Multiple element fluid separation device
First Claim
1. A multi-element fluid separation device comprising:
- a plurality of fluid separation elements, each element having a treatable fluid inlet end with a treatable fluid inlet, a treatable fluid chamber, a product fluid chamber, and an outlet end having a product fluid outlet connected to said product fluid chamber, and a concentrated fluid outlet connected to said treatable fluid chamber, said elements being divided into at least first and second stages, each stage containing a plurality of elements;
pressure vessel means surrounding said elements to maintain said elements at an elevated pressure, said pressure vessel means including at least one pressure vessel having first and second ends;
manifold means attached to each of said elements only at said outlet end of each of said elements, said manifold means being connected to said pressure vessel only at one end of said pressure vessel, and having a first channel formed therein for connecting the concentrated fluid outlet of each of the elements of the first stage with the treatable fluid inlet of each of the elements of the second stage;
fluid inlet means for supplying pressurized treatable fluid to the treatable fluid inlet of each of the elements of the first stage;
whereby the elements of the first stage are connected in parallel relationship to each other to receive treatable fluid and discharge concentrated fluid and product fluid, the first stage is connected to the second stage in series to transfer the concentrated fluid to the second stage through the manifold, and the second stage elements are connected in parallel to each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The fluid separation device contains a plurality of fluid separation elements, each element having fluid inlet, a treatable fluid chamber, a product fluid chamber, a product fluid outlet connected to the product fluid chamber, and a concentrated fluid outlet connected to the treatable fluid chamber. The elements are divided into at least first and second stages, each of which contains a plurality of elements. A pressure vessel surrounds the elements to maintain them at an elevated pressure. A manifold is attached to the outlet end of each of the elements. The manifold has a first channel formed therein for connecting the concentrated fluid outlet of each of the elements of the first stage with the fluid inlet of each of the elements of the second stage.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A multi-element fluid separation device comprising:
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a plurality of fluid separation elements, each element having a treatable fluid inlet end with a treatable fluid inlet, a treatable fluid chamber, a product fluid chamber, and an outlet end having a product fluid outlet connected to said product fluid chamber, and a concentrated fluid outlet connected to said treatable fluid chamber, said elements being divided into at least first and second stages, each stage containing a plurality of elements; pressure vessel means surrounding said elements to maintain said elements at an elevated pressure, said pressure vessel means including at least one pressure vessel having first and second ends; manifold means attached to each of said elements only at said outlet end of each of said elements, said manifold means being connected to said pressure vessel only at one end of said pressure vessel, and having a first channel formed therein for connecting the concentrated fluid outlet of each of the elements of the first stage with the treatable fluid inlet of each of the elements of the second stage; fluid inlet means for supplying pressurized treatable fluid to the treatable fluid inlet of each of the elements of the first stage; whereby the elements of the first stage are connected in parallel relationship to each other to receive treatable fluid and discharge concentrated fluid and product fluid, the first stage is connected to the second stage in series to transfer the concentrated fluid to the second stage through the manifold, and the second stage elements are connected in parallel to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An integral manifold for use in a multi-element fluid separation device, comprising:
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a first portion having a plurality of element receiving recesses, said recesses being divided into at least a first group and a second group; a second portion connected to said first portion and containing a pluraliry of inlet recesses associated respectively with said element receiving recesses, and containing a first channel connecting the inlet recesses of said first group together, and a second channel connecting the inlet recesses of the second group together; and a third portion co-nected to said second portion and containing collection recesses associated respectively with said element receiving recesses, and containing a third channel connecting the collection recesses of said first group together, and a fourth channel connecting the collection recesses of said second group together; and wherein said second and third portions define a fifth channel connecting said second channel to said third channel. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A multi-element fluid separation device, comprising:
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a plurality of fluid separation elements, each element having a treatable fluid inlet end with a treatable fluid inlet, a treatable fluid chamber, a product fluid chamber, and an outlet end having a product fluid outlet connected to said product fluid chamber, and a concentrated fluid outlet connected to said treatable fluid chamber;
said elements being divided into first stage elements and second stage elements;pressure chamber means for pressurizing said elements, said pressure chamber means including at least one pressure vessel having first and second ends; manifold means for directing fluid flow from said concentrated fluid outlet of said first stage elements to said treatable fluid inlet of said second stage elements, said manifold means including recesses to receive, respectively, said elements, each said recess including seal means for sealing the concentrated fluid outlet of the respective element, each seal means including a generally planar surface engaging an end surface of the respective element, said manifold means being connected to said pressure vessel only at said first end; and an end cap means connected over said second end of said pressure vessel for enclosing said second end. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification