This invention relates to a porous membrane filtration component for treating water, particularly a type of suspending porous hollow fiber membrane bundle for the treatment of highly turbid waste water.

In recent years and with the development of membrane technology, membranes have more and more applications in waste water treatment. However, in the application process, particularly in the treatment applications of waste water with high turbidity, the membrane pollution problem has not been well resolved. With the improvement of membrane material properties and the reduction of membrane price, the control of membrane pollution has gradually become the main factor that limits its extensive application.

In order to improve the evenness of water flow, permeation efficiency, and to resolve the pollution and blockage problems of the applied membrane, the importance of an optimized design for membrane modules has become more and more significant. Particularly during the application of direct filtration of highly turbid waste water with hollow fiber porous membrane, there emerges a module composed of hollow fiber porous membrane that can be directly immersed in a raw water tank or biochemical tank to perform filtration, generally both ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundles are respectively connected with water-collecting boards (tube) that are separated but standing face to face, kept loose without contact, and set in the water to be treated. The mentioned hollow fiber membranes can use known polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyether sulfone or polysulfone materials, etc. Generally, there are independent aeration and cleaning components setup under the membrane module, so the membrane bundles are in a buffeting state to prevent begriming over the membrane surface and guarantee a high flow rate of the porous membrane in the filtering of highly turbid water. The layout form for the mentioned hollow fiber membrane bundles can be in a curtain shape, cuboid shape or cylinder shape.

Immersion type membrane modules have been widely used. The published or approved patents include Chinese patent CN1331124A , CN1509801A , CN1121895C and US Patent US6790360 . The abovementioned immersion type membrane modules have all resolved the anti-pollution and antiblockage properties of the hollow porous membrane yarns to a certain degree, prolonging the lifespan and operating cycles of the modules to a certain degree as well. Both ends of the hollow fiber membrane yarns for the abovementioned membrane modules generally were inserted into the sealed water-collecting tubes that are set face to face. Because the membrane yarns inside the membrane modules were not restrained by a shell and although the buffeting freedom of the membrane yarns was improved under the effect of aeration system, in order to prevent the entanglement among the membrane yarns, the length of the membrane modules should not be very long. For example, in US6790360 the optimized length for membrane yarns is suggested to be 0.7 meter.

Even so, immersion type porous membrane modules still have became a trend and direction for membrane module design in the sewage and waste water treatment field, and the membrane module structure and craft have been continuously improved. There is a curtain type immersion module including two vertically arranged upper and lower water-collecting tubes and hollow fiber membrane bundles in the middle. The feature is that the hollow fiber membrane bundle located between the upper and lower water-collecting tubes, could move right and left within a certain range, and the lower water-collecting tube could also shift up and down within a certain range, which provides the membrane bundle with a certain flexibility to improve anti-pollution capability of the membrane module. For another example, US Patent US2004/0188339A1 published an immersion module type membrane filtration device with an exchangeable membrane module with an aeration tube installed in the membrane bundles. Not only is the maintenance problem for the membrane module to a certain degree resolved and non-stop operation is realized, but also the aeration structure of the device and the anti-pollution property of the membrane yarns are improved.

In the above technologies, consideration was not given to the maintenance of the membrane module, the anti-pollution property of the membrane yarns and the technical problem of water productivity for the complete membrane filtration device in all the designs of the membrane modules.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane filtration module that can effectively prevent the entanglement of membrane yarns, effectively remove pollutants on the surface of membrane yarns, wherein the membrane yarns do not rupture easily, the membrane modules have a long lifespan with stable water production quality.

This invention mainly provides for a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane filtration module with a reasonable structure that can effectively prevent entanglement of membrane yarns, effectively removes pollutants on the membrane yarn surfaces which are difficult to rupture, provide a long application lifespan for the membrane module and provide steady water production quality. It can resolve the pre-existing technical problem in the hollow fiber membrane filtration module e.g. the entangled membrane yarns and easily rupture-able membrane yarn which leads to the technical problem of low water production quality. This invention also provides convenient maintenance or exchanging of the membrane module for the whole membrane filtration equipment.

