Membrane filter and filtering method

Abstract

A membrane filter for filtering a liquid to be filtered, having a downwardly open base element through which flow can pass and which has a tubular shell and precisely one membrane carrier arranged therein, wherein the membrane carrier is connected to the shell by way of at least one anchoring point, having hollow fiber-type membranes fastened at the top in the membrane carrier, having a circumferentially closed pipe which, adjoining the top of the shell of the base element, surrounds the hollow fiber-type membranes, having a gas inlet into the base element, having at least one permeate collecting chamber, having at least one permeate outlet, and having at least one downwardly open flow chamber between the shell and the membrane carrier, which flow chamber has an outlet at the top, wherein the at least one flow chamber, in every horizontal section, adjoins both the shell and the membrane carrier.

Claims

1. A membrane filter for filtering a liquid, the membrane filter comprising: a base element that is open in a downward direction and capable of allowing a flow by a gas and by the liquid and that includes a tubular shell and one membrane carrier arranged in the tubular shell, which one membrane carrier is connected with the tubular shell by at least one anchor location; hollow fiber membranes attached at a top of the one membrane carrier and respectively including lumens into which a liquid permeate is filterable from the liquid; a circumferentially closed tube which adjoins the tubular shell at a top of the tubular shell and which envelops the hollow fiber membranes, such that the circumferentially closed tube extends beyond an upper end of the hollow fiber membranes; a gas inlet for letting the gas into the base element by initially letting the gas into a tub which then flows out openings in the tub into the at least one downward open flow cavity; at least one permeate collecting cavity which is connected with each lumen of the hollow fiber membranes and configured to collect the permeate from the hollow fiber membranes; at least one permeate outlet configured to let the permeate out from the at least one permeate collecting cavity; and at least one downward open flow cavity that is arranged between the tubular shell and the one membrane carrier, wherein the at least one downward open flow cavity is configured to flow the liquid through, wherein the at least one downward open flow cavity includes an outlet at a top of the at least one downward open flow cavity for letting the liquid out into the circumferentially closed tube, wherein the at least one downward open flow cavity is in contact with and adjacent to the tubular shell and also in contact with and adjacent to the one membrane carrier in each horizontal section through the one membrane carrier, wherein the at least one downward open flow cavity envelops the one membrane carrier and forms an annular gap which is only interrupted by the at least one anchor location, wherein a height of the at least one downward open flow cavity equals an overlap portion of a height of the one membrane carrier with a height of the tubular shell, wherein the one membrane carrier closes the base element completely for a flow of the liquid from a bottom of the base element to a top of the base element with an exception of the at least one downward open flow cavity, wherein the base element is capable of allowing a flow sequentially from the gas inlet through the at least one flow cavity to the outlet, and wherein the at least one flow cavity includes bulges extending into the one membrane carrier.

2. The membrane filter according to claim 1, wherein the one membrane carrier includes fingers which are formed by the bulges and which are connected by an anchor of the one membrane carrier.

3. The membrane filter according to claim 1, wherein the one membrane carrier is connected with the tubular shell by a maximum of two anchor locations which are arranged in line with the anchor.

4. The membrane filter according to claim 1, wherein the one membrane carrier is completely separate from the tubular shell in each horizontal section through the one membrane carrier above the at least one anchor location.

5. The membrane filter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one downward open flow cavity forms at least one flow channel in at least one of the horizontal sections through the one membrane carrier, wherein the at least one downward open flow channel has a uniform width over more than 80% of a length of the at least one downward open flow channel.

6. The membrane filter according to claim 1, wherein the one membrane carrier has a cross section in each of the horizontal sections through the one membrane carrier which cross section decreases in a downward direction.

7. The membrane filter according to claim 1, wherein the base element includes the gas inlet for letting the gas into the base element.

8. The membrane filter according to claim 1, wherein the gas inlet for letting the gas into the base element is also for letting the gas into the liquid at the bottom of the base element.

9. The membrane filter according to claim 1, further comprising: a gas distribution system; a downward open and upward closed tube which includes a wail with downward open vertical slots for distributing the gas into the liquid; and the one downward open and upward closed tube includes an inner edge that is arranged between two of the downward open vertical slots that are adjacent to each other in the at least one vertical cross section for the downward open and upward closed tub, wherein each section of the inner edge is oriented at an angle of less than 60° relative to horizontal at least in a portion of a lower half of the downward open vertical slots.

