Rotating reverse osmosis filtration
OwnerRichard M. Lueptowinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reverse osmosis filtration is conducted using a rotatable inner body having an axis of rotation and a reverse osmosis filter member disposed on the inner body. An outer body is disposed about the inner body and spaced therefrom to provide an annulus between an annular outer surface of the filter member and an annular inner surface of the outer body to receive a liquid to be filtered. A source of the liquid under pressure is communicated to an inlet to the annulus. The inner body is rotated at a rotational speed effective to generate Taylor or other vortices in the liquid in the annulus.
Claims25
Rotating reverse osmosis filtration apparatus, comprising
- a) a rotatable inner body having an axis of rotation, said inner body having a reverse osmosis filter member disposed thereon, said filter member having an outer surface,
- b) an outer body disposed about said inner body and having an inner surface spaced from said outer surface of said filter member to provide an annulus therebetween to receive a liquid to be filtered,
- c) an inlet for introducing said liquid to said annulus,
- d) a source of said liquid under pressure communicated to said inlet, said liquid being under a high enough pressure in said annulus to cause permeate to flow by reverse osmosis through said filter member to a permeate outlet,
- e) means for rotating said inner body, and
- f) means for collecting said permeate from a permeate outlet.
A method of reverse osmosis filtration, comprising
- disposing a rotatable inner body having a reverse osmosis filter member thereon in an outer body such that an outer surface of said filter member is spaced from an inner surface of said outer body to provide an annulus therebetween to receive a liquid to be filtered,
- providing a liquid to be filtered in said annulus under a high enough pressure in said annulus to cause permeate to flow by reverse osmosis through said filter member to a permeate outlet,
- rotating said inner body, and
- collecting said permeate from a permeate outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.