The above technical problems in this invention are resolved through the technical scheme listed below: a suspending porous hollow fiber membrane bundle, comprising some porous hollow fiber membrane yarns and casting heads fixed on both ends of them and the casting heads of the said fixed membrane bundles are connected with two ends of the membrane filtration module in soft connection. with a hollow tube or cord on the casting head of at least one end of the soft connection, the casting head is connected with the said membrane filtration module in a suspending state. The said hollow fiber porous membrane bundle is completely immersed in the liquid to be filtered during the process, and the casting heads at both ends of the membrane bundle can move within a certain range, so in the process, not only can the membrane yarns suspend-swing and crash each other with water flow and air flow, but also the whole membrane bundle can move in a certain range, resulting in the improvement of the removal of the contaminants off the membrane yarn surface. Chiefly because the casting heads at both ends of the membrane bundle can move within a certain range, when the membrane yarns move under the effect of water and air flows, the casting heads at both ends of the membrane bundle can move simultaneously also, then the oscillation angle between the membrane yarn roots and the casting surface and the possibility of root rupture is significantly reduced, and dependability is improved. The said casting head at one end of the membrane bundle is connected with the water-collecting system of the said membrane filtration module through a hollow soft tube or cord, the casting head at the other end of the membrane bundle can be connected with the water-collecting system of the said membrane filtration module through a hollow soft tube, or directly connected with the other end of the module through a cord, then the soft connection between the said membrane bundle and the said membrane filtration module is accomplished. The cord includes the known flexible connection materials such as cords, springs, etc.

Of course, for the soft connection between the said membrane bundle and the membrane filtration module as well as the free suspending state for the membrane bundle in the water to be treated, any present known method can be adopted, for example, cord connection is adopted for both ends of the membrane bundle to make the membrane bundle suspend in the water to be treated, then the water outlet tube can connect to a certain location between the two casting heads for transportation of the produced water; or the membrane yarns can be divided into two sections, and a fixture can be placed between the membrane yarns to collect the produced water from both ends, and connection between the soft tube and the water production system is for the transportation of the produced water.

Both ends of the said membrane yarns can be open, or only the water outlet end can be open.

As an optimal choice, both ends of the said hollow fiber membrane yarns are casted into cylinder shapes, and placed into the cup to form the casting heads with cavities. Both ends of the membrane yarns are open and placed inside the cavities, wherein the inner cavities of the both ends are connected with hollow soft tubes. The said cavities are water-collecting chambers. The hollow tubes at both ends are water outlet tubes. The soft connections on both ends are implemented by the water outlet tubes, the cavities on both ends of the casting heads. One end of the water outlet tube is connected with the cavity of the casting head, the other end is connected with the water production system of the module for transporting of the produced water.

As an optimal choice, both ends of the said hollow fiber membrane yarns are casted into cylinder shapes, and placed into the cup to form the casting heads with cavities. One end of the membrane yarn is open and placed inside the cavity for the connection to the hollow tube, and the cavity is a water-collecting chamber. The other end of the membrane yarn is sealed. The cavity of this end is connected with a cord or air distribution tube. One end of the membrane yarn is open and the other one is sealed. One end of the soft connection is water outlet tube for connection with the production system of the module for transportation of produced water. The other end of the soft connection can be a soft tube or cord. If a tube is used, it is connected with the air supply system of the module for air distribution and the cavity would become the air distribution chamber; if a cord is used, the soft connection between the casting head and the module is realized to make the ends of the membrane yarns move with the casting head to reduce stress around the root and the possibility of end rupture.

As an optimal choice, a hollow tube is set in the said hollow fiber membrane yarn. The hollow tube can be used as the transportation tube for the produced water connected with the water-collecting chamber in at least one end of the membrane bundle, whose ends are connected with the two ends of the casting heads respectively to transport the produced water inside the cavities of two casting heads. It can also be used as the air distribution tube connected to the air distribution chamber on one end of the membrane bundle there are several air distribution holes on the tube. Using a hollow tube as the air distribution tube can more effectively sweep the membrane yarns, and an air distribution tube set-up can better sweep the roots of the membrane yarns to prevent the begriming on the roots from blockage of the membrane yarns or even causing the rupture of the membrane yarns.

