Abstract: A tubular membrane comprises a support tube made out of one or more flexible tapes of porous support material which have been helically wound into a tube shape with overlapping tape edges which have been sealed to each other, and a semi-permeable membrane layer made of membrane forming material on an inner wall of the support tube. At least one inwardly projecting helical ridge is provided on said inner wall of the support tube, which helical ridge is covered with or forms part of the membrane layer.

Abstract: A tubular membrane includes a support tube made out of one or more flexible tapes of porous support material which have been helically wound into a tube shape with overlapping tape edges which have been sealed to each other, and a semi-permeable membrane layer made of membrane forming material on an inner wall of the support tube. At least one inwardly projecting helical ridge is provided on the inner wall of the support tube, which helical ridge is covered with or forms part of the membrane layer.

Abstract: An end cap for a filtration module having a chamber includes an outlet channel extending therethrough which is part of or forms an aerodynamically shaped element having a cross section with an elongated shape mainly directed from the inlet to the first outlet, a width of the elongated shape at both ends thereof being smaller than at a center part of the elongated shape. An end cap may also include an inlet, a first and second outlet, and a flow guide element arranged between the inlet and the first outlet within the chamber at a second outlet side thereof, the flow guide element extending a part of an inlet wall to a corresponding part of a first outlet wall, the flow guide element defining one or more openings allowing a portion of a main flow to flow towards the second outlet.

Abstract: A method for cleaning membranes and an inlet side of a membrane filtration module of an apparatus includes filling a basin with a treatment fluid; feeding an incoming fluid to the treatment fluid present in the basin and mixing and treating it with the latter fluid so as to obtain a fluid mixture; feeding the fluid mixture to the membrane filtration module; discharging permeate filtered by and retentate retained by the membranes; and periodically closing the fluid mixture feed-through line and opening the flushing discharge line, so that at least the inlet side of the membranes and the connection chamber of the membrane filtration module disposed underneath it are flushed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a process for the treatment of an incoming fluid, comprising: a bottom part connecting a common feed stream to individual membrane filter modules through a tailor made connecting piece; a top part connecting individual membrane filter modules to a common retentate stream through a tailor made connecting piece. According to the invention the apparatus is assembled out of tailor-made parts with the object to reduce material costs and labor costs, and the part are made such that footprint of the contraption is minimized. Furthermore, the individual parts form a sub-unit with such dimensions that multiple sub-units can be combined into one main unit, without the need to execute any alterations to the sub-units in terms of sizing, by which means modularity and scalability is introduced into the main units.

Abstract: A method for operation of a filtration module 4 including a housing 5 with at least one filter element 7 positioned therein, the filter element defining a first space 10 in the housing at a feeding side of its filtering surface and a second space 11 at an opposite permeate side thereof, a fluid feed 14 opening out in the first space at the feeding side of the filter element, and a permeate outlet 17 in flow communication with the second space at the permeate side of the filter element, in which the filter element is placed in an upright position. The permeate outlet is positioned at a lower end of the filter element, and a gas feed 18 is provided opening out in the second space at said permeate side of the filter element. During filtration, pressurized gas is fed into the second space.

Abstract: A method for cleaning membranes and an inlet side of a membrane filtration module of an apparatus includes filling a basin with a treatment fluid; feeding an incoming fluid to the treatment fluid present in the basin and mixing and treating it with the latter fluid so as to obtain a fluid mixture; feeding the fluid mixture to the membrane filtration module; discharging permeate filtered by and retentate retained by the membranes; and periodically closing the fluid mixture feed-through line and opening the flushing discharge line, so that at least the inlet side of the membranes and the connection chamber of the membrane filtration module disposed underneath it are flushed.

Abstract: A method for cleaning process apparatus used for production of liquids, especially for cleaning filters, for example membrane filters. The apparatus is contacted with a solution of periodate. It is especially preferred that the cleaning process is carried out at a temperature between 15 and 95° C.

Abstract: A method for operation of a filtration module 4 including a housing 5 with at least one filter element 7 positioned therein, the filter element defining a first space 10 in the housing at a feeding side of its filtering surface and a second space 11 at an opposite permeate side thereof, a fluid feed 14 opening out in the first space at the feeding side of the filter element, and a permeate outlet 17 in flow communication with the second space at the permeate side of the filter element, in which the filter element is placed in an upright position. The permeate outlet is positioned at a lower end of the filter element, and a gas feed 18 is provided opening out in the second space at said permeate side of the filter element. During filtration, pressurized gas is fed into the second space.

Abstract: A method for producing tubular membranes creates a very inexpensive production method, while obtaining very high output rates for tubular membranes. A tubular member (10) is formed from several threads (12) in such a way that at least some of the threads (12) are tightly tied together along web-type connecting lines (14) that are composed of longitudinal threads. At least some of the threads (12) form a transversal connection (16) between adjacent longitudinal threads (14) in between the web-type connecting lines (14). A predefined membrane material (18) is applied to the tubular member (10).

Abstract: A filter medium includes at least one filter membrane (10) having a fabric ply (12) as a supporting and protective layer. At least one additional filter membrane (14) with another fabric ply (16) as a supporting and protective layer is also provided. A third fabric ply (18) extends between both adjacent filter membranes (10, 14). Both adjacent filter membranes (10, 14) are connected together by the threads (26) of the other two plies (12, 16) which reach through to the third ply (18).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a process for the treatment of an incoming fluid, comprising: a bottom part connecting a common feed stream to individual membrane filter modules through a tailor made connecting piece; a top part connecting individual membrane filter modules to a common retentate stream through a tailor made connecting piece. According to the invention the apparatus is assembled out of tailor-made parts with the object to reduce material costs and labor costs, and the part are made such that footprint of the contraption is minimized Furthermore, more, the individual parts form a sub-unit with such dimensions that multiple sub-units can be combined into one main unit, without the need to execute any alterations to the sub-units in terms of sizing, by which means modularity and scalability is introduced into the main units.

Abstract: A method for cleaning process apparatus used for production of liquids, especially for cleaning filters, for example membrane filters. The apparatus is contacted with a solution of peroxydisulphate. It is especially preferred that the cleaning process is carried out at a temperature between 15 and 95° C.

Abstract: A method for cleaning process apparatus used for production of liquids, especially for cleaning filters, for example membrane filters. The apparatus is contacted with a solution of periodate. It is especially preferred that the cleaning process is carried out at a temperature between 15 and 95° C.

Abstract: A method for cleaning process apparatus used for production of liquids, especially for cleaning filters, for example membrane filters. The apparatus is contacted with a solution of peroxydisulphate. It is especially preferred that the cleaning process is carried out at a temperature between 15 and 95° C.

Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of an incoming fluid, comprising a bioreactor with a basin (2) with a fluid space and a membrane filtration module (12) comprising a housing (13) with one or more incorporated membranes (14), an inlet side, a permeate side and a retentate side, wherein the housing (13) delimits a connection chamber (18) on the inlet side of the membranes (14) into which a fluid inlet line (10) discharges which is connected to the fluid space of the basin (2). A closable flushing discharge line (20) is provided which is connected on one side to the connection chamber (18) and on the other side discharges outside the fluid space. A fluid mixture feed-through line from the basin to the connection chamber is closable, and a control unit (23) is provided for periodically closing the fluid mixture feed-through line and opening the flushing discharge line (20), and vice versa, for periodic flushing of at least the inlet side of the membranes (14) and the connection chamber (18) disposed underneath it.

Abstract: A membrane filtration unit comprises a housing having a feedstock inlet, a permeate outlet and a retentate outlet, at least one bundle of tubular membranes accommodated in the housing, sealing bodies which hold end parts of the membranes sealed in a fixed position with respect to the housing, and at least one flexible, permeable sleeve element which encloses the bundle of membranes and holds it together. The sleeve element encloses a center part, which is situated between the held end parts, of the bundle. Socket members are provided, which delimit transitional parts of the bundle, which transitional parts are situated at the location of the transitions from the end parts to the center part. Part of each socket member is fixedly connected with respect to the housing and part of each socket member movably encloses an end of the sleeve element.

Abstract: A membrane filtration unit comprises a housing having a feedstock inlet, a permeate outlet and a retentate outlet, at least one bundle of tubular membranes accommodated in the housing, sealing bodies which hold end parts of the membranes sealed in a fixed position with respect to the housing, and at least one flexible, permeable sleeve element which encloses the bundle of membranes and holds it together. The sleeve element encloses a center part, which is situated between the held end parts, of the bundle. Socket members are provided, which delimit transitional parts of the bundle, which transitional parts are situated at the location of the transitions from the end parts to the center part. Part of each socket member is fixedly connected with respect to the housing and part of each socket member movably encloses an end of the sleeve element.

Abstract: A membrane filtration module, comprising a housing, a semi-permeable membrane, which is accommodated in the housing and has a liquid side for the introduction of liquid to be filtered and a concentrate side opposite the liquid side, as well as a permeate chamber, which surrounds the membrane and is in communication with a permeate-discharge line for discharging permeate. According to the invention, the wall of the housing comprises one or more channels which are closed towards the liquid side and the concentrate side and are in communication with the permeate chamber. These channels act as a permeate discharge.