Patent ID: 7947177

Claim:
Apparatus for treating a feed liquid having dissolved and/or suspended components to create permeate streams and concentrate streams, which apparatus comprises: a. a plurality of tubular pressure vessels each having a single horizontally disposed tubular shell which provides an interior passageway surface of substantially constant circular cross section extending axially for nearly its entire length between opposite end openings through which generally cylindrical separation cartridges can be inserted and removed; b. removable end closures which seal both said end openings of said vessel which may be removed to allow the insertion and removal of generally cylindrical crossflow filtration cartridges; c. a transverse tubular side port structure which penetrates the sidewall of each said vessel shell at diametrically opposite circular openings at a longitudinally central location in said tubular shell and provides two vertically opposite tubular side ports of circular cross section that protrude therefrom, said transverse tubular structure being structurally interconnected with said tubular pressure vessel at said diametrically opposite penetrations and dividing said axial passageway into two horizontal sections; d. a plurality of generally cylindrical separation cartridges disposed in each said horizontal section so as to flank said transverse tubular side port structure, which have annular seals that seal against liquid flow between the periphery of each said cartridge and said interior passageway surface; said transverse tubular structure having diametrically opposite openings in its sidewall within said vessel passageway to provide communication between each of said horizontal passageway sections, and said horizontal tubular pressure vessels being arranged in generally parallel alignment with one another with at least two pressure vessels aligned in a vertical planar configuration, and e. couplings which respectively interconnect in a vertical direction said central side port tubular structures of said pressure vessels in said vertical planar configuration in vertical alignment so that said aligned tubular structures form a vertical load-supporting column.