Reverse osmosis (“RO”) membrane system incorporating function of flow channel spacer
AssigneeUniversity of South Florida
InventorsMarilyn Barger, Drew Hoff, Robert P. Carnahan, Richard A. Gilbert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A permeable membrane system (10) for the separation of fluid components includes a laminated composition (12) having two sheets (14 and 16) formed from a polymer and positioned adjacent one another to form a fluid passage (18) therebetween. The outside surfaces (20 and 22) of the sheets (14 and 16) are permeable to allow fluid flow from the outside surface (20 and 22) to the fluid passage (18). The outside surface (20 and 22) of the laminated composition (12) includes a plurality of embossed islands spaced from one another to define feed pathways (26) around and between the embossed islands.
Claims7
A permeable membrane system (10) for the separation of fluid components, said system comprising;
- a product tube (30),
- a plurality of laminated compositions (12), each having two sheets (14 and 16) positioned adjacent one another defining a fluid passage (18) therebetween and each having an open edge revealing said fluid passage (18) wherein said open edge is attached to said product tube (30) to form a permeate flow pathway (32) from said fluid passage (18) to said product tube (30), said sheets (14 and 16) having outside surfaces (20 and 22) and being permeable to allow fluid flow from said outside surfaces (20 and 22) to said fluid passage (18),
- projections (24) on at least one of said outside surfaces (20 and 22) for spacing said plurality of laminated compositions (12) layered together, said projections (24) being defined by a plurality of embossed islands spaced from one another to define feed pathways (26) around and between said embossed islands,
- a seal (34) between said product tube (30) and said plurality of laminated compositions (12) for creating a fluid resistant bond, and
- a wick (36) positioned in said fluid passage (18) for assisting in the movement of fluid from said fluid passage (18) to said product tube (30).
A permeable membrane system (10) for the separation of fluid components, said system comprising;
- a product tube (30),
- a laminated composition (12) having two sheets (14 and 16) positioned adjacent one another defining a fluid passage (18) therebetween and having an open edge revealing said fluid passage (18) wherein said open edge is attached to said product tube (30) to form a permeate flow pathway (32) from said fluid passage (18) to said product tube (30), said sheets (14 and 16) having outside surfaces (20 and 22) and being permeable to allow fluid flow from said outside surfaces (20 and 22) to said fluid passage (18),
- projections (24) on at least one of said outside surfaces (20 and 22) for spacing said laminated composition (12) when rolled, said projections (24) being defined by a plurality of embossed islands spaced from one another to define feed pathways (26) around and between said embossed islands,
- a seal (34) between said product tube (30) and said laminated composition (12) for creating a fluid resistant bond, and
- a wick (36) positioned in said fluid passage (18) for assisting in the movement of fluid from said fluid passage (18) to said product tube (30).
A permeable membrane system (10) for the separation of fluid components, said system comprising;
- a laminated composition (12) having two sheets (14 and 16) positioned adjacent one another defining a fluid passage (18) therebetween, said sheets (14 and 16) having outside surfaces (20 and 22) and being permeable to allow fluid flow from at least one of said outside surfaces (20 and 22) to said fluid passage (18),
- projections (24) on at least one of said outside surfaces (20 and 22) defined by a plurality of embossed islands spaced from one another to define feed pathways (26) around and between said embossed islands, and
- a wick (36) positioned within said fluid passage for assisting in the movement of fluid through said fluid passage (18).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.