Aeration device for MBR flat membrane module

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of wastewater treatment technology, specifically disclosing an aeration device for an MBR flat sheet membrane module. The device includes a housing with an installation frame for mounting the flat sheet membrane inside. An aeration unit is located at the bottom of the housing. The installation frame consists of multiple U-shaped frames arranged in an equal-spaced array. Each U-shaped frame contains a sliding groove adapted to the flat sheet membrane. The aeration unit consists of a main pipe and multiple aeration pipes connected to the main pipe. The multiple aeration pipes are located directly below the bottom of the aeration channel formed by two adjacent U-shaped frames. An adjustment unit is installed inside the housing to synchronously tilt all U-shaped frames to one side. The U-shaped frames periodically change their tilt direction, causing the membrane surface on the side that was not previously sufficiently scoured by air bubbles to form a new tilted channel. This achieves alternating and periodic enhanced aeration cleaning of both sides of the flat sheet membrane, avoiding the uneven scouring problem caused by random air bubble dispersion in traditional aeration methods.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wastewater treatment technology, specifically to an aeration device for an MBR flat sheet membrane module. Background Technology

[0002] Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are widely used in municipal wastewater and industrial wastewater treatment due to their advantages such as high effluent quality and small footprint. Flat-sheet membrane modules, in particular, are widely adopted due to their compact structure and high packing density. Existing flat-sheet membrane modules typically use an aeration device at the bottom of the module to allow air bubbles to rise and clean the membrane surface, mitigating membrane fouling and maintaining operating flux. However, in actual operation, due to the random distribution of air bubbles influenced by buoyancy and flow field, the scouring intensity on both sides of the flat-sheet membrane is often uneven. This can easily lead to insufficient scouring and increased fouling on one side, while excessive scouring and low energy utilization on the other. This results in uneven membrane fouling development, accelerated flux decline, and increased frequency of chemical cleaning, ultimately affecting the long-term stable operation of the membrane module.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, several improvements have been proposed in the prior art. For example, Chinese patent document CN102653420B discloses an aeration device for MBR flat sheet membrane modules, which includes a central pipe connected to an air source and multiple branch pipes connected to the central pipe. Each branch pipe has multiple air outlets. These branch pipes are directly connected to the lower side of the central pipe and extend horizontally in the same plane. The air outlets on each branch pipe are evenly distributed. The central pipe has a sealing plate that divides the interior of the central pipe into two symmetrical halves. The extension plane of the sealing plate is perpendicular to the extension plane of the branch pipes. The branch pipes are symmetrical about the sealing plate in pairs. This technical solution can significantly reduce the installation level requirements of the MBR flat sheet membrane module aeration device, achieve high aeration uniformity, and significantly reduce the aeration volume required for the MBR flat sheet membrane module, thereby reducing the operating cost of the MBR system.

[0004] While the aforementioned technical solutions can alleviate the bubble flow deviation problem to some extent, their flat sheet membranes typically maintain a fixed posture, and the distribution of bubbles on both sides of the membrane still mainly depends on the natural state of the fluid. This makes it difficult to fundamentally avoid the formation of local dead zones and areas of long-term weak scouring. Furthermore, cleaning still relies primarily on bubble shear force, lacking active mechanical removal methods for impurities adhering to the membrane surface. In addition, membrane replacement and maintenance operations in existing flat sheet membrane modules are generally cumbersome, usually requiring complete disassembly of the membrane module or lifting the membrane frame out of the membrane tank. This results in a large workload, long downtime, and potential damage to the membrane and its sealing structure during disassembly and assembly. Therefore, how to achieve balanced cleaning on both sides of the membrane surface through structural design while ensuring aeration and cleaning effects, and further superimposed with physical scraping, while also considering rapid replacement and convenient maintenance of the flat sheet membrane, has become a pressing technical problem that needs to be solved in existing flat sheet membrane aeration devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides an aeration device for MBR flat sheet membrane modules, aiming to solve the problem in related technologies where the distribution of bubbles on both sides of the membrane depends on the natural state of the fluid, making it difficult to avoid local dead zones and long-term weak scouring areas.

