Abstract: A piece of substrate material is formed under heat and pressure by a roller against a cavity or platen into a shaped substrate sheet having one or more depressions. Two substrate sheets are bonded together to form a substrate wherein the one or more depressions form one or more interior channels. The substrate is coated with a dope in a casting device having a guide portion corresponding to the shape of the substrate sheets and quenched to form a filtering membrane.

Abstract: This specification describes systems for the treatment and reuse of greywater and related processes. An exemplary system collects greywater from baths and showers and treats it for use in toilet flushing. Influent bathing water passes through a prefilter to remove larger particles and flows into a greywater collection tank. Collected greywater is filtered through a membrane designed to remove suspended solids. Membrane permeate passes through a sorbent media to remove soluble organics and then flows into a permeate tank. A chemical agent is used to disinfect water in one or more parts of the system and optionally to clean the membranes. A control system manages the operation of system. The system operates in a generally daily cycle with permeation dispersed over a material time, for example 4 or 8 hours or more.

Abstract: A membrane module comprising a cylindrical housing containing a plurality of flat sheet membranes oriented parallel with a longitudinal central axis of the housing, the edges of the one or more flat sheet membranes being embedded in a potting material.

Abstract: A piece of substrate material is formed under heat and pressure by a roller against a cavity or platen into a shaped substrate sheet having one or more depressions. Two substrate sheets are bonded together to form a substrate wherein the one or more depressions form one or more interior channels. The substrate is coated with a dope in a casting device having a guide portion corresponding to the shape of the substrate sheets and quenched to form a filtering membrane.

Abstract: A piece of substrate material is formed under heat and pressure by a roller against a cavity or platen into a shaped substrate sheet having one or more depressions. Two substrate sheets are bonded together to form a substrate wherein the one or more depressions form one or more interior channels. The substrate is coated with a dope in a casting device having a guide portion corresponding to the shape of the substrate sheets and quenched to form a filtering membrane.

Abstract: A filtration element has one or more rigid inserts in a housing. The inserts are covered with membranes. The element is configured to provide open feed channels beside the inserts. The membranes and inserts are potted at an edge, optionally at only part of an edge such as a corner. Permeate flows between the membrane and the insert to the potted edge. The membranes may be potted in a centrifuge.

Abstract: A method of operating an immersed microporous membrane module includes a step of monitoring membrane performance to sense the onset of sludging in the module. Differences in permeability between permeation in backwashes, or trends in permeability during backwashing and permeability during permeation, or both, are monitored. Solid deposits formed during the onset of sludging may be removed with an in situ de-sludging process. For example, the deposits may be removed by stopping permeation while aerating the module, optionally at an increased rate. At other times, the module is optionally aerated while permeate is withdrawn at an aeration rate correlated to flux. The method may be used in particular with a membrane module having parallel textured flat sheet membranes suspended between a pair of vertically oriented headers. An aerator may be made from an open bottomed channel having an array of holes rising and concentrated towards the center of the channel.

Abstract: In a membrane filtration system and process, retentate exiting a filtration element is maintained inside a loop and redirected back to the inlet of a pump. The pump may produce a generally constant velocity in the loop. Water is concentrated inside the loop until discharged in batches. Feed water enters the loop automatically. The flux through the filtration element is maintained by a controlled valve or pump in communication with a permeate outlet. A filtration element has one or more rigid inserts in a housing. The inserts are covered with membranes. The element is configured to provide open feed channels beside the inserts. The membranes and inserts are potted at an edge, which may be their only attachment to the housing. Permeate flows between the membrane and the insert to the potted edge. The filtration element may be used in the system and process described herein or in others.

Abstract: This specification describes systems for the treatment and reuse of grey water and related processes. An exemplary system collects grey water from baths and showers and treats it for use in toilet flushing. Influent bathing water passes through a prefilter to remove larger particles and flows into a grey water collection tank. Collected grey water is filtered through a membrane designed to remove suspended solids. Membrane permeate passes through a sorbent media to remove soluble organics and then flows into a permeate tank. A chemical agent is used to disinfect water in one or more parts of the system and optionally to clean the membranes. A control system manages the operation of system. The system operates in a generally daily cycle with permeation dispersed over a material time, for example 4 or 8 hours or more.

Abstract: A piece of substrate material is formed under heat and pressure by a roller against a cavity or platen into a shaped substrate sheet having one or more depressions. Two substrate sheets are bonded together to form a substrate wherein the one or more depressions form one or more interior channels. The substrate is coated with a dope in a casting device having a guide portion corresponding to the shape of the substrate sheets and quenched to form a filtering membrane.

Abstract: A piece of substrate material is formed under heat and pressure by a roller against a cavity or platen into a shaped substrate sheet having one or more depressions. Two substrate sheets are bonded together to form a substrate wherein the one or more depressions form one or more interior channels. The substrate is coated with a dope in a casting device having a guide portion corresponding to the shape of the substrate sheets and quenched to form a filtering membrane.

Abstract: A method of operating an immersed microporous membrane module includes a step of monitoring membrane performance to sense the onset of sludging in the module. Differences in permeability between permeation in backwashes, or trends in permeability during backwashing and permeability during permeation, or both, are monitored. Solid deposits formed during the onset of sludging may be removed with an in situ de-sludging process. For example, the deposits may be removed by stopping permeation while aerating the module, optionally at an increased rate. At other times, the module is optionally aerated while permeate is withdrawn at an aeration rate correlated to flux. The method may be used in particular with a membrane module having parallel textured flat sheet membranes suspended between a pair of vertically oriented headers. An aerator may be made from an open bottomed channel having an array of holes rising and concentrated towards the center of the channel.

Abstract: In a membrane filtration system and process, retentate exiting a filtration element is maintained inside a loop and redirected back to the inlet of a pump. The pump may produce a generally constant velocity in the loop. Water is concentrated inside the loop until discharged in batches. Feed water enters the loop automatically. The flux through the filtration element is maintained by a controlled valve or pump in communication with a permeate outlet. A filtration element has one or more rigid inserts in a housing. The inserts are covered with membranes. The element is configured to provide open feed channels beside the inserts. The membranes and inserts are potted at an edge, which may be their only attachment to the housing. Permeate flows between the membrane and the insert to the potted edge. The filtration element may be used in the system and process described herein or in others.

Abstract: A filtration element has one or more rigid inserts in a housing. The inserts are covered with membranes. The element is configured to provide open feed channels beside the inserts. The membranes and inserts are potted at an edge, optionally at only part of an edge such as a corner. Permeate flows between the membrane and the insert to the potted edge. The membranes may be potted in a centrifuge.