Seal arrangement for rapid interconnection or axially arranged separation elements

A separation element for use in series to join adjacent elements into a string of multiple elements in an elongated separation module, said element comprising:

• an annular separation body made of permeable separation material and defining a permeate channel for collecting separated permeate and defining a retantate channel for distributing feed to said body and conducting retantate from said body said separation body having a central axis;
• a permeate conduit extending coaxially with the central axis of said separation body and in communication with said permeate channel;
• a first retantate chamber and a second retantate chamber at, respectively, a first end and a second end of said separation body;
• first and second retantate connections at, respectively, said first and second ends of said element, said first and second connections communicating, respectively, with said first and said second retantate chambers, both retantate connections defining either an axially restraining seal having an axial seal surface for supplying axial sealing pressure with a cooperating surface on an adjacent element and having an axial restraint for cooperating with the type of axial restraint at the opposite end of the element and axially restraining an adjacent element or defining a radial seal having a radial seal surface for supplying radial sealing pressure with a cooperating surface associated with an adjacent element;
• and
• first and second permeate connections at, respectively, first and second ends of said permeate conduit, said first and second permeate connections defining a radial seal where the retantate connections define an axially restraining seal or defining an axially restraining seal where the retantate connections define a radial seal.

A seal housing for sealing a separation element in a vessel wherein the separation element is of the type comprising a permeable separation body in communication with a permeate passage that delivers permeate to a permeate connection at one end of the element and in communication with a retantate passage that communicates with a retantate connection at the same end of the element for delivering or withdrawing feed or retantate and the separation element defines separate seal structures establishing a slidable seal with the seal housing for permitting relative movement between the separation element and the housing when the seal housing and separation element are engaged across at least one of the seal structures and at least one of the seal structures defines an element axial restraint for engaging the separation element and the seal housing in sealed contact across the seal structures, said seal housing comprising:

• a housing retantate connection defined by said housing;
• a housing permeate connection defined by said housing;
• a vessel seal surface bordering the perimeter of said housing and surrounding said housing retantate connection and said housing permeate connection;
• a first seal structure providing a sliding seal structure retained by said housing at said housing retantate connection or said housing permeate connection and cooperating with the corresponding permeate or retantate connection on the element;
• a second seal structure retained by said housing at the other of said housing retantate connection or said housing permeate connection and cooperating with the corresponding permeate or retantate connection on the element;
• and,
• a housing axial restraint for engaging the cooperating element axial restraint on said element and maintaining the element and housing in sealed contact across the first and second seal structures.

A module for containing a plurality of interconnected separation elements said module comprising:

• an elongated vessel;
• a plurality of axially extended separation elements located within said vessel and serially interconnected to maintain segregated axial flow of at least two fluids between adjacent elements, said elements being interconnected by a first element seal that maintains segregation of a first fluid of said at least two fluids, by a second element seal that maintains segregation of a second fluid of said at least two fluids and permits relative movement between the elements during interconnection when one of said first or second element seal is engaged and by an interelement axial restraint that engages adjacent elements and maintains sealing contact between the elements at said first and second element seals when arranged in a locking position;
• and,
• a seal housing located at the outside end of an outermost element having sealed communication with a permeate outlet and with one of a feed inlet or a retantate outlet, having a housing seal surface located about the periphery of said seal housing for establishing a seal between said vessel and the periphery of said housing and an axial interconnection for engaging the series of interconnected separation elements through the outermost element.