Patent ID: 8758489

Claim:
A filtration system comprising spiral membrane elements inserted into a cylindrical housing, wherein a given spiral membrane element has a radial seal or a split-ring seal, and the given spiral membrane element can be moved along an axis of the cylindrical housing in either direction without destruction of the radial seal or the split-ring seal, wherein: the radial seal comprises at least one radial seal annulus defined by an outer circumference and an inner circumference and a thickness, and having: a diameter of the inner circumference that is selected to fit in a groove in an outer surface of a seal plate; a diameter of the outer circumference that is selected to be larger than the diameter of an inner surface of a cylindrical housing that receives the seal plate; a gap in the at least one radial seal annulus and centered along a radius of the at least one radial seal annulus, wherein the gap has a width selected to enable an annular element to deform sufficiently to permit insertion of the at least one annulus into the cylindrical housing, wherein the inner and outer diameters of the at least one radial seal annulus and the width of the gap are selected to obtain a tight fit between the outer circumference of the at least one radial seal annulus and the inner surface of the cylindrical housing; and the radial seal annulus is constructed from a non-elastomeric material, and wherein: the split-ring seal comprises a rigid split-ring seal annulus having a discontinuity therein, wherein: the split-ring seal annulus has an inner diameter selected to allow the split-ring seal annulus to fit a groove provided in an outer surface of a filtration element; the split-ring seal annulus has an outer diameter that is selected to be larger than the diameter of the inner surface of the housing; the discontinuity accommodates a reduction of inner and outer diameters of the split-ring seal annulus in response to a compressive force received during insertion of the filtration element into the housing; the split-ring seal annulus is configured to resist changes in its cross-sectional profile in response to the compressive force; and the split-ring seal annulus is constructed from a non-elastomeric material.