Branched flow filtraction and system

A method of configuring a cross flow filtration system, such as a reverse osmosis (RO) system, said system being adaptable such that

• a) the first and second permeate flows may be established to be of comparable yield and quality, or, alternatively,
• b) the first permeate flow may be established so as to have an upstream yield and quality that differs relative to the second permeate flow,
• wherein the method comprises the steps of
• loading a first plurality of filter cartridges into a portion of an elongate pressure vessel wherein a seal in the region between the outer wall of a filter cartridge and the inner wall of the pressure vessel is oriented in one sense, said loading being performed from a first direction;
• and
• loading a second plurality of filter cartridges into a portion of the elongate pressure vessel wherein a seal in the region between the outer wall of a filter cartridge and the inner wall of the pressure vessel is oriented in an opposite sense to said one sense,
• whereby said first and second pluralities of filter cartridges are configured for filtering oppositely directed branch flows in said elongate pressure vessel.

A method for cross flow treatment of an aqueous fluid provided to a filtration system, such method comprising the steps of

• providing a plurality of cross flow filtration units within a pressure vessel of said filtration system, said pressure vessel having a feed inlet for receiving a flow of feed fluid and an outlet for passage of retentate therefrom;
• providing at least two permeate outlets from the pressure vessel, wherein permeate passages of the cross flow filtration units communicate with said permeate outlets;
• and,
• arranging at least one fluid flow from the feed inlet, or providing for blockage of a permeate passage, in a manner effective to divide permeate output of the pressure vessel into at least first and second permeate streams whereby said filtration system is adaptable such that
• a) the first and second permeate flows may be established to be of comparable yield and quality or, alternatively,
• b) the first permeate flow may be established so as to have an upstream yield and quality that differs relative to the second permeate flow.

A method for treating at least one pressurized fluid comprising at least first and second components using one or more fluid separation elements in a container therefor to produce at least one fluid effluent from said container substantially enriched in said first component and at least one fluid effluent from said container substantially enriched in said second component, said method comprising at least one group of steps selected from the following groups A, B and C:

• Group A:
• A(1) providing a source of said pressurized fluid comprising at least first and second components;
• A(2) providing one or more fluid separation elements in a container therefor, said container comprising at least an inlet for said pressurized fluid and outlets for at least three fluid effluents, each such fluid effluent having a ratio of said first component to said second component differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid, each said fluid separation element characterized by having greater permeability for the first component of said pressurized fluid than for the second component of said fluid;
• A(3) providing an element or design within said container effective for varying the quantity of at least one of said fluid effluents with respect to the quantity of at least another of said fluid effluents and/or for varying said ratio of first component to second component in at least one of said fluid effluents relative to said ratio in at least another of said fluid effluents without removing any of said fluid separation elements from said container;
• A(4) passing said pressurized fluid into said inlet;
• and,
• A(5) recovering fluid effluents from said outlets, each said effluent having a ratio of first component to second component differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid;
• Group B:
• B(1) providing a source of said pressurized fluid comprising at least first and second components;
• B(2) providing two or more fluid separation elements in a container therefor, said container comprising at least an inlet for said pressurized fluid and outlets for at least three fluid effluents, each such fluid effluent having a ratio of said first component to said second component differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid, each said fluid separation element characterized by having greater permeability for the first component of said pressurized fluid than for the second component of said fluid, further wherein at least some of said fluid separation elements are positioned in said container with a single anti-bypass seal, such seal substantially preventing bypass fluid flow around said fluid separation elements in a first direction but not substantially preventing said fluid flow in a second direction generally opposite to said first direction, and further wherein at least some of the remainder of said fluid separation elements are positioned in said container with a single anti-bypass seal, such seal substantially preventing bypass fluid flow around these remaining fluid separation elements in said second direction but not substantially preventing said fluid flow in said first direction;
• B(3) passing said pressurized fluid into said inlet whereby said fluid flows through said fluid separation elements without substantial bypass fluid flow around any of said fluid separation elements;
• and,
• B(4) recovering fluid effluents from said outlets, each said effluent having a ratio of first component to second component differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid;
• and,
• Group C:
• C(1) providing a source of said pressurized fluid comprising at least first and second components;
• C(2) providing one or more fluid separation elements in a container therefor, said container comprising at least an inlet for said pressurized fluid and outlets for fluid effluents, each such fluid effluent having a ratio of said first component to said second component differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid, each said fluid separation element characterized by having greater permeability for the first component of said pressurized fluid than for the second component of said fluid, further wherein at least some of said fluid separation elements are positioned in said container with an anti-bypass seal, such seal substantially preventing bypass fluid flow around said fluid separation element in at least one fluid flow direction, and further comprising a band effective to compress said seal, said band being readily removable after insertion of said fluid separation element in said container;
• C(3) removing said band after inserting said fluid separation element in said container;
• C(4) passing at least one pressurized fluid into said inlet whereby said fluid flows through said fluid separation elements without substantial bypass fluid flow around any of said fluid separation elements having an anti-bypass seal;
• and,
• C(5) recovering fluid effluents from said outlets, each such effluent having a ratio of first component to second component differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid.

