US5064515A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrofilter apparatus and process for preventing filter fouling in crossflow filtration
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
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Filing: 1989-06-30
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Granted: 1991-11-12
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Expires: 2009-06-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for continuously removing liquid from an aqueous suspension; the apparatus consists of a filter housing; an electrofilter disposed within the housing to provide a crossflow chamber and filtrate chamber within the housing; an inlet for supplying a suspension to the crossflow chamber and an outlet for removing a suspension reduced in liquid content from the crossflow chamber; both the inlet and the outlet may be disposed so as to provide a crossflow of the suspension across the surface of the elecltrofilter or disposed to provide a batch process with optional stirring; and an outlet for removing liquid from the filtrate chamber. The filter material of the electrofilter is conductive so that the filter material functions as the first electrode as well as a filter. A second electrode is disposed on the filtrate side of the electrofilter. A method for continuously separting a liquid from an aqueous suspension while reducing membrane or filter fouling includes providing a crossflow apparatus having an electrofilter disposed therein; pumping the aqueous suspension into the crossflow apparatus at a pressure adapted to cause flow of filtrate through the electrofilter; and concurrently with pumping the suspension into the apparatus supplying electrical energy to the electrofilter at a voltage adapted to reduce fouling of the electrofilter.
Inventors
- 👤 Muralidhara Harapanahalli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:11
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D35/00; B01D35/06; B01D61/00; B01D61/42; B01D61/425
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for removing liquid from an aqueous suspension comprising: a. a filter housing; b. a filter disposed within the housing to form a crossflow chamber and a filtrate chamber within the housing, wherein the filter is conducting and functions as a first electrode; c. a second electrode disposed on the filtrate chamber side of the filter but not in contact therewith; d. means for supplying a suspension to the crossflow chamber at one end of the chamber where the means consists of a single inlet supply means located upstream from the crossflow filter, and means to remove a portion of the suspension depleted in liquid from another end of the crossflow chamber; and e. outlet means for removing filtrate from the filtrate chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for removing liquid from an aqueous suspension comprising: a. a filter housing; b. a filter disposed within the housing to form a crossflow chamber and a filtrate chamber within the housing, wherein the filter is conducting and functions as a first electrode; c. a second electrode disposed on the filtrate chamber side of the filter but not in contact therewith; d. means for supplying a suspension to the crossflow chamber at one end of the chamber where the means consists of a single inlet supply means located upstream from the crossflow filter, and means to remove a portion of the suspension depleted in liquid from another end of the crossflow chamber; and e. outlet means for removing filtrate from the filtrate chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for supplying electrical energy to the electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter is a flat plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter and second electrode are disposed concentrically as tubes in the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter and second electrode are spirally wound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises an array of hollow fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter is comprised of a conductive ceramic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter is comprised of a metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter is comprised of a conductive polymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second electrode comprises a flat plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second electrode comprises one or more strips.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second electrode comprises a wire.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for removing liquid from an aqueous suspension comprising: a. a filter housing; b. an array of hollow fibers disposed within the housing to form a crossflow chamber defined by the outside of the fibers and a filtrate chamber defined by the inside of the fibers, wherein a first electrode is disposed on the outside of the fibers; c. filtrate header means for isolating and collecting the flow of filtrate from the hollow fibers; d. means for supplying a suspension to the crossflow chamber at one end of the chamber where the means consists of a single inlet supply means located upstream from the array of hollow fibers, and means to remove a portion of the suspension depleted in liquid from another end of the crossflow chamber; e. filtrate outlet means for removing filtrate from the filtrate header means; and f. a second electrode disposed on the filtrate side of the filter at the filtrate outlet means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for removing liquid from an aqueous suspension comprising: a. a filter housing; b. an array of hollow fibers disposed within the housing to form a crossflow chamber defined by the outside of the fibers and a filtrate chamber defined by the inside of the fibers, wherein a first electrode is disposed on the outside of the fibers; c. filtrate header means for isolating and collecting the flow of filtrate from the hollow fibers; d. means for supplying a suspension to the crossflow chamber at one end of the chamber where the means consists of a single inlet supply means located upstream from the array of hollow fibers, and means to remove a portion of the suspension depleted in liquid from another end of the crossflow chamber; e. filtrate outlet means for removing filtrate from the filtrate header means; and f. a second electrode disposed on the filtrate side of the filter at the filtrate outlet means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for separating a liquid from an aqueous suspension while reducing membrane or filter fouling comprising; a. providing a filter apparatus having an electrofilter disposed therein wherein the electrofilter divides a housing of the apparatus into a crossflow chamber and a filtrate chamber, whereby there is further provided an electrofilter comprising a filter that is conductive and also functions as a first electrode that faces the crossflow chamber and a second electrode disposed in the filtrate chamber, whereby there is further provided a means for supplying a suspension to the crossflow chamber at one end thereof where the means consists of a single inlet supply means located upstream from the electrofilter, and means for removing a portion of the suspension depleted in liquid from another end of the crossflow chamber, wherein there is further provided an outlet means for removing filtrate from the filtrate chamber; and further providing means for supplying electrical energy to the electrofilter; b. pumping the aqueous suspension into a single inlet supply means located upstream from the electrofilter in the filtering apparatus at a pressure adapted to cause flow of filtrate through the electrofilter; c. concurrently with step b supplying electrical energy to the electrofilter at a voltage adapted to reduce fouling of the filter; d. removing filtrate from the filtrate chamber; and e. removing the aqueous suspension reduced in liquid content from the crossflow chamber.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for separating a liquid from an aqueous suspension while reducing membrane or filter fouling comprising; a. providing a filter apparatus having an electrofilter disposed therein wherein the electrofilter divides a housing of the apparatus into a crossflow chamber and a filtrate chamber, whereby there is further provided an electrofilter comprising a filter that is conductive and also functions as a first electrode that faces the crossflow chamber and a second electrode disposed in the filtrate chamber, whereby there is further provided a means for supplying a suspension to the crossflow chamber at one end thereof where the means consists of a single inlet supply means located upstream from the electrofilter, and means for removing a portion of the suspension depleted in liquid from another end of the crossflow chamber, wherein there is further provided an outlet means for removing filtrate from the filtrate chamber; and further providing means for supplying electrical energy to the electrofilter; b. pumping the aqueous suspension into a single inlet supply means located upstream from the electrofilter in the filtering apparatus at a pressure adapted to cause flow of filtrate through the electrofilter; c. concurrently with step b supplying electrical energy to the electrofilter at a voltage adapted to reduce fouling of the filter; d. removing filtrate from the filtrate chamber; and e. removing the aqueous suspension reduced in liquid content from the crossflow chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the process is a batch process.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the process is a continuous crossflow process.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the additional step of recirculating at least a portion of the aqueous suspension reduced in liquid content to the input of the filtering apparatus.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-11 | 1995-05-13 | 1995-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-11 | 1999-05-13 | 1999-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-11 | 2003-05-13 | 2003-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |