Flow directing devices for spiral-wound elements
AssigneeAqua Membranes Inc.
InventorsKevin Roderick, Rodney Herrington
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide for flow control devices on a spiral wound membrane, on a device proximal the inlet edge of a spiral wound membrane, or both. The flow directing devices can alter fluid flow characteristics to discourage fouling of the inlet fluid paths.
Claims10
A spiral wound filtration element, comprising a membrane spirally wound about a central tube, and a flow directing device mounted proximal the inlet end of the membrane, wherein the flow directing device directs fluid flow at an angle other than 90 degrees to the inlet end,
- wherein the flow directing device comprises a plurality of vanes, each with a first end distal from the membrane and a second end proximal the membrane, each vanes shaped such that a tangent to the vane at the first end is at a first angle to the inlet end, and a tangent to the vane at the second end is at a second angle to the inlet end, and the first angle is greater than the second angle.
A spiral wound filtration element, comprising a membrane spirally wound about a central tube, and a flow directing device mounted proximal the inlet end of the membrane, wherein the flow directing device directs fluid flow at an angle other than 90 degrees to the inlet end,
- wherein the membrane has feed spacers disposed between layers of the membrane,
- wherein the feed spacers are configured such that the membrane presents a fluid flow path at the inlet end that is at an angle other than 90 degrees to the inlet edge,
- wherein the feed spacers are configured to present a fluid flow path at an angle complementary to the fluid flow path as directed by the flow directing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.