[0006] An aeration device for an MBR flat sheet membrane module includes a housing with an installation frame for mounting the flat sheet membrane inside. An aeration unit is located at the bottom of the housing. The installation frame consists of multiple U-shaped frames arranged in an equal-spaced array. Each U-shaped frame has a sliding groove adapted to the flat sheet membrane. The aeration unit consists of a main pipe and multiple aeration pipes connected to the main pipe. The multiple aeration pipes are located directly below the bottom of the aeration channel formed by two adjacent U-shaped frames. An adjustment unit is installed inside the housing to tilt all U-shaped frames synchronously to one side. The adjustment unit also synchronously drives the aeration pipes to move, ensuring that the aeration pipes are always directly below the bottom of the aeration channel.

[0007] The effect is as follows: By designing the mounting frame as a series of equally spaced U-shaped frames, the flat sheet membrane can be easily installed via the grooves within the U-shaped frames. Simultaneously, the multiple U-shaped frames form independent aeration channels, guiding the directional rise of air bubbles. Multiple aeration pipes of the aeration unit are respectively positioned directly below the bottom of each aeration channel, ensuring that air bubbles accurately enter their corresponding aeration channels, achieving directional aeration of the area surrounding each flat sheet membrane. The adjustment unit can drive all U-shaped frames to tilt synchronously to one side, creating a single-sided tilted channel between adjacent membrane sheets. During the buoyancy process, air bubbles preferentially rise along one side of the tilted channel, making full contact with the flat sheet membrane on that side and forming a concentrated bubble scouring flow field, significantly improving membrane shear force and effectively inhibiting sludge adhesion and filter cake formation. When the adjustment unit moves in the opposite direction, all U-shaped frames tilt synchronously in the opposite direction. The membrane surface on the side that was not fully cleaned by bubbles forms a new tilted channel, and the bubbles rise along the other side of the membrane surface. This allows the two sides of the flat membrane to receive enhanced aeration and cleaning alternately and periodically, avoiding the uneven cleaning caused by the random dispersion of bubbles in traditional aeration methods. At the same time, as the adjustment unit tilts the U-shaped frames, it also moves the aeration pipes, ensuring that the aeration pipes are always directly below the bottom of the aeration channel, thus guaranteeing the continuity and precision of aeration and further improving the aeration and cleaning effect.

[0008] Preferably, the top of the U-shaped frame is rotatably connected to the housing via a pivot, and a connecting frame is provided at the bottom of the U-shaped frame. The connecting frame is horizontally positioned, and the bottom of all U-shaped frames is hinged to the connecting frame. The top of the U-shaped frame is rotatably connected to the housing via a pivot, providing a stable rotation fulcrum for the tilting movement of the U-shaped frame. The bottom connecting frame enables synchronous linkage of all U-shaped frames, allowing the adjustment unit to drive all U-shaped frames to tilt synchronously simply by driving the connecting frame, simplifying the drive structure and reducing control difficulty.

[0009] Preferably, the aeration pipe is fixedly connected to the connecting frame. An air inlet flange is provided on one side of the bottom of the housing. The air inlet end of the main pipe is connected to the air inlet flange via a flexible hose. The fixed connection between the aeration pipe and the connecting frame ensures that when the connecting frame moves the U-shaped frame at an angle, it synchronously moves the aeration pipe, thus ensuring that the aeration pipe is always directly below the bottom of the aeration channel. This guarantees the accuracy of the aeration position and prevents misalignment of the aeration pipe and aeration channel due to the tilting of the U-shaped frame, which would affect the aeration effect. The main pipe is connected to the air inlet flange via a flexible hose. The hose has good flexibility and extensibility, which can adapt to the positional changes of the connecting frame and the aeration pipe during movement, preventing damage to the pipe due to pulling or twisting. It also ensures the sealing and continuity of gas delivery, guaranteeing a stable and reliable aeration process.

[0010] Preferably, the adjustment unit includes an electric telescopic component, the two ends of which are hinged to the housing and the connecting frame, respectively.

[0011] Preferably, the left and right sides of the U-shaped frame are covered with a grid mesh, which is attached to the flat sheet membrane. When the U-shaped frame swings, relative movement occurs between the grid mesh and the flat sheet membrane, causing the grid mesh to scrape impurities on the membrane. The grid mesh, being attached to the membrane, allows for mechanical scraping of sludge, flocs, and adhering impurities on the membrane surface during the U-shaped frame's swing, achieving a physical scraping effect. This combination of physical scraping and air rinsing further breaks down the formed or forming filter cake layer, significantly improving membrane surface cleaning. Compared to simple aeration rinsing, it has a better removal effect on highly viscous and adherent pollutants, effectively slowing down membrane flux decline and reducing the probability of irreversible pollution. Simultaneously, the grid mesh also acts as an interceptor, preventing large particles from directly impacting the membrane surface and causing damage, thus protecting the flat sheet membrane.

