JP2009101349A - Cleaning method of immersion type membrane module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning method of an immersion type membrane module reduced in the discharge amount of cleaning drain in physical cleaning of the immersion type membrane module, increased in water recovery rate, and preventing local fouling of the membrane. <P>SOLUTION: The method is used for cleaning the immersion type membrane module used in a fresh water producing method wherein raw water is sucked and filtered by the membrane module immersed in an immersion tank where the raw water is supplied, succeeding to the sucking filtration. In the method, a first cleaning process where the supply of the raw water is stopped in a state the sucking filtration is continued, air supply from the lower part of the membrane module is started at the same time of or after the supply stop of the raw water to perform cleaning with air, is implemented, and then a second cleaning process where the sucking filtration is stopped when the water level in the immersion tank is at the same level of the upper end of the membrane face of the membrane module or above it, the backflow supply of membrane filtrate to the membrane module is started to simultaneously perform the backflow cleaning and air cleaning, is implemented, and then the air supply and backflow supply of membrane filtrate are stopped, and draining is started to discharge water in the immersion tank to the outside of the tank. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method of washing a submerged membrane module used in a fresh water generating method of suction filtration with a membrane module immersed in an immersion tank to which raw water is supplied following suction filtration.

  More specifically, the supply of raw water is stopped while suction filtration is continued, and at the same time as or after the supply of raw water is stopped, air supply is started from below the membrane module to perform air cleaning, thereby reducing the amount of waste water during cleaning. The present invention relates to a submerged membrane module cleaning method capable of reducing and preventing local membrane fouling.

  In recent years, membrane filtration methods that separate and remove impurities in raw water and convert them into clear water in water treatment applications such as water and sewage treatment and wastewater treatment have been spreading. The substance to be removed varies depending on the type of the membrane, but in the case of a microfiltration membrane or an ultrafiltration membrane, generally suspended materials, bacteria, protozoa, colloidal materials, and the like are included.

  When performing membrane filtration operation, as the amount of membrane filtration water increases, the amount of organic matter such as humic acid and inorganic matter such as iron and manganese increases on the membrane surface and membrane pores. A decrease or an increase in membrane differential pressure becomes a problem.

  As a membrane cleaning method for maintaining filtration performance, air cleaning or membrane filtration that introduces air bubbles to the raw water side of the membrane, shakes the membrane, and touches the membranes to scrape off adhering substances on the membrane surface. Reverse flow cleaning has been put into practical use, in which membrane filtered water or clarified water is poured under pressure from the opposite direction of the water flow to eliminate fouling-causing substances adhering to the membrane surface and pores. .

  Even in a fresh water generation method in which suction filtration is performed with a membrane module immersed in an immersion tank to which raw water is supplied, it is necessary to periodically perform air cleaning and backflow cleaning after suction filtration. After the cleaning, many fouling-causing substances adhering to the membrane surface and membrane pores are floating in the water in the immersion tank, so drain the water in the immersion tank and supply the raw water again. Is generally done. The amount of drainage at this time is the sum of the amount of water in the immersion tank stored immediately before backwashing and the amount of washing water supplied during backwashing. As the immersion tank, a large tank in which a plurality of membrane modules can be immersed is usually used, so the amount of water in the immersion tank before backwashing is very large, which is the main cause of reducing the water recovery rate. It was.

  As a means for solving such a problem, the supply of raw water is stopped in a state in which suction filtration is continued, the water surface in the immersion tank is considerably lowered, and then backwashing or air cleaning is performed, and the contaminated water in the immersion tank is Has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). Thus, if the water in the immersion tank immediately before the backwashing is reduced as much as possible, the amount of drainage in the immersion tank after the physical cleaning can be reduced.

  However, in this case, the supply of raw water is stopped while suction filtration is continued and the membrane surface exposed to the atmosphere cannot be filtered in the process of lowering the water level in the immersion tank. The membrane area gradually decreases. As a result, the transmembrane pressure (TMP) increases and local membrane fouling proceeds. Moreover, when TMP becomes high, it will become difficult to peel the substance adhering to the membrane surface or membrane pores in the subsequent cleaning process.

