Patent ID: 6692786
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: B01D,C12H

Abstract:
A method for raising the filtrate throughput in a crossflow membrane filter in a filter module of a filtration plant during the filtration of beer by releasing a covering layer built up on a filter membrane from the filter membrane, wherein beer is passed through the filter membrane from an unfiltrate side of the membrane to a filtrate side of the membrane thereby building up a cake of materials on the unfiltrate side of the membrane and thereby creating a transmembrane pressure over the filter membrane, the method comprising the steps ofa) interrupting the flow of beer through the filter membrane; b) separating the filter module from the filtration plant; c) removing the beer from the filter module while maintaining circulation of the beer in the plant; d) introducing into the filter module an agent for dissolving chemical bonds between the cake of materials and the membrane; e) maintaining said agent within the filter module in a concentration, at a temperature and for a time sufficient to loosen the cake of materials from the membrane without completely dissolving the cake of materials; f) back flushing the membrane with a rinsing liquid from the filtrate side to the unfiltrate side of the membrane to remove the cake of materials from the membrane and into the filter module; g) removing the cake of materials from the filter module; h) connecting the filter module with the filtration plant; i) resuming the flow of beer through the filter membrane; and j) repeating steps a) to i) in the same filtration run.