CN217431003U - Ceramic filter module for filtering water - Google Patents

Abstract

The application discloses ceramic filter module for filtering water, it includes: a hollow cylindrical housing body having a first housing body end and a first filtrate port and a second housing body end and a second filtrate port; a first end plate having a first end plate first face including an inlet port and a first end plate second face having a hollow annular extension, the first end plate disposed in the first shell body end; a second end plate having a second end plate first face including an outlet port and a second end plate second face having a hollow annular extension, the second end plate disposed in the second shell body end; a cylindrical ceramic membrane having a first membrane end and a second membrane end; a plastic cage surrounding the cylindrical ceramic membrane, the plastic cage having a first open cage end having a first open end inner surface and a first open end outer surface and a second open cage end having a second open end inner surface and a second open end outer surface.

Description

Ceramic filter module for filtering water

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a ceramic filter module for cross water, including drinking water and industrial water.

Background

There is a need for improved ceramic filter modules for filtering water, including drinking water and industrial water. The present invention alleviates at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

A conventional ceramic filter module comprises a ceramic membrane having an inner surface, an outer surface and opposite ends sealed in end plates by two sealing rings. In a typical filtration process, feed water (e.g., potable water) flows from the inner surface to the outer surface of the membrane, wherein the water is separated into a retentate, which is formed on the inner surface of the membrane, and a filtrate, which is passed to a filtrate outlet. After a preset time (or as the pressure differential between the inner and outer surfaces of the membrane increases), the module is back flushed and water flows from the outer surface to the inner surface of the membrane, where the retentate on the inner surface of the membrane is collected and passed through the water inlet.

However, since the flow rate of backwash water is higher than the flow rate of influent water, the two sealing rings do not adequately support the ends of the membranes, resulting in membrane displacement or dislocation (i.e., the membranes are no longer concentric with each other) and cracking or breaking. Some tools help to maintain alignment at the ends of the membrane, but such tools are too complex and cumbersome to use.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to prevent the ceramic membrane from being damaged during the backwashing process of the filter module. For this reason, in the present invention, a plastic cage is used instead of the support ring in the prior art.

An aspect of the utility model provides a ceramic filter module for cross water, a serial communication port, ceramic filter module includes: (a) a hollow cylindrical housing having a first housing body end and a first filtrate port and a second housing body end and a second filtrate port; (b) a first end plate having a first end plate first face including an inlet port and a first end plate second face having a hollow annular extension having an inner surface and an outer surface, the first end plate disposed in the first shell body end; (c) a second end plate having a second end plate first face including an outlet port and a second end plate second face having a hollow annular extension having an inner surface and an outer surface, the second end plate disposed in the second shell body end; (d) a cylindrical ceramic membrane having a first membrane end and a second membrane end; (e) a plastic cage surrounding said cylindrical ceramic membrane, said cylindrical ceramic membrane and plastic cage disposed within said hollow cylindrical housing body, said plastic cage having a first open cage end having a first open end inner surface and a first open end outer surface and a second open cage end having a second open end inner surface and a second open end outer surface, said plastic cage having a plurality of cage openings and extending from said first membrane end to said second membrane end, said first open end inner surface sealing against said first membrane end and said first open end outer surface sealing against an inner surface of a hollow annular extension of said first end plate second face; the second open end inner surface is sealed against the second membrane end and the second open end outer surface is sealed against an inner surface of the hollow annular extension of the second end plate second face.

In one embodiment of the ceramic filter module for filtering water, the ceramic filter module comprises a first resilient ring disposed between the first open end outer surface and an inner surface of the hollow annular extension of the first endplate second face in sealing abutment and a second resilient ring disposed between the second open end outer surface and an inner surface of the hollow annular extension of the second endplate second face in sealing abutment.

In one embodiment of a ceramic filter module for filtering water, the ceramic filter module comprises an adhesive providing a seal between the first open end inner surface and the first membrane end, and an adhesive providing a seal between the second open end inner surface and the second membrane end.

Drawings

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view illustrating one aspect of a ceramic filter module for filtering water showing a hollow cylindrical housing body, a first end plate and a second end plate, and a cylindrical ceramic membrane surrounded by a cage, wherein the cylindrical ceramic membrane and a plastic cage are disposed in the hollow cylindrical housing body, the cylindrical ceramic membrane having first and second ends, the plastic cage having first and second open cage ends and a plurality of cage openings extending from the first membrane end to the second membrane end; FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of detail "B" in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the ceramic filter module shown in FIG. 1A, wherein FIG. 1A is taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3A is an isometric view of a cage surrounding a cylindrical ceramic membrane in the ceramic filter module shown in FIG. 1A; fig. 3B is a side view of the cage shown in fig. 3A.

