the length of each fiber.

The Gas scrubber arrangement is used as follows: (i) together with a vertically adjustable spacing device for mounting the Headers at a vertical distance from each other and in open fluid communication with (ii) a catcher for collecting permeate; and (iii) sufficient air to generate enough bubbles through flow up the strand between and parallel to the fibers to the fiber surfaces essentially free from deposits of living microorganisms as well small non-living particles that are present in the substrate could be.

With surprisingly little purge gas being delivered from a sparger located between the fibers near their bases, the equilibrium flow is maintained for a long period of time, typically 50 hours to 1500 hours. The sparger of a gas distributor is positioned adjacent the top of the lower header to create a column of rising bubbles, with the fibers in the column being flooded with bubbles. A group of strands may additionally be "gas scrubbed" with one or more air tubes disposed between the lower headers of adjacent strands, most preferably also adjacent to the outermost strands of the first and last strands so that with "n" headers "n + 1 "additional air pipes are provided. The type of gas (air) manifold is not critical, provided that it delivers bubbles in a preferred size range of about 0.1 mm to 25 mm as measured within a distance from 1 cm to 50 cm from the blistering passages.

Operation of the system

Of the Operation of the system is of positioning at least one Strand, preferably a group, near a source of sufficient Air or gas supply to maintain a desired Electricity and to enable of permeate capture from at least one header. One desired Power is achieved and produces the appropriate transmembrane differential pressure the fiber under operating conditions.

Of the Transmembrane differential pressure is preferably with a conventional Non-vacuum pump generates when the transmembrane differential pressure is sufficiently low and in the range of 0.7 kPa (0.1 psi) to 101 kPa (1 bar), provided that the pump has the required Intake generated. A pump that generates a minimum intake can be used when a sufficient "liquid head" between the substrate surface and the permeate withdrawal point is generated. As detailed below explained is also when a permeate stream has been generated by a pump is, the pump is not essential because the permeate due a "siphon effect" continues to flow. It is obviously, that when operating with fibers that have a transmembrane differential pressure in the range of up to 101 kPa (14.7 psi), a non-vacuum pump provides adequate service in a non-pressurized container; and in the range of 101 kPa to about 345 kPa (50 psi) becomes from a large liquid head or a pressurized container generated over the atmospheric pressure lying pressure used.

One Method for separating permeate from a substrate while maintaining relatively clean fiber surfaces in an array involves the immersion of a strand of restricted and movable, substantially vertical fibers into the substrate, so that upper and lower end caps of the strand are mounted one above the other, wherein a plurality of fibers are secured between headers is and the opposite Port areas of the fibers in open fluid communication with at least a head element are poured; working the fibers a transmembrane differential pressure in the range of about 0.7 kPa (0.1 psi) to about 345 kPa (50 psi), with the length The fibers are at least 0, 1% to about 2% greater than the direct distance between each other Upper and lower surfaces of a hardened resin in the head elements, so that the fibers in the inserted state is a substantially vertical Forming fiber strand; maintaining a substantially constant current, essentially the initially achieved, in equilibrium Corresponds to current indicating that the fiber surfaces are substantially free of Another build up of debris is when the one in balance current is reached; the capture of the permeate; and the removal of the permeate.

The The method described above can be used when operating an anaerobic or aerobic bioreactor used with the membrane device according to the invention retrofitted has been. The anaerobic reactor is a closed vessel, and that Washing gas is a molecular oxygen-free gas, such as. Nitrogen.

One aerobic bioreactor can be used with at least one gas-washed group of vertical cylindrical strands retrofitted each strand being from 500 to 5000 fibers of length 1 m to 3 m is made, further with a permeate collecting device to operate the reactor without the numerous limitations and limitations imposed by a secondary treatment system.

typically, There is no cross flow in a tank closed on one side of the substrate the fiber surface. When in a tank closed on one side there is a substrate flow is present by the strand, the current is on the air supply below the strand or mechanical mixing that is applied due to the solids in suspension. Generally there is one larger electricity and a higher one Fluid velocity through the strand in a tank, in the one Substrate flows continuously, the fluid velocity over however, the fibers are generally too insignificant to growing microorganisms prevent it from being deposited, or suspended matter, e.g. B. microscopic small pebble particles, to prevent settling on the fiber surfaces.

1 shows the results of a comparison of three runs, in one of which the findings of Yamamoto from the 89th publication (curve 2) have been applied, but a ventilation device has been used. the air from the side brought in and directed them radially inward, as from Chiemchaisri et al. In a second pass (curve 1), the gas washed assembly described in the '424 patent is used and in the third pass (curve 3) the gas scrubbed string described herein is used, except that the headers were rectangular parallelepipeds (cuboids) , With an arrangement of a reverse parabolic array with an air distribution device (Yamamoto et al), which is located in Wat. Sci. Tech. Vol. 21, Brighton, pages 43-54, 1989, and a parabolic array of Cote et al., Described in the '424 patent, is compared to the current obtained by means of the vertical leg of the invention.

The comparison relates to the three assemblies with nominal 0.2 μm pore size fibers having substantially identical holes and areas in 80 liter tanks filled with the same activated sludge substrate. The differences between the experiment of Yamamoto et al and the experiment described in the '424 patent are listed in the' 424 patent and the conditions of the comparison are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. The vertical strand used herein differs from the strand described in the '424 patent only in the vertical configuration of the 280 fibers, each about 1% longer than the spacing between the spaced-apart headers during operation. The flow rate of air for the vertical strand is 1.4 m ³ / hr / m ² when using a coarse bubble diffuser.

In 1 , in which the current, ie liters per meter ² per hour per pressure unit (conventionally written as (Lmh / kPa)) is plotted as a function of the operating time of the three arrangements, the curve indicated by the reference numeral 3 for the current at vertical Strand is approximately the same current as the current generated by the parabolic strand, which is designated by the reference numeral 1. It is shown that each current reaches equilibrium within less than 50 hours, but after about 250 hours, the current generated by the inverted parabolic array is found to decrease, but the other two devices reach equilibrium.

2 11 is an exploded view of a portion of a membrane device referred to as a "vertical strand". 10 is designated and a lower header 11 a head element pair, wherein the other (not shown) upper head element is formed substantially identical; a drip tray 20 Permeate begins, that over a line 30 is removed. The head shown is a rectangular prism, but it may be cylindrical if desired. Although the fibers 12 are densely packed, they are not in contact with each other, but are spaced from each other by the cured resin arranged between them.

As shown, the open ends of the terminal areas are located 12 ' the fibers in the same plane as the bottom of the header 11 because the fibers are cast in a conventional manner and the head member is split to expose the open ends. A specific pouring method, in which the trough of a U-shaped fiber bundle is cast, results in the formation of two head elements. This method is described in the '424 patent (Sp. 17, lines 44-61); however, even cutting the cast fibers with a thin, high-speed diamond blade often results in damage to the fibers and initiation of collapse of the peripheral wall. In another conventional fiber pouring method described in U.S. Patent No. 5,202,023, bundled fibers are dipped with their ends in resin or paint to prevent resin from entering the holes of the fibers during the pouring operation. The ends of the bundles are then placed in molds and uncured resin is added to saturate the ends of the fiber bundle therewith and to fill the interstices between the individual fibers in the bundle and the flexible tubing in which the bundle is held. The cured shaped ends are removed from the molds and the formed ends cut off (see bridging columns 11 and 12). In any of the prior art methods, disassembling the mold will damage the embedded fibers.

Therefore becomes a novel method of manufacturing a header il applied in the form of a rectangular prism. The procedure makes producing a composite header with two liquids required. A first liquid volatile Material forms a "volatile lamination" of the composite header in the solidified (cured) state; a second liquid from a non-volatile Fixiermaterial forms a "fixing Laminating ".

The first liquid is poured around connecting areas of fibers, cools and solidifies to a volatile laminating; the fibers in the volatile laminating agent become then poured again, this time by pouring the second liquid over the solid volatile Laminating.

• Herstellen eines Faserbündels in mindestens einem Array, das von einer Halteeinrichtung mit einer Dicke entsprechend einem gewünschten Seitenabstand zwischen benachbarten Fasern gehalten wird;
• Halten des Bündels in einer ersten Flüssigkeit, wobei die Anschlussbereiche der Fasern eingetaucht bleiben, bis die Flüssigkeit zu einem ersten angepassten Laminiermittel erstarrt ist, vorausgesetzt, dass die erste Flüssigkeit nicht mit dem Fasermaterial reagiert;
• Gießen einer zweiten Flüssigkeit über das erste angepasste Laminiermittel zum Einbetten der Fasern in einer gewünschErstarrenlassen der zweiten Flüssigkeit zuten Tiefe und m Bilden eines fixierenden Laminiermittels auf dem ersten an gepassten Laminiermittel, wobei die zweite Flüssigkeit ebenfalls im wesentlichen entweder nicht mit dem Material der Faser oder dem des ersten angepassten Laminiermittels reagiert;
• wodurch ein Verbund-Kopfelement ausgebildet wird, in dem Anschlussbereiche der Fasern eingegossen sind, und zwar vorzugsweise in einem geometrisch regelmäßigen Muster, wobei das Verbund-Kopfelement ein Laminat aus einem flüchtigen Laminiermittel aus einem flüchtigen Material und einem angrenzenden fertigen Kopfelement in Form eines fixierenden Laminiermittels aufweist; und dann
• Entfernen des ersten angepassten Laminiermittels ohne Entfernen eines Bereichs des fixierenden Laminiermittels, um die Enden der Faser offen zu halten und von der hinteren Seite des Kopfelements vorstehen zu lassen, wobei die offenen Enden einen kreisförmigen Querschnitt aufweisen.