[0012] Preferably, a lifting rod is slidably installed inside the U-shaped frame, with the bottom end of the flat sheet membrane in contact with the lifting rod. A fixing component is provided at the top of the U-shaped frame to prevent the flat sheet membrane from rising. The lifting rod provides bottom support for the flat sheet membrane and can slide up and down within the U-shaped frame, guiding and transmitting power for the membrane's lifting and lowering. The fixing component at the top of the U-shaped frame effectively prevents the flat sheet membrane from rising unexpectedly during normal operation, ensuring the stability and reliability of the membrane installation. When the flat sheet membrane needs to be replaced, simply remove the fixing component and drive the lifting rod upwards to move the membrane upwards along the slide rail, achieving quick removal of the membrane without disassembling the entire membrane assembly and aeration system. This simplifies the replacement operation and reduces maintenance difficulty and downtime.

[0013] Preferably, the grid mesh forms a U-shape by wrapping around the bottom of the lifting rod, with both ends of the U-shape connected to the top of the housing. Guide rods are provided on both sides of the U-shaped frame to ensure the grid mesh remains in contact with the flat film. The U-shape and wrapping of the grid mesh around the bottom of the lifting rod create a linkage between the grid mesh and the lifting rod. When the grid mesh is rolled up or released, it drives the lifting rod to slide up and down synchronously, thereby raising and lowering the flat film and providing a power transmission path for convenient replacement of the flat film. The guide rods ensure that the grid mesh remains in contact with the flat film during movement, preventing the grid mesh from detaching from the flat film due to the tilting of the U-shaped frame or the movement of the lifting rod, thus ensuring the effectiveness of physical scraping. Simultaneously, the guide rods also guide the movement direction of the grid mesh, reducing wear and tear and extending its service life.

[0014] Preferably, there are two guide rods. The guide rods are located at the upper edge of the flat membrane and are rotatably mounted on the U-shaped frame. Setting the two guide rods at the upper edge of the flat membrane allows for guiding and pressing the grid mesh from key positions on the flat membrane, ensuring that the grid mesh is tightly fitted to the upper edge and central area of ​​the flat membrane, improving the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of scraping. The rotatable mounting of the guide rods on the U-shaped frame allows the guide rods to rotate when the grid mesh contacts and moves relative to them, converting sliding friction into rolling friction. This significantly reduces the friction between the grid mesh and the guide rods, reduces the wear of the grid mesh, and makes the movement of the grid mesh smoother, reducing movement resistance and ensuring the smooth operation of the scraping and lifting process.

[0015] Preferably, the top of the box is rotatably mounted with multiple rotating shafts, and the two ends of the grid mesh are respectively connected to two adjacent rotating shafts. The box is also equipped with a control component for controlling the rotation of the rotating shafts. The rotating shafts provide support and drive for the winding and unwinding of the grid mesh. By controlling the rotation of the rotating shafts through the control component, the winding or unwinding of the grid mesh can be realized, thereby driving the lifting rod to slide up and down, realizing the lifting and unwinding of the flat film.

[0016] Preferably, the control component includes multiple sprockets, each sprocket corresponding to a rotating shaft and coaxially fixedly connected, with a rotation drive source connected to one of the rotating shafts, and the multiple sprockets connected to each other via chain drive.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. During operation, the aeration unit of this MBR flat sheet membrane module is located at the bottom of the housing. After the air inlet flange is connected to the external air source, the gas enters the main pipeline through a hose, and is then evenly output by multiple aeration pipes connected to the main pipeline. These multiple aeration pipes are located directly below the bottom of the aeration channels formed by two adjacent U-shaped frames, allowing air bubbles to enter the corresponding aeration channels from bottom to top. The flat sheet membrane is installed in the U-shaped frames via sliding grooves. The top of each U-shaped frame is rotatably connected to the housing via a rotating shaft, and the bottom is connected via a connecting frame for overall linkage. When the electric telescopic component in the regulating unit is working, it synchronously drives the connecting frame to shift, causing all U-shaped frames to tilt to the same side. This creates a single-sided tilted channel between adjacent membrane sheets, allowing bubbles to rise preferentially along one side of the tilted channel during bubbling. This ensures full contact with the membrane on that side, forming a concentrated bubble scouring flow field, increasing membrane shear force, and inhibiting sludge adhesion and cake formation. When the electric telescopic component reverses its movement, all U-shaped frames tilt synchronously in the opposite direction under the linkage of the rotating shaft and connecting frame. The membrane surface on the side that was not fully scourned by bubbles then forms a new tilted channel, allowing bubbles to rise along the other side. This achieves alternating and periodic enhanced aeration cleaning of both sides of the membrane. Through this structure and movement, bubbles are always concentrated on one side of the membrane, avoiding the problem of random dispersion and insufficient shear force in traditional flat-sheet membrane aeration. Furthermore, by periodically changing the tilt direction, it prevents either side from being in a weak scouring state for a long time, thereby reducing the probability of membrane fouling, slowing flux decay, reducing irreversible fouling, and improving the overall stability and service life of the membrane module. 2. By setting a grid mesh that fits against the flat sheet membrane on both sides of each U-shaped frame, the grid mesh is guided and connected to the U-shaped frame by guide rods and connected by a rotating shaft set at the top of the box. When the adjustment unit drives the U-shaped frame to tilt around the rotating shaft, the grid mesh slides relative to the flat sheet membrane in the up-down or left-right directions under the constraint of the guide rods and the U-shaped structure. This allows the grid mesh surface to mechanically scrape the sludge, flocs and adhering impurities on the outer surface of the flat sheet membrane while in close contact with the membrane surface. Thus, while the bubble-enhanced flushing is carried out, a physical scraping effect is superimposed, which further destroys the filter cake layer that has been formed or is being formed, improves the membrane surface cleaning effect, and slows down the membrane flux decline.

[0018] 3. When replacing the flat sheet membrane, first remove the fixing piece at the top of the U-shaped frame to release the limiting effect on the flat sheet membrane. The rotating shaft rotates and rewinds the grid mesh, thereby driving the lifting rod upward. The flat sheet membrane is lifted upward under the guidance of the U-shaped frame slide groove, allowing the flat sheet membrane to be quickly raised and removed without disassembling the entire membrane module and aeration system. When it is necessary to replace the flat sheet membrane, simply drive the rotating shaft to rotate by controlling the component, which will drive the grid mesh to rewind, lift the flat sheet membrane along the slide groove direction and remove it as a whole. Through the above structure and working method, the functions of synchronous scraping, self-cleaning and convenient maintenance are realized during the tilting and switching process of the flat sheet membrane. This not only significantly enhances the removal effect of impurities on the membrane surface and reduces the probability of irreversible pollution, but also simplifies the flat sheet membrane replacement operation, improves the efficiency of equipment operation and maintenance, and extends the overall service life of the membrane module. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention after the casing is removed.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a top view of the aeration unit in this invention.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A magnified structural diagram of point A in the middle.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a front view of the U-shaped frame in this invention.

[0025] Figure 7 This is a top view of the U-shaped frame in this invention.

[0026] Figure label: 1. Housing; 2. Mounting frame; 21. U-shaped frame; 211. Rotating shaft; 212. Lifting rod; 213. Fixing component; 22. Connecting frame; 3. Aeration unit; 31. Main pipe; 32. Aeration pipe; 33. Air inlet flange; 34. Hose; 4. Adjustment unit; 5. Cleaning unit; 51. Grille; 52. Guide rod; 53. Rotating shaft; 54. Control components. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0028] like Figures 1-7As shown, an MBR flat-sheet membrane module aeration device includes a housing 1, a mounting frame 2, an aeration unit 3, and an adjustment unit 4. The housing 1 serves as the mounting base and outer shell of the entire device and is typically made of high-strength corrosion-resistant materials, preferably 304 stainless steel or FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic). These two materials have excellent corrosion resistance and can adapt to acidic and alkaline media and microbial corrosion in the wastewater treatment environment, extending the service life of the device. The dimensions of the housing 1 are designed according to the actual application scenario and treatment scale. Its interior is a hollow structure, providing installation space for components such as the mounting frame 2 and the aeration unit 3. A drain outlet is provided at the bottom to facilitate the periodic discharge of sludge and impurities deposited inside the housing 1.

