Patent ID: 6984321

Claim:
An apparatus ( 10 ) for filtering and separating a flow medium ( 11 ) by way of membranes ( 13 ) into a permeate and a retentate, comprising a pressure-tight housing ( 14 ), a membrane structure disposed in said housing ( 14 ), an inlet ( 15 ) for supplying said flow medium ( 11 ) to be separated to said housing ( 14 ), and outlets ( 16 , 17 ) for discharging the retentate and, respectively, the permeate from said housing ( 14 ), said membrane structure comprising a central permeate collection and discharge tube ( 27 ) supported centrally in said housing ( 14 ), a plurality of membrane elements in the form of membrane pillows ( 13 ) radially connected to said central permeate collection and discharge tube 27 and extending therefrom in a spiral pattern around said central permeate collection and discharge tube ( 27 ), each of said membrane pillows ( 13 ) having at one end ( 130 ) thereof where it is joined to said permeate collection and discharge tube ( 27 ) a permeate outlet opening ( 131 ) in communication with a corresponding permeate inlet opening ( 271 ) in said permeate collection and discharge tube ( 27 ) for the removal from said membrane pillows of the permeate collected in said membrane pillows ( 13 ), said permeate collection and discharge tube ( 27 ) having axial slots ( 271 ) forming said permeate inlet openings and a rod ( 21 ) removably disposed in the tube ( 27 ) and having axial grooves ( 210 ) in alignment with the axial slots ( 271 ) in the tube ( 27 ) for receiving the permeate from the membrane pillows ( 13 ) and conducting it away out of the tube ( 27 ).