Ultrafiltration system and assembly
AssigneeInfinitex
InventorThomas W. Siegler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable ultrafiltration device is disclosed comprising a centrifugal pump, membrane filter and an eductor means, arranged at or before the inlet of the centrifugal pump in a recycle loop from the ultrafiltration system and functioning to replenish filterable fluids and increase the efficiency of the centrifugal pump, coupled with means for controlling the device. Provision is also made for an improved feed mixture pick-up assembly comprising a screening means and a reverse fluid flow arrangement which continuously cleans the screen means to prevent fouling of the pick-up assembly, and the combination thereof with an ultrafiltration device.
Claims35
An ultrafiltration assembly comprising:
- centrifugal pump means having an inlet and an outlet;
- eductor means having an inlet, an outlet and a suction inlet;
- means for transporting influent liquid feed from a reservoir source to said suction inlet of said eductor means;
- means for transporting liquid feed from said outlet of said eductor means to said inlet of said centrifugal pump means;
- membrane filter means comprising a liquid feed treatment zone, a liquid feed inlet, a treated liquid outlet and having a hydrophilic ultra-filtration membrane through which a select molecular weight liquid can pass from said liquid feed treatment zone to a select liquid receiving zone;
- means for transporting liquid feed from said outlet of said centrifugal pump means to said liquid feed inlet of said membrane filter means;
- means for transporting treated liquid from said treated liquid outlet of said membrane filter means to said inlet of said eductor means;
- means for transporting treated liquid from said membrane filter means to said reservoir source;
- wherein said means for transporting said treated liquid to said reservoir cooperates with said centrifugal pump means to maintain a liquid feed pressure of from about 45 to about 100 lbs/in.sup.2 in at said membrane.
A portable ultrafiltration assembly for separating water from an influent liquid feed stream containing greater than about 50 percent by weight water, comprising:
- centrifugal pump means having an inlet and an outlet;
- eductor means having an inlet, an outlet and a suction inlet;
- means for transporting influent liquid feed from a reservoir source to said suction inlet of said eductor means;
- means for transporting liquid feed from said outlet of said eductor means to said inlet of said centrifugal pump means;
- membrane filter means comprising a liquid feed treatment zone, a liquid feed inlet, a treated liquid outlet and having a hydrophilic ultra-filtration membrane through which water can pass from said liquid feed treatment zone to a water receiving zone;
- means for transporting liquid feed from said outlet of said centrifugal pump means to said liquid feed inlet of said membrane filter means;
- means for transporting treated liquid from said treated liquid outlet of said membrane filter means to said inlet of said eductor means;
- means for transporting treated liquid from said membrane filter means to said reservoir source;
- temperature and pressure sensing means, sufficient to detect temperature and pressure variations of said liquid feed in said assembly;
- means cooperating with said temperature sensing means to interdict the operation of said pump means;
- means cooperating with said pressure sensing means to interdict the operation of the pump means;
- wherein said means for transporting said treated liquid to said reservoir source cooperates with said centrifugal pump means to maintain a liquid feed pressure of from about 45 to about 100 lbs/in.sup.2 at said membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.