10. A method for filtering a liquid in a membrane filter, wherein the membrane filter includes a base element, a circumferentially closed tube, and a gas inlet, wherein the base element includes a tubular shell and one membrane carrier arranged in the tubular shell and connected by at least one anchor location with the tubular shell, wherein hollow fiber membranes are attached at a top of the membrane carrier, wherein the circumferentially closed tube adjoins the tubular shell at a top of the tubular shell, wherein the base element includes at least one downward open flow cavity between the tubular shell and the membrane carrier, wherein the at least one downward open flow cavity includes an outlet at a top of the base element leading out of the base element into the circumferentially closed tube, wherein the at least one downward open flow cavity is in contact with and adjacent to the tubular shell and also in contact with and adjacent to the one membrane carrier in each horizontal section through the one membrane carrier, wherein the at least one downward open flow cavity envelops the one membrane carrier and forms an annular gap, wherein the annular gap is only interrupted by the at least one anchor location, wherein a height of the at least one downward open flow cavity equals an overlap portion of a height of the one membrane carrier and a height of the tubular shell, wherein the one membrane carrier closes the base element completely for a flow of the liquid from a bottom of the base element to a top of the base element with an exception of the at least one downward open flow cavity, and wherein the circumferentially closed tube extends beyond an upper end of the hollow fiber membranes, the method comprising the steps: flowing the liquid into the base element, flowing the liquid through the at least one downward open flow cavity and thus flowing the liquid around the one membrane carrier; flowing a gas through a gas inlet into the base element by initially letting the gas into a tub which then flows out openings in the tub into the at least one downward open flow cavity; flowing the liquid only through the outlet at the top of the base element out of the base element and flowing the liquid from the outlet at the top of the base element only into the circumferentially closed tube, flowing the gas out of the outlet at the top of the base element into the circumferentially closed tube and generating a rising gas flow in the circumferentially closed tube and thus generating a rising liquid flow in the membrane filter; flushing the hollow fiber membranes on an outside of the hollow membranes with the rising liquid flow and the rising gas flow; providing a pressure differential between an outside of the hollow fiber membranes and lumens of the hollow fiber membranes, wherein the pressure differential causes a liquid permeate to be filtered out of the liquid and to flow into the lumens of the hollow fiber membranes; and collecting the liquid permeate from the lumens and flowing the liquid permeate out of the membrane filter; flowing the gas through the gas inlet into the at least one flow cavity; and subsequently, flowing the gas together with the liquid through the base element in the at least one downward open flow cavity between the tubular shell and the one membrane carrier and flowing the liquid and the gas through the outlet at the top of the base element into the circumferentially closed tube, wherein the at least one downward open flow cavity includes bulges extending into the one membrane carrier.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the liquid and the gas flow completely around the one membrane carrier in at least one of the horizontal sections through the one membrane carrier.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the membrane filter is submerged in the liquid.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the membrane filter is submerged in the liquid.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the liquid is supplied to the base element by a first liquid conduit and let out from the membrane filter at a top of the membrane filter by a second liquid conduit.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the liquid is supplied to the base element by a first liquid conduit and let out from the membrane filter at a top of the membrane filter by a second liquid conduit.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: flowing the gas through the gas inlet into the liquid at the bottom of the base element.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: flowing a gas through a gas inlet into a base element into a downward open and upward closed tube; and flowing gas out of the downward open vertical slots into the at least one flow cavity, wherein the base includes a gas distribution system connected to the at least one downward open and upward closed tube which includes a wall with downward open vertical slots.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is subsequently described based on embodiments with reference to drawing figures, wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1A-1E illustrate a first embodiment of the membrane filter (total sectional view, partial sectional views and views of the base element);

(3) FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate flow conditions in the first membrane filter.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates the first membrane filter in submerged operations;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the first membrane filter in dry set up operations:

(6) FIGS. 5A-5I illustrate details of a second embodiment of the membrane filter according to the invention;

(7) FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate partial views and sectional views of the gas distribution system of the second membrane filter;

(8) FIGS. 7A-7D illustrate additional membrane filters according to the invention;

(9) FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate details of additional membrane filters according to the invention; and

(10) FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate membrane carriers of additional membrane filters according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) The drawing figures are not to scale. All non stated details of subsequently described membrane filters according to the invention are identical with embodiments of previously described membrane filters according to the invention.

(12) FIGS. 1A-1E illustrate sectional views and views of a first membrane filter 1. This membrane filter includes a base element 2 with a shell 3 and a membrane carrier 4 arranged therein in which hollow fiber membrane 5 are arranged on top. A cylindrical tube 6 adjoins the shell 3 of the base element 2 on top of the base element 2.

(13) The hollow fiber membranes 5 are fabric reinforced and have an external diameter of 2.5 mm. They are individually closed at an upper end 7. The tube 6 extends beyond the upper end 7 by a length of 8 cm to 10 cm. The hollow fiber membranes 5 are cast in in a sealing manner in the membrane carrier 4 by a resin layer 9, wherein lumens of the hollow fiber membrane 5 remain open.

(14) The membrane filter 1 has a height 10 of 200 cm the base element 2 has a height 11 of 12 cm and the membrane carrier 4 has a height 12 of 11 cm. The base element 2 and the tube 6 both have an external diameter of 75 mm. The tube 6 has an internal diameter of 68 mm. The base element 2 furthermore includes a gas inlet 13 and a permeate outlet 14.

(15) The membrane carrier 4 is connected with the shell 3, through an anchor location 15. The base element 2 includes a flow cavity 16 between the shell 3 and the main membrane carrier 4 wherein the flow cavity is configured as an annular gap with a width of 9 mm, envelops the membrane carrier 4 and is only interrupted by the anchor location 15. The flow cavity 16 is adjacent in each horizontal sectional view to the shell 3 and also to the membrane carrier 4.