In order to avoid this phenomenon, it is conceivable to reduce the membrane filtration flow rate after stopping the supply of raw water and gradually lower the water surface while maintaining the TMP constant, but it is long to lower the water level to a predetermined level. It takes time, and as a result, there is a problem that the amount of water produced per unit time (water production efficiency) is lowered, which is not a realistic solution.
Special table 2007-503972

  The present invention solves a problem peculiar to the case of physically washing a submerged membrane module by the prior art (problem that there is a large amount of washing wastewater), drastically reduces the amount of wastewater during physical washing, and increases the water recovery rate. It is another object of the present invention to provide a physical cleaning method for a submerged membrane module that can prevent fouling of the membrane.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following configuration.

  That is, a method of washing a submerged membrane module used in a fresh water generation method of suction filtration with a membrane module immersed in an immersion tank to which raw water is supplied, followed by suction filtration, with suction filtration being continued The supply of raw water is stopped at the same time, or at the same time or after the supply of raw water is stopped, air supply is started from below the membrane module to perform air cleaning, and then the upper surface of the water in the immersion tank is Suction filtration is stopped when the upper end of the membrane surface of the membrane module is equal to or higher than the upper end of the membrane surface, and the backflow supply to the membrane module is started to perform backflow cleaning and air cleaning simultaneously. A cleaning method for a submerged membrane module, wherein the cleaning step is performed, and then the air supply and the reverse flow supply of membrane filtration water are stopped, drainage is started, and water in the immersion tank is discharged outside the tank, It is.

  Alternatively, it is a method of washing a submerged membrane module used in a fresh water generation method in which suction filtration is performed with a membrane module immersed in an immersion tank to which raw water is supplied, in which suction filtration is continued. The supply of raw water is stopped at the same time, or at the same time or after the supply of raw water is stopped, air supply is started from below the membrane module to perform air cleaning, and then the upper surface of the water in the immersion tank is Suction filtration is stopped when it is equal to or above the upper end of the membrane surface of the membrane module, reverse flow cleaning is started by starting the back flow supply to the membrane module, and air cleaning is started. A second washing step that stops at or after that time, and then stops the reverse flow supply of membrane filtrate water, starts draining and discharges the water in the immersion tank to the outside of the tank Membrane module Cleaning method is,.

  At this time, in order to start suction filtration immediately after the end of washing, it is preferable to change the drainage start time in the middle of the second washing step.

  The present invention is a method of devising a washing method when washing a submerged membrane module used in a fresh water producing method of suction filtration with a membrane module immersed in a soaking tank to which raw water is supplied following suction filtration. , Eliminates the problems peculiar to the physical cleaning of submerged membrane modules, greatly reduces the amount of physical cleaning wastewater, that is, increases the water recovery rate, and prevents local membrane fouling be able to.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following embodiments. FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 are schematic views showing an embodiment of a fresh water generator / process capable of performing cleaning according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the fresh water generator used in the method of the present invention is provided with a raw water supply valve 1 that is “open” when raw water is supplied, and an immersion tank 2 that stores the raw water. The submerged membrane module 3 is installed by being immersed in the substrate. A filtration water valve 4 that is “open” during membrane filtration and a suction pump 5 for suction filtration are installed in the middle of the piping extending from the filtrate water side of the submerged membrane module 3. The membrane filtrate extracted by suction filtration is stored in the filtrate tank 6. In the middle of the pipe for supplying the air supplied from the compressor 7 into the immersion tank 2, an air washing valve 8 that is “open” when air is supplied is provided, and the supplied air is supplied from the diffuser pipe 9 into the immersion tank. Is diffused. A pipe for backflow supplying membrane filtrate stored in the filtrate water tank 6 to the membrane module and a backwash pump 10 are provided, and a backwash valve 11 that is opened during backflow cleaning is provided in the middle of the pipe. ing. A drain valve 12 that is “open” when draining the water in the immersion tank 2 is provided in the middle of the drain pipe extending from the bottom of the immersion tank 2.

  Here, as the immersion type membrane module 3 in the present invention, there are a flat membrane module, a hollow fiber membrane module and the like, but any of them may be used. Moreover, as a separation membrane constituting the membrane module, an MF membrane (microfiltration membrane), a UF membrane (ultrafiltration membrane), or a combination of both depending on the desired quality and quantity of treated water. Or For example, when removing turbid components, Escherichia coli, Cryptosporidium, etc., either MF membrane or UF membrane can be used. However, when removing virus or high molecular organic matter, UF membrane is used. preferable.

