Membrane Module for Fluid Filtration

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a membrane module including a first plurality of fibers capable of filtering fluids that are helically wound in layers creating a mono helix. Fluids to be treated can flow radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the mono helix or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mono helix. The membrane module can further include a second plurality of fibers that are helically wound with the first plurality of fibers to create a dual helix. The second plurality of fibers can have different properties than the first plurality of fibers in order to achieve different filtering functionalities.

1 . A membrane module comprising:
 a plurality of fibers that are helically wound in layers,   the plurality of fibers capable of filtering fluids,   the plurality of fibers creating a mono helix through which fluids flow radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the mono helix.   
     
     
         2 . The module of  claim 1  wherein the mono helix includes an asymmetric fiber distribution along its length. 
     
     
         3 . The module of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of fibers are hydrophilic. 
     
     
         4 . The module of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of fibers are configured for outside-in filtration. 
     
     
         5 . The module of  claim 1  wherein at least one of a pressurized feed of fluid to be treated and a vacuum is applied to the plurality of fibers in order to draw permeate water through lumens of the plurality of fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The module of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of fibers include pores up to about 10 microns in diameter. 
     
     
         7 . The module of  claim 1  and further comprising a core, the plurality of fibers being helically wound around the core. 
     
     
         8 . The module of  claim 7  wherein the core is one of a solid cylinder and a porous hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The module of  claim 7  wherein the core is porous and further comprising a packed bed of filtration media positioned inside the core. 
     
     
         10 . The module of  claim 7  wherein the core is porous and further comprising an ultraviolet light source positioned inside of the core. 
     
     
         11 . The module of  claim 7  wherein the core is porous and is used to aerate the mono helix. 
     
     
         12 . The module of  claim 7  wherein the core includes perforations. 
     
     
         13 . The module of  claim 7  wherein the core is porous and collects one of permeate water and fluid to be treated. 
     
     
         14 . The module of  claim 1  wherein at least one end of the plurality of fibers are potted and coupled to a permeate manifold. 
     
     
         15 . The module of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of mono helixes are coupled together to a permeate manifold to create a submersible module. 
     
     
         16 . The module of  claim 1  wherein the mono helix is positioned inside a cylindrical housing. 
     
     
         17 . The module of  claim 1  wherein permeate water is drawn out of lumens of the plurality of fibers from at least one end of the plurality of fibers. 
     
     
         18 . The module of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of fibers are arranged such that an open cross-sectional area for fluid flow decreases in the direction of fluid flow. 
     
     
         19 . The module of  claim 1  wherein the mono helix includes along its length at least one of varying pore sizes, patterned porosities, varying fiber cross-sectional shapes, varying fiber textures, and varying fiber dimensions. 
     
     
         20 . The module of  claim 19  wherein the varying fiber dimensions include varying lumen sizes. 
     
     
         21 . The module of  claim 1  wherein the mono helix includes varying surface structure along its length. 
     
     
         22 . The module of  claim 1  and further comprising a filtration media wrapped between fibers in the mono helix. 
     
     
         23 . The module of  claim 1  wherein the module is used in one of a drinking water purification system, a wastewater treatment system, and an industrial process water treatment system. 
     
     
         24 . A membrane module comprising:
 a plurality of fibers that are helically wound in layers,   the plurality of fibers capable of filtering fluids,   the plurality of fibers creating a mono helix through which fluids flow parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mono helix,   the plurality of fibers arranged such that an open cross-sectional area for fluid flow decreases in the direction of fluid flow.   
     
     
         25 . The module of  claim 24  wherein the mono helix includes an asymmetric fiber distribution along its length. 
     
     
         26 . The module of  claim 24  wherein the plurality of fibers are hydrophilic. 
     
     
         27 . The module of  claim 24  wherein the plurality of fibers are configured for outside-in filtration. 
     
     
         28 . The module of  claim 24  wherein at least one of a pressurized feed of fluid to be treated and a vacuum is applied to the plurality of fibers in order to draw permeate water through lumens of the plurality of fibers. 
     
     
         29 . The module of  claim 24  wherein the plurality of fibers include pores up to about 10 microns in diameter. 
     
     
         30 . The module of  claim 24  and further comprising a core, the plurality of fibers being helically wound around the core. 
     
     
         31 . The module of  claim 30  wherein the core is one of a solid cylinder and a porous hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         32 . The module of  claim 30  wherein the core is porous and further comprising a packed bed of filtration media positioned inside the core. 
     
     
         33 . The module of  claim 30  wherein the core is porous and further comprising an ultraviolet light source positioned inside of the core. 
     
     
         34 . The module of  claim 30  wherein the core is porous and is used to aerate the mono helix. 
     
     
         35 . The module of  claim 30  wherein the core includes perforations. 
     
     
         36 . The module of  claim 30  wherein the core is porous and collects one of permeate water and fluid to be treated. 
     
     
         37 . The module of  claim 24  wherein at least one end of the plurality of fibers are potted and coupled to a permeate manifold. 
     
     
         38 . The module of  claim 24  wherein a plurality of mono helixes are coupled together to a permeate manifold to create a submersible module. 
     
     
         39 . The module of  claim 24  wherein the mono helix is positioned inside a cylindrical housing. 
     
     
         40 . The module of  claim 24  wherein permeate water is drawn out of lumens of the plurality of fibers from at least one end of the plurality of fibers. 
     
     
         41 . The module of  claim 24  wherein the mono helix is more dense in an interior layer than an exterior layer. 
     
     
         42 . The module of  claim 24  wherein the mono helix includes along its length at least one of varying pore sizes, patterned porosities, varying fiber cross-sectional shapes, varying fiber textures, and varying fiber dimensions. 
     
     
         43 . The module of  claim 42  wherein the varying fiber dimensions include varying lumen sizes. 
     
     
         44 . The module of  claim 24  wherein the mono helix includes varying surface structure along its length. 
     
     
         45 . The module of  claim 24  and further comprising a filtration media wrapped between fibers in the mono helix. 
     
     
         46 . The module of  claim 24  wherein the module is used in one of a drinking water purification system, a wastewater treatment system, and an industrial process water treatment system. 
     
     
         47 . A membrane module for use in water and wastewater treatment, the membrane module comprising:
 a plurality of fibers that are helically wound in layers,   the plurality of fibers being hydrophilic,   the plurality of fibers being suitable for filtering water and wastewater,   the plurality of fibers creating a mono helix through which fluids flow radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the mono helix.   
     
     
         48 . The module of  claim 47  wherein the plurality of fibers are configured for outside-in filtration. 
     
     
         49 . The module of  claim 47  wherein the plurality of fibers include pores up to about 10 microns in diameter. 
     
     
         50 . The module of  claim 47  and further comprising a core, the plurality of fibers being helically wound around the core. 
     
     
         51 . The module of  claim 47  wherein at least one end of the plurality of fibers are potted and coupled to a permeate manifold. 
     
     
         52 . The module of  claim 47  wherein a plurality of mono helixes are coupled together to a permeate manifold to create a submersible module.