Patent ID: 6325928
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: B01D,C02F

Abstract:
An element of filtering hollow fibre membranes comprising:(a) a pair of opposed horizontally spaced, vertically extending headers;(b) side plates extending between the pair of vertically extending headers on one or both sides of the pair of vertically extending headers, wherein the side plates of the element, when side plates extend between both sides of the headers, or the side plates of the element and an adjacent element, when side plates extend from one side of the headers, define a vertical flow channel through the element, wherein the vertical flow channel extends between the top and bottom of the element, and is open at the top and bottom of the element;(c) a plurality of hollow fibre membranes attached to and suspended between the pair of vertically extending headers, the hollow fibre membranes,(i) having each at least one open end;(ii) having each an outer surface, the outer surfaces of the open ends of the hollow fibre membranes connected to at least one header with a water impermeable connection;(ii) being suspended with between 1% and 5% slack; and,(iii) being arranged in bundles wherein the membranes in the bundles, when dispersed, move sideways to extend across substantially the entire width of the element within a central portion of the vertical flow channel, the central portion occupying at least a third of the distance between the proximal faces of the headers; and,(d) one or more permeate channels in at least one of the headers in fluid communication with the interior of the hollow fibre membranes for collecting a permeate drawn through the hollow fibre membranes.