DE3816434A1

DE3816434A1 - Filter module of sheet filter elements

Info

Publication number: DE3816434A1
Application number: DE3816434A
Authority: DE
Inventors: Juergen Dr Hoffmann
Original assignee: Sartorius AG
Current assignee: Sartorius AG
Priority date: 1987-05-16
Filing date: 1988-05-13
Publication date: 1988-11-24

Abstract

The filter module (FM) comprises two rows or two stacks of filter cutouts (16) of so-called filter sheets (FS) and support elements (17) arranged in between in the form of relatively coarse synthetic cloth or plastic mesh sections (17) having a draining action. Each two neighbouring filter cutouts (16) and intermediate support element (17) are held by a sealing element (32) in the form of a durable plastic composition applied in the liquid state, while the opposite edge of the two filter cutouts (16) joined on the outside remains open to the inner fluid space (14') in the plane of the support element (17). Accordingly, the edges in a zigzag manner on both sides are alternately sealed or, in the plane of the support element (17), are left open to the fluid space (19) of a surrounding housing (9) or to the inner fluid space (14') of the filter module (FM). Two stacks are connected at a distance to form the inner fluid space (14') via lateral sealing elements (22) and top and bottom connecting plates (27) to form a parallelepipedal or column-shaped hollow body and can be charged via connection adaptors at the connection plates (27) either in one direction or in the other direction with fluid, flushing medium, test medium, hot water or gas to be filtered. The filter element built up of filter sheets (FS) can also [lacuna] in combination with integrated filter materials (18) on membrane-... Original abstract incomplete. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a filter module from flat, edge sealed, stacked layered filter elements with draining support layers, which in a housing with supply and disposal connections like this it can be used that fluid from a fluid space in a other fluid space only through the filter elements can.

According to the prior art, so-called layer filters or filter layers consist of organic and inorganic, fibrous and granular substances. The following products are used today as raw materials for such filter layers, namely wood cellulose, cotton cellulose, plastic fibers, diatomaceous earth, perlite, γ- aluminum oxide and kaolin.

Diatomaceous earth and perlite become a layer for the layers tion of the layer structure and thus to enlarge the Trubvolums added. Because diatomaceous earth and perlite are mealy they weaken the mechanical strength of a such layer.

Filter layers are used for filtration, clarification and Treatment of liquids throughout the beverage industry and are also used in the pharmaceutical sector and in used in the chemical industry because it was recognized Have advantages. The filter layers have next to one Sieving effect, with the coarse particles on the surface of the Filter layer remain and not in the pores penetrate, also a depth effect for fine particles, which in the pores due to roughness, direction change etc. caught. They also have filters layer an adsorption effect, which consists in that very fine particles are retained by adsorption. However, the adsorption capacity of the filter layers is limited. These three basic effects are material Properties of the raw materials cellulose, cotton and Diatomaceous earth and other added materials. The Filter layers are relatively brittle when dry and fragile. The surface is mostly an aqueous one Aftertreated plastic solution so that in dry and moist state no fibrous particles come off. in the however, the filter layers are relative wet soft and tend to swell.

These filter layers are usually in so-called Layer filter devices or filter presses by clamping operated between filter plates or filter frames.

Furthermore, modified (thin) filter layers in Filter modules are used, which are constructed like a plate and from a special drainage plate made of plastic molded parts and filter layers covered on both sides are formed, which are stacked on a center tube and are enclosed in a filter housing. The disc-shaped filter layers on each filter plate are both in the area of the center tube and on the Periphery with articulated clamping and sealing elements injection molded parts held.

Because the filter layers themselves no thermo have plastic properties is a safe direct Welding not possible. For commercially available layers filter modules of this type are therefore e.g. the outer Circumferential area of the special drainage plate so out forms that it serves as a welding medium, which e.g. by Ultrasound can be liquefied and under pressure with the Sealing surfaces of the two filter layer edges is anchored. Similar to flat gluing is this type of seal, especially because of the source behavior and the low wet strength of these layers filter and the purely surface anchoring are not very stable. For this reason, relatively complex sealing clamps are usually and supporting structures made of plastic parts necessary make the production of these modules equally expensive and complicate and prevent a tight packing. In spite of of these security elements, these filter elements are very susceptible to incorrect operation such as pressure surges and can only be operated in one direction of filtration. A disadvantage the known layer filter module is therefore also in it to see that backwashing of the filter elements for ent Removal of a formed filter cake is not possible.

If the filter layers are only supported on one side, like it is known for example from EP-OS 1 79 495 sensitivity to pulsations and recoil even bigger.

Depending on the recipe and thickness, the sieve effect of the filter layers retains kieselguhr, particles, yeast and even smaller microorganisms, even under 1 µm, thanks to the large inner surface. The depth effect and the adsorption effect also hold back the finest turbidity and colloids down to less than 1 µm. In the case of a so-called sterile layer, the pore size - insofar as one can speak of a three-dimensional structure - is sufficient to retain bacteria by 0.45 µm if certain regulations (flow rate, avoiding pressure surges, regular sterilization, exchange when pressure rises, etc .) be respected. In the event of non-compliance or incorrect handling or incorrect operation, depth filters of this type occasionally break through, ie the desired retention is no longer ensured and particles that have already been retained are released back into the filtrate. Filtering such layers or modules made of layer filter elements is therefore often followed by a membrane filter of finer pore size with a true sieving effect against particles and organisms downstream on the sterile side. These membrane filters are much more elastic materials, so that such modules are usually designed as candles, for example as a pleated membrane filter, the pleating of which is shaped into a hollow cylinder and is connected at the end to connection adapters.

The invention is therefore based on the object simple means for filter layers a permanent one Sealing form for superimposed, to be connected Material edges and filter modules built up afterwards create. These modules should consist of simple basic elements producible and very densely packed, in two filtrations directions can be operated and the integration of Allow membrane filters or other filter materials and can be installed in closed filtration housings.

This object is achieved in that the Sealing element by an applied in the liquid state and curable plastic compound is formed, which to connecting superimposed edges of the filter materials, if necessary, with the interposition of commercially available draining support and inflow layers and others Filtration layers in cross section bordered approximately U-shaped and with the edges a permanent, especially water fixed connection. Basic units thus formed become larger with the same sealing elements Modules built.

A filter module constructed with such filter layers is made up of a variety of stacked Rectangular cuts, with arranged in between commercially available draining support and inflow layers made of plastic mesh, plastic fabric, plastic fleece or embossed perforated foils, which alternately on the adjacent one above the other Edges through the plastic mass I-shaped, C-shaped, V-shaped, E-shaped or U-shaped are framed such that Zigzag-shaped pockets formed on both sides are into which the fluid flows on one side through which Filter material penetrates and on the other hand from the Bags filtered out. The shape of the border depends depends on how dense and firm the structure of the edge surfaces after a punching or milling process after cutting the Filter cuts is.

Spacers formed on along the sealing elements Plastic mass with passages can be on the inflow side of the draining inflow layers at low Pocket depth and good inherent strength of the filter layers replace and supplement with greater pocket depth.

To form a cuboid filter module from trade usual filter layers are by means of the above described sealing elements two in parallel spacing mutually arranged rectangular cuboids created that two stack end faces with a connecting plate each more than twice the width of the filter cuts the same material or a dense plastic with the described sealing element connected together so that an internal fluid space is created. The End faces of the rectangular cuboid thus formed with an inner Fluid spaces are created using potting compounds such as polypropylene, Polyurethane, silicone, melted plastic and the like in a further step according to the same principle with each a connecting plate sealed like the stack end surfaces, the inner fluid space in at least one Opening opens at the front through which the fluid or can drain.

The inventive concept is in several embodiments explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Here shows:

Fig. 1, 2A, 3A and 4 are schematic cross-sections through two stacked blanks of filter layers with drainage layers and one-sided edge-joint as a prefabricated basic elements,

Figs. 2B and 3B are front views of Fig. 2A and 3A,

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective cross-section parallelepiped by a composite of such basic elements according to FIG. 1 filter module,

Fig. 6 is a detail cross-section through a modified filter module,

Fig. 7 shows a cross section through a modified filter module of FIG. 5 taken along section line 7-7 in Fig. 8 and 9, used in a surrounding filter housing,

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the filter module of Fig. 7 taken along section line 8-8,

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the filter module of Fig. 7 taken along section line 9-9,

Fig. 10 shows a cross section through a modified layer structure with the additional use of foldable sheet blanks,