[0029] The mounting frame 2 is the core component supporting and fixing the flat sheet membrane, and it consists of multiple U-shaped frames 21 arranged in an equally spaced array. The number of U-shaped frames 21 can be reasonably configured according to the size of the housing 1 and the specifications of the flat sheet membrane, usually 10-20. The distance between adjacent U-shaped frames 21 is consistent, preferably 100mm-200mm, to ensure that a uniform aeration channel is formed around each flat sheet membrane. The U-shaped frames 21 are made of high-strength aluminum alloy or stainless steel, which has good structural strength and stability. The inner side wall is provided with a groove adapted to the flat sheet membrane. The width of the groove is slightly larger than the thickness of the flat sheet membrane, usually 0.5-1mm thicker, to ensure that the flat sheet membrane can be smoothly inserted into the groove, while ensuring the stability of the flat sheet membrane after installation and preventing shaking during operation.

[0030] The top of the U-shaped frame 21 is rotatably connected to the housing 1 via a pivot 211. Both ends of the pivot 211 are connected to the inner wall of the housing 1 via bearings. The bearings are corrosion-resistant deep groove ball bearings to ensure that the pivot 211 rotates flexibly and smoothly. The bottom of the U-shaped frame 21 is provided with a connecting frame 22. The connecting frame 22 is horizontally set and is made of rectangular steel pipe or steel plate welded together. The bottom of all U-shaped frames 21 is hinged to the connecting frame 22 via a hinge seat. The material of the hinge seat is the same as that of the U-shaped frame 21 to ensure the reliability and corrosion resistance of the connection. This hinge method allows the U-shaped frame 21 to rotate around the hinge point to adapt to the angle change of the U-shaped frame 21 during the tilting process.

[0031] An aeration unit 3 is installed at the bottom of the housing 1. The aeration unit 3 supplies air into the housing 1, generating bubbles to flush and clean the surface of the flat membrane. The aeration unit 3 consists of a main pipe 31 and multiple aeration pipes 32 connected to the main pipe 31. Both the main pipe 31 and the aeration pipes 32 are made of UPVC (rigid polyvinyl chloride) or stainless steel. UPVC pipes are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and inexpensive, while stainless steel pipes offer higher strength and longer service life; the choice depends on the specific needs. The main pipe 31 is positioned along the length of the housing 1 on one side of the bottom. Multiple aeration pipes 32 are perpendicular to the main pipe 31 and connected to it, forming a branched pipe network structure. The number of aeration pipes 32 corresponds to the number of aeration channels formed by adjacent U-shaped frames 21. Each aeration pipe 32 is located directly below the bottom of its corresponding aeration channel, ensuring that the bubbles discharged from the aeration pipe 32 can enter the aeration channel. Multiple air outlets are evenly distributed on the wall of the aeration pipe 32. The diameter of the air outlets is 0.5-2mm and the spacing between the outlets is 5-10mm. By reasonably designing the size and spacing of the air outlets, the uniform distribution and rising speed of the bubbles can be ensured, thereby improving the aeration and scouring effect.

[0032] The aeration pipe 32 is fixedly connected to the connecting frame 22 by pipe clamps or welding to ensure synchronous movement of the aeration pipe 32 and the connecting frame 22. An air inlet flange 33, made of stainless steel, is located on one side of the bottom of the housing 1 and is fixedly connected to the side wall of the housing 1 for connecting to an external air source pipeline. The air inlet end of the main pipeline 31 is connected to the air inlet flange 33 via a flexible hose 34. The flexible hose 34 is made of corrosion-resistant, high-pressure-resistant rubber or PTFE hose, possessing good flexibility and extensibility to adapt to positional changes in the connecting frame 22 and the aeration pipe 32 during movement, preventing damage to the pipeline due to pulling or twisting, while ensuring the airtightness of the gas delivery and preventing leakage.

