초록 ▼

An apparatus useful for the separation of the components of fluid mixtures by means of pressure and a permselective membrane, applicable to reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, electrofiltration, and gaseous separation processes, comprises a shell, containing a porous body with multiple passages theret

An apparatus useful for the separation of the components of fluid mixtures by means of pressure and a permselective membrane, applicable to reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, electrofiltration, and gaseous separation processes, comprises a shell, containing a porous body with multiple passages therethrough, with a selectively permeable membrane supported by at least a portion of the surfaces of the passages and a coating of either a semipermeable or a non-permeable material on all other surfaces except for areas left uncoated for egress of fluids from the porous body, means for passing a fluid mixture into contact with the surfaces of the body under pressure, and a conduit in fluid-tight relation to the membrane for removing fluids passing through the membrane from the porous body. Such an apparatus can be operated at high pressure because of the compressive stress exerted on the porous body when the shell is pressurized, and permits for advantageous ratios of membrane surface area to body volume.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Apparatus for separating the components of a fluid mixture by means of pressure and a permselective membrane, which apparatus comprises a fluid-tight shell having a fluid feed inlet, a fluid concentrate outlet, and a permeate outlet, and containing at least one element spaced away from th

1. Apparatus for separating the components of a fluid mixture by means of pressure and a permselective membrane, which apparatus comprises a fluid-tight shell having a fluid feed inlet, a fluid concentrate outlet, and a permeate outlet, and containing at least one element spaced away from the interior surface of the shell, said element comprising a body of porous material with multiple passages therethrough, a membrane selectively permeable to the components of the fluid mixture and supported by at least a portion of the surface of the passages, a conduit in fluid communication with the porous body and the permeate outlet and in fluid-tight relation to the membrane, and a non-permeable coating on all surfaces of the porous body not supporting the membrane or providing fluid communication between the porous body and the conduit. 2. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the feed inlet and concentrate outlet are arranged so as to direct the flow of feed mixture uniformly over the membrane. 3. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shell contains an array of elements, said elements connected in fluid-tight relationship at their surfaces with porosity throughout for fluid flow. 4. An apparatus of claim 3 wherein the elements are in a parallel arrangement. 5. An apparatus of claim 3 wherein the elements are in a series arrangement. 6. An apparatus of claim 3 wherein the elements are in both series and parallel arrangement. 7. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the porous body is covered by the membrane on all surfaces not providing fluid communication between the body and the conduit. 8. A reverse osmosis module for reducing the concentration of dissolved solids in a pressurized liquid by passing said liquid through a semi-permeable osmotic member, said module comprising: a porous matrix formed of particulate material bonded together to produce a porous bar, said bar having at least one longitudinal hole disposed therein, a tubular shaped osmotic membrane disposed within said hole, a tubular shaped enveloping membrane encompassing and tightly embracing said bar, sealing means cooperating with said membranes to form a barrier completely surrounding said bar, means in fluid communication with said matrix for draining off liquid which passes through said osmotic membrane, a container enclosing said bar, said bar being so disposed within said container that said membranes and said sealing means form a barrier which cooperates with said pressurized fluid in such a way that said pressurized fluid imparts only compressive forces to said matrix. 9. A reverse osmosis module as set forth in claim 8, wherein the bar has a plurality of holes disposed lengthwise therein, a tubular shaped osmotic membrane is disposed in each hole, and each hole is in direct fluid communication with said container. 10. A reverse osmosis module as set forth in claim 8, wherein the enveloping membrane is generally impervious to the liquid.