Patent ID: 6375848
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: B01D,C02F,Y02W

Abstract:
A filter for treating water containing solids to produce a permeate lean in solids comprising:(a) a reactor having a series of successive filtration zones including at least a first and a last filtration zone, each filtration zone being open to the atmosphere and having an inlet and an outlet; (b) one or more membrane modules in each filtration zone; (c) permeate collectors in each filtration zone for connecting a permeate side of membranes in the membrane modules in a filtration zone to a source of negative pressure; and, (d) a source of negative pressure operable to produce a selected permeate flux from the membrane modules in each filtration zone, the selected permeate flux being similar for each filtration zone, wherein,(e) a supply for a feed water containing solids is connected to the inlet of the first filtration zone; (f) water rich in solids leaves the tank from the outlet of the last filtration zone; (g) the outlet of each filtration zone other than the last filtration zone is in fluid communication with the inlet of only one of the other filtration zones; and, (h) the inlet of each filtration zone other than the first filtration zone is in fluid communication with the outlet of only one of the other filtration zones.