US4781831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cross-flow filtration device with filtrate flow conduits and method of forming same
Assignee: Corning Inc
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Filing: 1987-04-02
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Granted: 1988-11-01
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Expires: 2007-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A cross-flow filtration device which separates a feed stock into filtrate and retentate, including a structure of porous material which defines a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally from the feed end of the structure to a retentate end, and a number of filtrate conduits within the structure for carrying filtrate from within the structure toward a filtrate collection zone. The filtrate conduits provide paths of lower flow resistance than that of alternative flow paths through the porous material, and the structure is constructed such that the filtrate conduits are distributed among the passageways to provide low pressure drop flow paths for filtrate flow from the passageways through the porous material to nearby filtrate conduits. The cross-flow filtration device can also be utilized as a membrane support for a device for cross-flow microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, gas separations or pervaporation. Also disclosed is a method of making such a cross-flow filtration device.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Goldsmith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:12
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D63/00; B01D63/06; B01D63/066; B01D29/00; B01D29/01; B01D29/05; B01D46/00; B01D46/0039; B01D46/005; B01D46/24; B01D53/00; B01D53/22; B01D63/061; B01D2319/00; B01D2319/04; B01D29/50; B01D29/52; B01D29/88; B01D29/94; B01D29/945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A cross-flow filtration device for receiving a feed stock at a feed end and for separating the feed stock into filtrate and retentate, comprising: a structure of porous material defining a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally from the feed end to a retentate end of the structure through which the feed stock flows to pass retentate from the device, the surface area of the passageways being at least 100 square feet per cubic foot of the structure; a filtrate collection zone disposed along at least one side of the structure; a plurality of filtrate conduits within the structure for carrying filtrate from within the structure toward the filtrate collection zone, the filtrate conduits providing paths of lower flow resistance than that of alternative flow paths through the porous material; the filtrate conduits being distributed among the passageways to provide low pressure drop flow paths for filtrate flow through the porous material from the passageways to nearby filtrate conduits; and means for isolating the filtrate collection zone from the feed and retentate ends of the structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A cross-flow filtration device for receiving a feed stock at a feed end and for separating the feed stock into filtrate and retentate, comprising: a structure of porous material defining a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally from the feed end to a retentate end of the structure through which the feed stock flows to pass retentate from the device, the surface area of the passageways being at least 100 square feet per cubic foot of the structure; a filtrate collection zone disposed along at least one side of the structure; a plurality of filtrate conduits within the structure for carrying filtrate from within the structure toward the filtrate collection zone, the filtrate conduits providing paths of lower flow resistance than that of alternative flow paths through the porous material; the filtrate conduits being distributed among the passageways to provide low pressure drop flow paths for filtrate flow through the porous material from the passageways to nearby filtrate conduits; and means for isolating the filtrate collection zone from the feed and retentate ends of the structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 in which the structure is a single monolith and the filtrate conduits are formed within it.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 2 in which the filtrate conduits extend longitudinally from the feed end to the retentate end of the structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 2 in which the monolith has a skin through which the filtrate conduits direct the filtrate to the filtrate collection zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 4 in which the monolith skin includes a plurality of openings to enhance transport of the filtrate from the filtrate conduits to the filtrate collection zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 2 in which at least one of the filtrate conduits extends longitudinally together with the passageways along at least a portion of its length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 6 in which the filtrate conduit includes at least one channel extending transversely from the longitudinal portion to the filtrate collection zone for directing filtrate to the filtrate collection zone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 7 in which the longitudinal portion includes a plurality of longitudinal chambers which connect with the channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 7 in which the channel is a slot formed in one end of the monolith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 7 in which the channel is a hole formed in the monolith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 7 in which the filtrate conduit includes at least one channel formed at both the feed end and the retentate end of the device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 in which the structure is constructed from a plurality of separate segments of the porous material, each segment having a plurality of the passageways extending along it, and the segments are arranged to define the filtrate conduits among them.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 12 in which the segments are slabs of substantially rectangular cross section and are generally parallel to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 in which the structure includes barrier means, disposed at the feed and retentate ends of the structure, for inhibiting direct passage of the feed stock and retentate into the filtrate conduits.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 in which the surface area of the passageways is from about 200 to 800 square feet per cubic foot of the structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 in which the passageways are generally parallel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 16 in which the passageways are arranged between the filtrate conduits in successive layers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 in which the filtrate conduits are filled with a packing material having a lower flow resistance than that of the porous material to provide mechanical support for the filtrate conduits.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 in which the filtrate conduits are substantially equally spaced and generally parallel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 in which the porous structure material is a ceramic material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 20 in which the ceramic material is selected from cordierite, alumina, mullite, silica, zirconia, titania, spinel, silicon carbide, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 in which the porous material has a porosity of about 20 to 60 percent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 in which the porous material has a mean pore size of about 0.1 to 20 microns.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 further including a permselective membrane applied to the surfaces of the passageways.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 24 in which the permselective membrane is selected from the group of membranes suitable for cross-flow microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, gas separations, or pervaporation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
