Axial bypass sleeve

A method for filtering with a spiral wound membrane, comprising:

• a. inserting a spiral wound membrane element into a pressure housing and establish an annular space between the spiral wound membrane element and an inner surface of the pressure housing, the spiral wound membrane element having a bypass sleeve wrapped around said spiral wound membrane element, wherein the bypass sleeve has a protrusion that extends into the annular space and at least one opening that permits fluid communication from the annular space to the outer surface, said protrusion is a tab pivotally connected by at least one edge to the bypass sleeve, wherein said tab is moveable to contact the inner surface of the pressure housing;
• b. direct a pressurized feedstock through the pressure housing;
• c. filter the pressurized feedstock to produce a permeate stream and a retentate stream within the spiral wound membrane element;
• d. restrict the flow of pressurized feed stock through the annular space;
• e. communicate a portion of the pressurized feedstock from the annular space into the spiral wound membrane;
• and
• f. collect the permeate stream and retentate streams.

A filtration process, comprising:

• a. providing a spiral wound filter within a pressure housing;
• b. introducing a pressurized fluid into the housing;
• c. splitting the pressurized fluid into a first flow that is filtered by the filter and a second flow that flows between the filter and the housing;
• and
• d. diverting a portion of the second flow into the first flow by a bypass sleeve positioned around the filter, wherein the bypass sleeve has a protrusion and an opening, the protrusion extends towards the housing and the opening allows fluid communication with the filter, said protrusion is a tab pivotally connected by at least one edge to the bypass sleeve, wherein said tab is moveable to contact an inner surface of the pressure housing.