As an optimal choice, the length of said hollow tube is larger than the distance between the two casting heads fixed on the membrane bundle but smaller than the length of the hollow fiber membrane yarn. The damage on the membrane yarn caused by high oscillation amplitude of the membrane bundle can be prevented, so the membrane bundle is protected.

As an optimal choice, the cord is set in the hollow fiber membrane yarn with both ends of the cord connected with the casting heads fixed on both ends of the membrane yarn respectively, its length is larger than the distance between the casting heads on the membrane bundle but smaller than the length of the hollow fiber membrane yarn. The damage on membrane yarns caused by the high oscillation amplitude of the membrane bundle can be prevented, which protects the membrane bundle.

As an optimal choice, an air distribution tube is installed in the center of the casting head at the end of the said hollow fiber membrane yarn. There are air distribution holes over it, with one end of the air distribution tube as free end extending to the middle of the membrane yarn and the other end connecting to the air distribution system.

As an optimal choice, at least one end of casting head on two ends of the said membrane bundle is connected with the water-collecting system or air distribution system of the said membrane filtration module through a hollow soft tube.

The said suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle can not only be used in an immersion type super-filtration device, but it can also be used in a membrane biological reaction device. The said suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle can be connected with the corresponding hangers of the membrane module through flexible hanging cords or connected with the water-collecting system or air supply system of the module through water outlet tube or air inlet tube. Several said suspending hollow fiber porous membrane filtration modules can be fixed to the corresponding hanger brackets through the module hangers. The water-producing soft tube for the module is connected parallel to the water collecting tube and the air inlet soft tube is connected parallel to the compressed air tube, then a filtration system is formed to adjust to the filtration system in different water generation scales.

This invention has the features of a simple structure, reasonable layout, compact device, convenient production, small area requirement, low energy consumption, simple operation, good water quality, high treatment efficiency and longer operational cycle, etc. It can be used alone or in connection with other water treatment processes of highly turbid water. It is particularly appropriate in membrane biological reaction devices.

• Figure 1 is the profile view of a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle (there are water outlet tubes in the membrane bundle) in this invention.
• Figure 2 is the profile view of a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle (there are air distribution tubes in the membrane bundle) in this invention.
• Figure 3 is the profile view of a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle (there are cords in the membrane bundle) in this invention.
• Figure 4 is the profile view of a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle (there are short air distribution tubes in the membrane bundle) in this invention.
• Figure 5 is the schematic diagram of the casting head below a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle shown in Figure 1 in this invention.
• Figure 6 is the schematic diagram of the casting head above a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle shown in Figure 1 in this invention.
• Figure 7 is the schematic diagram of the lower casting head in a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle shown in Figure 2 in this invention.
• Figure 8 is the schematic diagram of the upper casting head in a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle shown in Figure 2 in this invention.
• Figure 9 is the schematic diagram of the lower casting head in a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle shown in Figure 3 in this invention.
• Figure 10 is the schematic diagram of the upper casting head in a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle shown in Figure 3 in this invention.
• Figure 11 is the schematic diagram of the lower casting head in a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle shown in Figure 4 in this invention.
• Figure 12 is the schematic diagram of the upper casting head in a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle shown in Figure 4 in this invention.
• Figure 13 is the schematic diagram of the membrane filtration module composed of several suspending hollow fiber membrane bundles in this invention.

Through the examples and the attached diagrams, the detailed description for the technical scheme in this invention is made as follows.

