Fluid separation apparatus and method

Claim 2

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein: said membrane means comprises a plurality of sheets of semi-permeable membrane material extending in a substantially radial direction.

Claim 3

Apparatus for separating at least part of one component from a multi-component admixture comprising: basket means mounted for rotation; semi-permeable membrane means disposed in said basket means, said membrane means including a plurality of hollow fibers of semi-permeable membrane material extending in a substantially radial direction; first conduit means for supplying said admixture to said membrane means; second conduit means for recovering concentrate which has flowed over said membrane means; and means for recovering permeate which passes through said membrane means; said membrane means having a surface extending with a radial directional component, and said first and second conduit means arranged so that said admixture flows with a radial directional component over said membrane means between said first and second conduit means.

Claim 4

Apparatus for separating a constituent from a fluid solution comprising: a plurality of membrane structures having semi-permeable membranes extending in a primarily radial direction; first and second conduit means disposed at radially opposite ends of said membrane structures to flow said fluid between them along a path which extends substantially radially alOng said membrane structures; and means for rotating said membrane structures and conduit means at a high speed to create centrifugal forces that urge material in a radial direction.

Claim 5

The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein: said first conduit means is connected to a source of said fluid solution and is disposed radially inwardly from said second conduit means, whereby said solution flows in a radially outward direction.

Claim 6

In apparatus for separating at least part of one constituent from a multi-component liquid admixture, which includes means for rotating the admixture to create centrifugal forces that produce pressures which can force said constituent through a semi-permeable membrane, the improvement comprising: a semi-permeable membrane having a surface extending in a primarily radial direction; and means for directing a flow of said liquid admixture in a primarily radial direction past said membrane surface.

Claim 7

A reverse osmosis method for separating at least part of one component from a multi-component liquid admixture comprising: applying centrifugal force to said liquid admixture; and flowing said liquid admixture in a primarily radial direction along the surface of a semi-permeable membrane to effect passage of at least part of said one component through said membrane.

Claim 8

The method described in claim 8 wherein: said step of flowing includes flowing said admixture in a primarily outward radial direction along the surface of said membrane.

Claim 9

In apparatus for separating at least part of one component from a multi-component admixture which includes a rotatable basket holding a semi-permeable membrane and a conduit for feeding water to said membrane, the improvement comprising: skimming means mounted within said basket so that said basket rotates faster than said skimming means, said skimming means having an opening spaced a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation of said basket to receive excess admixture in said basket.

Claim 10

The improvement described in claim 10 wherein: said opening faces primarily circumferentially and in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said basket.

Claim 12

Fluid separation apparatus for separating a purified solvent from a solution, while concentrating said solution by retaining solute materials, comprising: a basket having radially inner and outer portions and an axis of rotation; means connected to said basket for rotating it about said axis of rotation; conduit means extending to said basket for carrying said solution to said basket; membrane means for allowing the passage of said purified solvent therethrough upon the application thereagainst of said solution under pressure, said membrane means being disposed in said basket near the radially outer portion thereof; means for carrying away said purified solvent from said basket, disposed on a side of said membrane means opposite to the side on which said solution is disposed; concentrated solution passage means disposed on said basket for collecting said solution and solute materials remaining after the removal of said solvent; and nozzle means connected to said passage means for expelling fluids, said nozzle means mounted on said basket and directed substantially tangentially to the direction of rotation of said basket and in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said basket, whereby to enable the recovery of some of the energy supplied in causing rotation of the solution being processed.

Claim 13

Fluid separation apparatus for separating a purified solvent from a solution, while concentrating said solution by retaining solute materials, comprising: a basket having radially inner and outer portions and an axis of rotation; means connected to said basket for rotating it about said axis of rotation; conduit means extending to said basket for carrying said solution to said basket; membrane means for allowing the passage of said purified solvent therethrough including a multiplicity of layers of semi-permeable membrane material of annular shape, the plane of the layers of membrane material extending substantially normal to said axis of rotation of the basket, the space between at least some of said layers of membrane material defining solution channels for carrying said solution being processed to the areas on one face of the layers of membrane material, and the space between at least some of said layers of membrane material defining purified solvent channels for carrying away purified solvent which flows through said membranes; and means coupled to said purified solvent channels for carrying away said purified solvent from said basket.

Claim 14

Fluid separation apparatus for separating a purified solvent from a solution, while concentrating said solution by retaining solute materials, comprising: a basket having a radially inner and outer portion and an axis of rotation; means connected to said basket for rotating it about said axis of rotation; conduit means extending to said basket for carrying said solution to said basket; membrane means for allowing the passage of said purified solvent therethrough, including a plurality of layers of semi-permeable material wound spirally with respect to said axis of rotation of said basket; and means for carrying away said purified solvent from said basket, disposed on a side of said membrane means opposite to the side on which said solution is disposed.

