RO element with integral pressure vessel

A filter element comprising:

• i) a body of media material having opposed first and second ends;
• ii) first and second end cap assemblies, the first end cap assembly at the first end of the media material, the second end cap assembly at the second end of the media material, each of the first and second end cap assemblies including a first port for directing fluid into or out of the media material;
• and
• iii) a shell of wound composite material closely encapsulating and retaining the body of media material and first and second end cap assemblies together, and defining an integrated pressure vessel;
• further comprising a permeate tube extending axially between first and second axial ends;
• wherein:
• the body of media material is a tube of media material oriented around the permeate tube with the first and second axial ends of the permeate tube extending axially outward beyond the body of media material;
• at least one of the end cap assemblies including a clean fluid outlet port in fluid communication with a central cavity of the permeate tube;
• and
• wherein each of the first and second end cap assemblies has an abutment that abuts with a corresponding one of the first and second axial ends of the permeate tube to axially locate the first and second end cap assemblies relative to the body of media material.

A filter element comprising:

• i) a body of media material having opposed ends;
• ii) an end cap assembly at each end of the media material, each end cap assembly including a port for directing fluid into or out of the media material;
• and
• iii) a carbon fiber shell closely encapsulating and retaining the body and end cap assemblies together, and defining an integrated pressure vessel;
• wherein;
• the carbon fiber shell has opposed first and second end portions, each end portion defines an opening;
• the first end cap assembly includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a smaller outer diameter than an outer diameter of the second portion, the first portion extending through the opening of the first end portion of the shell of wound composite material, the opening of the first end portion of the shell of wound composite material having an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the second portion of the first end cap assembly
• the second end cap assembly includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a smaller outer diameter than an outer diameter of the second portion, the first portion extending through the opening of the second end portion of the shell of wound composite material, the opening of the second end portion of the shell of wound composite material having an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the second portion of the second end cap assembly.

A method of assembling a filter element comprising:

• positioning first and second end cap assemblies adjacent to corresponding axial first and second ends of a body of media material;
• and
• winding a composite material around the first and second end cap assemblies and body of media material to form a shell of wound composite material that encapsulates and retains the body of media material and first and second end cap assemblies together to define an integrated pressure vessel;
• wherein:
• the shell of wound composite material has opposed first and second end portions, each end portion defines an opening;
• the first end cap assembly includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a smaller outer diameter than an outer diameter of the second portion, the first portion extending through the opening of the first end portion of the shell of wound composite material, the opening of the first end portion of the shell of wound composite material having an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the second portion of the first end cap assembly;
• the second end cap assembly includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a smaller outer diameter than an outer diameter of the second portion, the first portion extending through the opening of the second end portion of the shell of wound composite material, the opening of the second end portion of the shell of wound composite material having an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the second portion of the second end cap assembly.