Apparatus for desalinating water by reverse osmosis

Claim 1

An apparatus for desalinating water by reverse osmosis, which includes a first pressure plate having inlet means for the water to be desalinated, a second pressure plate arranged opposite and in spaced relationship to said first pressure plate and provided with outlet means for the brine of the desalinated water, a stack of substantially identical module plates arranged between said first and second pressure plates but with each two adjacent module plates arranged so as to complement each other, a plurality of porous disc means covered on opposite sides with membranes and each having a peripheral outlet section forming an outlet for desalinated water, said disc means being clamped between respective adjacent module plates in such a way that every two adjacent porous disc means have their peripheral outlet sections angularly offset about a common axis, clamping means operatively connected to said pressure plates for clamping said module plates therebetween and thereby said disc means between module plates, said disc means together with adjacent module plates defining equal pressure and equal flow-geometric water chambers for receiving water to be desalinated, said chambers being arranged in series with regard to each other and fluid conveying means establishing communication with said inlet and outlet means, said porous disc means being sandwiched with said fluid conveying means so as to force fluid passing from said inlet means to said outlet means to flow around said porous disc means alternately in opposite direction, those surfaces of the module plate dividing walls which define the regions of the floor of said water chambers having a roof-shaped profile, the ridge portion of said roof-shaped profile being located transversely and centrally between said inlet and outlet means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for desalinating water by reverse osmosis, which includes a first pressure plate having inlet means for the water to be desalinated, a second pressure plate arranged opposite and in spaced relationship to said first pressure plate and provided with outlet means for the brine of the desalinated water, a stack of substantially identical module plates arranged between said first and second pressure plates but with each two adjacent module plates arranged so as to complement each other, a plurality of porous disc means covered on opposite sides with membranes and each having a peripheral outlet section forming an outlet for desalinated water, said disc means being clamped between respective adjacent module plates in such a way that every two adjacent porous disc means have their peripheral outlet sections angularly offset about a common axis, clamping means operatively connected to said pressure plates for clamping said module plates therebetween and thereby said disc means between module plates, said disc means together with adjacent module plates defining equal pressure and equal flow-geometric water chambers for receiving water to be desalinated, said chambers being arranged in series with regard to each other and fluid conveying means establishing communication with said inlet and outlet means, said porous disc means being sandwiched with said fluid conveying means so as to force fluid passing from said inlet means to said outlet means to flow around said porous disc means alternately in opposite direction, those surfaces of the module plate dividing walls which define the regions of the floor of said water chambers having a roof-shaped profile, the ridge portion of said roof-shaped profile being located transversely and centrally between said inlet and outlet means.