65 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 in which the filtrate conduits in combination with the structure provide a mean permeability of at least 1000 gallons per day per square foot passageway surface area for water at 25 degrees Centigrade supplied to the pasageways at a pressure differential between the passageways and the filtrate collection zone substantially similar to that selected for the feed stock.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cross-flow filtration device of claim 1 in which the filtrate collection zone surrounds all sides of the structure.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of forming filtrate conduits in a monolith of porous material having a plurality of passageways extending from an upstream end to a downstream end of the monolith, comprising: selecting one or more of the passageways as filtrate conduit passageways for carrying filtrate from within the monolith to a filtrate collection zone, disposed along at least one side of the monolith, to distribute the filtrate conduit passageways among the non-selected passageways to provide low pressure drop flow paths from the non-selected passageways through the porous material to nearby filtrate conduit passageways, the surface area of the passageways being at least 100 square feet per cubic foot of the structure; establishing one or more channels to connect the filtrate conduit passageways to the filtrate collection zone; and sealing the filtrate conduit passageways to inhibit direct passage of fluid into the filtrate conduit passageways and the filtrate collection zone.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of forming filtrate conduits in a monolith of porous material having a plurality of passageways extending from an upstream end to a downstream end of the monolith, comprising: selecting one or more of the passageways as filtrate conduit passageways for carrying filtrate from within the monolith to a filtrate collection zone, disposed along at least one side of the monolith, to distribute the filtrate conduit passageways among the non-selected passageways to provide low pressure drop flow paths from the non-selected passageways through the porous material to nearby filtrate conduit passageways, the surface area of the passageways being at least 100 square feet per cubic foot of the structure; establishing one or more channels to connect the filtrate conduit passageways to the filtrate collection zone; and sealing the filtrate conduit passageways to inhibit direct passage of fluid into the filtrate conduit passageways and the filtrate collection zone.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 28 in which the filtrate conduit passageways are sealed at the upstream and downstream ends of the monolith.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 28 in which establishing each channel includes cutting a slot in at least one end of the monolith to form that channel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 28 in which establishing each channel includes forming a hole through the monolith to form that channel.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 28 in which selecting includes designating a plurality of sets of passageways as filtrate conduit passageways, each set including a row of adjoining passageways.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 32 in which the sets of filtrate conduit passageways are substantially equally spaced and parallel.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 32 in which each set of filtrate conduit passageways and associated channel extends across the monolith.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 28 in which selecting includes providing a surface area of non-selected passageways of at least 100 square feet per cubic foot of the monolith.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 35 further including providing the monolith with a mean permeability of at least 1000 gallons per day per square foot geometric area for water at 25 degrees Centigrade supplied to the passageways at a pressure differential between the passageways and the filtrate collection zone substantially similar to that selected for the feed stock.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
178 words
A cross-flow filtration device for receiving a feed stock at a feed end and for separating the feed stock into filtrate and retentate, comprising: a single monolith of porous material defining a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally from the feed end to a retentate end of the monolith through which the feed stock flows to pass retentate from the device; a filtrate collection zone disposed along at least one side of the monolith; a plurality of filtrate conduits formed within the monolith for carrying filtrate from within the monolith toward the filtrate collection zone, the filtrate conduits providing flow paths of lower flow resistance than that of alternative flow paths through the porous material; the filtrate conduits being distributed among the passageways to provide low pressure drop flow paths for filtrate flow through the porous material from the passageways to nearby filtrate conduits; the surface area of the passageways being at least 100 square feet per cubic foot of the monolith; and means for isolating the filtrate collection zone from the feed and retentate ends of the monolith.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
178 words
A cross-flow filtration device for receiving a feed stock at a feed end and for separating the feed stock into filtrate and retentate, comprising: a single monolith of porous material defining a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally from the feed end to a retentate end of the monolith through which the feed stock flows to pass retentate from the device; a filtrate collection zone disposed along at least one side of the monolith; a plurality of filtrate conduits formed within the monolith for carrying filtrate from within the monolith toward the filtrate collection zone, the filtrate conduits providing flow paths of lower flow resistance than that of alternative flow paths through the porous material; the filtrate conduits being distributed among the passageways to provide low pressure drop flow paths for filtrate flow through the porous material from the passageways to nearby filtrate conduits; the surface area of the passageways being at least 100 square feet per cubic foot of the monolith; and means for isolating the filtrate collection zone from the feed and retentate ends of the monolith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-01 | 1992-05-02 | 1992-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-01 | 1996-05-02 | 1996-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-01 | 2000-05-02 | 2000-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |