Patent ID: 8905960

Claim:
A device for the filtration of a complex fluid composition, comprising: a base with a bottom extending in a first direction; a top arranged over the base; a first side extending between the base and the top; a second side opposite the first side extending between the base and the top; a membrane that is arranged between said base and said top so as to define a low chamber and a high chamber, the first and second sides being disposed with the low and high chambers therebetween; an input tap of the complex fluid composition to be filtered that empties into the low chamber through the first side, the low chamber being disposed below the high chamber with respect to a direction of flow of the complex fluid composition from the low chamber to the high chamber, the direction of flow from the low chamber to the high chamber being transverse to the first direction and opposite a direction of gravity so that gravity assists in limiting the clogging of the membrane with particles too large to pass through the membrane; an output tap of the retentate of the low chamber, the output tap being configured to adjust the flow rate emptying out from the low chamber through the second side; and an output tap of the permeate of the high chamber extending through the top of the filtration device, the output tap of the permeate being subjected to negative pressure, the negative pressure drawing fluid with particles small enough to pass through the membrane from the low chamber, through the membrane and into the high chamber, wherein the base comprises ribs that form a set of baffles so as to provide circulation of the complex fluid composition to assist in limiting the clogging of the membrane with particles too large to pass through the membrane.