Proposed is an electronic device for controlling a hollow fiber membrane fouling reduction system including an exciter controller that generates an excitation signal, an exciter module that generates vibration corresponding to the excitation signal by being connected electrically to the exciter controller, and a hollow fiber membrane module that receives the vibration generated from the exciter module, the electronic device including a vibration analysis module that receives first and second vibration values for frequencies sensed respectively from the exciter module and the hollow fiber membrane module, calculates a vibration value transmission rate for each frequency based on the first and second vibration values, and calculates an optimal frequency at which the vibration value transmission rate is highest, and an optimal sound source selection module that receives feedback of the optimal frequency and selects an optimal sound source used to generate the excitation signal, based on the optimal frequency.

Apparatus and method for semi-permeable membrane cleaning in particular, applying series of pulsed water stroke, made simultaneously with osmosis backward flow causing superposed membrane directional shaking and fouling detachment. Pulsed water stroke provided by water stroke generator as several momentum sharp changes in gauge pressure and induce velocity pulse of residual brine flow. The pulsed water strokes ideally induce resonance in the membrane. Osmosis backward wash may be provided either by injection for predetermined injection time, additional solution selected in such way that net driving pressure becomes opposite to normal osmotic operation thereby providing a backward flow of permeate towards to the side opposite to normal operation mode, so as to lift said foulant, or by throttling permeate exiting from the permeate enclosure, until the net driving pressure value become equal to zero, during application of precise synchronized and opposing brine and permeate pressure strokes thereby providing a plurality of quick RO-FO-RO process changes. These procedures allow a membrane to be kept continuously clean and operate at higher recovery.

The present invention relates to membrane bioreactor (MBR) system that includes a mechanical membrane reciprocation system to reduce or eliminate membrane fouling. The disclosed MBR system can be operated with higher flux and lower fouling than MBR systems using air scouring. Furthermore the system can remove nitrogen and phosphorous with one RAS and one or no internal recirculation line. The membrane can be reciprocated by a low RPM motor connected to a pulley via belt to rotate rotor to convert rotational motion into reciprocating motion of membrane. Various mechanical means can also be employed to create the reciprocating motion.

The present invention relates to membrane bioreactor (MBR) system that includes a mechanical membrane reciprocation system to reduce or eliminate membrane fouling. The disclosed MBR system can be operated with higher flux and lower fouling than MBR systems using air scouring. Furthermore the system can remove nitrogen and phosphorous with one RAS and one or no internal recirculation line. The membrane can be reciprocated by a low RPM motor connected to a pulley via belt to rotate rotor to convert rotational motion into reciprocating motion of membrane. Various mechanical means can also be employed to create the reciprocating motion.

Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for semi-permeable membrane cleaning. Specifically, a pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) process redirects raw solution and fluid streams in such a way as to cause periodic changes of the process from PRO to reverse osmosis (RO) for removing fouling. Further disclosed is applying a pulsed-flow regime in the fluid stream, thereby causing increased shearing force for enhanced foulant evacuation. Additionally, a backward wash may be provided by injection of additional solution such that net driving pressure becomes RO as opposed to PRO, thereby providing a backward flow from a first side of the membrane to a second side. Further disclosed are phased operations that resolve the issue of self-extinguishing PRO, thereby providing energy savings and/or PRO process optimization by, for instance, (1) utilizing osmotic pressure for circulation, (2) variation in POp gauge pressure, and/or (3) variation of the ratio of Additional Solution to Draw Solution.

A system and process for removing divalent ions from a MEG feed stream is presented. Embodiments of the system include a chemical treatment tank where chemicals are mixed with the feed stream to form insoluble carbonate and hydroxide salts. The system also includes a solid-liquid separation unit that receives the feed stream from the chemical treatment tank and separates it into a liquids portion containing MEG and a insoluble salts portion. The system may also include washing the insoluble salts portion to remove additional MEG, which is then recycled to a MEG regeneration or reclamation process. The system may also include a dryer that receives waste slurry from the solid-liquid separation unit and dries it to form a solid waste, thereby facilitating its handling, storage, and disposal.

An extracorporeal system for lung assist includes a system housing, which includes a blood flow inlet and a blood flow outlet and a fiber bundle housing movably positioned within the system housing. The fiber bundle housing includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A fiber bundle is in operative connection with the fiber bundle housing. The fiber bundle includes a plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers, wherein lumens of the plurality of hollow gas fibers are in fluid connection with the gas inlet at a first end thereof and in fluid connection with the gas outlet as a second end thereof. The system further includes an actuator to impart oscillatory motion to the fiber bundle housing and thereby to the fiber bundle.

Systems and methods for exchanging buffer solutions are disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, the methods and systems for buffer exchange may be automated and/or the methods and systems may include mixing during filtering operations.

A novel filter media includes an array of raised features formed directly on the membrane surface, which create a feed channel. The predetermined configuration of features is dually optimized both for filtration in a first flow direction to maximize unobstructed fluid flow and prevent fouling. The same feature configuration is also optimized for enhancing/increasing turbulence and scouring of the membrane when the flow through the filter is reversed during a cleaning operation. The feature configuration can also be optimized to capture bubbles in reverse flow such that the captured bubbles can be oscillated to further scour the membrane and the features themselves (e.g., in their cavities, etc.).

A system and process for removing divalent ions from a MEG feed stream is presented. The system includes a chemical treatment tank where chemicals are mixed with the feed stream to form insoluble carbonate and hydroxide salts. The system also includes a solid-liquid separation unit that receives the feed stream from the chemical treatment tank and separates it into a liquids portion containing MEG and a insoluble salts portion. The system may also include washing the insoluble salts portion to remove additional MEG, which is then recycled to a MEG regeneration or reclamation process. The system may also include a dryer that receives waste slurry from the solid-liquid separation unit and dries it to form a solid waste, thereby facilitating its handling, storage, and disposal.