초록 ▼

A cross flow filtration apparatus for nanofiltration or reverse osmosis has pressure vessels with a plurality of filter cartridges in each vessel. A feed port is provided at an intermediate position on the side of the vessel, and two permeate flows or branches exit opposite ends of the vessel, and t

A cross flow filtration apparatus for nanofiltration or reverse osmosis has pressure vessels with a plurality of filter cartridges in each vessel. A feed port is provided at an intermediate position on the side of the vessel, and two permeate flows or branches exit opposite ends of the vessel, and the first branch has a characteristically high "upstream" flux and quality, while the second is of lesser flux and/or quality. The system provides a high degree of moduarity, enhancing flux or yield at a reduced driving pressure or overall pressure drop. Centered or off-center port, and a stop or valve in the permeate stream may apportion flows between the two outlets. Staged systems may employ a first stage bypass to achieve a target quality with increased yield. A flow divider or adaptor permits the cartridges to fit and seal in the vessel and an installation tool or sleeve may facilitate installation or replacement of cartridges having a directional perimeter seal. A tool permits modules to be bi-directional installed in the pressure vessel. Other embodiments involve adapting a conventional vessel designed for end-to-end feed flow utilizing a restrictor, obstruction or valve inside the filter cartridge to bifurcate or otherwise split or apportion the permeate. RO elements may be modified to movably position an obstruction or valve along a string of the elements and vary the take-off to two or more permeate outlets, or to provide pressure relief valves that present different pressure conditions for different elements of a string. A pressure vessel may have an intermediate inlet, with symmetric or asymmetric branching of permeate flow to opposed ends of the vessel, enhancing permeate flux, permeate quality and/or energy efficiency.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. In a cross flow filtration system of a type used for carrying out reverse osmosis (RO), where such system comprises one or more treatment units each consisting of an elongate pressure vessel having a first end, a second end, a single feed inlet, at least a brine outlet,

The invention claimed is: 1. In a cross flow filtration system of a type used for carrying out reverse osmosis (RO), where such system comprises one or more treatment units each consisting of an elongate pressure vessel having a first end, a second end, a single feed inlet, at least a brine outlet, and at least two separate permanent permeate outlets such that all of the permeate produced by the system during normal operation is withdrawn from the system through the permanent permeate outlets, and also wherein the elongate pressure vessel contains a plurality of filter modules, at least two of which are interconnected in a string along an axis of said pressure vessel such that the filter modules feed a common permeate collection manifold that extends axially through the pressure vessel and through the interconnected filter modules contained within the pressure vessel whereby pressurized feed provided at the feed inlet permeates under pressure through said filter modules and into said permeate collection manifold which is in fluid communication with a permeate outlet, the improvement comprising: a treatment unit wherein a moveable flow divider in said permeate collection manifold disrupts the normal flow of permeate by establishing a fluidically separate manifold branch of the permeate collection manifold associated with each permanent permeate outlet, and further wherein said treatment unit is arranged such that at least one of said permanent permeate outlets receives permeate from at least two of said interconnected filter modules while all of the permeate produced by the system continues to be withdrawn from the system through the permanent permeate outlets. 2. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 1 comprising at least four filter modules and further wherein said feed inlet is located along the side of said elongate pressure vessel at an intermediate position along its length. 3. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 2 comprising two permanent permeate outlets, and wherein a flow divider apportions feed so as to produce a first permeate flow into a first manifold branch leading to a first of the two permanent permeate outlets from a first plurality of filter modules toward said first end of the pressure vessel and to produce a second permeate flow into a second manifold branch leading to a second of the two permanent permeate outlets from a second plurality of filter modules toward said second end of the pressure vessel. 4. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 3, further wherein said intermediate position of said feed inlet is substantially centered along said pressure vessel. 5. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 3, further wherein said intermediate position of said feed inlet is not substantially centered along the pressure vessel. 6. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 4, further wherein the flow divider is offset or offsetable from said intermediate position of said feed inlet. 7. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 5, further wherein the flow divider is offset or offsetable from said intermediate position of said feed inlet. 8. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 5, further wherein the flow divider is a divider element selected from among the group of divider elements consisting of a fixed or movable restrictor, a fixed or movable blocker, a pair of separate permeate inlet/collectors, an inflatable obstructer and a valve assembly. 