Swirling flow generator for membrane distillation

A method of filtering a feed fluid, comprising:

• heating the feed fluid to a first temperature, the feed fluid having a first impurity concentration in a first range of 1 ppm to 200,000 ppm;
• cooling a permeate fluid to a second temperature lower than the first temperature, the permeate fluid having a second impurity concentration in a second range greater than or equal to 0 ppm to 100 ppm;
• receiving the feed fluid into a first compartment of an upper disk plate at a first inlet angle which generates a first vortex pattern of the feed fluid in a first direction;
• receiving the permeate fluid into a second compartment of a lower disk plate at a second inlet angle, equal and opposite to the first inlet angle, which generates a second vortex pattern of the permeate fluid in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• adjusting the first temperature of the feed fluid until a first portion of the feed fluid which contacts a first surface of a hydrophobic, vapor permeable membrane sandwiched between the first compartment and the second compartment forms a vapor;
• adjusting the second temperature of the permeate fluid such that the vapor crosses through the hydrophobic, vapor permeable membrane into the second compartment and condenses into the permeate fluid, thus lowering the second impurity concentration of the permeate fluid to a third impurity concentration;
• expelling a second portion of the feed fluid through a first port centrally located in the upper disk plate;
• and
• collecting the permeate fluid from a second port centrally located in the lower disk plate when the third impurity concentration of the permeate fluid is in a range 0 ppm to less than 100 ppm.

A method of assembling a fluid filter, comprising:

• inserting a first portion of an O-ring in a first annular groove located in a lower surface of an upper disk plate;
• positioning a hydrophobic, vapor permeable membrane over a first compartment of the upper disk plate;
• clamping a lower disk plate having a second annular groove and a second compartment to the upper disk plate such that a second portion of the O-ring is received in the second annular groove and the hydrophobic, vapor permeable membrane separates the first compartment and the second compartment;
• connecting a first inlet positioned on a first peripheral wall of the upper disk plate to a feed fluid supply line;
• connecting a second inlet positioned on a second peripheral wall of the lower disk plate to a permeate fluid supply line,
• positioning a first set of guide vanes at a first vane angle with respect to an upper surface of the first compartment, such that the first vane angle is in a range of 15 degrees to 45 degrees;
• and
• positioning a second set of guide vanes at a second vane angle with respect to a lower surface of the second compartment, such that the second vane angle is in the range of minus 15 degrees to minus 45 degrees,
• wherein the first set of guide vanes arranged within the first compartment and the second set of guide vanes arranged within the second compartment.