More specifically, the method of making a finished stranded fiber header comprises the following steps:

• Producing a fiber bundle in at least one array held by a holding means having a thickness corresponding to a desired lateral spacing between adjacent fibers;
• Holding the bundle in a first liquid, wherein the terminal portions of the fibers remain submerged until the liquid has solidified to a first matched lamination agent, provided that the first liquid does not react with the fibrous material;
• Pouring a second liquid over the first adjusted lamination means to embed the fibers in a desired start of the second liquid zute depth; and forming a fusing lamination agent on the first matched lamination means, the second liquid also being substantially free either of the material of the fiber or of the fiber the first matched lamination reacts;
• whereby a composite header is formed in which terminal portions of the fibers are encapsulated, preferably in a geometrically regular pattern, the composite header being a laminate of a volatile laminating agent of a volatile material and an adjacent finished header in the form of a fixing laminating agent having; and then
• Removing the first adjusted lamination means without removing a portion of the fusing laminating means to hold the ends of the fiber open and project from the back side of the header, the open ends having a circular cross-section.

The step-by-step approach to fabricating an array with the novel header is based on an in 3 arrays described as follows:

The fibers 12 are each cut to the same length with a sharp knife, so that opposite ends of each fiber have a substantially circular cross-section. The fibers are coplanar side by side in a linear array on a planar holding device, such. B. stripes or cards 15 and 16 arranged. Preferably, the strips are covered with an adhesive, e.g. As a commercially available polyethylene hot melt adhesive coated so that the fibers with the strips and glued and opposing connection areas 12 " the fibers extend beyond the strips. between areas 12 ' The fibers are thus attached to the strip. Alternatively, the strips may be provided with parallel, spaced apart grooves which snugly receive the fibers. The strips can be flexible or rigid. When the strips are flexible, they are in turn successively bonded together with the adhered fibers to form an increasingly rigid stack for a header having a desired geometry of the cast fibers. To prevent gluing of the strips, a regular pattern of linear rows can be made by attaching multiple arrays using rubber bands 18 or other rigid strip clamps in a stack. The connection areas 12 " are thus kept at a distance from each other with the pitch of adjacent fibers preferably in the range of 1.2- (1.2d) to about 5-times (5d) the AD 'd' of a fiber, more preferably in the range of 1.5d-1 2d. Preferably, the thickness of a strip is approximately equal to or relatively smaller than the OD of a fiber, preferably in the range of about 0.5d to 1d, which then becomes the distance between adjacent outer surfaces of the fibers in successive linear arrays.

To forming a first array becomes second and third arrays (which are not shown since they are substantially identical to the first array identical) are produced analogously to the first array and placed on this. There will be additional Arrays applied until the desired Number of arrays combined into a bundle is, and the bundle is held vertically to the lower portion of the first einzugießenden bundle form.

4 schematically shows a rectangular tundish 17 whose length and width dimensions substantially correspond to the longitudinal (x-axis) and transverse (y-axis) dimensions of the desired header. The lower portion of the bundle is immersed in a first liquid which is at a level labeled L1 in the trough 17 increases. In the most preferred variant, a liquid wax, preferably a water-soluble wax having a melting point below 75 ° C, such as. As a polyethylene glycol (PEG) wax used.

The depth to which the first liquid is poured depends on whether the strips 15 be removed from the finished header or remain in this.

• (1) Es wird ein erstes angepasstes Laminiermittel mit einer Dicke L1 (entsprechend der Tiefe, bis zu der die erste Flüssigkeit eingegossen wurde) von ungefähr 5 – 10 cm (flüchtig) hergestellt, so dass 12' und 12" voneinander beabstandet sind und die Faserenden eingesteckt sind.
• (2) Die zweite Flüssigkeit, ein aushärtbares wasserunlösliches flüssiges Gießharz oder eine Reaktionskomponente des Harzes wird derart über die Fläche des flüchtigen Laminiermittels gegossen, dass sie die Fasern umgibt, und zwar so lange, bis die zweite Flüssigkeit auf einen Pegel L2 steigt. Sie erstarrt, um das fixierende Laminiermittel (die das fertige Kopfelement bildet) mit einer vom Pegel L1 zum Pegel L2 gemessenen Dicke (die Dicke wird als "L1–L2" gemessen und liegt typischerweise zwischen ungefähr 1 cm und ungefähr 5 cm) zu bilden, die die relativen Positionen der vertikalen Fasern aufrechterhält. Somit wird ein erstes Verbund-Kopfelement mit der kombinierten Dicke aus flüchtigem und fixierendem Laminiermittelgebildet.
• (3) Analog zu der unmittelbar vorstehenden Beschreibung wird der obere Bereich des Bündels in ein zweites Verbund-Kopfelement eingegossen.
• (4) Die Verbund-Kopfelemente werden aus ihren Gießwannen entnommen, und sie werden mit Heißluft angeblasen, um das flüchtige Laminiermittel zu schmelzen, wonach nur die fertigen Kopfelemente verbleiben, die jeweils eine Dicke von L1–L2 aufweisen. Das flüchtige Material wird dann wiederverwendet. Alternativ kann ein wasserlösliches flüchtiges Material in heißes Wasser platziert werden, um das Material aufzulösen, und dann wird das Material aus der Wasserlösung wiedergewonnen.
• (5) Die von der hinteren Permeat-Ausgabeseite der Kopfelemente vorstehenden Enden der Fasern sind offen und behalten einen kreisförmigen Querschnitt bei.

A. First, pouring strand fibers into the top and bottom headers from which the strips are removed is shown.

• (1) A first matched lamination agent having a thickness L1 (corresponding to the depth to which the first liquid was poured) of about 5 - 10 cm (volatile), so that 12 ' and 12 " spaced apart and the fiber ends are inserted.
• (2) The second liquid, a curable water-insoluble liquid casting resin or a reaction component of the resin is poured over the surface of the volatile laminating agent so as to surround the fibers until the second liquid rises to a level L2. It solidifies to form the fixing laminating agent (which forms the finished head element) with a thickness measured from level L1 to level L2 (the thickness is measured as "L1-L2" and is typically between about 1 cm and about 5 cm), which maintains the relative positions of the vertical fibers. Thus, a first composite header with the combined thickness of volatile and fusing laminating agent is formed.
• (3) Analogous to the description immediately above, the upper portion of the bundle is poured into a second composite header.
• (4) The composite headers are removed from their cuvettes and blown with hot air to melt the volatile laminating agent, leaving only the finished headers each having a thickness of L1-L2. The volatile material is then reused. Alternatively, a water-soluble volatile material may be placed in hot water to dissolve the material, and then the material is recovered from the water solution.
• (5) The ends of the fibers projecting from the rear permeate discharge side of the headers are open and maintain a circular cross section.

• (1) Die erste Flüssigkeit wird bis zu einem Pegel L1' unterhalb der Karten eingegossen, und zwar bis zu einer Tiefe im Bereich von ungefähr 1 – 2,5 cm und erstarrt, um ein flüchtiges Laminiermittel L1' zu bilden.
• (2) Die zweite Flüssigkeit wird dann bis zur Tiefe L2 über das flüchtige Laminiermittel gegossen und erstarrt, um ein Verbund-Kopfelement mit einem fixierenden Laminiermittel mit einer Dicke von L1'–L2' zu bilden.
• (3) Das Verbund-Kopfelement wird aus der Form genommen, und das flüchtige Laminiermittel wird entfernt, wobei die Anschlussbereiche 12" von der hinteren Seite des fertigen Kopfelements vorstehen, wobei die hintere Seite dort gebildet wird, wo der Pegel L1' war. In den fertigen Kopfelementen mit einer Dicke von L1'–L2' sind die Streifen 15 eingebettet (zusammen mit den Gummibändern 18, falls verwendet).

B. Second, the pouring is shown without removing the strips.

• (1) The first liquid is poured down to a level L1 'below the cards to a depth in the range of about 1 - 2.5 cm and solidified to form a volatile laminating agent L1'.
• (2) The second liquid is then poured over the volatile laminating agent to depth L2 and solidified to form a composite head element with a laminating fixative having a thickness of L1'-L2 '.
• (3) The composite header is removed from the mold and the volatile laminating agent is removed, leaving the terminal areas 12 " projecting from the rear side of the finished header, the rear side being formed where the level was L1 '. In the finished headers with a thickness of L1'-L2 'are the stripes 15 embedded (along with the rubber bands 18 if used).

C. The third thing is the pouring for making a cushion laminator with embedded fibers on the opposite (front) sides of the head elements from which strips removed are shown.

