Enclosure assembly and filtration module for filtering fluid

Abstract

An enclosure assembly configured to receive a plurality of fiber membranes configured to filter fluid may include an elongated tubular member including an elongated wall extending between first and second ends, and a removable hatch coupled to opposing side edges of the elongated wall, thereby forming a hollow enclosure having an interior. The interior of the elongated tubular member may be configured to receive a plurality of fiber membranes configured to filter fluid.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . An enclosure assembly configured to receive a plurality of fiber membranes configured to filter fluid, the enclosure assembly comprising:
 an elongated tubular member extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end of the elongated tubular member, the elongated tubular member comprising:   an elongated wall extending between the first and second ends of the elongated tubular member, the elongated wall comprising opposing side edges; and   a removable hatch extending between the first and second ends of the elongated tubular member and coupled to the opposing side edges of the elongated wall, thereby forming a hollow enclosure having an interior configured to provide flow communication between the first and second ends of the elongated tubular member,   wherein the interior of the elongated tubular member is configured to receive a plurality of fiber membranes configured to filter fluid, wherein said hollow enclosure substantially surrounds said plurality of fiber membranes to provide confinement of gaseous bubbles released from a gasification device, wherein said fiber membranes are arranged in bundles, and wherein said gasification device is configured to release gaseous bubbles, such that the gaseous bubbles flow from the first end of the elongated tubular member and along the fiber membranes.   
     
     
         35 . The enclosure assembly of  claim 34 , further comprising a feed gap adjacent said first end, wherein said feed gap is configured to provide influx of said fluid into said hollow enclosure in association with the release of gaseous bubbles. 
     
     
         36 . The enclosure assembly of  claim 34 , wherein an interior side of the elongated wall is devoid of seams transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular member. 
     
     
         37 . The enclosure assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the cross-section of the elongated tubular member comprises rounded interior surfaces. 
     
     
         38 . The enclosure assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the elongated wall has a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the cross-section of the elongated wall is at least one of concave with respect to the interior of the elongated tubular member, channel-shaped, U-shaped, and or C-shaped. 
     
     
         39 . The enclosure assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the removable hatch comprises opposing hatch edges, and wherein the opposing hatch edges and the opposing side edges of the elongated wall are configured such that the removable hatch is coupled to the elongated wall and separated from the elongated wall via sliding the removable hatch relative to the elongated wall in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         40 . An enclosure module configured to receive a plurality of bundles of fiber membranes configured to filter fluid, the enclosure module comprising:
 a plurality of elongated tubular members, each extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end of the elongated tubular member, the elongated tubular members each comprising:   an elongated wall extending between the first and second ends of the elongated tubular member, the elongated wall comprising opposing side edges; and   a removable hatch extending between the first and second ends of the elongated tubular member and coupled to the opposing side edges of the elongated wall, thereby forming a hollow enclosure having an interior configured to provide flow communication between the first and second ends of the elongated tubular member,   wherein the interior of each of the elongated tubular members is configured to receive a bundle of fiber membranes configured to filter fluid, wherein said hollow enclosure substantially surrounds said plurality of fiber membranes to provide confinement of gaseous bubbles released from a gasification device, wherein said fiber membranes are arranged in bundles, and wherein said gasification device is configured to release gaseous bubbles, such that the gaseous bubbles flow from the first end of the elongated tubular member and along the fiber membranes.   
     
     
         41 . The enclosure module of  claim 40 , wherein the removable hatches of the respective elongated tubular members are accessible from a common side of the enclosure module. 
     
     
         42 . The enclosure module of  claim 40 , wherein the enclosure module is configured such that fluid flowing from the first end of a first of the elongated tubular members is prevented from flowing from the interior of the first elongated tubular member to the interior of a second elongated tubular member without first flowing from the second end of the first elongated tubular member. 
     
     
         43 . The enclosure module of  claim 40 , further comprising a feed gap adjacent said first end, wherein said feed gap is configured to provide influx of said fluid into said hollow enclosure in association with the release of gaseous bubbles. 
     
     
         44 . The enclosure module of  claim 40 , wherein the filtration module comprises at least three elongated tubular members. 
     
     
         45 . The enclosure module of  claim 44 , wherein the elongated tubular members are coupled to one another via a coupling mechanism. 
     
     
         46 . A filtration module configured to filter fluid, the filtration module comprising: an enclosure assembly configured to receive a plurality of fiber membranes, the enclosure assembly comprising:
 an elongated tubular member extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end of the elongated tubular member, the elongated tubular member comprising:   an elongated wall extending between the first and second ends of the elongated tubular member, the elongated wall comprising opposing side edges;   a removable hatch extending between the first and second ends of the elongated tubular member and coupled to the opposing side edges of the elongated wall, thereby forming a hollow enclosure having an interior configured to provide flow communication between the first and second ends of the elongated tubular member;   a header associated with the first end of the elongated tubular member and configured to provide flow communication into the interior of the elongated tubular member; and   a bundle of a plurality of fiber membranes coupled to the header and received in the interior of the elongated tubular member, such that the fiber membranes extend along the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular member, the fiber membranes being configured to filter fluid, wherein said hollow enclosure substantially surrounds said plurality of fiber membranes to provide confinement of gaseous bubbles released from a gasification device, wherein said fiber membranes are arranged in bundles, and wherein said gasification device is associated with the header and configured to release gaseous bubbles, such that the gaseous bubbles flow from the first end of the elongated tubular member and along the fiber membranes.   
     
     
         47 . The filtration module of  claim 46 , further comprising a feed gap adjacent said first end, wherein said feed gap is configured to provide influx of said fluid into said hollow enclosure in association with the release of gaseous bubbles. 
     
     
         48 . The filtration module of  claim 46 , further comprising a fiber plate configured to associate the plurality of fiber membranes with the header. 
     
     
         49 . The filtration module of  claim 46 , further comprising:
 a plurality of the enclosure assemblies, each of the enclosure assemblies being coupled to an adjacent enclosure assembly via a coupling mechanism; and   a plurality of the bundles of fiber membranes, each of the bundles of fiber membranes being received in a respective enclosure assembly.   
     
     
         50 . The filtration module of  claim 46 , further comprising a first riser pipe and a second riser pipe, wherein the first and second riser pipes are located at opposite ends of the filtration module. 
     
     
         51 . The filtration module of  claim 50 , wherein the first and second riser pipes are coupled to the opposite ends of the filtration module via riser coupling assemblies. 
     
     
         52 . A method of reducing build-up of filtered debris on fiber membranes of a bundle of fiber membranes of a filtration module of  claim 46  configured to filter fluid, the method comprising:
 providing the bundle of fiber membranes in an elongated tubular member of an enclosure assembly, such that the fiber membranes extend along a longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular member; and 
 supplying gaseous bubbles at a first end of the elongated tubular member, such that the gaseous bubbles flow from the first end of the elongated tubular member over at least a portion of the fiber membranes toward a second end of the elongated tubular member, thereby dislodging at least some of the filtered debris.