(16) The flow cavity 16 is limited in vertical direction by the overlap portion of the height 11 of the base element 2 and the height 12 of the membrane carrier 4. The base element 2 is open in downward direction and capable of flow through. The flow cavity 16 includes an outlet 17 on top into the tube 6.

(17) The gas inlet 13 is connected with a gas distribution system 18 configured on a bottom side of the membrane carrier 4 wherein the gas distribution system includes a tub 19 that is open in downward direction and closed in upward direction, wherein the tub includes a wall 20 with downward open vertical slots 21. The tub 19 includes an inner edge 22 respectively in a center between adjacent slots 21 in a sectional view that is vertical and orthogonal to the wall 20, wherein the inner edge 22 is a slanted edge over an entire height of the slots 21 wherein an angle 24 of the slanted edge 22 is 40° relative to horizontal. Alternatively the inner edge 22 in a portion of a lower half 23 of the slots 21 can have an angle 24 relative to horizontal that is less than 60° in any point.

(18) The base element 2 furthermore includes a permeate collecting cavity 25 into which the lumens of the hollow fiber membrane lead. The permeate collecting cavity 25 is connected with the permeate outlet 14 of the base element 2.

(19) FIG. 1D illustrates a top view of the base element 2 with the hollow fiber membranes 5 without the tube 6. The number of the illustrated hollow fiber membranes 5 does not correspond to an actual number of the actual hollow fiber membranes 5. FIG. 1E illustrates a view of the base element 2 from below. The number of slots 21 is 6. The slots are evenly distributed over a circumference of the top 19 in the wall 20 of the top 19.

(20) The permeate outlet 14 and the gas inlet 13 are arranged in a radially outward extension of the anchor location 15.

(21) FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate the flow conditions in the base element 2 and in the lower portion of the tube 6 of the first membrane filter 1 during filtering operations.

(22) Thus, FIG. 2A illustrates a first vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the membrane filter 1, wherein the sectional view also extends through the anchoring location 15.

(23) A gas 26 is introduced into the base element 2 and the flow cavity 16 through the gas inlet 13 during operations of the membrane filter 1 thus the gas 26 flows through the gas inlet 13 initially into the tub 19. The gas 25 fills the tub 19 up to a portion of the height of the slots 21 and forms a gas cushion 27 in the tub 19. The gas 26 also fills the slots 21 up to the level of the gas cushion 27 and eventually flows laterally through the portion of the slots 21 that are filled with the gas 26 out of the tube 19 or out of the gas cushion 27 and thus into a liquid 28 that is to be filtered.

(24) Besides the flow cavity 16 the membrane carrier 4 closes the base element 2 completely for the flow through of the liquid 28 and of the gas 26, this means besides the flow cavity 16 there are no additional pass through openings for the gas 26 and the liquid 28 in the base element 2.

(25) Above the base element 2 there are no additional installations in the tube 6 besides the hollow fiber membranes 5. Therefore the hollow fiber membranes 5 float freely in the liquid 28 without impediment and are only fixated at their bases. Thus also hair, fibrous compounds or other contaminants from the liquid 28 cannot be lodged in this portion.

(26) During lateral flow through the slots 21 the gas 26 generates a radially outward oriented liquid flow that is parallel to the lateral gas flow at a face boundary surface below the gas cushion 27. The liquid flows between respective adjacent slots 21 against and inner edge 22 of the wall 20 which has an angle relative to horizontal of less than 60° in each point in the portion of the slots. At this slanted inner edge hair and fibrous compounds included in the liquid 28 to be filtered are stripped off through the outward oriented gas flow and liquid flow which reduces a risk of these contaminants lodging in the membrane filter 1.

(27) After flowing through the slots 21 the gas 26 rises through its buoyancy in the membrane filter 1 and generates an upward flow of the liquid 28. This liquid flow is suctioned into the membrane filter only from below. The gas 26 and the liquid 28 flow through the flow cavity 16 of the base element 2 and jointly flow through the outlet 17 into the tube 6 and above at the tube 6 out of the membrane filter 1.

(28) The strong shear force effect of the two phase flow including the liquid 28 and the gas 26 which rises through the mammoth pumping effect in the membrane filter 1. The membrane carrier 4 is flushed on the outside in the flow cavity 16 of the base element 2 and the hollow fiber membranes 5 are flushed on the outside in the tube 6 and thus coatings and deposits are flushed off from the surfaces of the membrane carrier 4 and of the hollow fiber membranes 5 and are carried out the membrane filter 1.

(29) Between the outside of the hollow fiber membranes 5 and their lumens there is a pressure differential based on which a liquid permeate 29 is filtered out the liquid 28 and flows into the lumens of the hollow fiber membranes 5. The permeate 29 is collected from the lumens of the hollow fiber membranes 5 and then flows through the permeate outlet 14 out of the membrane filter 1.