The intermittent snap-in motion of the fibers often results in breakage of the fibers around their circumference at the front-substrate interface. In order to counteract the hardness of the "fixing laminating agent", a "cushion laminating agent" made of a softer material than that of the fixing laminating agent is formed integrally with the fixing laminating agent by pouring a cushioning liquid (so called for its function in the cured laminating fluid State) over the fixing laminating agent to a depth L3, as in 4 shown. The depth gives elasticity around the circumference to minimize the risk of shearing. Such a cushioning liquid is rubbery when cured, has a hardness in the range of about Shore A 30 to Shore D 45 and is preferably made of a polyurethane or silicone or other material that adheres to the fixing laminating. After removing the volatile laminating agent, the finished head element thus produced has the combined thickness of the fixing laminating agent and the cushion laminating agent, ie, L1-L3, when the strips 15 are cut away.

D. Fourth, the production of a seal laminating agent is illustrated.

The finished head element is preferably in a permeate trough with a seal disposed at the periphery 20 used as in 2 shown. Since it is easier to seal the trough against seal lamination than against a near-peripheral seal, a sealant having a hardness ranging from Shore A 40 to Shore D 45 forms a desired seal lamination integrally with the back side the finished head element is formed. In the embodiment where the strips are cut away, the volatile laminating agent is prepared as described above and a sealing liquid (so called as it forms a seal in the cured state) is poured over the surface of the volatile laminating agent to a depth L4. The sealing liquid is then cured. By removing the volatile laminating agent and cutting away the strips 15 the finished header remains with a combined thickness of seal laminating agent (L1-L4), fixing laminating agent (L4-L2) and cushion laminating agent (L2-L3), ie, a total thickness of L1-L3.

In another embodiment, the manifolds are integrally formed with a header to prevent the tub from being secured to the header with sealing means and one or more gas distribution ducts to be positioned at an optimum location near the base of the strand fibers after forming the string. 5 shows a perspective view of an "integrally formed single strand" 100 with a finished head element 101 and a permeate pan 102 with a permeate take-off nipple 106 , which are integrally formed, and vertical air pipes 103 to be embedded in the finished header. The air pipes are preferably on both sides of the strand fibers with the supply air pipes 104 and 105 connected, which are inserted through passages in the walls of the tub fitting. The permeate nipple 106 is then plugged in and an array stack is held vertically in the tub in which volatile laminating agent is formed into both ends of the fibers and the lower portion of the vertical air tube 103 are embedded. Then, a fixing laminating agent is formed over the volatile laminating agent in which the fibers are embedded to form a fixing laminating agent through which the open ends of the air tubes 103 protrude. The volatile laminating agent is then melted and passed through the nipple 106 deducted. In operation, permeate collects in the permeate tub and is through the nipple 106 deducted.

6 shows a cross section of an integrally formed single strand 110 with another integrally formed finished head element 101 with a thickness of L1-L2, but without padding laminating, which is prepared in a similar manner as described above. A permeate tub 120 with conically widened outward sides 120 ' and formed therein transversely spaced through openings is between side walls 111 and 112 prefabricated, so that the trough is arranged at a distance above the lower part of the container.

Two air manifolds 107 , as in 7A or 7B are shown adjacent to the permeate trough 120 mirrored to each other positioned and held, with the vertical air tubes 103 through the openings in the sides 120 ' protrude and the ends 104 and 105 from passages in the vertical walls on both sides of the permeate pan. The permeate take-off nipple 106 ( 6 ) is initially inserted provisionally. The pile of stripes 15 is between the air pipes 103 vertically in the tub 120 which is filled to the level L1 to form a volatile laminating agent, the level being just below the lower edges of the strips 15 lies that are not removed. After solidification, the connection areas of the fibers 12 embedded in the volatile laminating agent and the volatile laminating agent also fills the permeate tubes 106 , Then, the second liquid is poured over the top surface of the volatile laminating agent until the liquid reaches the strips 15 covered, however, the upper ends of the air pipes 103 leaves open. The second liquid then cures to form the fusing lamination agent of the composite header which is then heated to allow the fugitive material to drain after the permeate is withdrawn 106 is removed by this.

7A shows a perspective view with a schematic representation of an air collection tube 107 with vertical air pipes 103 extending upwardly from a transverse header tube, from which the supply air tubes 104 and 105 protrude in the longitudinal direction. The bore of the air tubes, which may be either "fine bubble diffusers" or "rough bubble diffusers" or "aerators", is selected to produce bubbles of the desired diameter under operating conditions, with the bore typically in the range of 0.1 mm to 5 mm lies. Smaller diameter bubbles are preferably provided with a perforated transverse tube 103 ' an air manifold 107 ' , the feeding air pipes 104 ' and 105 ' has, generates, such 7B shown. In any case, the bubbles serve as a mechanical brush.

The Strand fibers for the upper head of the strand are analogous to that described above Way into a similar one Permeate pan cast to form a finished header with the exception that no air collection pipes are used.

8th 12 is a perspective view, in cross-section, schematically showing an embodiment in which a group of two strands is formed into a single, one-piece, finished header assembly, generally designated by the numeral 120b is designated, is poured. The term "header wrap" is used because the sidewalls 121 and 122 and the end walls (not shown) comprise a template into which air is introduced. Instead of in a permeate trough, permeate is collected by a permeate manifold provided for both fibers. In another (not shown) upper enclosure 120u , which is similar, with the exception that it is formed as a channel-shaped flat bottom pan (as a reversal for use as an upper head element) without molded air tubes, the opposite terminal portions of all strand fibers in the Wan poured in. For operation, both the lower and the upper enclosure 120b and 120u lowered with their strand fibers in a container of the substrate to be filtered. The side walls 121 and 122 need not rest on the lower part of the container, they may also be mounted on a side wall of the container.

The side walls 121 and 122 and the end walls are part of an integrally formed assembly with a platform connecting the walls 123 , and they are aligned riser pipes 124 molded into the platform. The risers are similar to a reversed test tube whose diameter only needs to be so large that an air tube 127 through the upper part 125 of the inverted test tube can be used. As shown, "n + 1" rows of air tubes are preferably provided for "n" stacks of infillable arrays. The crenellated platform 123 has riser pipes 124 on, between which channels 128 and 129 lie. The channels 128 and 129 each are wide enough to hold a stack of fiber arrays 12 pick up, and the risers are wide enough that sufficiently long air tubes 127 can be used in these, so that the upper open ends 133 the air pipes from the upper surfaces of the fixing material 101 protrude. The lower ends 134 the air tubes are cut at an angle to minimize insertion and positioned over the surface S of the substrate. The channel 129 is designed to be a permeate discharge tube 126 that forms one piece with the platform 123 is trained. The side wall 122 is with an air nipple 130 provided by the air into the walls of the enclosure 120b and the surface S of the substrate under the platform 123 created template is entered. Each stack is as above based on 6 in the most preferred variant, by forming a composite PEG wax and epoxy resin header around the stacks of arrays located between the rows of risers 124 thereby ensuring that the open ends of the air tubes are above the epoxy fixing material, and melting the wax through the permeate withdrawal tube 126 , When air is introduced into the enclosure, the air is distributed through the air tubes that are located between the strands and around the strands.

9 shows a schematic representation of a strand with upper and lower headers 41u respectively. 41b and in each show the projecting upper and lower ends 12u " and 12b " in that the side of the head element has not been cut to expose the fibers. The height of the adjacent intermediate areas 12u ' respectively. 12b ' corresponds to the depth of the cured fixing material.

It is obvious that the essential feature of the pouring method described above is that a volatile laminating agent is formed in which the openings of the terminal regions of the fibers are embedded before the intermediate regions adjacent to them 12u ' and 12u " and 12b ' and 12b " each fixed in a fixing laminating the head element. An alternative choice of material is the use of a volatile cast composite that is soluble in a non-aqueous liquid in which the fixing material is not soluble. Another choice is to use a water-insoluble volatile material which is also insoluble in non-aqueous solutions typically used as a solvent, but the volatile material has a lower melting point than the final casting material, which may be water-soluble or water-insoluble.

The volatile Material is inert both relative to the fibrous material as well to the final casting, and the fleeting Material and the fixing material are each in the other material insoluble. Preferably, the volatile forms Material a solid with a substantially smooth surface, a However, critical factor is that the volatile material at least partially cured must, and to a sufficient extent, that the shape of the head element is maintained, and that the material is a solid above the Temperature remains at which the fixing material in the head element shape is registered. The fleeting Laminating agent is substantially inert and in the final casting material insoluble, so that the fleeting Lamination solvable adheres to the fixing laminating agent.

The out of the form taken header is either heated, or the solvent is extracted, for the fleeting Remove laminating agent. Typically, the fixing material at a first curing temperature hardened to a solid mass, the temperature is not higher is the melting point or Tg of the volatile laminating agent, preferably at a temperature below about 60 ° C; of the Solid is then postcured at a temperature high enough to the fleeting one Material to melt, but not so high that the curing of the Fixiermaterials or the fiber properties are impaired. The fleeting Material is removed as described below, using the removal process from the fleeting Material and curing temperature of the final casting material depends.

According to 2 has the head element 11 Front and rear walls on top of vertical (z-axis) edges 11 ' and longitudinal (x-axis) edges 13 ' are formed; Sidewalls by edges 11 ' and transverse edges 13 " (y-axis) are formed; and a base part 13 that of edges 13 ' and 13 " is formed.