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the ceramic filter module shown in fig. 1A.

Detailed Description

According to an aspect of the present invention, a ceramic filter module includes: (a) a hollow cylindrical housing having a first housing body end and a first filtrate port and a second housing body end and a second filtrate port; (b) a first end plate having a first end plate first face including an inlet port and a first end plate second face having a hollow annular extension having an inner surface and an outer surface, the first end plate disposed in the first shell body end; (c) a second end plate having a second end plate first face including an outlet port and a second end plate second face having a hollow annular extension having an inner surface and an outer surface, the second end plate disposed in the second shell body end; (d) a cylindrical ceramic membrane having a first membrane end and a second membrane end; (e) a plastic cage surrounding said cylindrical ceramic membrane, said cylindrical ceramic membrane and plastic cage disposed within said hollow cylindrical housing body, said plastic cage having a first open cage end having a first open end inner surface and a first open end outer surface and a second open cage end having a second open end inner surface and a second open end outer surface, said plastic cage having a plurality of cage openings and extending from said first membrane end to said second membrane end, said first open end inner surface sealing against said first membrane end and said first open end outer surface sealing against an inner surface of a hollow annular extension of said first end plate second face; the second open end inner surface is sealed against the second membrane end and the second open end outer surface is sealed against an inner surface of the hollow annular extension of the second end plate second face.

In one aspect, the ceramic filter module includes a first elastomeric ring disposed between the first open end outer surface and an inner surface of the hollow annular extension of the first endplate second face in sealing abutment and a second elastomeric ring disposed between the second open end outer surface and an inner surface of the hollow annular extension of the second endplate second face in sealing abutment.

Alternatively or additionally, in one aspect, the ceramic filter module includes an adhesive providing a seal between the first open end inner surface and the first membrane end, and an adhesive providing a seal between the second open end inner surface and the second membrane end.

Advantageously, the cage helps to hold the membrane concentrically within the housing body, and the use of the cage allows the membrane to be disposed and seated within the housing while minimizing damage to the membrane.

Each of the components of the present invention will now be described in greater detail below, with like components having like reference numerals.

Using the illustrated aspects of the ceramic filter module for filtering water shown in fig. 1A and 1B (and fig. 4) as a reference, the ceramic filter module 1000 includes: (a) a hollow cylindrical housing body 100 having a first housing body end 101 and a first filtrate port 101A and a second housing body end 102 having a second filtrate port 102A; (B) a first end plate 210 having a first end plate first face 211 comprising an inlet port 211A and a first end plate second face 212 having a hollow annular extension 213 having an inner surface 214A and an outer surface 214B, the first end plate disposed in the first shell body end; (c) a second end plate 220 having a second end plate first face 221 including an outlet port 221A and a second end plate second face 222 having a hollow annular extension 223, the hollow annular extension 223 having an inner surface 224A and an outer surface 224B, the second end plate disposed in the second shell body end; (d) a cylindrical ceramic membrane 500 having a first membrane end 501 and a second membrane end 502; (e) a plastic cage 600 (see also fig. 3A and 3B) surrounding the cylindrical ceramic membrane, the cylindrical ceramic membrane and the plastic cage being disposed in the hollow cylindrical housing body, the plastic cage comprising a first open cage end 610 having a first open end inner surface 611A and a first open end outer surface 611B and a second open cage end 620 having a second open end inner surface 621A and a second open end outer surface 621B, the plastic cage having a plurality of cage openings 630 and extending from the first membrane end to the second membrane end, the first open end inner surface sealing against the first membrane end and the first open end outer surface sealing against the inner surface of the hollow annular extension of the first endplate second face; the second open end inner surface seals against the second membrane end and the second open end outer surface seals against an inner surface of the hollow annular extension of the second end plate second face.

In this illustrated aspect, the first and second end plates each include an inwardly facing shelf that supports an end of the membrane. Fig. 1A shows a first end plate 210 having four brackets 210A. The second end plate 220 also includes 4 brackets, but only two brackets 220A are labeled.

Fig. 1B shows in more detail that the first open end inner surface 611A seals against the first membrane end 501 and the first open end outer surface 611B seals against the inner surface 214A of the hollow annular extension 213 of the first end plate second face 212 (the arrangement being the same at the other end of the module), wherein the second open end inner surface seals against the second membrane end and the second open end outer surface seals against the inner surface of the hollow annular extension of the second end plate second face.