(30) Through the anchor location 15 the gas 26 is supplied and the permeate 29 that is filtered in the membrane filter 1 is drained.

(31) The gas inlet 13 is flow connected with the flow cavity 16 within the base element 2, so that the base element 2 is flowable from the gas inlet 13 through the tub 19, through the slots 21 and through the flow cavity 16 to the outlet 17.

(32) FIG. 2B illustrates an additional sectional view of the lower portion of the membrane filter 1 which sectional view however is turned by 90°. Thus the anchor location 15 is not sectioned but 2 of the slots 21. The lateral outflow of the gas 26 through the slots 21 from the tub 19 or from the gas cushion 27 are visible. Additionally this sectional view shows the permeate collecting cavity 25 but does not show the permeate outlet 14.

(33) FIG. 2C Illustrates another sectional view of the lower portion of the first membrane filter 1 which in this case only sections the shell 3 and otherwise extends through the flow cavity 16 so that the outside of the membrane carrier 4 becomes visible. Thus the lateral outflow of the gas 26 from the slots 21 is visible.

(34) FIG. 3 illustrates the first membrane filter 2 is submerged operations. Thus gas bubbles in the liquid 28 are not illustrated. Thus the membrane filter 1 is submerged in a tank with the liquid 28 to be filtered so that a liquid overhang 30 of 15 cm remains above the membrane filter 1 to the surface of the liquid 28. Through a gas feed conductor 31 the gas 25 is run from above the surface of the liquid 28 to the gas inlet 13. A throttle 32 is installed in the gas feed conduit 31. The throttle is illustrated at this location in an exemplary manner and is only required when plural membrane filters 1 are operated in parallel and supplied with gas 26 simultaneously. The throttles 32 in the gas feed conduits 31 are used for balancing volumes of gas 26 flowing into the individual membrane filters 1. The throttle 32 is arranged above the surface of the liquid to be filtered. Through a permeate conductor 33 the permeate 24 generated in the membrane filter 1 is drained by the permeate outlet 14.

(35) FIG. 4 illustrates the first membrane filter 1 in dry set up operation. Gas bubbles in the liquid 28 to be filtered are thus not illustrated. The liquid 28 is supplied to the membrane filter 1 through a first liquid conduit 34. A permeate 29 if filtered from the liquid 28 and drains through the permeate outlet 14. Through the gas inlet 13 the gas 26 is supplied. Through a second liquid conduit 35 the gas 26 and the liquid 28 minus the permeate 29 are drained. The second liquid conduit 35 is connected at a top of the tube 6 wherein the tube extends beyond the hollow fiber membranes 5.

(36) FIGS. 5A-5G illustrate views and various sectional views of a second membrane filter 36 according to the invention.

(37) FIG. 5A illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the second membrane filter 36. The second membrane filter 36 includes a base element 39 that is open in downward direction towards a liquid 37 to be filtered and that is flowable by a gas 38 and a liquid 37 wherein the base element includes a tubular shelf 40 and precisely one membrane carrier 41 arranged therein, wherein the membrane carrier 41 is connected with the shell 40 through 2 anchor locations 42. Hollow fiber membranes 43 are attached on top in the membrane carrier 41 wherein the hollow fiber membranes respectively include a lumen into which a liquid permeate 44 from the liquid 37 is filterable. Additionally the membrane filter 36 includes a circumferentially closed tube 45 which envelops the hollow fiber membranes 43 and adjoins the shell 40 or the base element 49 at a top and a gas inlet 45 for letting the gas 38 into the base element 39. The base element 39 includes a permeate collecting cavity 47 which is connected with the lumens of the hollow fiber membranes 43 collecting the permeate 44 from the hollow fiber membranes 43 and a permeate outlet 48 for draining the permeate 44 from the permeate collecting cavity 47.

(38) The base element 31 has a height 49 of 12 cm and the membrane filter 36 has a height 50 of 212 cm. The hollow fiber membranes 43 are encased at a bottom in the membrane carrier 41 by a resin layer 51 against the liquid 37 to be filtered in a sealing manner, wherein the lumens of the hollow fiber membranes 43 remain open. The number of the illustrated hollow fiber membranes 43 does not correspond to the actual number of the hollow fiber membranes 43. The hollow fiber membranes 43 are individually closed on top and flowed freely on top in the liquid 37 to be filtered besides the lower fixation. The hollow fiber membranes 43 are completely enclosed by the tube 45. The tube 45 protrudes by 10 cm above the upper ends 52 of the hollow fiber membranes 43.

(39) FIG. 5B illustrates a top view of the base element 39 of the second membrane filter 36 and FIG. 5C illustrates a perspective view with a cut up shell 40. Between the shell 40 and the membrane carrier 41 the base element 39 includes a downward open flow cavity 53 for flowing the liquid 37 to be filtered wherein the flow cavity includes an outlet 54 on top for letting the liquid 37 to be filtered out into the tube 45.

