Abstract Apparatus useful for carrying out reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration or other filtration processes wherein it is desirable to transport liquid in a predetermined path over a filter at an elevated operating pressure, said apparatus comprising an ultrafiltration cell formed of two deflectionresistant plates and a flow-distributing means between said plates which flow-distributing means is maintained in intimate contact with the face of a filter by a hydraulic pressure difference maintained across said distributor plate. This pressure assures that any deflection of the aforesaid plates is compensated for by a matching deflection of the distributor plate and thereby avoids short circuiting of the desired flow path between the plate and the membrane surface.
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said distributor plate is formed of a polymeric resin having a modulus below 1 X 106 p.s.i. and said retaining plates are formed of a metal having a modulus above 20 X 106 p.s.i.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said filter element is a membrane of the type used in ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis processes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the groove in said distributor plate and the opposing face of said membrane form a conduit from 0.003 to 0.033 inch in height and from 0.05 to 0.50 inch in width.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said groove is in the form of a spiral.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the face of said distributor plate in contact with the filter element has a plurality of elongated shallow grooves, a conduit connects said space to one end of each of said grooves, and an outlet withdraws from each groove remote from the conduit end fluid which does not pass through said filter element.