9. Apparatus for treating at least one pressurized fluid mixture comprising at least first and second entities using a plurality of fluid mixture separation elements in a container therefor to produce at least a first fluid effluent from said container substantially enriched in said first entity, at least a second fluid effluent from said container substantially enriched in said second entity, and at least a third fluid effluent from said container also substantially enriched in said first entity, said apparatus comprising at least one combination of components selected from the following groups A, B and C: Group A: A(1) one or more sources of a pressurized fluid mixture comprising at least first and second entities; A(2) a container having a plurality of fluid mixture separation elements in an interior region thereof, at least two of which are connected in a string along an axis of said container such that the separation elements feed a common collection manifold that extends through the interior region of the container and through said separation elements to collect a manifold fluid enriched in said first entity, said container including at least an inlet for said pressurized fluid mixture and separate permanent effluent outlets for recovering at least said first, second and third fluid effluents such that all of the effluent produced during normal operation is withdrawn from the apparatus through the permanent effluent outlets, each such fluid effluent characterized by having a ratio of said first entity to said second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture, each said fluid mixture separation element characterized by having greater permeability for the first entity in said pressurized fluid mixture than for the second entity in said fluid mixture; A(3) one or more moveable fluid control elements in said common collection manifold within said container effective for disrupting the normal flow of permeate to produce said first and third fluid effluents from said manifold fluid; A(4) fluid inlet components for passing said pressurized fluid mixture into said inlet; and, A(5) fluid outlet components for recovering all of the first and third fluid effluents from said permanent effluent outlets; Group B: B(1) one or more sources of a pressurized fluid mixture comprising at least first and second entities; B(2) a container having two or more fluid mixture separation elements in an interior region thereof, at least two of which are connected in a string along an axis of said container such that the separation elements feed a common collection manifold that extends through the interior region of the container and through said separation elements to collect a manifold fluid enriched in said first entity, said common collection manifold including a moveable fluid control element effective for disrupting the normal flow of permeate to produce said first and third fluid effluents from said manifold fluid, said container including at least an inlet for said pressurized fluid mixture and separate permanent effluent outlets for recovering at least said first and second fluid effluents and a third fluid effluent such that all of the effluent produced during normal operation is withdrawn from the apparatus through the permanent effluent outlets, each such fluid effluent having a ratio of said first entity to said second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture, each said fluid mixture separation element characterized by having greater permeability for the first entity in said pressurized fluid mixture than for the second entity in said fluid mixture, further wherein at least some of said fluid mixture separation elements are positioned in said container with a single anti-bypass seal, such seal substantially preventing bypass fluid flow in a first direction around said fluid mixture separation elements having such seals but not substantially preventing bypass fluid flow in a second direction generally opposite to said first direction, and further wherein at least some of the remainder of said fluid mixture separation elements are positioned in said container with a single anti-bypass seal, such seal substantially preventing bypass fluid flow in said second direction around those remaining fluid mixture separation elements which have such a seal but not substantially preventing bypass fluid flow in said first direction; B(3) fluid inlet components for passing said pressurized fluid mixture into said inlet whereby said mixture flows through said fluid mixture separation elements without substantial bypass fluid flow around any of said fluid mixture separation elements having bypass seals; and, B(4) fluid outlet components for recovering all of the fluid effluents from said permanent effluent outlets, each said effluent having a ratio of first entity to second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture; and, Group C: C(1) one or more sources of a pressurized fluid mixture containing at least first and second entities; C(2) a container having a plurality of fluid mixture separation elements in an interior region thereof, at least two of which are connected in a string along an axis of said container such that the separation elements feed a common collection manifold that extends through the interior region of the container and through said separation elements to collect a manifold fluid enriched in said first entity, said common collection manifold including a moveable fluid control element effective for disrupting the normal flow of permeate to produce said first and third fluid effluents from said manifold fluid, said container including at least an inlet for said pressurized fluid mixture and permanent effluent outlets for recovering said first and second fluid effluents and a third fluid effluent such that all of the effluent produced during normal operation is withdrawn from the apparatus through the permanent effluent outlets, each said fluid mixture separation element characterized by having greater permeability for a first entity in said pressurized fluid mixture than for a second entity in said fluid mixture, further wherein at least some of said fluid mixture separation elements are positioned in said container with an anti-bypass seal, such seal effective substantially to prevent bypass fluid flow in at least one fluid flow direction around said fluid mixture separation element having such seal, and further comprising a band effective to compress said seal, said band being readily removable after inserting said fluid mixture separation element in said container; C(3) fluid inlet components for passing said pressurized fluid mixture into said inlet whereby said fluid mixture flows through said fluid mixture separation elements without substantial bypass fluid flow around said fluid mixture separation elements having anti-bypass seals, whereby fluid effluents pass out of outlets, each such fluid effluent having a ratio of first entity to second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture; and, C(4) fluid outlet components for recovering at least one of said fluid effluents. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 further wherein a fluid mixture separation element comprises one or more membranes selected from the group consisting of: reverse(d) osmosis membranes; nanofiltration membranes; ultrafiltration membranes; microfiltration membranes; hyperfiltration membranes; gas separation membranes; pervaporation membranes; and, distillation membranes. 11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said first entity is water and said second entity is a member selected from the group consisting of: electrolytes; hardness materials; colloids including emulsified matter; suspended matter; microorganisms; and, pyrogens. 12. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein a fluid mixture separation element comprises spiral wound membranes. 13. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein at least one of said fluid mixture separation elements in said container is characterized by having a greater permeability for said first entity than the permeability of another of said fluid mixture separation elements in said container relative to said first entity. 14. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said one or more of the fluid control elements within said container effective for varying the quantities of at least two of said at least three fluid effluents and/or for varying said ratio of first entity to second entity in at least two of said effluents includes one or more members selected from the group consisting of: moveable dividers effective for dividing an effluent in said container into more than one effluent; and, moveable outlets effective for dividing an effluent in said container into more than one effluent. 15. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said apparatus comprises the combination of components of Group A. 16. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said apparatus comprises the combination of components of Group B. 17. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said apparatus comprises the combination of components of Group C. 18. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 1 further wherein the pressure vessel includes a feed port located at an intermediate position along the pressure vessel, and a branching element or design that divides a feed into a first flow permeating through a first plurality of interconnected filter modules toward said first end of the pressure vessel and a second flow permeating through a second plurality of interconnected filter modules toward said second end of the pressure vessel, and first and second permanent permeate outlets positioned respectively at said first and second ends. 19. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the pressure vessel comprises a substantially cylindrical vessel having first and second vessel ends, and an axial lumen therebetween, and is sized for inserting therein a plurality of filter modules end to end in said lumen such that pressurized feed provided at an inlet of the pressure vessel permeates under pressure through the filter modules, the resulting permeate being collected by manifolds communicating with at least two permanent permeate outlets of the pressure vessel, and wherein the inlet is located at an intermediate position along the side of the pressure vessel, and further comprising a flow divider configured for being positioned proximate to the inlet such that modules placed in the pressure vessel abut either side of the flow divider to form two filter module branches extending to said first and said second vessel ends respectively. 20. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 19, further wherein said flow divider is permanently affixed in and fabricated as a structural brace in said vessel at the inlet position to separate adjacent filter modules such that flow of pressurized feed to the two branches is not constricted. 21. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 1 wherein a permeate collection manifold passes through both opposite ends of at least one of said filter modules of each treatment unit. 22. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 1 wherein said moveable flow restrictor of each treatment unit is positioned to establish separate permeate collection manifold branches, each of which collects permeate from the same number of interconnected filter modules. 23. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 1 wherein said moveable flow divider of each treatment unit is positioned to establish separate permeate collection manifold branches, one branch of which collects permeate from a greater number of interconnected filter modules than the other branch. 24. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 1 wherein a treatment unit further comprises unidirectional anti-bypass seals around one or more filter modules. 25. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 1 further comprising a manual control for manually positioning the flow divider. 26. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 1 further comprising an automated control for automated positioning of the flow divider. 27. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 1 wherein the moveable flow divider is a plug comprising a branch divider ball or spherical element such that the diameter of the divider ball or spherical element is smaller than the diameter of the permeate collection manifold but larger than the diameter of a connector element that connects adjacent portions of the manifold. 28. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of interconnected filter modules have membrane characteristics that change part-way along a string of interconnected filter modules to increase recovery and/or permeate quality along that portion of the filter module string. 29. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 4 wherein said flow divider is positioned at a different intermediate position along the pressure vessel than the feed inlet. 30. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 5 wherein said flow divider is positioned at the same intermediate position along the pressure vessel than the feed inlet. 31. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 5 wherein said flow divider is positioned at a different intermediate position along the pressure vessel than the feed inlet. 32. In a cross flow filtration system of a type used for carrying out reverse osmosis (RO), where such system comprises one or more treatment units each consisting of an elongate pressure vessel having a first end, a second end, a single feed inlet, at least a brine outlet, and at least two separate permeate outlets, and also including a plurality of filter modules, at least two of which are interconnected such that they feed a common permeate collection manifold, contained within the pressure vessel whereby pressurized feed provided at the feed inlet permeates under pressure through said filter modules and into said permeate collection manifold which is in fluid communication with a permeate outlet, the improvement comprising: a treatment unit wherein a moveable flow restrictor in a permeate collection manifold establishes a fluidically separate permeate collection manifold branch associated with each permeate outlet, and further wherein said treatment unit is arranged such that at least one of said permeate outlets receives permeate from at least two of said interconnected filter modules, further wherein said moveable flow restrictor is a tapered plug with a maximum diameter equal to or less than the internal diameter of the permeate collection manifold. 33. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 32 further comprising a manual control for manually positioning the flow restrictor. 34. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 32 further comprising an automated control for automated positioning of the flow restrictor. 35. In a cross flow filtration system of a type used for carrying out reverse osmosis (RO), where such system comprises one or more treatment units each consisting of an elongate pressure vessel having a first end, a second end, a single feed inlet, at least a brine outlet, and at least two separate permeate outlets, and also including a plurality of filter modules, at least two of which are interconnected such that they feed a common permeate collection manifold, contained within the pressure vessel whereby pressurized feed provided at the feed inlet permeates under pressure through said filter modules and into said permeate collection manifold which is in fluid communication with a permeate outlet, the improvement comprising: a treatment unit wherein a moveable flow restrictor in a permeate collection manifold establishes a fluidically separate permeate collection manifold branch associated with each permeate outlet, and further wherein said treatment unit is arranged such that at least one of said permeate outlets receives permeate from at least two of said interconnected filter modules, further wherein said moveable flow restrictor is a branch divider ball or spherical element. 36. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 35 further comprising a manual control for manually positioning the flow restrictor. 37. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 35 further comprising an automated control for automated positioning of the flow restrictor. 38. A cross flow filtration system according to claim 35 wherein the diameter of the divider ball is smaller than the diameter of the permeate collection manifold but larger than the diameter of a connector element that connects adjacent portions of the manifold. 39. Apparatus for treating at least one pressurized fluid mixture comprising at least first and second entities using a plurality of fluid mixture separation elements in a container therefor to produce at least a first fluid effluent from said container substantially enriched in said first entity and at least a second fluid effluent from said container substantially enriched in said second entity, said apparatus comprising at least one combination of components selected from the following groups A, B and C: Group A: A(1) one or more sources of a pressurized fluid mixture comprising at least first and second entities; A(2) a container having a plurality of fluid mixture separation elements, at least two of which are connected such that they feed a common collection manifold that collects manifold fluid enriched in said first entity, said container including at least an inlet for said pressurized fluid mixture and separate outlets for recovering at least said first, second and third fluid effluents, each such fluid effluent characterized by having a ratio of said first entity to said second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture, each said fluid mixture separation element characterized by having greater penetrability for the first entity in said pressurized fluid mixture than for the second entity in said fluid mixture; A(3) one or more moveable fluid control elements consisting of a tapered plug with a maximum diameter equal to or less than the internal diameter of the common collection manifold or a branch divider ball or spherical element in said manifold within said container effective for producing said first and third fluid effluents from said manifold fluid; A(4) one or more fluid inlet components for passing said pressurized fluid mixture into said inlet; and, A(5) one or more fluid outlet components for recovering fluid effluents from said outlets; Group B: B(1) one or more sources of a pressurized fluid mixture comprising at least first and second entities; B(2) a container having two or more fluid mixture separation elements, at least two of which are connected such that they feed a common collection manifold that collects manifold fluid enriched in said first entity, said manifold including a moveable fluid control element consisting of a tapered plug with a maximum diameter equal to or less than the internal