The drip tray 20 is dimensioned such that it is the base part 13 over a permeate collection zone in the tub snugly receives. This is done by making a rectangular pan with a base part 23 having substantially the same length and width dimensions as those of the base part 13 , The periphery of the tub 20 has a step formed on the periphery, as in FIG 2A ge shows in the wall 20 ' the tub in a step section 22 with a substantially horizontal shoulder 22 " and a substantially vertical support wall 22 ' ends.

2 B shows a bottom view of the underside of a header 13 showing the open ends of the fibers 12 ' , whereby the use of cast resin prevents them from touching each other. The geometric distribution of the fibers forms a regular peripheral boundary 14 (shown dotted) bounding the peripheries of the open ends of the outermost fibers.

Permeate flows from the open ends of the fibers into the base part 23 the tub 20 and leaves the catchment zone through a permeate withdrawal line 30 which is disposed in the lower part of the tub in open fluid communication with the interior of the tub. As the strand is backwashed, backwash fluid flows through the fibers and into the substrate. If desired, the extraction line may be positioned on the side of the tub, as by piping 30 ' shown. Regardless of whether the operation is by gravity only or by a pump to create an additional suction effect, it is obvious that a fluid-tight seal between the periphery of the head element 11 and the stage located at the periphery 22 the tub 20 is required. Such a seal is carried out by conventional means, such as. As a suitable seal or a sealant, typically a polyurethane or silicone resin, between the lower periphery of the header 11 and the stage 22 , According to 2 permeate flows down, but it could also be from the upper permeate port 45u in the upper permeate tub 43u be removed (see 9 ).

In 9 and 2A are six rows of fibers 12 on both sides of a gas distribution line 52 which crosses the length of the rows along the base part of the fibers.

The cast-in connection end areas 12b " open into the permeate tub 43b , Because the areas 12u ' and 12b ' the individual fibers 12 are cast in and the fibers 12 preferably by 1% to 2% longer than the fixed distance between the top and bottom headers 41u and 41b , the fibers extend between mutually opposite headers substantially parallel to each other, but are arranged in particular close to the head member parallel to each other. Also the connection end areas 12u " and 12b " the fibers projecting with exposed open ends from the headers are held parallel to each other. The fibers are below the bottom of the lower header 41b and above the top of the upper header 41u in front. The choice of fiber spacing in the head element determines the packing density of the fibers near the headers, but the fiber spacing is not critical since the spacing does not significantly affect the power during operation.

Since the fiber length normally varies during operation, with the amount of change depending on the particular fiber composition, and the distance between the top and bottom headers is critical, it is desirable to mount the headers such that one in the vertical direction relative to one another the other is adjustable, as indicated by arrow V. This is done by attaching the tub 43u on a plate 19 with vertically spaced passageways 34 through which a threaded bolt 35 used and with a mother 36 is secured. The threaded bolt 35 is in a fixed mounting block 37 ,

The fiber density in a head element is preferably chosen so that the maximum membrane area per unit volume of the substrate is achieved without affecting the circulation of the substrate through the strand. A gas distribution device 52 , such as As a perforated air tube, supplying air into the strand, so that gas (air) Bla sen rise up, whereby they get stuck on the outer surfaces of the fibers and thus wash them in an efficient manner. If desired, additional air pipes 52 ' on both sides of the strand near the lower head element 41b placed as shown in phantom to produce additional air washing performance. Whether permeate through the port 45u from the top header or through the port 4515 is taken from the lower header or both, depends on the particular application, but in all cases the fibers are essentially vertical Orientation on.

Of the vertical strand is inserted into a substrate to a substantially vertical profile, it has no structural Shape up. The shape he has is constantly changing, being the degree of change from the flexibility the fibers, their length, the overall dimensions of the strand and the degree of movement, the the fibers from the substrate and the oxygen-containing gas from the gas distribution device is lent.

10 shows a typical arrangement, which is referred to as "wall-mounted group" and which has at least two juxtaposed strands, generally with the reference numerals 40 and 40 ' with fibers 42 and 42 ' are designated; the fibers 42 are in the top and bottom headers 41u respectively. 41b cast; and the fibers 42 ' are in headers 41u ' and 41b ' cast; the headers 41u and 41b are with permeate capture devices 46u respectively. 46b equipped; the headers 41u ' and 41b ' are with permeate capture devices 46u ' respectively. 46b ' equipped; and the strands share a gas distributor 50 , A "group" of strands is typically used to retrofit a large, deep tank from which permeate is to be withdrawn by means of a vacuum pump. In a large container, multiple sets of strands can be used side by side in a tank. Each strand has several rows (only one of which is shown) of fibers 42 and 42 ' in upper headers 41u and 41u ' and lower headers 41b respectively. 41b ' on, and arms 51 and 51 ' the gas distribution device 50 are between the lower headers 41b and 41b ' arranged near their base parts. The top headers 41u and 41u ' are at one of their ends with mounting brackets 53 and 51 and suitable fasteners, such. B. screws 54 , attached to a vertical inner surface of the wall W of a tank. The wall W thus serves as a spacer, which fixes the distance between the upper and lower head elements. Each upper header is fitted with a permeate tray 43u respectively. 43u ' provided with permeate withdrawal lines 45u and 45u ' and with a permeate manifold 46u through which permeate, which is filtered into the drip pans, is continuously withdrawn. Each head element is sealingly bonded around its periphery to the periphery of each other sump.

The strand fibers shown in this perspective view (of which only one array is shown for clarity) have the shape of an elongate rectangular parallelepiped whose sides are irregularly shaped due to the random movement of the fibers from one side to the other in their reciprocation when immersed in a substrate. An elongate rectangular parallelopiped shape is preferred because it allows dense packing of fibers and yet excellent blast-washing of the fiber surfaces. In this form, a strand with 10 to 50 fiber arrays across the width 'w' in the longitudinal direction of the head elements 41u, 41b and 41u ' . 41b ' each array having fibers extending along the length '1' in the transverse direction of each header. Air tubes on both sides of a string effectively clean the fibers when there are fewer than 30 arrays between the air tubes. A strand with more than 30 arrays is preferably just if supplied from the center with air, as through the air tube 52 in 9 shown.

Thus, when approximately 100 fibers are arranged close to each other along the length '1' in the transverse direction of an array and 25 arrays are provided in one strand in a head element having a width 'w' in the transverse direction, the opposing terminal end regions of 2500 fibers in the head elements 41u and 41b cast. The open ends of all fibers in the headers 41b and 41b ' point down into the catchment areas in the drip pans 43b respectively. 43b ' , and those of all fibers in the headers 41u and 41u ' point down into the catchment areas in the drip pans 43u respectively. 43u ' , The withdrawal lines 45u and 45u ' are with the permeate manifold 46u connected by the located in the upper drip pans 43u and 43u ' accumulating permeate is typically taken out continuously. If the permeate flow is large enough, it can also be via the sampling lines 45b and 45b ' that with the permeate manifold 46b connected, from the drip pans 43b and 43b ' be removed. When permeate is withdrawn in the same plane in which the permeate withdrawal lines 45u . 45u ' and the manifold 46u and the transmembrane differential pressure of the fibers is in the range of 35 - 75 kPa (5 - 10 psi), the manifold can 46u be connected to the suction side of the centrifugal pump, which generates an appropriate required inlet height (NPSH).

Generally, the permeate is taken from both the top and bottom headers until the flow reduces to such a low level that it requires backwashing of the fibers. The strands can be made by introducing a backwash fluid through the upper permeate collection manifold 46u and removing the fluid through the lower manifold 46b be backwashed. typically, For example, from 3 to 30 strands may be coupled together to establish internal fluid communication through the manifolds, the permeate removal device and the fibers, and for external fluid communication through an air manifold. Since the permeate removal device is also used for backwashing, it is generally referred to as a "liquid circulation device" and only as a permeate removal device when used to remove permeate.

at Insertion into a substrate with suspended and dissolved organic and inorganic particles remain the most organic polymers buoyant in a vertical position. The fibers in the strand float in the substrate, weaving the fiber ends anchored in the head elements. This is done because (i) the permeate is essentially pure water with a smaller one specific gravity than that of the substrate and most polymers, from which the fibers are made, also a specific one Having less than 1 weight, and (ii) the fibers of bubbles, with which they are in contact, kept floating. fibers made of ceramics or glass fibers are heavier than water.

Adjacent to the strands runs an air distribution manifold 50 below the base part of the fiber bundle, preferably below the horizontal plane through the horizontal center lines of the head elements. The manifold 50 is preferably in two perforated arms 51 and 51 ' divided the base parts of the head elements 41b respectively. 41b ' are arranged adjacent, so that when air is discharged through holes in each area 51 and 51 ' Bubble columns rise adjacent to the fiber ends and then flow along the fibers through the strands. If desired, additional areas (not shown) adjacent to the base portions of the lower headers but located on the outside of each lower header may be used to create additional air columns along the outer surfaces of the fibers.