As shown in Figure 1, a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle, comprises several hollow fiber membrane yarns 1, casting heads 2 fixed on the ends of the yarns, water outlet end and hollow tube 5.The membrane bundle that is completely immersed in the raw water to be filtered is composed of 300 hollow fiber porous membrane yarns 1 with 0.01µm average pore size of the hollow fiber porous membrane yarn in cylinder shape of 50mm diameter. Polyurethane is used to cast both ends of the membrane bundle inside the cylinder casting head 2 with both ends open (as shown in Figure 5 and 6). Both ends of the said hollow fiber membrane yarn 1 are casted into cylinder shape and placed into cast header 2 with cavities 3 (that is the water-collecting chamber), the water-collecting chamber is connected with water outlet tube 4 through the water outlet end and water outlet tube 4 is connected with the water-collecting system of the filtration system. The net length of the membrane yarn 1 between casting heads 2 at both ends of the membrane bundle is 1500mm. The water-collecting chambers on each end of the membrane bundle are connected through a hollow tube 5. The produced water collected by the water-collecting chamber on one end of the membrane bundle is transported to the other end through hollow tube 5. The produced water from both ends is combined together and flows to the water-collecting system of the filtration system through water outlet end and water outlet tube 4. As a result, the said hollow tube 5 is not only the water outlet tube, but can also prevent the damage on the membrane yarn caused by high oscillation amplitude of the membrane bundle and protect the membrane bundle. Because soft connections are used for both ends of the membrane bundle, wherein at lease one end of the soft connection uses the soft tube and the hollow fiber porous membrane bundle is completely immersed into the liquid to be filtered. The fixtures on both ends of the membrane bundle can move within a certain range, therefore besides the membrane yarns that can be suspended, move and contact each other along with water flow and air flow, the complete membrane bundle can move within a range as well.

As shown in Figure 2, a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle, comprises several hollow fiber membrane yarns 1, casting heads 2 fixed on the ends of the membrane yarns, water outlet end 9 and air supply end 10. The membrane bundle, which is completely immersed inside the raw water to be filtered, is composed of 400 hollow fibers porous membrane yarns 1 with average pore size of 0.1 µm, with the diameter of the cylinder shape membrane bundle of 60mm.. Polyurethane is used to cast one end of the membrane bundle into the cylinder casting head 2 with the end open. Both ends of the said hollow fiber membrane yarn 1 are casted into cylinder shape and placed into casting head 2 with cavities 3 (that is the water-collecting chamber). The water-collecting chamber is connected to water outlet tube 4 through the water outlet end. Polyurethane is used to cast the other end of the membrane bundle into the cylinder casting head 2 with the end sealed. The casting heads are placed in the cup to form cavity 3 (that is the air distribution chamber), the air distribution chamber is connected to air supply tube through air supply end (as shown in Figure 7 and 8). Water outlet tube 4, air supply tube 11 are connected with the water collecting system and compressed air supply system of the filtration system respectively. The net length of the membrane yarn 1 between casting heads 2 at both ends of the membrane bundle is 1500mm. There is a hollow tube 5 set in the membrane bundle with one end connected to the air distribution chamber on one end of the membrane bundle and the other end binding with the corresponding membrane bundle cast header with the end sealed. There are air distribution holes 7 evenly distributed on the hollow tube 5, which can provide aeration on membrane yarns 1 during work. Therefore, the hollow tube 5 is not only the air distribution tube, but also can prevent the damage on membrane yarn 1 caused by high oscillation amplitude of the membrane bundle and protect the membrane bundle. Because soft tube connections are used in both ends of the membrane bundle and the hollow fiber porous membrane bundle is completely immersed into the liquid to be filtered, the casting heads at both ends of the membrane bundle can move within a certain range. So besides the membrane yarns can float, move and contact each other along with water flow and air flow, the complete membrane bundle can move within a range as well.

As shown in Figure 3, a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle, comprises several hollow fiber membrane yarns 1, casting heads 2 fixed on the ends of the yarns, water outlet end and middle cord 6. The membrane bundle that is completely immersed in the raw water to be filtered is composed of 200 hollow fibers porous membrane yarns with average pore size of 0.2µm, with the diameter of the cylinder shape membrane bundle of 60mm. Polyurethane is used for both ends of the membrane bundle to cast in the cylinder cast header 2 with the ends open (as shown in Figure 9 and 10). Both ends of the said hollow fiber membrane yarn 1 are casted into cylinder shape and placed into cast header 2 with cavities 3 (that is the water-collecting chamber). The water-collecting chamber is connected to water outlet tube 4 through the water outlet end; the water outlet tube 4 is connected to the water-collecting system of the filtration system. The net length of the membrane yarn 1 between casting heads 2 at both ends of the membrane bundle is 1500mm. Water-collecting chambers on both ends of the membrane bundle are connected through a hollow tube. In order to prevent the damage on membrane yarn caused by high oscillation amplitude of the membrane bundle, cord 6 is set up in the middle of the membrane yarn 1 and between the two casting heads on both ends to protect the membrane bundle. Because soft connections are used for both ends of the membrane bundle and the hollow fiber porous membrane bundle is completely immersed into the liquid to be filtered, the casting heads 2 on both ends of the membrane bundle can move within a certain range, therefore, besides the membrane yarns that can float, move and contact each other along with water flow and air flow, the complete membrane bundle can move within a range.