(40) The flow cavity 53 has bulges 55 that protruded into the membrane carrier 41 up to an anchor 56 of the membrane carrier 41. Thus 6 fingers 57 are formed at the membrane carrier 41 wherein the 6 fingers are connected by the anchor 56 of the membrane carrier 41. The 2 anchors 42, are arranged in an extension of the anchor 56, wherein the gas inlet 46 runs through one anchor location and the permeate outlet 48 runs through the other anchor location. The two anchor locations 42 are the only connections of the membrane carrier 41 with the shell 40. Outfitting the membrane carrier 41 with the hollow fiber membranes 43 is performed in the second membrane filter 36 only in the portion of the fingers 57, wherein the portion between the fingers above the anchor 56 remains recessed for production reasons. The hollow fiber membranes 43 of the second membrane filter 36 are fabric reinforced and have an outer diameter of 2.5 mm.

(41) In the portion of the anchor 56 there is a horizontal section in the base element 39 in which the flow cavity 53 forms two continuous flow channels 58 which have a uniform width 59 of 6 mm in the annular gap in the outer portion of the fingers 57. Also between the fingers 57 the flow channel 58 has the same width 59 of six mm. Since the edges of the fingers 57 are rounded for hydrodynamic reasons the 2 flow channels 58 have a slightly greater width than 6 mm at the edges of the fingers 57. Overall the 2 flow channels 58 have a uniform width of 6 mm on more than 80% of their length.

(42) The flow cavity 53 in each horizontal section is adjacent to the shell 40 and also adjacent to the membrane carrier 41 and is only interrupted by the two anchor locations. The membrane carrier 41 closes the base element 39 completely besides the flow path 53, this means the base element 39 has no additional flow through channels besides the flow cavity 53 for the liquid 37 to be filtered for the gas 38.

(43) The diameter 60 of the base element 39 of the second membrane filter 36 is approximately 208 mm.

(44) FIG. 5D illustrates a sectional view of the base element 38 of the second membrane filter 36 so that the anchor 56 is cut precisely in the flow cavity 53 between two fingers 57. Within the anchor 56 there is a portion of the permeate collecting cavity 47 The flow cavity 53 is defined in vertical direction by the overlap portion of the height 49 of the base element 39 and a height 61 of the membrane carrier 41. At the bottom side of the membrane carrier 41 a gas distribution system 62 is formed whose height remains unconsidered when defining the flow cavity 53. The flow cavity 53 terminates on top in the outlet 54.

(45) As evident from FIGS. 5D and 5E the fingers 57 are provided with a bevel on a bottom in both horizontal direction wherein the membrane carrier 41 has a horizontal cross sectional surface that decreases in the downward direction. Thus hair and fibrous compounds included in the liquid 57 to be filtered so not adhere to the fingers 57 but are stripped off along the bevel of the fingers 57 into the flow cavity 53, flushed through the flow cavity 53 and subsequently move into the portion of the hollow fiber membranes 43 in the tube 45. Since no other installations are provided in this portion besides the hollow fiber membranes 43 that are individually closed on top and at which hair or fibrous compounds can adhere and additionally since the hollow fiber membranes 43 are individually closed on top hair and fibrous compounds can be flushed freely in upward direction out of the membrane filter 36.

(46) FIG. 5F illustrates a perspective view of the base element 39 of the second membrane filter 38 at a slant angle from below and FIG. 5G illustrates a half of the base element 39 with a cut up shell 40.

(47) In the second membrane filter 36 the base element 39 includes the gas inlet 46. The gas inlet 48 is connected with a gas distribution system 62 formed at a bottom side of the membrane carrier 41 wherein the gas distribution system 62 includes a downward open and upward closed tube 63 which includes a wall 64 with downward open vertical slots 65 for distributing the gas 38 into the liquid 37 to be filtered. The width of the tub 63 corresponds to the width of the anchor 56 and is formed at its lower side. The gas inlet 46 adjoins laterally directly at the tub 63.

(48) At each second slot 65 a gas conducting channel 66 is externally connected to the tub 63 wherein the gas conducting channel is configured at a bottom side of the finger 57 for conducting the gas 38 away from the tub in a direction towards the shell 40. The other slot 65 at which no gas conducting channel 66 are connected respectively open between two fingers 57 or for the outer fingers 57 between the fingers 57 and the shell 40 on an outside of the anchor 56. Thus the tub 63 has a wall 64 on each of its 2 longitudinal sides wherein the wall 64 respectively includes 13 slots 65. The slot 65 become wider in downward direction in order to also be able to compensate larger variations in the amount of gas that is being supplied.

(49) The width of the slots 65 and thus also their cross sectional surface have different sizes. Thus the volume of the gas 38 is adapted to the surface of the hollow fiber membranes 43 flowing through the slots 65. Accordingly the slots 65 include wider slots 65 below the longer fingers 67 in a center of the base element 39 then the outer slots 65 below the shorter fingers 57. The narrowest slots 65 are the slots that open between the fingers 57. Through the configuration of the gas distribution system 62 with slot 65 and gas conduction channels 66 the gas 38 flows around the membrane carrier 41 after flowing in the liquid 37 to be filtered.

(50) The base element 39 is flowable from the gas inlet 46 through the wall 63 through the slots 85 and through the flow cavity 53 to the outlet 54. The membrane carrier 41 closes the base element 39 besides the flow cavity 53 not only for the flow through of the liquid 37 to be filtered but also for the flow through of the gas 38.

(51) FIG. 5H illustrates only one of the fingers 57 of the second membrane filter 38. Thus the anchor 58 is visible in a sectional view as well as the tub 83 formed on its bottom side. Furthermore gas conducting channels 66 are visible on a bottom side of the finger 57, wherein the gas conducting channels 86 extend on both sides of the tub 63.

(52) FIG. 5I shows a sectional view of the gas conducting channel 66 in the base element 39 of the second membrane filter 36. Thus it is evident that the gas conducting channel 66 adjoin the slots 85 vertically offset in upward direction.

(53) FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate views and sectional views of elements of the tub 63 of the second membrane filter 36.

(54) The tub 63 includes vertical ribs 67 respectively extending in a center between adjacent slots 65 orthogonal to the wall 64. Each rib 67 includes a taper at a bottom which runs towards the wall 64 and thus forms a slanted or rounded inner edge 68 of the tub 63.

(55) Geometrically speaking the tub 83 includes an inner edge 68 respectively extending between adjacent slots 65 in a vertical sectional view wherein the vertical sectional view in this case extends orthogonal to the wall 64 through the rib 67 wherein the inner edge at least in a portion of a lower half 69 of the slot 65 includes in every point an angle 70 relative to horizontal of less than 60° at a level of the half 69 of the slots 65 of 58°. The non illustrated filtration operations of the second membrane filter 56 differs from titrations operations of the first membrane filter 1 as follows.

(56) The gas 38 flows through the gas inlet 46 into the tub 63 and fills the tub 63 and the slots 65 up to a portion of the height of the slot 65 with a gas cushion. From the gas cushion the gas 38 flows through the slot 65 in laterally outward direction from the tub 63 and thus at plural locations below the membrane carrier 41 into the liquid 37 to be filtered. Thus the gas 38 flows out of the slot 65 into bulges 55 of the flow cavity 53 respectively between two fingers 57 and on the other hand side out of the slot 65 below the finger 57 into the gas conduction channel 66. Through the gas conduction channel 86 the gas 38 flows in outward direction further away from the tub 83 into the outer portion of the membrane filter 36.

(57) During lateral flow through the slots 65 a liquid flow that is oriented parallel to the lateral gas flow is generated at the face boundary below the gas cushion wherein the liquid flow flows against the inner edge 68 of the rib 67. Based on the angle 70 of the inner edge 68 of the tub 63 which is arranged between two slots 65 hair and fibrous compounds can be stripped off when the inner edge 68 is exposed to a flow which significantly reduces a clogging propensity of the membrane filter 36.

(58) After the gas enters the liquid 37 to be filtered the membrane carrier 41 is flowed by the gas 38 and the liquid 37 before the mix from gas 38 and liquid 37 flows around the hollow fibers membranes 43 attached at a top in the membrane carrier 41. Due to the high shear force of the two phase flow the hollow fiber membranes and the membrane carrier 41 are flushed on an outside.

(59) The base element 39 is flowed by the gas 38 starting from the gas inlet 48 through the tub 63 through the slot 65 and through the flow cavity 53 to the outlet 54. Since the flow cavity 53 is always arranged between the shell 40 and the membrane carrier 41 and furthermore protrudes through the bulges 55 also into the inner portion of the membrane filter 36 this generates even gassing of the membrane filter 36 over the entire cross section while avoiding a flow through of small parallel connected flow cavities. Thus over all the blocking propensity of the membrane filter 36 is reduced compared to what is known in the art.

(60) Also the second membrane filter 36 can be set up for submerged operations or dry operations.

(61) FIG. 7A-D illustrate additional variants of membrane filters according to the invention with a base element and a head element.

(62) FIG. 7A illustrates a third membrane filter 71 according to the invention. This membrane filter differs from a first membrane filter 1 in that a base element 72. is adjoined on top by a closed tube 73 which envelops the hollow fiber membrane 74 and which adjoins at a head element (75) on top. The head element 75 includes a shell 78 and a membrane carrier 77, included therein wherein the membrane carrier 77 is connected with the shell 76 only through an anchor location 78. In the head element 75 the hollow fiber membrane 74 are encased and attached on top by a resin layer 79 in a sealing manner relative to the liquid to be filtered with their lumens in an open manner.

(63) The head element 75 includes a permeate collecting cavity 80 which is flow connected with the lumens of the hollow fiber membranes 74 for collecting the permeate and a permeate outlet 81 for draining the permeate. Furthermore the head element 75 includes a second flow cavity 82 for flowing the gas and the liquid to be filtered and flowing out of the head element 75. The third membrane filter 71 can be used in submerged operations and in dry set up operations.

(64) FIG. 7B illustrates a fourth membrane filter 83 according to the invention. The fourth membrane filter differs from the third membrane filter 71 in that a tube 84 which adjoins at a base element 85 on top is adjoined on top initially by a tube insert 88 with openings 87 for lateral outflowing of a portion of the gas and of the liquid to be filtered from the tube 84. The tube insert 88 and the tube 84 are made for the fourth membrane filter 83 form one piece. A head element 88 adjoins on top to the tube insert 86 wherein the head element 88 has the same details as the head element 75 of the third membrane filter 71. The base element 85 forms another difference to the third membrane filter 71 wherein the base element 85 does not have any permeate collecting cavity, this means the hollow fiber membranes 39 are closed at a bottom and encased with resin in the base element 85 and fixated. The permeate generated in the hollow fiber membranes 39 only flows into the permeate collecting cavity 90 of the head element 88, is collected therein and flows through a permeate outlet 91 from the fourth membrane filter 83. This fourth membrane filter 83 can only be used in submerged operations due to the openings 87 in the tubular insert 86.

(65) FIG. 7C illustrates a fifth membrane filter 92 according to the invention. The fifth membrane filter differs from the third membrane filter 71 in that the tube 93 is not run to the head element 94 but terminates even earlier with a tubular expansion 95 on top. Thus the head element 93 is not connected with the tube 93 and is accordingly not configured flowable for the liquid to be filtered and the gas. Therefore it only includes one membrane carrier 96 with hollow fiber membranes 98 that are resin connected and open towards a permeate collecting cavity 97 and a permeate outlet 99 adjoining the permeate collecting cavity 97 for collecting and draining a portion of the permeate generated from the hollow fiber membranes 98. The other portion of the permeate is drained from a base element 100 that is identical to the base element of the third membrane filter 71. Also the fifth membrane filter 92 can only be used m submerged operation due to the open configuration between the tube 93 and the head element 94.

(66) FIG. 7D illustrates a sixth membrane filter 101 according to the invention. The sixth membrane filter 101 respectively includes a base element 102 and a head element 103 which are identical to the respective elements of the fourth membrane filter 83 and which are connected through a continuously closed tube 104. The sixth membrane filter 101 according to the invention is configured for dry operations. Thus a first liquid conduit 105 is connected to the base element 102 for letting the liquid to be filtered flow from below into the base element 102. Furthermore a second liquid conduit 108 adjoins the head element 103 for letting out the liquid and the gas from the sixth membrane filter 101.

(67) FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate sectional views through base elements of three additional membrane filters according to the invention with variants of the gas inlet and the height of the flow cavity which is formed from the overlap portion of the heights of the shell and membrane carrier.

(68) FIG. 8A illustrates a sectional view through a base element 107 of a seventh membrane filter according to the invention in which the base element 107 includes a gas inlet 108 which is continued on an inside of the shell 109 as a tubular spout 110 towards the center of the base element 107 where the gas flows out centrally below a membrane carrier 111 and subsequently flows around the membrane carrier. The shell 109 of the base element 107 protrudes beyond the membrane carrier 117 on top and at a bottom so that the height 112 of the flow cavity defined by the intersecting portion of the heights of shell 109 and membrane carrier 111 is identical in this case with the height of the membrane carrier 111.

(69) FIG. 8B illustrates a sectional view of the base element 113 of an eighth membrane filter according to the invention in which the base element 113 does not include a gas inlet 114. The gas is fed herein separately from the base element 113 from below centrally below the membrane carrier 115 through the gas inlet 114 and subsequently flows around the membrane carrier 115. The dimensions of the shell 116 of the base element 113 are flush on top and on the bottom with the dimensions of the membrane carrier 115 so that the height 117 of the flow cavity coincides in this case with the height of the membrane carrier 115 and the height of the shell 116. FIG. 8C illustrates a sectional view of a base element 118 of a ninth membrane filter according to the invention in which the gas inlet 119 is identical with the gas inlet of the eighth membrane filter according to the invention, the membrane carrier 120 of the base element 118 protrudes at a top and at a bottom beyond the shell 121 so that the height 122 of the flow cavity that is defined in this case by the overlapping portion of the heights of the membrane carrier 120 and the shell 121 is identical in this case with the height of the shell 121.

(70) FIGS. 9A-9C illustrates variants of the shape of the membrane carrier in additional membrane filters according to the invention. These variants can be implemented in particular in all previously described membrane filters.

(71) FIG. 9A illustrates a base element 123 of a tenth membrane filter according to the invention which includes a shell 124 with a membrane carrier 128 arranged therein that is connected with the shell 124 only through an anchor location 125. Between the shell 124 and the membrane carrier 126 there is a flow cavity 127 with bulges 128 into the membrane carrier 126. The membrane carrier 126 closes the base element 123 besides the flow cavity 127 entirely for the flow through of the gas and the liquid to be filtered.