  In the above fresh water generator, physical cleaning is performed as follows.

  FIG. 1 shows the state of a normal filtration step before washing a submerged membrane module according to the present invention. First, raw water such as lake water, river water, sewage secondary treated water, etc. is supplied into the immersion tank 2 through the open raw water supply valve 1. The filtered water valve 4 is opened and suction filtration of the submerged membrane module 3 is performed by suction by the suction pump 5. As a filtration method, it is preferable to use a constant flow rate filtration rather than a constant pressure filtration because a constant amount of treated water is obtained and the whole control is easy. Instead of using a suction pump as the power of filtration, a power source is not required, and a siphon using a water level difference in which the liquid level of the treated water tank is lower than the liquid level of the treatment tank may be used. In addition, when the predetermined amount of water cannot be secured by the siphon, the suction pump 5 may be used in combination. The filtration time is preferably set as appropriate according to the raw water quality and the membrane permeation flux, but the filtration time may be continued until a predetermined TMP is reached. The membrane filtrate is stored in the filtrate tank 6.

  The first washing process is started after the filtration process is completed. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the first cleaning step is performed in the method for cleaning a submerged membrane module according to the present invention. The raw water supply valve 1 is closed to stop the raw water supply. At the same time as or after the raw water supply is stopped, the air washing valve 8 is opened and air is supplied from the air diffuser tube 9 installed below the membrane module to start air washing. As the air supply source, a compressor 7 may be used, or a blower (not shown) may be used. Immediately after the start of the first cleaning step, the upper surface of the water in the immersion tank rises instantaneously due to the supply of air, but the upper surface of the water in the immersion tank gradually decreases as the membrane filtration continues. . In the case of the present invention, the suction filtration is stopped when the upper surface of the water in the immersion tank is the same as or higher than the upper end of the membrane surface of the membrane module, so that the membrane surface is exposed to the atmosphere. In addition, since the air cleaning is performed in a state where the effective membrane area is maintained, an increase in TMP can be suppressed. Here, as the supply flow rate of air from the air diffuser 9 is larger, suction filtration can be continued to a state where the amount of water in the immersion tank 2 is as small as possible, so that the water recovery rate is high and the cleaning effect is high, but it is too large. Therefore, it is necessary to appropriately control the air supply flow rate in accordance with the shape of the submerged membrane module 3 and the performance of the membrane. In order to increase the recovery rate without damaging the membrane, air diffuser holes of the air diffusing tube 9 are provided at locations where air does not flow directly into the submerged membrane module 3, or the submerged membrane module 3 and the submerged membrane module. A diffuser tube that operates only in the first cleaning step may be separately provided in the gap 3.

  When the upper surface of the water is the same as the upper end of the membrane surface of the membrane module or above the upper end of the membrane surface, the first washing process is terminated by stopping the suction filtration, and the reverse flow supply to the membrane module is performed. The second cleaning step is started by starting the back-flow cleaning according to.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the second cleaning step is performed in the method for cleaning an immersion type membrane module according to the present invention. Here, the filtration water valve 4 is closed, the suction pump 5 is stopped, and the suction filtration is stopped. The backwash valve 11 is open, the backwash pump 10 is operated, and the membrane filtrate stored in the filtrate tank 6 is fed back to the membrane module to perform backwash. The higher the flow rate of the back-fed membrane filtered water (backwash water), the greater the effect of peeling off the fouling substances in the membrane pores. However, the higher the flow rate, the lower the water recovery rate. It is preferable to be equal to or more than twice the filtration flow rate of the process. It is preferable that sodium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, etc. are added to the backwash water because the fouling substance is decomposed and the cleaning effect is enhanced, so that the film does not deteriorate. It is preferable to add an amount to be a concentration appropriately in the middle of the supply pipe (not shown). When the concentration of the oxidant is high, the oxidant remaining in the secondary pipe at the time of resumption of filtration flows into the filtered water tank 6, so that the addition is preferably stopped before the end of backwashing.

