# US 2019/0314765 A1 · Filter cassette article, and filter comprising same

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- Number: US 2019/0314765 A1
- Document ID: US20190314765A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/386,470
- Filed: 2019-04-17
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-17
- Assignees: Smartflow Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Smartflow Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Todd BENSON; Marc PUGH; Jason BELL; Mark VANDER HOFF; Kelly JOHNSON; Jonathan BARTH; Bradford EAST; Cameron Gunter; Max PRENDERGAST
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314765A1

## CPC

- B01D 63/0822: {Plate-and-frame devices}
- B01D 63/084: {at least one flow duct intersecting the membranes}
- B01D 25/215: {Construction of the filter plates, frames}
- B01D 2313/105: Supply manifolds
- B01D 2313/125: Discharge manifolds
- B01D 2313/44: Cartridge types
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)

## Abstract

A filtration cassette including a multilaminate array of sheets including filter sheets alternating with permeate sheet members and retentate sheet members, and a cross-flow filter device comprising a multiplicity of stacked filtration cassettes of such type. The improvements associated with the filtration cassettes described herein include, but are not limited to, at least one of: reinforced inlet(s) providing for longevity and improved cleanability of the cassettes; spacer permeate screens to limit throughput restriction; stainless steel or otherwise stiffened permeate sheets to prevent movement and increase flux; and stainless steel permeate sheets that can be used with ultrasonic transmission to minimize fouling of the filter sheets and extend cleaning cycles. Advantageously, the filtration cassettes are more resistant to higher temperatures than the filtration cassettes of the prior art.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A filtration cassette comprising at least one assembly, wherein the at least one assembly comprises:
a multilaminate array of sheet members of generally rectangular and generally planar shape, each sheet having a first end and a second end longitudinally opposite the first end and a thickness, wherein the sheet members comprise in sequence in said array a first retentate sheet, (a first filter sheet, a permeate sheet, a second filter sheet, and a second retentate sheet)n, wherein each of the first filter sheet, the permeate sheet, and the second filter sheet members in said array have at least one fluid opening at the first end thereof, and at least one fluid opening at the second end thereof, wherein the first end fluid opening(s) of the array are in register with one another and the second end fluid opening(s) of the array are in register with one another, and wherein n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more, wherein the first and second retentate sheets have at least one channel opening therein, each channel opening extending longitudinally between the first end fluid opening(s) and the second end fluid opening(s) in the array and wherein the at least one channel opening is open through the entire thickness of the first and second retentate sheets to permit a fluid to contact the adjacent filter sheets, and wherein the first and second retentate sheets are bonded to the adjacent filter sheets about peripheral end and side portions thereof; and
two assembly end plates sandwiching the multilaminate array of sheets, wherein the two assembly end plates comprise at least one fluid opening at the first end thereof, and at least one fluid opening at the second end thereof, or both, in register with the fluid openings of the array,
wherein the at least one assembly further comprises at least one permeate passage opening at longitudinal side margin portions of the assembly(s),
wherein the filter cassette further comprises at least one of options (I), (II), (III), or (IV), or any combination of (I)-(IV):
(I) a cap positioned on at least a portion of the first end fluid opening(s) or at least a portion of the second end fluid opening(s), or both, of a permeate pack, wherein the permeate pack comprises the first filter sheet, the permeate sheet, and the second filter sheet members, wherein the cap is positioned proximate to the channel openings of the first and second retentate sheets;
(II) the fluid openings at the first end, the fluid openings at the second end, or both the fluid openings at the first and second end, are cut as an irregular pentagon having a “V” positioned proximate to the channel openings of the first and second retentate sheets;
(III) a first permeate screen spacer positioned between the first filter sheet and the permeate sheet or a second permeate screen spacer positioned between the second filter sheet and the permeate sheet, or both, wherein the permeate screen spacer(s) comprise fluid openings in register with the fluid openings of the array;
(IV) the permeate sheet comprises a metal matrix or other reinforced porous material of requisite thickness.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, wherein the filtration cassette is mounted between two holder plates, wherein one holder plate comprises a port for the introduction of fluid to the filtration cassette and the other holder plate comprises a port each for the withdrawal of permeate and retentate from the filtration cassette.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, wherein a temperature of the fluid introduced to the filtration cassette is in a range from about 1° C. to about 130° C.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, comprising at least option (I), wherein the cap has a general U-shape and transverses the first filter sheet, permeate sheet, and second filter sheet through the fluid opening(s) and at least partially overlaps a first side of the first filter sheet and at least partially overlaps a second side of the second filter sheet, with the permeate sheet and optional permeate screen spacer sheet(s) positioned therebetween.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, comprising at least option (I), wherein the caps comprise metals, ceramics, polymeric materials, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, comprising at least option (I), wherein the caps comprise features to ensure a more substantial bond with the first filter sheet and the second filter sheet.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The filtration cassette of claim 6, wherein the features include at least one clip, at least one dimple, at least one hook, welding, texturing, and at least one bonding area, or any combination thereof, wherein open ends of the caps can be bonded to each other to form a closed structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, comprising at least option (I), wherein the filtration cassette is designed for parallel flow of fluid within the filtration cassette and the caps are positioned on the first end fluid opening(s) or on both the first end fluid opening(s) and the second end fluid opening(s).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, comprising at least option (I), wherein the filtration cassette is designed for series flow of fluid within the filtration cassette and the caps are positioned on the some of the first end fluid opening(s) or on some of the second end fluid opening(s) or on both the first end fluid opening(s) and the second end fluid opening(s).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, comprising at least options (I) and (III), wherein the permeate pack further comprises the first permeate screen spacer, the second permeate screen spacer, or both.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, comprising at least option (III), wherein the first and second permeate screen spacers have an open area in a range from about 20% to about 80.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, comprising at least option (IV), wherein the permeate sheet comprises stainless steel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The filtration cassette of claim 12, wherein the stainless steel is optionally indexed and diffusion bonded at wire intersections.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The filtration cassette of claim 12, wherein the filtration cassette is suitable for sonication.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The filtration cassette of claim 12, wherein a width of the permeate passage opening of the permeate sheet is less than or equal to a width of the permeate passage opening of each of the filter sheets and retentate sheets in the multilaminate array of sheets.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, comprising at least option (II), wherein the filtration cassette is designed for parallel flow of fluid within the filtration cassette and the irregular pentagons are cut at the first end fluid opening(s) only.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, comprising at least option (II), wherein the filtration cassette is designed for series flow of liquid source material within the filtration cassette and the irregular pentagons are cut at some first end fluid openings and some second end fluid openings.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The filtration cassette of claim 1, wherein a width of the permeate passage opening of the permeate sheet is less than or equal to a width of the permeate passage opening of each of the filter sheets and retentate sheets in the multilaminate array of sheets.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A method of separating a target substance from a liquid source material, said method comprising:
flowing the liquid source material into at least one filtration cassette of claim 1 so as to recover a permeate fluid for disposal, reuse, further filtration, or as a target product; and
recovering a retentate stream for disposal, reuse, further filtration, or as a target product.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the temperature of the liquid source material is in a range from about 1° C. to about 130° C.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the permeate sheet comprises stainless steel and wherein the method further comprises the application of an acoustic field or wave to generate ultrasound waves and to enhance the separation of the target substance from the liquid source material.