diameter of the permeate collection manifold or a branch divider ball or spherical element effective for producing said first and third effluents from said manifold fluid, said container including at least an inlet for said pressurized fluid mixture and separate outlets for recovering at least said first and second fluid effluents and a third fluid effluent, each such fluid effluent having a ratio of said first entity to said second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture, each said fluid mixture separation element characterized by having greater permeability for the first entity in said pressurized fluid mixture than for the second entity in said fluid mixture, further wherein at least some of said fluid mixture separation elements are positioned in said container with a single anti-bypass seal, such seal substantially preventing bypass fluid flow in a first direction around said fluid mixture separation elements having such seals but not substantially preventing bypass fluid flow in a second direction generally opposite to said first direction, and further wherein at least some of the remainder of said fluid mixture separation elements are positioned in said container with a single anti-bypass seal, such seal substantially preventing bypass fluid flow in said second direction around those remaining fluid mixture separation elements which have such a seal but not substantially preventing bypass fluid flow in said first direction; B(3) one or more fluid inlet components for passing said pressurized fluid mixture into said inlet whereby said mixture flows through said fluid mixture separation elements without substantial bypass fluid flow around any of said fluid mixture separation elements having bypass seals; and, B(4) one or more fluid outlet components for recovering fluid effluents from said outlets, each said effluent having a ratio of first entity to second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture; and, Group C: C(1) one or more sources of a pressurized fluid mixture containing at least first and second entities; C(2) a container having a plurality of fluid mixture separation elements, at least two of which are connected such that they feed a common collection manifold that collects manifold fluid enriched in said first entity, said manifold including a moveable fluid control element consisting of a tapered plug with a maximum diameter equal to or less than the internal diameter of the permeate collection manifold or a branch divider ball or spherical element effective for producing said first and third effluents from said manifold fluid, said container including at least an inlet for said pressurized fluid mixture and outlets for recovering said first and second fluid effluents and a third fluid effluent, each said fluid mixture separation element characterized by having greater permeability for a first entity in said pressurized fluid mixture than for a second entity in said fluid mixture, further wherein at least some of said fluid mixture separation elements are positioned in said container with an anti-bypass seal, such seal effective substantially to prevent bypass fluid flow in at least one fluid flow direction around said fluid mixture separation element having such seal, and further comprising a band effective to compress said seal, said band being readily removable after inserting said fluid mixture separation element in said container; C(3) one or more fluid inlet components for passing said pressurized fluid mixture into said inlet whereby said fluid mixture flows through said fluid mixture separation elements without substantial bypass fluid flow around said fluid mixture separation elements having anti-bypass seals, whereby fluid effluents pass out of outlets, each such fluid effluent having a ratio of first entity to second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture; and, C(4) one or more fluid outlet components for recovering at least one of said fluid effluents. 40. Apparatus according to claim 39 further wherein a fluid mixture separation element comprises one or more membranes selected from the group consisting of: reverse(d) osmosis membranes; nanofiltration membranes; ultrafiltration membranes; microfiltration membranes; hyperfiltration membranes; gas separation membranes; pervaporation membranes; and, distillation membranes. 41. Apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said first entity is water and said second entity is a member selected from the group consisting of: electrolytes; hardness materials; colloids including emulsified matter; suspended matter; microorganisms; and, pyrogens. 42. Apparatus according to claim 39 wherein a fluid mixture separation element comprises spiral wound membranes. 43. Apparatus according to claim 39 wherein at least one of said fluid mixture separation elements in said container is characterized by having a greater permeability for said first entity than the permeability of another of said fluid mixture separation elements in said container relative to said first entity. 44. Apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said apparatus comprises the combination of components of Group A. 45. Apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said apparatus comprises the combination of components of Group B. 46. Apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said apparatus comprises the combination of components of Group C. 47. Apparatus according to claim 39 further comprising a manual control for manually positioning the fluid control element. 48. Apparatus according to claim 39 further comprising an automated control for automated positioning of the fluid control element. 49. Apparatus according to claim 48 wherein the diameter of the divider ball is smaller than the diameter of the permeate collection manifold but larger than the diameter of a connector element that connects adjacent portions of the manifold. 50. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said moveable flow divider is selected from the group consisting of a plug, a baffle and a valve. 51. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said moveable fluid control element is selected from the group consisting of a plug, a baffle and a valve.