  In the second cleaning step shown in FIG. 3, since the air cleaning is performed subsequent to the first cleaning step, the back-flow cleaning and the air cleaning are performed simultaneously. The membrane cleaning effect can be enhanced by performing the back-flow cleaning and the air cleaning simultaneously in the second cleaning step. However, in this process, it is possible to perform only the back-flow cleaning without performing the air cleaning, or to stop the air cleaning in the middle of the process and perform only the back-flow cleaning. In other words, the time for stopping the air cleaning may be any time from the start of the second cleaning process to the end of the second cleaning process, and can be appropriately set according to conditions such as raw water turbidity and filtration time. Good. When the air washing is stopped, the air washing valve 8 is closed and the compressor 7 is stopped.

  By closing the backwash valve 11 and stopping the backwash pump 10, the backflow supply of the membrane filtrate is stopped, and the backwashing is finished, whereby the second washing step is finished. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, the air cleaning is stopped simultaneously with the end of the backflow cleaning (end of the second cleaning step).

  The drainage process is started after the end of the second cleaning process. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the drainage process is performed in the method for cleaning a submerged membrane module according to the present invention. The drainage process is started by opening the drain valve 12 and starting discharging the water in the immersion tank 2 to the outside of the tank. The operation of opening the drain valve 12 is performed simultaneously with the end of the second cleaning step in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, but the opening operation of the drain valve 12 is ended of the second cleaning step. Thereafter, it is not always necessary to carry out, and in order to increase the amount of water produced per unit time (water production efficiency), when the suction filtration is started immediately after the end of the washing, the drain valve 12 is provided during the second washing step. It is preferable to carry out the opening operation.

  After draining the water in the immersion tank 2 is finished, the drain valve 12 is closed and the draining process is finished. After the drainage process is completed, the raw water supply valve 1 is opened and the supply of raw water into the immersion tank 2 is started. FIG. 5 shows the situation when the raw water supply is started after finishing the cleaning method of the submerged membrane module according to the present invention. After the supply of raw water is started, the upper surface of the water in the immersion tank 2 gradually rises, and the raw water in the immersion tank 2 is kept until the upper surface of the water is equal to or above the upper end of the membrane surface of the membrane module. 1 is started, the filtration process shown in FIG. 1 is started. Thereafter, the filtration process of FIG. 1 and the cleaning process shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 are repeated.

Example 1
In the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, suction filtration and washing were performed.

The apparatus includes a square steel plate (dimensions W200 mm × D200 mm × H1300 mm) immersion tank 2 and an immersion membrane module 3 having a nominal pore diameter of 0.05 μm and made of polyvinylidene fluoride and having a membrane area of 15 m ^2. It was installed. Raw water having an average turbidity of 5 degrees was supplied, and suction filtration was performed at a membrane permeation flux of 1 m / d for 30 minutes to take out the membrane filtrate.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the supply of raw water is stopped in a state where the suction filtration of the membrane permeation flux 1 m / d is continued, and at the same time as the supply of raw water is stopped, 150 L / min of air supply is started from below the membrane module. Then, air cleaning was performed for 1 minute (first cleaning step). At the end of the first cleaning step (when suction filtration was stopped), the upper surface of the water in the immersion tank 2 was the same as the upper end of the membrane surface of the membrane module.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3, the suction filtration is stopped, the backflow supply to the membrane module is started, and the backflow cleaning of the membrane permeation flux 2 m / d and the air cleaning of 150 L / min are performed. Simultaneously performed for 0.5 minutes (second cleaning step). Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4, the air supply was stopped, the reverse flow supply of the membrane filtrate was stopped, the drainage was started, and the entire amount of water in the immersion tank 2 was discharged out of the tank.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, after supplying raw | natural water in the immersion tank 2, it returned to the filtration process of FIG. 1 and the said process was repeated. As a result, the filtration differential pressure of the submerged membrane module was 15 kPa immediately after the start of operation, whereas it was 28 kPa after two months. The stable operation was possible, and there was no need for chemical cleaning. The water recovery rate was 93.7%, and the amount of water produced per day was 13.24 m ³ / d.
(Example 2)
Suction filtration and washing were repeated under exactly the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the air supply was stopped at the start of backwashing and no air washing was performed in the second washing step.

As a result, the filtration pressure of the submerged membrane module 12 was 15 kPa immediately after the start of operation, whereas it was 37 kPa after two months, stable operation was possible, and there was no need for chemical cleaning. The water recovery rate was 93.7%, and the amount of water produced per day was 13.24 m ³ / d.
(Comparative Example 1)
Instead of performing the first washing step, suction filtration was performed under exactly the same conditions as in Example 1 except that suction filtration at a membrane permeation flux of 1 m / d was continued for 1 minute with the supply of raw water and air stopped. And washing were repeated.

