US4746430A — Fluid separation module

Claim 1

Independent Claim 122 words

An improved spiral wound membrane filter apparatus comprising a containment vessel having an inlet and an outlet for a feed stream and an outlet for a permeate stream and further comprising a spiral wound membrane having a permeate conduit which communicates with said permeate outlet within said containment vessel, the improvement comprising a cylindrical liner insert having a smoothly finished interior surface in which said spiral wound membrane is removably contained in sealed relation to said smooth surface, said cylindrical liner insert being offset from the wall of said containment vessel and supported within said containment vessel by a gasket such that the spiral wound membrane may be removed while the liner insert and gasket remain in place within the containment vessel.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 122 words

An improved spiral wound membrane filter apparatus comprising a containment vessel having an inlet and an outlet for a feed stream and an outlet for a permeate stream and further comprising a spiral wound membrane having a permeate conduit which communicates with said permeate outlet within said containment vessel, the improvement comprising a cylindrical liner insert having a smoothly finished interior surface in which said spiral wound membrane is removably contained in sealed relation to said smooth surface, said cylindrical liner insert being offset from the wall of said containment vessel and supported within said containment vessel by a gasket such that the spiral wound membrane may be removed while the liner insert and gasket remain in place within the containment vessel.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

An improved spiral wound membrane filter apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said gasket is structurally comprised of a synthetic material positioned between two O-rings such that the liner is sealed to the containment vessel wall.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 99 words

An improved spiral wound filter apparatus as in claim 2 wherein a first metal retaining ring is positioned between the liner insert and the containment vessel wall and is welded to said wall; wherein a second metal retaining ring is positioned between the liner insert and the containment vessel wall; wherein the O-rings are positioned between said first and second metal retaining rings, with one of said metal retaining rings being adjacent to each O-ring; and wherein a spacer is provided to provide positive pressure on said second metal retaining ring, thereby enhancing the integrity of the gasket seal.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

An improved spiral wound membrane filter apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said synthetic material is a mesh of polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyflurocarbon polymers and nylon polymers.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

An improved spiral wound membrane filter apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said liner insert is offset from the containment vessel wall by a distance of from about 0.25 to 1 inch.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

An improved spiral wound membrane filter apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said liner insert is comprised of a fiber reinforced polymeric material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 255 words

An improved spiral wound membrane gas separation apparatus having a containment vessel with a feed stream inlet for passing a feed stream gas into the containment vessel, a feed stream outlet for passing out of the containment vessel a portion of the feed steam gas after it has contacted a membrane without permeating therethrough, and a permeate stream outlet for passing out of the containment vessel a portion of the feed stream gas after it has contacted the membrane and permeated therethrough, and adapted for employing during operation a spiral wound membrane with a permeate flow channel which is in communication within the containment vessel with the permeate stream outlet such that gas which has permeated through the membrane passes through the permeate flow channel to the permeate outlet, the improvement comprising: (a) a liner insert fitted within the containment vessel and fitted with a spiral wound membrane which can be selectively inserted for operation within the apparatus and removed therefrom by sliding it into and out of the liner insert, said liner insert having a uniform interior surface adapted to seal the spiral wound membrane within the liner insert when the spiral wound membrane is inserted for operation; and (b) a seal which seals the liner insert within the containment vessel, such that when the apparatus is operated with the membrane inserted and sealed within the liner, the gas from the feed stream which exits through the containment vessel feed stream outlet is gas which has passed into contact with the spiral wound membrane.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 255 words

An improved spiral wound membrane gas separation apparatus having a containment vessel with a feed stream inlet for passing a feed stream gas into the containment vessel, a feed stream outlet for passing out of the containment vessel a portion of the feed steam gas after it has contacted a membrane without permeating therethrough, and a permeate stream outlet for passing out of the containment vessel a portion of the feed stream gas after it has contacted the membrane and permeated therethrough, and adapted for employing during operation a spiral wound membrane with a permeate flow channel which is in communication within the containment vessel with the permeate stream outlet such that gas which has permeated through the membrane passes through the permeate flow channel to the permeate outlet, the improvement comprising: (a) a liner insert fitted within the containment vessel and fitted with a spiral wound membrane which can be selectively inserted for operation within the apparatus and removed therefrom by sliding it into and out of the liner insert, said liner insert having a uniform interior surface adapted to seal the spiral wound membrane within the liner insert when the spiral wound membrane is inserted for operation; and (b) a seal which seals the liner insert within the containment vessel, such that when the apparatus is operated with the membrane inserted and sealed within the liner, the gas from the feed stream which exits through the containment vessel feed stream outlet is gas which has passed into contact with the spiral wound membrane.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 7 wherein the liner insert is tubular with a cylindrical interior surface.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 8 wherein the liner insert is a fiberglass reinforced synthetic material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 9 wherein the liner insert has a wall thickness of about 0.25 to 0.5 inches.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 10 wherein the interior surface of the liner insert has a diameter of about 8 inches.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 10 wherein the liner insert is fiberglass reinforced polyester.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an end seal which is adapted to keep fluid from flowing between the liner surface and the spiral wound membrane when said membrane is inserted for operation.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 18 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 7 wherein the containment vessel comprises standard steel pipe.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 7 wherein the liner insert is fiberglass or carbon fiber reinforced phenolic.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 7 wherein the liner insert is fiberglass or carbon fiber reinforced polyester.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 32 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 7 wherein the liner insert is supported within the containment vessel such that it is spaced from the walls of the containment vessel.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 17 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 7 wherein the seal (b) comprises a gasket.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 18 wherein the gasket supports the liner insert within the containment vessel such that the liner insert is spaced from the containment vessel walls.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 19 wherein the containment vessel is high strength steel that can withstand pressure of up to 3000 psi.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 111 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 18 wherein the gasket comprises a synthetic material positioned between two O-rings; and wherein a first metal retaining ring is positioned between the liner insert and the containment vessel wall and is welded to said wall; wherein a second metal retaining ring is positioned between the liner insert and the containment vessel wall; wherein the O-rings are positioned between said first and second metal retaining rings, with one of said metal retaining rings being adjacent to each O-ring; and wherein a spacer is provided to provide positive pressure on said second metal retaining ring, thereby enhancing the integrity of the gasket seal.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 35 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 7 wherein permeate channels of the liner insert are adapted for insertion of sections of spiral wound membrane which are interconnected via their permeate flow channels.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 34 words

The improved spiral wound membrane separation apparatus of claim 22 further comprising end seals which are adapted to keep fluid from flowing between the liner surface and the membrane when the sections are inserted.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-05-24	1991-11-23	1992-05-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-05-24	1995-11-23	1996-05-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-05-24	1999-11-23	2000-05-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fluid separation module

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