(72) FIG. 9B illustrates a base element 129 of an eleventh membrane filter according to the invention which includes a shell 130 with a membrane carrier 132 arranged therein and connected to the shell 130 only through an anchoring location 131. The membrane carrier 132 includes 7 membrane bundles 133 wherein 6 membrane bundles are arranged similar to a blossom structure about a central membrane bundle 133. Between the shell 130 and the membrane carrier 132 there is a flow cavity 134. The membrane carrier 132 closes the base element 129 completely for the flow through of the gas and the liquid to be filtered besides the flow cavity 134.

(73) FIG. 9C illustrates a base element 135 of a twelfth membrane filter according to the invention which includes a shell 136 with a membrane carrier 138 arranged therein and connected with the shell 135 only through an anchoring location 137 wherein the membrane carrier includes 4 fingers 139 that are connected with one another through an anchor 140 and which are attached at the anchor location 137. Between the shell 136 and the membrane carrier 138 there is a flow cavity 141 with bulges 142 and to the membrane carrier 138 which reach to the anchor 140. The membrane carrier 138 closes the base element 135 besides the one flow cavity 141 completely for a flow through of the gas and or the liquid to be filtered.

REFERENCE NUMERALS AND DESIGNATIONS

(74) 1 membrane filter

(75) 2 base element

(76) 3 shell

(77) 4 membrane carrier

(78) 5 hollow fiber membrane

(79) 6 tube

(80) 7 upper end

(81) 8 length

(82) 9 resin layer

(83) 10 height membrane filter

(84) 11 height base element

(85) 12 height membrane carrier

(86) 13 gas inlet

(87) 14 permeate outlet

(88) 15 anchor location

(89) 16 flow cavity

(90) 17 outlet

(91) 18 gas distribution system

(92) 19 tub

(93) 20 wall

(94) 21 vertical slot

(95) 22 inner edge

(96) 23 lower half

(97) 24 angle

(98) 25 permeate collecting cavity

(99) 26 gas

(100) 27 gas cushion

(101) 28 liquid to be filtered

(102) 29 permeate

(103) 30 liquid overhang

(104) 31 gas feed conduit

(105) 32 throttle

(106) 33 permeate conduit

(107) 34 first liquid conductor

(108) 35 second liquid conductor

(109) 36 membrane filter

(110) 37 liquid to be filtered

(111) 38 gas

(112) 39 base element

(113) 40 shell

(114) 41 membrane carrier

(115) 42 anchor location

(116) 43 hollow fiber membrane

(117) 44 permeate

(118) 45 tube

(119) 46 gas inlet

(120) 47 permeate collecting cavity

(121) 48 permeate outlet

(122) 49 height

(123) 50 height

(124) 51 resin layer

(125) 52 upper end

(126) 53 flow cavity

(127) 54 outlet

(128) 55 bulge

(129) 56 anchor

(130) 57 finger

(131) 58 flow channel

(132) 59 width

(133) 60 diameter

(134) 61 height

(135) 62 gas distribution system

(136) 63 tub

(137) 64 wall

(138) 65 slot

(139) 66 gas conducting channel

(140) 67 rib

(141) 68 inner edge

(142) 69 half

(143) 70 angle

(144) 71 membrane filler

(145) 72 base element

(146) 73 tube

(147) 74 hollow fiber membrane

(148) 75 head element

(149) 76 shell

(150) 77 membrane carrier

(151) 78 anchor location

(152) 79 resin layer

(153) 80 permeate collecting cavity

(154) 81 permeate outlet

(155) 82 flow cavity

(156) 83 membrane filter

(157) 84 tube

(158) 85 base element

(159) 86 tube insert

(160) 87 opening

(161) 88 head element

(162) 89 hollow fiber membrane

(163) 90 permeate collecting cavity

(164) 91 permeate outlet

(165) 92 membrane filter

(166) 93 tube

(167) 94 head element

(168) 95 tube expansion

(169) 96 membrane carrier

(170) 97 permeate collecting cavity

(171) 98 hollow fiber membrane

(172) 99 permeate outlet

(173) 100 base element

(174) 101 membrane filter

(175) 102 base element

(176) 103 head element

(177) 104 tube

(178) 105 first liquid conductor

(179) 106 second liquid conductor

(180) 107 base element

(181) 108 gas inlet

(182) 109 shell

(183) 110 tubular spout

(184) 111 membrane carrier

(185) 112 height

(186) 113 base element

(187) 114 gas inlet

(188) 115 membrane carrier

(189) 116 shell

(190) 117 height of the flow cavity

(191) 118 base element

(192) 119 gas inlet

(193) 120 membrane carrier

(194) 121 shell

(195) 122 height of flow cavity

(196) 123 base element

(197) 124 shell

(198) 125 anchor location

(199) 126 membrane carrier

(200) 127 flow cavity

(201) 128 bulge

(202) 129 base element

(203) 130 shell

(204) 131 anchor location

(205) 132 membrane carrier

(206) 133 membrane bundle

(207) 134 flow cavity

(208) 135 base element

(209) 136 shell

(210) 137 anchor location

(211) 138 membrane carrier

(212) 139 finger

(213) 140 anchor

(214) 141 flow cavity

(215) 142 bulge