[0033] The adjustment unit 4 includes an electric telescopic component, preferably an electric push rod, which has advantages such as high control precision, fast response speed, and large driving force. Both ends of the electric telescopic component are hinged to the housing 1 and the connecting frame 22 respectively via hinged joints. The number of electric telescopic components can be set according to the length and weight of the connecting frame 22, usually 1-2, symmetrically distributed at one end of the connecting frame 22 to ensure uniform force distribution and smooth movement. The electric telescopic component is electrically connected to an external control system. The control system can precisely control the telescopic component's extension and contraction speed, thereby adjusting the tilt angle and tilt speed of the U-shaped frame 21. The tilt angle of the U-shaped frame 21 can be adjusted within the range of 0-10°. The adjustment cycle is set according to actual operating requirements, generally switching the tilt direction every 30-60 minutes, ensuring that both sides of the flat sheet membrane receive sufficient and balanced aeration and rinsing opportunities, effectively avoiding the problem of increased pollution caused by insufficient rinsing on one side over a long period.

[0034] A lifting rod 212 is slidably installed inside the U-shaped frame 21. The lifting rod 212 is made of stainless steel round or square tubing, and its length is adapted to the width of the U-shaped frame 21. Both ends of the lifting rod 212 are embedded in guide grooves opened on the side walls of the U-shaped frame 21, ensuring that the lifting rod 212 can slide smoothly up and down within the U-shaped frame 21. The bottom end of the flat membrane contacts the lifting rod 212, which provides bottom support for the flat membrane. The top end of the flat membrane is limited and fixed by a fixing member 213 set at the top of the U-shaped frame 21. The fixing member 213 adopts a bolt or snap-fit ​​structure. The bolt structure is connected to the top of the U-shaped frame 21 through threads, while the snap-fit ​​structure achieves fixation through elastic engagement. Both structures are easy to install and disassemble, effectively preventing the flat membrane from rising unexpectedly during normal operation.

[0035] To further improve the cleaning effect on the flat film, a cleaning unit 5 is provided on the mounting frame 2. The cleaning unit 5 includes a grid 51, multiple rotating shafts 53 that are rotatably mounted on the top of the housing 1 in the horizontal direction, and a control component 54 that controls the rotation of the rotating shafts 53.

[0036] The grid mesh 51 wraps around the bottom of the U-shaped frame 21, covering both sides of the U-shaped frame 21. The grid mesh 51 is woven from stainless steel or nylon wire, possessing good strength and flexibility. Its mesh size is relatively large, typically 4mm-10mm, ensuring effective scraping of impurities on the membrane surface without causing excessive resistance to the rise of air bubbles. The grid mesh 51 is set in close contact with the flat membrane, ensuring effective scraping of impurities on the membrane surface during relative movement. The grid mesh 51 wraps around the bottom of the lifting rod 212 to form a U-shape. Both ends of the U-shape are connected to the rotating shaft 53 at the top of the housing 1. Guide rods 52 are provided on both sides of the U-shaped frame 21 to ensure that the grid mesh 51 remains in contact with the flat membrane. There are two guide rods 52, located at the upper edge of the flat membrane. The guide rods 52 are made of stainless steel and are rotatably mounted on the side walls of the U-shaped frame 21, allowing them to rotate freely. The guide rod 52 can guide and press the grid mesh 51, ensuring that the grid mesh 51 is always in close contact with the flat film during the movement. At the same time, it converts the sliding friction between the grid mesh 51 and the guide rod 52 into rolling friction, reducing frictional resistance and reducing the wear of the grid mesh 51.

[0037] The two ends of the grid 51 are connected to two adjacent rotating shafts 53 respectively. Specifically, one end of the grid 51 is fixed on one rotating shaft 53, and the other end passes around the bottom of the lifting rod 212 and is fixed on another adjacent rotating shaft 53, forming a U-shaped structure. When the rotating shaft 53 rotates, the grid 51 can be rolled up or released, thereby driving the lifting rod 212 to slide up and down.

[0038] The control component 54 includes multiple sprockets, each corresponding to a rotating shaft 53 and coaxially fixedly connected via a key to ensure synchronous rotation of the sprockets and rotating shafts 53. The multiple sprockets are connected by chain drive; the chain is made of stainless steel or engineering plastic, offering good transmission performance and corrosion resistance. A rotary drive source (not shown in the figure) is connected to one of the rotating shafts 53. The rotary drive source is preferably a geared motor, which has advantages such as high output torque, stable speed, and high control precision. Its output shaft is connected to the corresponding rotating shaft 53 via a coupling. The geared motor is electrically connected to an external control system. The control system can control the start / stop, speed, and direction of rotation of the geared motor, thereby controlling the rotation of the rotating shaft 53, realizing the winding and unwinding of the grid mesh 51, and the raising and lowering of the lifting rod 212 and the flat film.

[0039] The working principle of this invention will be explained in detail below: I. Aeration Cleaning Process During the operation of the MBR system, the external air source is first connected to the inlet flange 33. The compressed air generated by the air source enters the main pipe 31 through the hose 34, and then is distributed to each aeration pipe 32 through the main pipe 31. Finally, it is discharged from the air outlet on the pipe wall of the aeration pipe 32, forming uniform bubbles. The bubbles enter the aeration channel formed by the adjacent U-shaped frames 21 from bottom to top, rinsing and cleaning the surface of the flat sheet membrane.

[0040] Simultaneously, the electric telescopic component of the adjustment unit 4 is activated by the control system. The electric telescopic component extends or retracts, driving the connecting frame 22 to move to one side. The connecting frame 22 drives all U-shaped frames 21 to tilt synchronously to one side around the top rotating shaft 211. The tilt angle can be set between 0-10° according to the actual situation. At this time, the flat sheet membrane tilts together with the U-shaped frame 21, forming a one-sided tilted channel between adjacent membrane sheets. During the floating process, the bubbles are guided by the tilted channel and preferentially rise along one side of the membrane surface of the tilted channel, making full contact with the flat sheet membrane on that side and forming a concentrated bubble scouring flow field, which significantly improves the membrane shear force and effectively inhibits sludge adhesion and filter cake layer formation.

[0041] After one side of the membrane surface has been cleaned for a period of time, the control system controls the electric telescopic component to reverse its movement, driving the connecting frame 22 to move in the opposite direction. All U-shaped frames 21 tilt synchronously in the opposite direction. The membrane surface on the side that was not fully cleaned by bubbles then forms a new tilted channel, and the bubbles rise along the other side of the membrane surface, providing enhanced aeration and cleaning to that side. By periodically switching the tilt direction of the U-shaped frames 21, the two sides of the flat sheet membrane are alternately subjected to enhanced aeration and cleaning, avoiding the uneven scouring caused by the random dispersion of bubbles in traditional aeration methods. This prevents either side from being in a weak scouring state for a long time, thereby reducing the probability of membrane fouling, slowing down flux decline, and reducing the formation of irreversible fouling.

[0042] During the tilting of the U-shaped frame 21, the aeration pipe 32, fixedly connected to the connecting frame 22, moves synchronously with the connecting frame 22, always remaining directly below the bottom of the aeration channel. This ensures that bubbles can continuously and accurately enter the aeration channel, guaranteeing the continuity and effectiveness of aeration cleaning. Simultaneously, during the tilting of the U-shaped frame 21, the grid 51, constrained by the guide rod 52 and limited by its own U-shaped structure, slides relative to the flat sheet membrane, mechanically scraping the sludge, flocs, and adhering impurities on the membrane surface, achieving a physical scraping effect. This combination of bubble flushing and physical scraping further improves the membrane surface cleaning effect, effectively breaking down the formed filter cake layer and slowing down membrane flux decline.

[0043] II. Sheet Film Replacement Process When the flat sheet membrane needs to be replaced, first stop the operation of aeration unit 3 and adjustment unit 4 through the control system to ensure operational safety. Then, remove the fixing piece 213 at the top of the U-shaped frame 21 to release the limiting effect on the flat sheet membrane.

[0044] Next, the control system activates the rotation drive source of the control component 54. The rotation drive source drives the corresponding rotation shaft 53 to rotate. This rotation shaft 53, through the transmission action of sprockets and chains, drives all rotation shafts 53 to rotate synchronously. When the rotation shaft 53 rotates, it winds up the grid mesh 51. During the winding process, the grid mesh 51 pulls the lifting rod 212 to slide upward along the guide groove inside the U-shaped frame 21. The lifting rod 212 drives the flat film to rise synchronously. Since the flat film is installed in the slide groove of the U-shaped frame 21, the slide groove guides the rise of the flat film, ensuring that the flat film rises smoothly.

[0045] When the sheet membrane rises to the top position, the operator removes it. Then, a new sheet membrane is placed into the U-shaped frame 21 along the chute, ensuring the bottom end of the sheet membrane contacts the lifting rod 212. Next, the control system reverses the rotation of the rotary drive source, releasing the grid mesh 51. The lifting rod 212, under gravity, lowers the sheet membrane to the appropriate position. Finally, the fixing piece 213 is installed to limit and secure the sheet membrane, the inspection port is closed, and the sheet membrane replacement is complete.

[0046] This replacement method does not require disassembling the entire membrane module and aeration system, making it simple and convenient to operate. It significantly reduces downtime for maintenance, decreases maintenance workload and costs, and avoids damage to the membrane and its sealing structure during disassembly and assembly.

[0047] The MBR flat-sheet membrane module aeration device of this invention, through a rational structural design, achieves a cleaning method that combines alternating enhanced aeration cleaning and physical scraping on both sides of the flat-sheet membrane. This effectively solves the problems of uneven rinsing and limited cleaning effect in traditional aeration devices, significantly reducing the probability of membrane fouling, slowing down membrane flux decline, and extending the service life of the membrane module. Simultaneously, the device also features quick flat-sheet membrane replacement and convenient maintenance, simplifying maintenance operations, improving equipment operation and maintenance efficiency, and reducing operating costs. Furthermore, all components of the device are made of corrosion-resistant, high-strength materials, ensuring a stable and reliable structure, a high degree of automation, and the ability to adapt to the harsh operating environment of the wastewater treatment industry, providing a reliable guarantee for the long-term stable operation of the MBR system.

[0048] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An aeration device for an MBR flat sheet membrane module, comprising a housing, an installation frame for mounting the flat sheet membrane installed inside the housing, and an aeration unit disposed at the bottom of the housing, characterized in that, The mounting frame consists of multiple U-shaped frames arranged in an equally spaced array. Each U-shaped frame has a sliding groove adapted to the flat sheet membrane. The aeration unit consists of a main pipe and multiple aeration pipes connected to the main pipe. The multiple aeration pipes are located directly below the bottom of the aeration channel formed by two adjacent U-shaped frames. An adjustment unit is installed inside the housing to tilt all U-shaped frames to one side synchronously. The adjustment unit also drives the aeration pipes to move synchronously, ensuring that the aeration pipes are always located directly below the bottom of the aeration channel.

2. The MBR flat-sheet membrane module aeration device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the U-shaped frame is rotatably connected to the box body via a pivot, and a connecting frame is provided at the bottom of the U-shaped frame. The connecting frame is horizontally positioned, and the bottom of all U-shaped frames is hinged to the connecting frame.

3. The MBR flat-sheet membrane module aeration device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The aeration pipe is fixedly connected to the connecting frame, and an air inlet flange is provided on one side of the bottom of the box. The air inlet end of the main pipe is connected to the air inlet flange through a flexible hose.

4. The MBR flat-sheet membrane module aeration device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The adjustment unit includes an electric telescopic component, the two ends of which are hinged to the housing and the connecting frame, respectively.

5. The MBR flat-sheet membrane module aeration device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The left and right sides of the U-shaped frame are covered with a grid mesh, which is attached to the flat film. When the U-shaped frame swings, the grid mesh and the flat film move relative to each other, thereby causing the grid mesh to scrape away impurities on the flat film.

6. The MBR flat-sheet membrane module aeration device according to claim 5, characterized in that, A lifting rod is installed inside the U-shaped frame, sliding up and down. The bottom end of the flat film contacts the lifting rod, and a fixing device is provided at the top of the U-shaped frame to prevent the flat film from rising.

7. The MBR flat-sheet membrane module aeration device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The grid mesh is formed by wrapping around the bottom of the lifting rod to form a U-shape. Both ends of the U-shape are connected to the top of the box. Guide rods are provided on both the left and right sides of the U-shaped frame to ensure that the grid mesh is always in contact with the flat film.

8. The MBR flat-sheet membrane module aeration device according to claim 7, characterized in that, There are two guide rods, which are located at the upper edge of the flat film and are rotatably mounted on the U-shaped frame.

9. The MBR flat-sheet membrane module aeration device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The top of the box is rotatably mounted with multiple rotating shafts, and the two ends of the grid mesh are respectively connected to two adjacent rotating shafts. The box is also equipped with a control component for controlling the rotation of the rotating shafts.

10. The MBR flat-sheet membrane module aeration device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The control component includes multiple sprockets, each corresponding to a rotating shaft and coaxially fixedly connected, with a rotation drive source connected to one of the rotating shafts.

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