Claim 15

Fluid separation apparatus for separating a purified solvent from a solution, while concentrating said solution by retaining solute materials, comprising: a basket having radially inner and outer portions and an axis of rotation; means connected to said basket for rotating it about said axis of rotation; conduit means extending to said basket for carrying said solution to said basket; membrane means for allowing the passage of said purified solvent therethrough including a multiplicity of tubes disposed in the radially outward portions of said basket and in said solution being processed, said tubes extending substantially parallel to the axis of said basket, each of said tubes having a radially outer portion of semi-permeable membrane material for passing substantially only purified solvent therethrough, and an axial portion for carrying away purified solvent; and means coupled to said tubes for removing said purified solvent from said basket.

Claim 16

Fluid separation apparatus for separating a purified solvent from a solution, while concentrating said solution by retaining solute materials, comprising: a basket having radially inner and outer portions and an axis of rotation; means connected to said basket for rotating it about said axis of rotation; conduit means extending to said basket for carrying said solution to said basket; membrane means for allowing the passage of said purified solvent therethrough upon the application thereagainst of said solution under pressure, said membrane means being disposed in said basket near the radially outer portion thereof; means for carrying away said purified solvent from said basket, disposed on a side of said membrane means opposite to the sIde on which said solution is disposed; impeller means disposed in said basket for gathering said solution in said basket; brake means connected to said impeller means for preventing said impeller means from rotating at the speed of said basket; and means for carrying fluid from said impeller means.

Claim 17

Apparatus for generating fresh water by forcing impure water against a semi-permeable membrane which allows primarily pure water to pass while blocking the flow of dissolved solids therein, comprising: a basket for holding water, said basket having an axis of rotation; means leading to said basket for feeding impure water into said basket; motor means for rapidly rotating said basket around its axis of rotation; support means disposed on said basket near its radially outer portion, and extending about said basket, for containing water in said basket against centrifugal forces on said water; a membrane structure disposed near the periphery of said basket and at a position inwardly from said support means for blocking the flow of impurities while allowing the flow of pure water therethrough; pure water collecting means connected to one side of said membrane apparatus for collecting pure water flowing therethrough and ejecting it from said basket; and impure water collecting means connected to the water within said basket on the side of said membrane structure containing primarily impure water, for ejecting water from said basket as it rotates; at least one of said water collecting means including nozzle means directed substantially tangentially to the direction of rotation of said basket and opposite to the direction of rotation of said basket, whereby to employ the energy of rotation of ejected water to help maintain the rotation of said basket.

Claim 18

Apparatus for generating fresh water by forcing impure water against a semi-permeable membrane which allows primarily pure water to pass while blocking the flow of dissolved solids therein, comprising: a basket for holding water, said basket having an axis of rotation; means leading to said basket for feeding impure water into said basket; motor means for rapidly rotating said basket around its axis of rotation; support means disposed on said basket near its radially outer portion, and extending about said basket, for containing water in said basket against centrifugal forces on said water; a membrane structure for blocking the flow of impurities while allowing the flow of pure water, including at least one sheet of semi-permeable material extending spirally with respect to said axis of said basket; pure water collecting means connected to one side of said membrane apparatus for collecting pure water flowing therethrough and ejecting it from said basket; and impure water collecting means connected to the water within said basket on the side of said membrane structure containing primarily impure water, for ejecting water from said basket as it rotates.

Claim 19

Apparatus for generating fresh water by forcing impure water against a semi-permeable membrane which allows primarily pure water to pass while blocking the flow of dissolved solids therein, comprising: a basket for holding water, said basket having an axis of rotation; means leading to said basket for feeding impure water into said basket; motor means for rapidly rotating said basket around its axis of rotation; support means disposed on said basket near its radially outer portion, and extending about said basket, for containing water in said basket against centrifugal forces on said water; a membrane structure for blocking the flow of impurities while allowing the flow of pure water including a stack of ring-shaped membranes, each membrane having an area oriented normal to said axis of rotation of said basket, impure water channels disposed on one side of each membrane for carrying impure water to one side of each membrane, and pure water channels disposed oN a side of each membrane opposite said impure water channels for carrying away pure water passing through said membranes; means coupled to said impure water channels for allowing the exit of primarily impure water from said basket; and means coupled to said pure water channels for allowing the exit of pure water from said basket.