A general problem of membrane processes for example the micro-, ultra- or nano filtration is the formation of membrane coatings at the membrane surface during a membrane separation or membrane catalysis. Possible causes of coating formation at the membrane surface are concentration polarization, scaling and the fouling potential of a membrane. These coatings referred to as membrane top coat cause after a short time already a reduction of filtrate respectively permeate flux. To compensate this phenomenon with technologies corresponding to the state of the art twistable membrane modules, rotating membrane discs elements or the operating mode cross-flow are applied.

Representative for high performance membrane systems is the application of flow initiators with movable barriers. By using of flow initiators localized in the membrane element a high overflow velocity is adjusted to reduce respectively eliminate the formation of membrane top layers.

Advantages of this technology are:

• Reduction of operating costs
• Increase of membrane life time
• Downsizing of membrane systems at equal capacity
• Lower footprints of plants
• Lower investment costs
• New possibilities of reaction control in membrane reactors, bioreactors, fermenters or bubble column reactors.