Curved channel membrane filtration
AssigneeRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
InventorsGeorges Belfort, Mary E. Brewster, Kun-Yong Chung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A filtration apparatus and method utilizes inner and outer walls of porous material which curve around an axis of curvature to define a narrow channel having a spiral shape. The curvature of the spiral and/or the gap width of the channel is selected to create and maintain Dean vortices within the flow of fluid along the channel to maintain good flux of filtrate through the porous walls.
Claims15
A filtration apparatus for separating at least one substance of a fluid, from another substance of the fluid, comprising:
- an inner wall which is curved around an axis of curvature;
- an outer wall which is curved around the axis of curvature, at least one of the inner and outer wall being of material that is porous to the one substance, the outer wall being spaced outwardly of the inner wall by a gap defining a curved channel having a fluid inlet for receiving a flow of the fluid and a fluid outlet for discharging the flow of fluid, the gap of the channel being narrow compared to a width of the channel along the axis;
- and
- means for creating and maintaining Dean vortices in the channel including a curvature and gap which is defined by the curvature of said inner and outer walls.
A filtration method for separating at least one substance of a fluid from another substance of the fluid, comprising:
- passing the fluid at a fluid flow rate through a curved channel having inner and outer walls, at least one of which being porous to the one substance;
- the channel having an axis of curvature and having a narrow radial gap with respect to the axis and as compared to an axial width of the channel along the axis;
- and
- providing means for creating and maintaining Dean vortices within the flow of fluid in the channel by providing a preselected curvature in the channel.
A filtration method for separating at least one substance of a fluid from another substance of the fluid, comprising:
- passing the fluid at a fluid flow rate through a curved channel having inner and outer walls, at least one of which being porous to the one substance;
- the channel having an axis of curvature and having a narrow radial gap with respect to the axis and as compared to an axial width of the channel along the axis;
- and
- creating and maintaining Dean vortices within the flow of fluid in the channel by varying the radical gap along the channel within preselected limits.
A filtration apparatus for separating at least one substance of a fluid, from another substance of the fluid, comprising:
- means for creating and maintaining Dean vortices and for causing the fluid flow to continue into a region of the flow channel wherein Dean vortices are no longer established, but Dean vortices, previously established in the flowing fluid are not fully dissipated and the flowing fluid contacts a membrane which is permeable to at least one substance of the fluid, including
- a curved fluid flow channel which is narrow in a direction radial to the axis of curvature, broad parallel to the axis of curvature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.