The type of gas (air) manifold is not critical, provided that it provides bubbles in a preferred size range of about 1 mm to 25 mm, measured at a distance of 1 cm to 50 cm from the passages, in FIG which they are produced. If desired, any area 51 and 51 ' embedded in the top surface of each header and the fibers may be molded around the area, thereby ensuring that the air passages in the areas 51 and 51 ' not be clogged with casting material. If desired, additional arms of the air tubes may be disposed on each side of each lower header such that fibers from each header are washed by columns of both lateral sides of rising air.

The Air can be generated continuously or intermittently, wherein better results generally with a continuous air flow be achieved. The amount of air generated depends on the type of substrate, the requirements with regard to the type of microorganisms and the Insertability of the fiber surfaces from.

11 shows a schematic representation of another embodiment of an arrangement, which is referred to as a "free-standing group" of strands, two of which are denoted by the reference numeral 60 are provided. The group is referred to as "freestanding" because the spacer is provided with the strands between the headers, this is usually because attaching the strands to the wall of a container is less effective than placing the group a distance apart a wall. Otherwise, the group 60 analogous to that in 10 formed shown mounted on the wall group.

Every group 60 with fibers 62 (only a single row of the plurality of regularly spaced vertical arrays is shown for clarity) is between upper and lower headers 61u and 61b used in a substrate 'S'. The lower headers rest on the bottom of the container. The upper headers are on rigid vertical air tubes 71 and 71 ' attached, is registered by the air in a tubular air manifold, which generally by the reference numeral 70 is designated. The manifold 70 indicates: (i) the vertical tubular arms 71 and 71 '; (ii) a lower transverse arm 72 that measures the length of the lower header 61b ' perforated and attached to this, the arm 72 with a longitudinal tubular arm 73 and optionally another longitudinal arm (not shown) 73 ' on the side remote from the head elements mirror image of the arm 73 is trained, communicates; and (iii) transverse arms 74 and 74 ' in open connection with 72 and 73 , where the arms 74 and 74 ' along the visible transverse sides of the head elements 61b and 61b 'are perforated and 74 and 74 ' with the tubular arm 73 ' can be connected if the latter is provided. The vertical air pipes 71 and 71 ' also have the additional function of spacing means between the first upper header and the first lower header, and since the remaining headers in the group are rigid in a similar manner (not shown) Lines are connected together, the headers are kept spaced apart in the vertical direction and transverse direction. Since all arms of the air manifold are in open connection with the air supply, the uniform air distribution is simplified.

As described above, the headers are 61u and 61u ' each fluid-tight with collecting zones in drip pans 63u respectively. 63u ' connected and has each tray extraction lines 65u and 65u ' on, those with longitudinal fluid lines 81 and 81 ' are connected. Analogous to this are headers 61b and 61b ' each fluid-tight with collecting zones in drip pans 63b respectively. 63b ' connected and has each tray extraction lines 65b and 65b ' on, with (not shown) longitudinal conduits 82 and 82 ' are connected. As shown, extraction lines are shown for both the upper and lower headers and both in front of and behind the headers. In many cases, permeate is removed only from an upper manifold which is provided only on one side of the upper header. A lower manifold is provided for backwashing. The backwashing fluid typically flows through the upper manifold, through the fibers, and into the lower manifold. The additional manifolds at the rear ends of the upper and lower headers not only result in a more even distribution of the backwash fluid but also provide support for the interconnected headers. It is obvious that in the absence of the rear upper connecting line 81 ' an upper header such. B. 61u , through another connection with the head element 61u ' or a spacer strut between the headers 61u and 61b must be spaced from the lower header.

In the illustrated optimal pass-through mode, each upper header is provided with rigid PVC pipe nipples which are secured by means of fittings such as e.g. B. L-shaped and T-shaped elements, with the upper lines 81 respectively. 81 ' can be coupled. Similarly, each lower header is with lower leads (not shown) 82 and 82 ' and / or spacing struts are provided for imparting additional rigidity, depending on the number of headers to be connected together. Permeate is withdrawn through an upper conduit and all tube connections, including the air connection, are above the liquid level in the container.

The fiber length (between the headers) in a strand becomes substantially chosen such that Achieved an efficient use of an economic amount of air is going to get an optimal current over one maintain a long period of time. Other to consider Factors include the depth of the tank in which the group is placed should be used, the positioning of the liquid and air manifolds and the convection pattern in the tank.

14 - 17 show specific illustrations of preferred embodiments of the cylindrical vertical strand. 14 shows a side view in cross section with a schematic representation of a vertical cylindrical strand 210 resting on the floor F of a tank, the string having two similar upper and lower cylindrical end caps 221 respectively. 222 which serve as permeate collecting trays. drilling 226 and 227 in the upper and lower end caps are with permeate withdrawal tubes 231 respectively. 232 provided, which are in fluid-tight connection with these. Permeate removed through the tubes is collected in a permeate collection manifold 230 merged. In each end cap, a finished upper / lower header is molded directly, with the upper header 223 essentially identical to the lower header 224 is executed. Each head element is made by pouring fibers 212 in a casting resin, such. A polyurethane or an epoxy resin, with sufficient rigidity to hold and seal the fibers under operating conditions. A commercial end cap for a polyvinylchloride "PVC" tube is the most preferred variant; in strands with a large surface area larger head elements are formed by commercially available glass fiber reinforced end caps for cylindrical tanks. It is important that the fibers do not touch each other, but are spaced apart by cured resin. It is also important that the cured resin be under operating conditions of the strand at the lower regions 212 ' Each fiber adheres and seals against fluid leakage. Visual inspection of a seal is made on the peripheries of the fibers at the top (front) and bottom (back) sides 223u respectively. 223b of the upper header 223 and the front and back sides 224u respectively. 224b of the lower header 224 are sealed. It can be used a conventional finished Kopfele ment, in which the ends 212 ' the fibers with the bottom 224b (essentially in the same plane) are flush. In the optimal feed-through mode are the open ends 212 ' the fibers from the bottom (back or bottom) side 224b although this is not visible through an opaque end cap.

The finished upper head element 223 (the fixing laminating agent) remains at the periphery of the end cap 221 stick when the volatile laminating agent through a hole 226 is removed in the upper header; and analog remains the finished lower head element 224 at the periphery of the end cap 222 stick, if the volatile laminating agent through a bore 227 Will get removed.

The strand fibers 212 are preferably formed in arrays in a geometric configuration, such as. B. a spiral-shaped role, are bundled. A head element is made analogous to the manner described by 4 has been described, by pouring the lower end of the spiral-shaped roller. 14A which is a bottom view of the back side 224b of the header 224 Fig. 3 is an illustration of the spiral pattern of openings in the ends 212 ' the fibers. Preference is given to a sparger before the array is rolled up into a spiral 240 (in 15A shown) with a rigid air supply pipe 242 placed in the array, so that when creating a spiral-shaped roller, the air supply tube is held axially centrally in the roller.

14B Fig. 13 shows a bottom view of the rear side 224b having a further configuration in which a series of circular arrays of increasing diameter are formed, each larger by a small predetermined amount than the previous one and the arrays preferably adhesively attached to the next one near its top or lower peripheries are attached to form a dense cylindrical fiber mass. In such a fiber mass, referred to as a series of circular rings, each array is affixed to both an adjacent, next smaller diameter array and an adjacent next larger diameter array, with the exception of the innermost and outermost arrays, which are the smallest or have the largest diameter. The pattern in the header 224 shows the ends 212 ' the fibers after pouring the nested arrays.

14C shows a bottom view of a lower (rear) side 224b with multiple arrays in the header 224 are arranged like a string. The arrays are formed on pairs of strips, each having a length corresponding to its position as a string in a casting ring into which the strand fibers are to be cast. That is, each array is formed on strips of decreasing width as measured from the central array formed on a strip having a width slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the casting ring into which the stack is to be poured. The arrays are stacked in the ring, with the widest array in position corresponding to the ring diameter. For a chosen fiber 212 that is, the larger the area needed in a strand, the larger the number of fibers in each array, the larger the diameter of the ring, and the broader each string-like array. The plurality of arrays are preferably adhered to each other by coating the fiber surfaces with an adhesive prior to placing a strip of the subsequent array on the fiber. Alternatively, the bundled arrays can be held with a rubber band before being inserted into the casting ring. The resulting string-like pattern in the head element 224 shows the ends 212 ' the fibers after pouring the nested arrays.

A detail of a sparger 240 is in 15A shown. The star-shaped sparger 240 with radially outwardly projecting tubular arms 241 and a centrally located feed approach 242 provides air which is directed into the tubular arms and discharged through air passages in the walls of the arms into the substrate. One with the centrally arranged feed approach 242 connected air supply pipe 244 supplies air to the sparger 240 , The lower end of the centered approach 242 is with short protruding nipples 245 provided, whose inner ends are soldered to the approach. The outer ends of the nipples have threads. The centered neck and nipples are easily insertable into the center of the strand fiber mass. After centering, the arms become 241 having a thread at one end, bolted to the outer ends of the nipple.

