Patent ID: 6451201
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
An apparatus for testing the integrity of a suction-driven filtering membrane assembly, comprising:(a) a permeate pipe connected between the membrane assembly and a permeate pump, for carrying a main flow of permeate produced through the membrane assembly while the permeate pump is operating; (b) a monitoring line having an inlet and an outlet connected to the permeate pipe upstream of the permeate pump, for carrying a flow of permeate diverted from the main flow of permeate; and, (c) a monitoring device connected to the monitoring line for analyzing the permeate flowing through the monitoring line so as to assess the integrity of the membrane assembly, wherein (d) the membrane assembly is small enough, in view of the dilution effects, to be adequately tested by the monitoring device; (e) the monitoring line inlet and the monitoring line outlet are connected to the permeate pipe upstream of the permeate pump at points which will have relatively higher and lower pressures respectively when the permeate pump is operating, to provide flow through the monitoring line; and, (f) when the permeate pump is operating, the difference in pressure between the relatively higher and lower pressures is sufficient to generate a required flow through the monitoring device.