Patent ID: 6258270
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A device for filtering and separating fluids by pervaporation, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, or reverse osmosis comprising:a housing having an inlet opening for receiving the fluid to be separated, an outlet opening for discharging retentate, and an outlet opening for discharging permeate;a plurality of disc-like flow guide elements disposed in a stack within said housing, said flow guide elements positioned such that they are spaced apart from each other;filter elements disposed in the spaces formed between adjacent flow guide elements and having surfaces spaced from said flow guide elements such that fluid admitted to the spaces between adjacent flow guide elements flows over the surfaces of said filter elements;adjacent flow guide elements forming therebetween at least at one end a flow opening in communication with a flow passage formed between a circumferential outer wall portion of said housing and a chord spanning the ends of said circumferential outer wall portion and defining the beginning of an area of said flow guide elements forming passages for the fluid flowing through the spaces between the flow guide elements;one or more elongated channels formed in each of said flow guide elements which extend parallel and adjacent to said chord to promote fluid flow distribution over the full width of said filter elements as all of the flow passing through said spaces between the flow guide elements passes over said channels before reaching the vicinity of non-channeled portions of said flow guide elements.