As shown in Figure 4, a suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundle, comprises several hollow fiber membrane yarns 1, casting heads 2 fixed on the ends of the yarns, water outlet end and air supply end. Membrane bundle that is completely immersed inside the raw water to be filtered is composed of 200 hollow fiber porous membrane yarns 1 with an average pore size of 0.01µm and with a diameter of the cylinder shape membrane bundle of 160mm. As shown in Figure 11 and 12, polyurethane is used to cast one end of the membrane bundle into the cylinder shape cast header with the end open. Both ends of the said hollow fiber membrane yarn 1 are casted into cylinder shape and placed into cast header 2 with cavities 3 (that is water-collecting chamber). The water-collecting chamber is connected with the water outlet tube 4 through the water outlet end. As shown in Figure 4, polyurethane is used to cast the other end of the membrane bundle into the cylinder cast header 2 with the end sealed. The center of the cast header has an air supply tube 8 extending to the center of membrane yarn 1, and there are air distribution holes over the tube. There is a cavity 3 (that is the air distribution chamber) in the cast header; the air distribution chamber is connected to air supply tube 11 through air supply end. Water outlet tube 4 and air supply tube 11 are connected with the water-collecting system and compressed air supply system of the filtration system respectively.

The net length of the membrane yarn 1 between casting heads 2 at both ends of the membrane bundle is 1000mm. Because soft tube connections are adopted in both ends of the membrane bundle and the hollow fiber porous membrane bundle is completely immersed into the liquid to be filtered, the casting heads at both ends of the membrane bundle can move within a certain range, therefore, besides the membrane yarns that can float, move and contact each other along with water flow and air flow, the complete membrane bundle can move within a range.

As shown in Figure 9, a membrane filtration module composed of several suspending hollow fiber porous membrane bundles in Example 1, comprising module head 13, casting heads 2 fixed on the ends of the membrane yarns, aeration head 12, central tube 15, water outlet tube 4, etc. and 8 hollow fiber porous membrane bundles 17 that surround the central tube 15 evenly and is completely immersed in the raw water to be filtered. Module head 13 and aeration head 12 are connected together through the central tube 15 with diameter of 40mm . The size of the module head 13 is smaller than that of the aeration head 12 to make the whole module appear to be in tower shape, which helps the direction of air flow. The module head 13 is round, its diameter is 150mm. the aeration head 12 is a double cone with 200mm diameter and there are several air distributing holes in radial distribution. The conical angle is 120° for the upper conical surface of the aeration head 12. The conical angle for the lower conical surface is 130°. The side of aeration head 12 that is against the module head 13 has air pressure adjusting tube 16 that faces the central tube 15; the air pressure adjusting tube 16 can adjust the air pressure inside the aeration head 12 to increase the aeration result.

There is a hang ring 14 on module head 13 connected to the module bracket of the filtration system through soft cord by soft connection.

There are a water outlet tube 19 and an air distribution tube 20 on the module head 13, water outlet tube 19 is connected to water-collecting extension tube and outlet pump; air distribution tube 20 is connected to compressed air inlet extension tube and is connected with the aeration head 12 through central tube 15. The water to be purified goes through the pores on the walls of hollow fiber porous membrane to enter the inside of the hollow fiber porous membrane and flows into water-collecting tube and it is extracted by the pump. The two ends of the central tube 15 close to the module head 13 and the aeration head 12 have air exit leading board 18, which has the leading effect on the air flow coming from the aeration head 12, enhances the sweeping result for the ends of the hollow fiber porous membrane bundle to remove the pollutants.

Obviously, the abovementioned devices, processes and methods can be changed or modified by the technicians in this field within this invention. The above statement should be considered as an embodiment of the invention, instead of a kind of limit.

This invention is appropriate for the purification treatments of surface water, underground water, municipal waste water, industrial waste water, etc. with high turbidity.