Integrated pre-filter for uf/mf membrane system

A filtration assembly 100 comprising

• a) a filtration element 1, said filtration element 1 comprising a housing 2 and said housing 2 enclosing an interior volume 20;
• b) at least one microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane disposed within the interior volume 20 of the housing 2;
• c) at least one outlet 4 for removing filtrate from the filtration element 1;
• d) at least one housing inlet 6 in the housing 2 for introducing feed fluid into the filtration element 1;
• e) for at least one housing inlet 6, an associated inlet end cap 7 affixed to the housing 2 and in fluid communication with the housing inlet 6 in the housing 2, the inlet end cap 7 having an opening 8 for receiving feed fluid and defining a flow path for the feed fluid from the opening 8 of the inlet end cap 7 to the associated housing inlet 6 of the housing 2, and
• the housing inlet 6 or (ii) within the flow path of the feed fluid to the associated housing inlet 6 in the housing 2.

A filtration assembly 100 for filtration of a feed fluid, said filtration assembly 100 comprising a plurality of filtration elements 1 arranged in parallel, each of said filtration elements 1 comprising:

• a housing 2 that encloses an interior volume 20;
• a plurality of membranes 3 located within the interior volume 20, said membranes 3 dividing the interior volume 20 into a feed region and a filtrate region;
• a housing inlet 6 for introducing feed fluid into the feed region;
• and
• a housing outlet 4 for removing filtrate from the filtrate region;
• and
• a distributor 75 having a feed fluid pipe 76 and a plurality of distributor outlet regions 77;
• such that said plurality of membranes 3 receives feed fluid from at least one of said distributor outlet regions 77;
• and wherein at least one filter 11 is located along a feed flow pathway between the plurality of membranes 3 and the at least one distributor outlet region 77.