Preferably, a first elastic ring 701 is disposed between the first open end outer surface 611B and the inner surface 214A of the hollow annular extension of the second face of the first end plate sealed thereagainst, and a second elastic ring 702 is disposed between the second open end outer surface 621B and the inner surface 224A of the hollow annular extension of the second face of the second end plate sealed thereagainst. More preferably, the inner surfaces 214A, 224A include grooves 701A, 702A for receiving the elastomeric rings. The cage may also have grooves or end notches for receiving the resilient rings 701 and 702, if desired. Figures 3A and 3B show a notch 610A at the free end of section 631A.

While the plastic cage may be a single unitary piece, in the aspect shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the cage includes five sections 631A, 631B, 631C, 631D, and 631E, each section having a notched end section for insertion into the next section, e.g., for additional strength.

Generally, as shown in fig. 1A, elastic rings 711 and 712 are disposed in grooves 711A, 712A in the respective end plates to more effectively seal in the respective shell body ends.

If desired, the ceramic filter module includes an adhesive 801 that provides a seal between the first open end inner surface and the first membrane end, and an adhesive 802 that provides a seal between the second open end inner surface and the second membrane end. In a preferred aspect, the adhesives 801, 802 comprise epoxy.

The end plate may be fixed in the housing body as known in the art. Fig. 1A shows that the first and second end caps 111, 121 are secured to the respective first and second end caps by screws or bolts 111A, 121A secured into the shell body ends through holes in the end caps (see also fig. 2, which shows 3 screws or bolts). If desired, the end caps may include annular extensions 111B, 121B, respectively, that engage in the inner surface of the hollow body to prevent movement of the end caps.

A variety of materials are suitable for use in making the housing body, cage, end plates and end caps. For example, the hollow cylindrical body may be made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the cage may be made of plastic, preferably reinforced plastic, more preferably glass fibre reinforced plastic.

The ceramic membrane is a monolithic structure, preferably having a honeycomb structure. Suitable membranes are known in the art. For example, aSuitable commercially available ceramic membranes can be prepared by CUFSep ^TM Ceramic membrane modules (paler).

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

In the context of describing the present invention (especially in the context of the appended claims), the use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and "at least one" and similar referents should be construed to cover both aspects: singular and plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The term "at least one" followed by a list of one or more items (e.g., "at least one of a and B") should be understood to refer to one item selected from the listed items (a or B), or any combination of two or more of the listed items (a and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "with" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred aspects of the invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred aspects may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims (3)

1. A ceramic filter module for filtering water, the ceramic filter module comprising:

(a) a hollow cylindrical housing body having a first housing body end and a first filtrate port and a second housing body end and a second filtrate port;

(b) a first end plate having a first end plate first face including an inlet port and a first end plate second face having a hollow annular extension having an inner surface and an outer surface, the first end plate disposed in the first shell body end;

(c) a second end plate having a second end plate first face including an outlet port and a second end plate second face having a hollow annular extension having an inner surface and an outer surface, the second end plate disposed in the second shell body end;

(d) a cylindrical ceramic membrane having a first membrane end and a second membrane end;

(e) a plastic cage surrounding the cylindrical ceramic membrane, the cylindrical ceramic membrane and the plastic cage disposed within the hollow cylindrical shell body, the plastic cage having a first open cage end having a first open end inner surface and a first open end outer surface and a second open cage end having a second open end inner surface and a second open end outer surface,

said plastic cage having a plurality of cage openings and extending from said first membrane end to said second membrane end, said first open end inner surface sealing against said first membrane end, said first open end outer surface sealing against an inner surface of a hollow annular extension of said first end plate second face; the second open end inner surface is sealed against the second membrane end and the second open end outer surface is sealed against an inner surface of the hollow annular extension of the second end plate second face.

2. The ceramic filter module for filtering water of claim 1, comprising a first resilient ring disposed between said first open end outer surface and an inner surface of the hollow annular extension of the first endplate second face sealingly thereagainst, and a second resilient ring disposed between said second open end outer surface and an inner surface of the hollow annular extension of the second endplate second face sealingly thereagainst.

3. The ceramic filter module for filtering water of claim 1 or 2, comprising an adhesive providing a seal between the first open end inner surface and the first membrane end, and an adhesive providing a seal between the second open end inner surface and the second membrane end.

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