According to 14 rest the lower end cap 222 on the floor F of a tank near a vertical wall W, on which a vertical mounting strut 252 with suitable fasteners, such. B. a mother 253 and a screw 254 , is attached. A U-shaped bracket 251 is laterally from the base part of the mounting strut 252 in front. The arms of the U-shaped bracket hold the periphery of the upper end cap 221 and, to ensure that the end cap remains in place, it is secured to the U-shaped bracket with a right angle bracket and fasteners (not shown). A slot in the mounting strut 252 allows the U-shaped bracket can be raised or lowered so that the desired distance between opposite sides 223b and 224u the upper and lower headers are smaller by a desired amount than the length of a cast fiber, measured between these surfaces. Adjustability is particularly desirable when the fiber length normally varies during operation.

According to 14 if desired, permeate is only from the upper tube 231 to take a permeate connecting pipe 233 (shown in phantom) through the headers 223 and 224 in the Mass of strand fibers 212 used, whereby the permeate collecting zone 229 in the lower end cap in open fluid communication with the permeate capture zone 228 is connected in the upper end cap; and the hole 227 is with a stopper 225 closed, as in 15 shown. Since it is unimportant under such circumstances, if the lower ends 212 ' the fibers are inserted and the permeate capture zone 229 does not perform any essential function, the 20 zone 229 filled with casting resin.

16 shows a strand 270 with upper and lower end caps, in the sealed upper and lower ring head elements in upper and lower rings 220u respectively. 220b are formed after the fibers in the strand have been tested for defects. A rigid air supply pipe 245 is positioned in the spiral roll as described above, and the lower end of the roll is cast to form a lower finished header 274 to form into which the lower end 246 the air supply pipe is poured, the position of the arms 241 of the sparger just above the top 274U of the header 274 is fixed.

In an analogous way, an upper head element 273 in the ring 220u trained and the upper end 247 of the air supply pipe 245 through an axial bore 248 in the upper end cap 271 inserted over the ring 220u is pushed, the outer periphery is coated with a suitable adhesive to the ring 220u in the end cap 271 seal. The periphery of the upper end 247 is in the end cap 271 sealed with any conventional sealant.

17 shows a schematic representation of another embodiment of a strand 280 in which a rigid permeate tube 285 concentric in a rigid air supply pipe 286 which is held axially in the strand fibers 212 between opposing upper and lower headers 283 and 284 is poured into the upper and lower rings 220u and 220b are arranged, which in turn in end caps 281 respectively. 282 are sealed. For ease of manufacture, the lower end 285b of the permeate tube 285 with a snug fit in a socket 287 arranged and sealed there. The socket 287 and the end 285b then be in the lower end 286b of the air supply pipe 286 used and sealed there, so that the annular zone between the outer surface of the permeate tube 285 and the inner surface of the air supply pipe 286 Directs air to the base portion of the fibers, but does not allow permeate to enter the annular zone. The air supply tube is then placed on an array and the array is rolled up into a spiral which is held at each end with rubber bands. The lower end of the roll becomes a ring 220b placed, and a lower ring-head element is as described above with a finished head element 284 educated. Preferably, a relatively rigid elastomer having a hardness in the range of 50 Shore A to about 20 Shore D is used, and in the most preferred variant, a polyurethane having a hardness in the range of 50 Shore A to about 20 Shore D is used, measured as described in ASTM D-790, such as. PTU-921 from Canadian Poly-Tech Systems. For producing the upper finished header 283 will the air supply pipe, as in 5 used to fit snugly through an O-ring provided in a central bore in a plate to avoid loss of cast resin from the ring and volatile resin and finishing resins which are poured into the ring one by one and cured. The lower finished head element 284 is with embedded intermediate areas 212b ' formed, wherein the connection areas 212 ' hen vorste from the rear side of the head element. The upper finished head element 283 is with embedded intermediate areas 212u ' formed, wherein the connection areas 2121 " protrude from the front of the head element. When the finished head elements 283 and 284 are made and the fibers have been checked for defects becomes the top end 2861 of the air supply pipe 296 through a central hole 288 in the upper end cap 281 used and in the hole with a sealant or a collar 289 sealed. Preferably, the permeate tube 285 , the air supply pipe 286 and the collar 289 Made of PVC, so that they are easily glued together to make leak-tight connections.

As shown, permeate can pass through the permeate tube 285 from the permeate collection zone in the lower end cap 282 and separately from the lower end cap 281 through a permeate withdrawal port 281p which may be threaded for attachment to a pipe fitting. Alternatively, the permeate port 281p be closed with a plug and permeate through the permeate tube 285 be taken from both end caps.

The upper end 285u of the permeate tube 285 and the top end 2861 of the air supply pipe 286 be through a T-fitting 201 inserted through the air to the air supply pipe 286 is supplied. The lower end 201b one of the arms of the T-shaped element 201 is pushed onto the air supply pipe and sealed around the air supply pipe. The upper end 201u the other 30's arm goes into a reducing bushing 202 used and sealed around the permeate tube around. Air entering the inlet 203 of the T-shaped element 201 is fed, the annular zone flows down between the permeate tube and the air supply pipe and occurs through opposing ports 204 in the lower part of the air supply pipe, just above the top 284u of the lower header 284 , out. Preferably, the ports 204 threaded to the ends of the arms 241 screw together to form a sparger, the air substantially uniformly over and above the surface 284u distributed. Additional ports may be provided along the length of the vertical air supply tube, if desired.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a bioreactor with several groups of strands is retrofitted, which is shown schematically in the side view in FIG 12 and the top view in 13 are shown. The septic tank is a large circular tank 90 with a vertical circular outer baffle 91 a vertical circular inner baffle 92 and a floor 93 sloping towards the discharge of accumulating mud toward the center (vertex). Alternatively, the baffles may be single closely spaced rectangular plates arranged in outer and inner circles, but continuous cylindrical baffles (shown) are preferred. Regardless of which baffles are used, they are arranged so that their lower peripheries are at a selected vertical distance above the floor. Feeding material is through a supply line 94 in the bottom of the tank 90 entered until the substrate level above the outer baffle 91 lies.

A group 60 several strands 10 , analogous to those in the in 10 shown group, each of which strand in 9 is shown against the periphery of the inner wall of the bioreactor with suitable fasteners in an outer annular permeate removal zone 95 ' ( 13 ) between the circular outer baffle 91 and the wall of the tank 90 used at a depth sufficient to immerse the fibers. A clarification zone 91 ' is between the outer circular baffle 91 and the inner circular baffle 92 educated. The inner circular baffle 92 forms a vertical axial passage 92 ' , through the substrate into the tank 90 to be led. The strands form a dense fiber curtain in the form of radially extending, substantially planar vertical Ar rays, as in 9 shown between the upper and lower headers 41u and 41b are poured. Permeate is through a manifold 46u taken and air through an air manifold 80 registered, which runs along the inner wall of the tank and branches into Luftverteilarme between adjacent headers, including outer Verteilarme 84 ' on both sides of each lower header 41b at each end of the group. The air manifold 80 is between strands in the permeate withdrawal zone 95 ' positioned such that bubbles contact substantially the entire area of each fiber which is continuously flooded by bubbles. Because the fibers are substantially vertical, the air will be in longer contact with the fiber surfaces than would be the case if they were arcuate, and the air will most efficiently maintain a high current for a longer period than otherwise the case would be used.

It will be apparent that when the tank is at ground level, the liquid head is insufficient to produce the desired liquid head under the action of gravity alone. Without an adequate siphon effect, a centrifugal pump can be used to produce the required suction. Such a pump should be able to run dry for a short period of time and vacuum on the suction side from 25.5 cm (10 ") - 51 cm (20") WS or -35 kPa (-5 psi) to -70 kPa (-10 psi) can be maintained. Examples of such pumps with a capacity of 18.9 l / min. (5 gpm) @ 15 "WS are (i) flexible-impeller centrifugal pumps, e.g. Jabsco # 30510-2003 ^®;. (Ii) air operated diaphragm pumps, e.g. Wilden M2 ^®;. (Iii) progressive cavity pumps, . eg Ramoy ^® 30 3561; and (iv) peristaltic pumps, e.g. Waukesha ^® SP25..

example 1

The microfiltration of an activated sludge at 30 ° C with a concentration of 25 g / l Gesamtschwebestoffanteil (2.5% TSS) is carried out with a strand of polysulfone fibers in a pilot plant tank. The fibers are "air washed" at a flow rate of 12 CFM (0.34 m ³ / min), with a built-in coarse bubble diffuser producing bubbles having a nominal diameter in the range of about 5 mm to 25 mm. The air is sufficient not only for adequate washing, but also for the oxidation requirements of the biomass. The fibers have an AD of 1.7 mm, a wall thickness of about 0.5 mm and a surface porosity in the range of about 20% to 40% with pores having a diameter of about 0.2 μm. The strand, comprising 1440 fibers with a surface area of 12 m ² , is attached to the wall of the tank, the vertical distance of the head element being approximately 1% smaller than the length of a fiber in the strand, assuming the fiber is in the relaxed state Status. The opposite ends of the fibers are molded into upper and lower headers, each about 41 cm long and 10 cm wide. The fuser material of the headers is an epoxy resin having a hardness of about 70 Shore D with additional upper and lower softener polyurethane laminates (about 60 Shore A and 30, respectively) Shore D) above and below the epoxy resin laminator, and the fibers are molded to a depth sufficient to project their open ends from the bottom of the header. The average transmembrane differential pressure is approximately 34.5 kPa (5 psi). Permeate is withdrawn through lines connected to the drip pan of each header with a pump that produces a suction of approximately 34.5 kPa (5 psi). Permeate is withdrawn at a permeability of approximately 0.7 Lm ² h / kPa, resulting in approximately 4.8 L / min of permeate with an average haze of <0.8 NTU, which is a haze that with the naked eye is not visible.

