Patent ID: 8852438

Claim:
A membrane filtration system comprising (a) a tank for holding a substrate at ambient pressure during filtration; (b) a membrane filtration device immersed in the substrate and comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, each of the membranes comprising a braided support; the membranes potted in a solid body and extending vertically upwards from the solid body into the substrate; the solid body having ends of the membranes sealingly secured therein, with ends of the membranes open to a permeate-discharging face of the solid body; a pan, cap or enclosure to collect said permeate, sealingly connected in open fluid communication with the permeate-discharging face; a permeate withdrawal port in communication with the pan, cap or enclosure to withdraw said permeate; and, a cushioning lamina surrounding the membranes where they extend upwards from the solid body into the substrate; (c) an aeration system for producing bubbles in the substrate which contact the fibers; and, (d) a source of suction in fluid communication with the membrane filtration device wherein ends of the membranes protrude from the permeate-discharging face into the pan, and wherein the membranes are spaced apart in a pattern in the solid body, the pattern comprising a plurality of equally spaced apart rows of equidistantly spaced membranes.