As a result, the filtration differential pressure of the submerged membrane module was 15 kPa immediately after the start of operation, but after 2 months it was 70 kPa, the filtration differential pressure exceeded the allowable level, and stable operation became difficult. Stopped and performed chemical cleaning. When the operation was stopped, a large amount of sludge adhered to the lower surface of the hollow fiber membrane in the module, and the membrane surface was dirty.
(Comparative Example 2)
Instead of performing the first washing step, suction filtration is continued under the condition that the membrane permeation flux is lowered so that the differential pressure becomes constant with the supply of raw water and air stopped, and the water in the immersion tank 2 is Suction filtration and washing were repeated under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the suction filtration was stopped when the upper surface became the same as the upper end of the membrane surface of the membrane module.

As a result, the filtration differential pressure of the submerged membrane module was 15 kPa immediately after the start of operation, whereas it was stable at 28 kPa even after 2 months, and there was no need for chemical cleaning. The water recovery rate was as high as 93.7%. However, since the membrane filtration flux of the suction filtration in the first washing step was lowered, it took time to lower the water level in the tank to a predetermined position, and the amount of fresh water produced per day was as low as 12.86 m ³ / d. It was.
(Comparative Example 3)
Suction filtration and cleaning were repeatedly performed under exactly the same conditions as in Example 1 except that the second cleaning step was performed without performing the first cleaning step.

As a result, the filtration differential pressure of the submerged membrane module was 15 kPa immediately after the start of operation, whereas it was stable at 31 kPa after 2 months, and there was no need for chemical cleaning. However, the water recovery rate was as low as 90.6% because the first cleaning step was not performed. Desalination amount per day was 13.18m ³ / d.

It is the schematic of the fresh water generator and process which shows the state of the normal filtration process before wash | cleaning an immersion type membrane module by this invention. It is the schematic which shows the state which implements a 1st washing | cleaning process in the washing | cleaning method of the immersion type membrane module which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the state which implements a 2nd washing | cleaning process in the washing | cleaning method of the immersion type membrane module which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the state which drains in the washing | cleaning method of the immersion type membrane module which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the state which starts water supply, after washing | cleaning an immersion type membrane module by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: Raw water supply valve 2: Immersion tank 3: Immersion membrane module 4: Filtration water valve 5: Suction pump 6: Filtration water tank 7: Compressor 8: Air washing valve 9: Air diffuser pipe 10: Back washing pump 11: Back washing valve 12: Drain valve

Claims (3)

This is a method of washing a submerged membrane module used in a fresh water generation method in which suction filtration is performed with a membrane module immersed in an immersion tank to which raw water is supplied, followed by suction filtration. The supply of water is stopped, and at the same time or after the supply of raw water is stopped, air supply is started from the lower side of the membrane module to perform the first cleaning step, and then the upper surface of the water in the immersion tank is the membrane module. A second cleaning step in which suction filtration is stopped when the membrane surface is equal to or above the upper end of the membrane surface, and reverse flow cleaning and air cleaning are simultaneously performed by starting the back flow supply to the membrane module of the membrane filtration water. Then, the air supply and the reverse flow supply of the membrane filtration water are stopped, the drainage is started, and the water in the immersion tank is discharged to the outside of the tank. This is a method of washing a submerged membrane module used in a fresh water generation method in which suction filtration is performed with a membrane module immersed in an immersion tank to which raw water is supplied, followed by suction filtration. The supply of water is stopped, and at the same time or after the supply of raw water is stopped, air supply is started from the lower side of the membrane module to perform the first cleaning step, and then the upper surface of the water in the immersion tank is the membrane module. Suction filtration is stopped when it is the same as or above the upper end of the membrane surface, and back-flow cleaning is started by starting the back-flow supply to the membrane module with membrane filtration water. A submerged membrane module characterized in that the second washing step is stopped after that, and then the reverse flow supply of membrane filtrate water is stopped, drainage is started, and water in the immersion tank is discharged outside the tank. Cleaning method The method for cleaning an immersion membrane module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drainage start time is changed during the second cleaning step.

Images