US 2014/0209538 A1 · METHOD FOR MANIPULATING A MEMBRANE ELEMENT WITHIN A PRESSURE VESSEL

Abstract

Provided is a method for manipulating a membrane element within a pressure vessel including a central axis, a distal end, a proximal end and an inlet disposed at the proximal end. The membrane element has a membrane element front face with at least one fluid opening and a membrane element rear face. The membrane element is received within the pressure vessel such that the membrane element front face faces the proximal end, with a possibility to be moved along the central axis by an axial force applied to the membrane element front face. The method includes disposing a fluid-tight element in the pressure vessel to form a fluid chamber at the proximal end between the inlet and the fluid-tight element, and introducing fluid into the fluid chamber to displace the membrane element along the central axis in the direction towards the distal end of the pressure vessel.

Claims21

Dependent claims

-30. (canceled)

A method for manipulating a membrane element within a pressure vessel, said pressure vessel having a central axis, a distal end, a proximal end and an inlet disposed at said proximal end, said membrane element having a membrane element front face with at least one fluid opening and a membrane element rear face, said membrane element being received within said pressure vessel such that said membrane element front face faces said proximal end, with a possibility to be moved along said central axis by an axial force applied to said membrane element front face, said method comprising steps of:

disposing a fluid-tight element in said pressure vessel so as to form a fluid chamber at said proximal end between said inlet and said fluid-tight element, said fluid-tight element being configured for sealing at least said one fluid opening of the membrane element, thereby preventing the membrane element from receiving therein fluid through at least said one opening from said fluid chamber;
and
introducing fluid into said fluid chamber so as to build a fluid pressure within said fluid chamber forcing said fluid-tight element to move away from said inlet and to apply an axial force on said membrane element, thereby displacing the membrane element along said central axis in the direction towards said distal end of the pressure vessel.

disposing a fluid-tight element in said pressure vessel so as to form a fluid chamber at said proximal end between said inlet and said fluid-tight element, said fluid-tight element being configured for sealingly mounted with respect to an inner surface of the pressure vessel so as to prevent the membrane element and the passage between the membrane element and the inner surface from receiving therein fluid from said fluid chamber;
and
introducing fluid into said fluid chamber so as to build a fluid pressure within said fluid chamber forcing said fluid-tight element to move away from said inlet and to apply an axial force on said membrane element, thereby displacing the membrane element along said central axis in the direction towards said distal end of the pressure vessel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/238,629Filed 9 Aug 2012

Priority

15 Aug 2011

Published

31 Jul 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

B01D 61/08
Reverse osmosis; Hyperfiltration ; Nanofiltration: apparatus therefor
B01D 63/00
Apparatus in general for separation processes using semi-permeable membranes
B01D 65/00
Accessories or auxiliary operations, in general, for separation processes or apparatus using
C02F 1/441
By dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis: by reverse osmosis

Method for manipulating a membrane element within a pressure vessel

Life of this patent

Method for manipulating a membrane element within a pressure vessel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21