Apparatus for treating at least one pressurized fluid mixture comprising at least first and second entities using one or more fluid mixture separation elements in a container therefor to produce at least one fluid effluent from said container substantially enriched in said first entity and at least one fluid effluent from said container substantially enriched in said second entity, said apparatus comprising at least one combination of components selected from the following groups A, B and C:

• Group A:
• A(1) one or more sources of said pressurized fluid mixture comprising at least first and second entities;
• A(2) one or more fluid mixture separation elements in a container therefor, said container including at least an inlet for said pressurized fluid mixture and outlets for at least three fluid effluents, each such fluid effluent characterized by having a ratio of said first entity to said second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture, each said fluid mixture separation element characterized by having greater permeability for the first entity in said pressurized fluid mixture than for the second entity in said fluid mixture;
• (A3) one or more fluid control components within said container effective for varying the quantity of at least one of said fluid effluents with respect to the quantity of at least another of said fluid effluents and/or effective for varying said ratio of first entity to second entity in at least one of said fluid effluents relative to said ratio in at least another of said fluid effluents without removing any of said fluid separation elements from said container;
• A(4) one or more fluid inlet components for passing said pressurized fluid mixture into said inlet;
• and,
• A(5) one or more fluid outlet components for recovering fluid effluents from said outlets, each said effluent having a ratio of first entity to second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture;
• Group B:
• B(1) one or more sources of said pressurized fluid mixture comprising at least first and second entities;
• B(2) two or more fluid mixture separation elements in a container therefor, said container including at least an inlet for said pressurized fluid mixture and outlets for at least three fluid effluents, each such fluid effluent having a ratio of said first entity to said second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture, each said fluid mixture separation element characterized by having greater permeability for the first entity in said pressurized fluid mixture than for the second entity in said fluid mixture, further wherein at least some of said fluid mixture separation elements are positioned in said container with a single anti-bypass seal, such seal substantially preventing bypass fluid flow in a first direction around said fluid mixture separation elements having such seals but not substantially preventing bypass fluid flow in a second direction generally opposite to said first direction, and further wherein at least some of the remainder of said fluid mixture separation elements are positioned in said container with a single anti-bypass seal, such seal substantially preventing bypass fluid flow in said second direction around those remaining fluid mixture separation elements which have such a seal but not substantially preventing bypass fluid flow in said first direction;
• B(3) one or more fluid inlet components for passing said pressurized fluid mixture into said inlet whereby said mixture flows through said fluid mixture separation elements without substantial bypass fluid flow around any of said fluid mixture separation elements having bypass seals;
• and,
• B(4) one or more fluid outlet components for recovering fluid effluents from said outlets, each said effluent having a ratio of first entity to second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture;
• and,
• Group C:
• C(1) one or more sources of said pressurized fluid mixture containing at least first and second entities;
• C(2) one or more fluid mixture separation elements in a container therefor, said container including at least an inlet for said pressurized fluid mixture and outlets for fluid effluents, each said fluid mixture separation element characterized by having greater permeability for a first entity in said pressurized fluid mixture than for a second entity in said fluid mixture, further wherein at least some of said fluid mixture separation elements are positioned in said container with an anti-bypass seal, such seal effective substantially to prevent bypass fluid flow in at least one fluid flow direction around said fluid mixture separation element having such seal, and further comprising a band effective to compress said seal, said band being readily removable after inserting said fluid mixture separation element in said container;
• C(3) one or more fluid inlet components for passing said pressurized fluid mixture into said inlet whereby said fluid mixture flows through said fluid mixture separation elements without substantial bypass fluid flow around said fluid mixture separation elements having anti-bypass seals, whereby fluid effluents pass out of outlets, each such fluid effluent having a ratio of first entity to second entity differing from the corresponding ratio in said pressurized fluid mixture;
• and,
• C(4) one or more fluid outlet components for recovering at least one of said fluid effluents.