Method of cleaning membrane modules

摘要

A method of cleaning a membrane filtration module (6), the module (6) including at least one membrane (8) located in a feed-containing vessel (7), is disclosed. The membrane (8) has a permeable wall which is subjected to a filtration operation where feed containing contaminant matter is applied to a first side of the membrane wall and filtrate is withdrawn from the other side of the membrane wall. The method includes the steps of: suspending the filtration operation; performing a cleaning process that includes gas scrubbing of a membrane wall surface to dislodge contaminant matter into liquid surrounding the membrane (8); forming a gas-containing region on the first side of the permeable wall; sealing the feed-containing vessel; pressurising a gas in the gas-containing region; and opening the feed-containing vessel to atmosphere so that the gas expands and produces a sweep to remove the liquid containing the dislodged contaminant matter.