Mechanical axial vibration in membrane separation treatment of effluents

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for mechanical axial vibration in membrane separation treatment processes. The apparatus includes a separation membrane element having an axial dimension, a membrane support structure having the element therein, and means for vibrating the membrane element (hydrodynamically or using motors) in the axial dimension.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for axial vibration in membrane separation treatment of effluents comprising the steps of:
 locating a membrane element in a support structure;   feeding effluent for treatment into said support structure;   initiating axial vibration of said membrane element in said support structure without securement of said membrane element to a source of vibration; and   withdrawing treated effluent from said support structure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of selectively providing a crossflow in said support structure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of axially vibrating said element further comprises hydrodynamically vibrating said membrane element. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of locating said membrane element in a protective tube and axially locating said tube in said support structure, and wherein the step of axially vibrating said element further comprises hydrodynamically vibrating said tube in said support structure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising sealing components of said membrane element and said support structure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of axially vibrating said element further comprises vibrating said membrane element by means of a pump and spring installation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of axially vibrating said element comprises the step of vibrating said support structure. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of axially vibrating said membrane element occurs linearly in a vertical plane. 
     
     
         9 . A method for axial vibration in membrane separation treatment of effluents comprising the steps of:
 locating a membrane element having an axial dimension in a membrane support structure without any direct attachment of said membrane element to said support structure or other structure outside said support structure; and   vibrating said membrane element in said support structure in said axial dimension one of hydrodynamically, electromagnetically and mechanically.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of crossflow pumping of effluent at said membrane element. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the step of vibrating said membrane element includes the steps locating a spring arrangement in said membrane support structure and pulsing fluid in said support structure thereby, in combination with said spring arrangement, oscillating said membrane element in said support structure. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said support structure includes a tube for receiving said membrane element, said tube and element together defining a membrane cartridge, and further comprising the steps of axially mounting plural said cartridges at a frame structure and vibrating said frame structure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of vibrating said membrane element includes vibrating said frame structure linearly using at least a first motor. 
     
     
         14 . A method for axial vibration in membrane separation treatment of effluents comprising the steps of:
 positioning a membrane module in a containment housing configured for free axial movement of the membrane module therein;   adjustably limiting extent of axial movement of said membrane module in said containment housing; and   hydrodynamically activating axial vibration of said membrane module in said containment housing as limited.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising locating said membrane module at a piston structure and vibrating said piston structure in said containment housing. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising locating a spring at said containment housing to assist axial vibration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of hydrodynamically activating axial vibration includes pulsing fluid through a fluid port at one end of said containment housing to move said membrane module therein in a first axial direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of hydrodynamically activating axial vibration includes utilizing a mechanism at an opposite end of said containment housing to move said membrane module therein in a second axial direction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the step of pulsing fluid includes pulsing fluid to be treatment in said containment housing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the steps of feeding effluent for treatment into said containment housing at one end and withdrawing treated effluent from said containment housing at an opposite end.