Example 2

Comparison of the operation a vertical strand (ZW 72) at different orientations

In the following comparison, three pairs of identical strands with equally relaxed fibers are positioned in different ways via aeration devices in a bioreactor (as specified). Each pair is exposed to the same air supplied by identical aerators. Rectangular but not square headers have been chosen to determine if there is a difference between two-ply horizontal orientations that would not exist in a horizontal strand with cylindrical headers. A pair of identical rectangular strands each with headers 41.46 cm (16.4 inches) long (x-axis), 10.16 cm (4 inches) wide (y-axis), and 7.62 cm (3 inches) (z-axis) into which 1296 Zenon ^© MF200 microfiltration fibers having a nominal fiber area of 6.25 m ^{2 are} poured were tested in three different orientations in a bioreactor for domestic effluent treatment. The fibers used are the same as Example 1 described above. The distance between opposite sides of the headers is 90 cm (35.4 inches), which is about 2% less than the length of each fiber cast into these headers.

at In a first test, the two (first and second) strands, the each in the same direction along the longitudinal axis, with a 2.5 cm (1 inch) thick spacer between the headers stacked laterally, with the headers of each strand being a horizontal one flat orientation (a range of 41.66 cm x 7.62 cm) and in a distance of 7.62 cm (3 inches) above the ground on which the Ventilation in Shape of three adjacent linear tubes with 3 mm (0.125 ") openings are arranged, are positioned. The first strand, directly over the aerators is therefore classified as "lower Strand ".

at a second test will be the same first and second strands respectively around 90 ° the longitudinal, namely the x-axis, rotated and placed next to each other next to each other. This "horizontal 90 °" orientation (area of 10.16 cm × 7.62 cm) is so from the aeration equipment spaced as in the previous test.

In a third test, the first and second strands are placed side by side in vertical orientations, as in FIG 9 with the exception that there is no internal ventilation device.

at For each test, the fibers are identical in each orientation Air supply. Permeate was with a pump with a required suction head (NPSH) of 0.3 bar (10 "Hg) taken. The conditions were kept constant until observed was that for each test achieved electricity was essentially constant, and this was then the equilibrium value. After this occurred, each strand was pulsed back for 30 seconds with permeate every 5 minutes, to keep the current at equilibrium.

The test conditions for each of the three runs described above were as follows: TSS in the bioreactor 8 g / l; Temperature of the biomass 19 ° C Flow rate of air 0.2124 m ³ / min. / Strand; Suction height at the fibers 25.4 cm Hg

18 shows a bar graph showing the average current over a 24-hour period for each orientation of the string as follows: Orientation Avg. Current L / m ² / h over 24 hours Horizontally flat 21.2 LMH Horizontal 90 ° 17.8 LMH Vertical 27.7 LMH

Thereby will be final demonstrates that with vertical orientation of the strand fibers the largest total current is produced.

Example 3

Comparison of positions the ventilation device inside and outside the strand fibers

In this test, the difference in current is measured in a bioreactor for the treatment of waste water contaminated with ethylene glycol, the difference depending on how a single cylindrical vertical strand (ZW 172) with a nominal area of 16 m ² with 3.5 l / min. (7.5 scfm) is ventilated. The strand will, as in 16 shown formed around a centrally located PVC pipe with an AD of 7.5 cm, wherein the fibers are placed in an annular zone around the centrally located bracket and the radial width of the annular zone is about 7.5 cm, so that the AD of the strand is about 11.25 cm.

at air is introduced into the strand in a first test; at a The second test involves passing air around the periphery of the strand. If The balance is achieved, the operation is typically through in selected Time intervals repeating the strand continued with permeate, where the interval depends on how fast the fibers pollute so much that the electricity is essential is reduced.

The process conditions that were kept constant over the test period were as follows: TSS 17 g / l Temperature of the biomass 10.5 ° C Flow rate of air 0.2124 m3 / min. Suction height at the fibers 25.4 cm Hg

at external ventilation: A perforated flexible tube with holes with a diameter of about 3 mm, which are arranged at a distance of about 2.5 cm from each other were wound around the base of the ZW 72 strand and so on oriented that air is discharged in a horizontal plane, allowing bubbles to enter the strand from the side between the fibers. Thereafter, the bubbles rise vertically through the strand fibers. Of the Discharge through the page helps keep the holes from prematurely clogging to protect.

at internal ventilation: The centrally arranged tubular Bracket was used as a centrally located air distribution manifold for conducting of air in five 4 "sections of a 1/4 "pipes with in 1 "intervals arranged 1/8 "holes used which are closed at one end with a stopper and with the centrally located pipe in open fluid communication, thereby formed a spoke-like sparger in the fiber at the base part becomes. The number of holes it's about equal to the number in the external ventilation device, and the flow rate the air is the same. As before, air enters the strand laterally out of the holes and the bubbles descend vertically within the strand above and leave the strand below the top header.

19 shows a graphical representation of the current as a function of time until the current reaches an equilibrium value. Thereafter, the current can be maintained by repeating at regular intervals. The graph shows that the balanced current with external aeration is about 2.6 LMH, while the internal aeration current is about 9.9 LMH, which is about an improvement fourfold. From what has been stated above, since it is known that the flow is a function of the flow rate of the air, with all other conditions being the same under normal operation, a greater flow is achieved with internal ventilation with the same flow of air.

Example 4

Comparison of the strands, where having a reciprocable fiber and the other not

The relaxed state of the fibers is adjusted by decreasing the distance between the headers. The fibers are not substantially relaxed (the fibers are taut) when the headers are spaced apart from one another equal to the length of a fiber between their opposite molded-in ends. A single strand ZW 72 with a nominal area of 6.7 m ² is used for each test in a bioreactor to treat waste water polluted with ethylene glycol. Aeration as in 9 shown (no internal ventilation) with lateral discharge of air bubbles into the strand fibers, through which the bubbles rise upwards, is provided.

at in the first test, the headers are vertically spaced apart, so that the fibers are taut and do not move inwards can.

at In the second test, the head elements were approximated by 2 cm, thereby a 2.5% sag in each fiber was created, so that the relaxed fibers could move back and forth.

As before, the process conditions that were kept constant over the test period were as follows: Solid suspended matter 17 g / l Temperature of the biomass 10.5 ° C Flow rate of air 0.2124 m3 / min. Suction height at the fibers 25.4 cm Hg

20 shows a graphical representation of the current as a function of time until the current reaches an equilibrium value. Thereafter, the current can be maintained by repeating at regular intervals, as previously in Example 3. The graph shows that the equilibrium current without reciprocation is about 11.5 LMH while at 2.5% slack it is about 15.2 LMH, which is an improvement of about 3%.

Example 5

Filtration of water with a vertical cylindrical strand to obtain clarified water:

It becomes a cylindrical strand, as in 16 shown manufactured with 180 cm long Zenon © MF200 fibers, which form a surface area of 25 m ² in cylindrical head elements with a diameter of 28 cm, which are formed in end caps with an AD of 30 cm. Ventilation is provided with a spider-shaped device with perforated cross-shaped arms, in which openings of diameter 3 mm (0.125 ") are provided, through which air in an amount of approximately 10 liters / min.

(20 scfm, standard ft ³ / min.). This fiber is used in four typical applications and the results are listed below. In each case, permeate is withdrawn by a centrifugal pump having a required head of about 0.3 bar (10 "Hg), and when equilibrium is reached, the strand is backwashed with permeate every 30 min. For 30 sec.

A. Filtration of the water surface (pond) with 10 mg / l TSS

Result - permeate with 0, 0 mg / l TSS and a haze of 0.1 NTU is charged at a rate of 2000 liters / hr. (LPH) taken. A "5 log" reduction (reduction the original concentration at five Orders of magnitude) of bacteria, algae, giardia and cryptosporidium can be achieved so that drinking water is received.

B. Filtration of raw sewage with 100 mg / l TSS.

Result - permeate with 0.0 mg / l solid suspended matter and a turbidity of 0.2 NTU is at a rate taken from 1000 LPH (liters / hr). Several such strands may be included a comprehensive treatment of industrial wastewater in one Group to be used.

C. Filtration of a mineral suspension with 1000 mg / l TSS iron oxide particles

Result - permeate with 0.0 mg / l solid suspended matter and a turbidity of 0.1 NTU is applied at a rate taken from 3000 LPH (liters / hr). A big stream comes with mineral particles maintained industrial wastewater.

D. Filtration of fermentation broth with 10,000 mg / l bacterial cells

Result - permeate with 0.0 mg / l solid suspended matter and a turbidity of 0.1 NTU is applied at a rate taken from 1000 LPH (liters / hr). The broth with a high biomass concentration will be non-destructive filtered to the desired To produce permeate and to save living cells for reuse.

Example 6

Mini train for special purposes

The The following examples show the use of a mini-strand for typical specific applications, such as B. Filtration of (i) raw sewage for the purpose of obtaining solids-free water samples for colorimetric Analyzes, (ii) surface water for use in a recreational vehicle ("camping vehicle") or caravan or (iii) water from a small aquarium for fish or other marine animals.

A cylindrical mini strand is like in 16 5 cm (2 ") 2 cm (.75") thick cylindrical heads and 30 fibers, each 60 cm long, over an area of 0.1 m ² to build. The strand is attached to a base part, on which a blower for discharging air in an amount of 15 l / min. is removably mounted at 12 kPa (3 psi) through a sparger with 1.6 mm (0.0625 ") 10 orifices, with the air flowing up the fibers through the string, and a peristaltic pump, which is a vacuum 0.3 bar (10 "Hg), removably mounted to the base. In each application, the self-contained strand with integrally formed permeate pump and gas discharge means is placed in a cylindrical container with the substrate to be filtered for operation.

• (i) Das Rohabwasser enthält 100 mg/l TSS; Permeat mit 0,0 mg/l TSS und einer Trübung von 0,2 NTU wird mit einer Rate von 0,1 LPH entnommen.
• (ii) Das entnommene Aquariumwasser enthält 20 mg/l TSS, einschließlich Algen, Bakterien, Pilzen und Fäkaliendendrit; Permeat mit 0,0 mg/l TSS und einer Trübung von 0,2 NTU wird mit einer Rate von 0,1 LPH entnommen.
• (iii) Das entnommene Teichwasser enthält 10 mg/l TSS; Permeat mit 0,0 mg/l TSS und einer Trübung von 0,2 NTU wird mit einer Rate von 0,1 LPH entnommen.

The results obtained in each application (A) - (D) are listed below:

• (i) Raw sewage contains 100 mg / l TSS; Permeate with 0.0 mg / L TSS and a turbidity of 0.2 NTU is withdrawn at a rate of 0.1 LPH.
• (ii) The extracted aquarium water contains 20 mg / l TSS, including algae, bacteria, fungi and faecal dendrite; Permeate with 0.0 mg / L TSS and a turbidity of 0.2 NTU is withdrawn at a rate of 0.1 LPH.
• (iii) The extracted pond water contains 10 mg / l TSS; Permeate with 0.0 mg / L TSS and a turbidity of 0.2 NTU is withdrawn at a rate of 0.1 LPH.

GLOSSARY

The The following glossary gives the expressions in approximate Order in which they are used in the description, their importance in the context in which they are used define.

"Array" - several essentially vertical Fibers of substantially equal length, the one ends the fibers are close to each other, either linearly in Transverse direction (here the y-axis) to at least one row and typically several rows equidistant To form fibers. Less preferred is a variety of fibers, which in an arbitrary Patterns are arranged spaced. The opposite ones Ends of the fibers are in opposing headers sealed so that the substrate permeate, resulting in a permeate collector in which the head elements are sealed at the periphery are not polluted.

"Bundle" - several Elements that are held together, eg. B. multiple arrays, at which are a stack of planar arrays or arcuate or circular Arrays or a rolled up spiral.

"Group" - used for brevity to denote a group of strands; in the Group is a series (or other configuration) of lower headers located just below a row of top headers.

"Cylindrical strand" - a vertical strand, at the permeate collector is a cylindrical configuration having.

"Tank on one Page is closed "- tank or Bioreactor from which no liquid other than permeate taken becomes.

"Fibers" - for brevity used to hollow fiber membranes to call.

"Current" - flow unit (liters / hour) through a membrane with a surface area unit (Meter2), the current is given in Lm ² h or LMH.

"Volatile Material "- Material, which is either (i) soluble in a medium in which the fibers and the fixing material insoluble or (ii) is fluidisable by having a melting point has (if the material is crystalline), which is below that where the fibers or fixing material could be damaged; or the material has a glass transition temperature Tg (if the material is not crystalline) below those where the fibers or material (s) are the ones the nonvolatile head element form, damaged would; or (1) both soluble as well as fluidizable.

"Head element" - solid body in which one of the terminal end regions each plurality of fibers is sealingly secured in the strand, to prevent the substrate from permeate into the lumen of the Fouling fibers. The body Any size is made of a natural or synthetic resin material (thermoplastic or thermosetting).

"Integrally trained Head element "combination of head element and permeate collecting device, wherein the head element at the periphery fluid-tightly connected to the permeate collecting device.

"One-piece trained Single strand "- one strand in one piece trained finished head element is in the permeate tub or End cap formed, wherein the head member is sealed therein.

"Ministrang" - independent gas-scrubbed arrangement of a strand having a surface area of less than about 5 m ² in combination with an integrally formed gas blower and an integrally formed therewith the permeate pump.

"Multi-component liquid product" - to be clarified or concentrated Fruit juices; Sewage or particulate water; proteinaceous liquid dairy product, such as Cheese juice or similar.

"Non-vacuum pump" - generates a required suction-side pressure difference or a required inlet height (NPSH), sufficient to the generated under operating conditions transmembrane differential pressure provide; it can be a centrifugal, rotary, cross-flow or flow pump or another type of pump.

"Permeability" - current per unit pressure, Lm ² h / kPa; sometimes referred to as a specific stream.

"Permeate collecting device" - collecting container under a head element in which permeate accumulates.

"Ring Header" - Header with cylindrical shape.

"Rectangular strand" - vertical strand, in which the permeate catcher is the configuration of a rectangular one Has parallelepipeds.

"Strand" - for the sake of brevity used to either a cylindrical strand or a vertical strand or both with several arrays facing each other Head members are cast, the fibers defined a critically Length relative to the vertical distance between the headers of the strand exhibit. The defined length limits the movement of fibers from one side to the other in the substrate into which they are inserted, except near the headers, in the only negligible Movement takes place.

"Stranded fibers" - fibers containing the. cylindrical Form strand.

"Vertical Strand" - integrated combination of Structural elements comprising (i) a plurality of vertical fibers of substantially the same length; (ii) two headers, in each of which the opposite ones Terminal areas of the fibers are cast in such a way that their Ends remain open; and (iii) a permeate collector, the at the periphery in fluid-tight engagement with each head element is held to collect permeate from the ends of the fibers.

"Substrate" - multi-component liquid product.

"Particles" - Filterable material with a size in the micron range (from 1 to about 44 μm) and Submicron range (from approx 0.1 μm to 1 μm), the not only contains inorganic particles, but also dead and living biologically active microorganisms, colloidal dispersions, solutions huge organic molecules, such as B. fulvic acid and humic acid, and oil emulsions.

"Limited and forth "- the extent to which fibers in a limited Can move the zone back and forth, the extent of the free length the fibers relative to the fixed spaced apart Head elements and the turbulence of the substrate is determined.

"Array stack" - multiple arrays of arrays which are densely packed to form a strand after pouring.

"Essentially concentric" - describes the configuration, in which individual fibers are either vertical and spaced along the circumference of a circle drawn around the vertical central axis are arranged, or spiralför mig arranged successive fiber layers, which typically in the x-y plane close to each other and not just from the central axis out radially to the outside but also along the spiral in this plane, so that they are in ever-increasing radial distances appear concentrically distributed to the central axis.

"Transmembrane differential pressure" - pressure difference across one Membrane wall, which is caused by the process conditions, under which the membrane works.

"Not Held" - not held, except the spacing device for spacing the head elements.

"Vacuum pump" - can have a suction height of at least Produce 75 cm Hg.

"Restriction zone" (or "bubble zone") - a zone through the bubbles along the outer surfaces of the Fibers rise to the top. The bubble zone is in turn by a or more columns from vertically rising bubbles, which are near the Base part of a strand are generated.

Claims (4)

A permeate collecting arrangement having the following features: a) a permeate collecting device ( 120 . 120b ) with walls ( 111 . 112 . 121 . 122 ); b) a solid mass of a pouring material ( 101 ) having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the Eingießmaterial to the walls ( 111 . 112 . 121 . 122 ) of the permeate collecting device ( 120 . 120b ) and adhered thereto, and wherein the second surface of the pouring material ( 101 ) a permeate capture zone ( 128 . 129 ) with the permeate collecting device ( 120 . 120b ) forms; c) a plurality of hollow fiber membranes ( 12 ) contained in the pouring material ( 101 ), whereby the membranes ( 12 ) from the first surface of the pouring material ( 101 ) and having open ends extending from the second surface of the pouring material ( 101 ) into the permeate capture zone ( 120 . 120b ) project; and d) a trachea ( 103 . 127 ) through the pouring material ( 101 ), whereby the trachea ( 103 . 127 ) a first end of the first surface of the Eingießmaterials ( 101 ), and a second end extending from the second surface of the pouring material ( 101 ), the second end being in communication with a plenum or manifold ( 107 ), through which a gas can be supplied. The permeate collecting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the pouring material ( 101 ) to the trachea ( 103 . 127 ) and adherently attached thereto. The permeate collecting arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the walls ( 121 . 122 ) of the permeate collecting device ( 120b ) from the permeate capture zone ( 128 . 129 ) and form part of the plenary session. The permeate collecting arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the trachea ( 127 ) through the permeate capture zone ( 128 . 129 ) running.