Fig. 11 shows a cross section through a modified edge seal for the individual filter layers,

Fig. 12 shows schematically and simplified a cross-section through a modified preferred filter module housing taken along line 12-12 in Fig. 13,

Fig. 13 is a vertical section through the filter module housing taken along line 13-13 in Fig. 12,

Fig. 14 is a block-shaped filter module in a schematic perspective view,

Fig. 15 shows a schematic perspective view of a plurality of stacked and fluidically connected filter modules,

Fig. 16 is a vertical section through a filter housing made of stainless steel with two inserted, releasably connected filter modules and

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a filter module in the form of a flat cartridge supporting frame, can be used in a conventional multilayer filter unit.

The following exemplary embodiments relate to filter layers FS (synonym: layer filter) as are currently commercially available from a large number of manufacturers and as are defined in more detail at the outset.

The filter modules according to FIG. 5 to 16 are assembled in essentially of recurring units according to Fig. 1 to 4. These basic units consist of two rectangular filter blanks 16 made of filter layers FS and the draining support elements 17 which keep these filter blanks 16 cut to a distance from adjacent filters. These support elements 17 - also in a rectangular blank shape - can be formed by structured and perforated foils, plastic injection molded parts, plastic mesh and plastic fabric and are arranged in different thickness, structure, one or more layers between adjacent filter cuts 16 . In the arrangement according to FIG. 4, the filter layer FS has a loosely lying or laminated membrane filter MF or a filter fleece FV on the permeate side. The layer structure forming the basic elements is sealed on one side by a plastic mass 32 which is applied and curable in the liquid state and which overlaps the edges 28 of the filter material 16 to be connected , optionally with anchoring of the draining support layers 17 and further filter layers MF / FV, in cross section approximately I-shaped , C-shaped, V-shaped, E-shaped or U-shaped and with these edges a permanent wet-strength connection is made and forms the actual sealing element 32 . Several such basic units such as shown in FIG. 1 are stacked on each other and then connected on the left side also by seal members 32 such that as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 results in a zigzag-shaped composite geometry. Two such stacks arranged approximately at a parallel distance from one another are closed on both sides according to FIG. 5 by a closing element 22 , which according to FIG. 5 is a filter layer, and connected to one another. The two open end faces are also sealed by a connecting plate 27 by means of plastic compound 32 '. The fluid space 14 thus formed 'in the cuboid filter module FM is equipped with at least one opening 15 ' in an end plate 27 .

On the inflow side, ie on the turbidity chamber side, spacers 31 protruding on one or both sides are formed in the sealing element, which form passages 29 along the sealing edge. The spacers 31 can according to FIG. 1 also protrude more or less far into the filter surface by means of integrated finger-shaped extensions 31 'with a supporting function without these having to make an intimate connection with the surface of the Filterzu cuts 16 . With appropriate Eigenfes activity - even when wet - and a relatively small distance between the inner and outer sealing element 32 , additional support elements 17 (fabric, grid) can be dispensed with on the turbidity chamber side, without the backwashing ability (pressure drop from inside and outside) being lost , see Fig. 5.

According to a modified detail section according to FIG. 6, the filter layers FS lie tightly on both sides on the support elements 17 . It is advantageous to provide the filter cuts 16 in the region of the edges with a wedge-shaped embossing or a chamfer 33 in order to give the sealing element 32 with a spacer 31 or the plastic compound a better hold and in order to keep the access to the support elements 17 to be kept open as far as possible . In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the filter layer FS is provided with a laminated membrane filter MF , as are commercially available. The end elements 22 , 27 are formed by plastic plates which enclose the two filters in a frame-like manner and are sealingly connected to one another with the edges 28 and with the filter stack at 32 '( FIGS. 5, 6).

The variant shown in FIGS. 3A and 6 with a directly integrated membrane filter MF on the filtrate side not only have the advantage of safety and testability, but also ensure a minimum of product loss and product mixing. Membrane filters act as a closed valve when wetted against compressed air and below the pressure value of the bubble pressure point, while the entire liquid is expelled from the upstream housings and filters by the compressed air. The risk of mixing, for example, wines when changing varieties, as is always the case in conventional pure layer filter devices, can be minimized in this way and with the following variants.

. In the embodiment of Figures 7 to 9, a filter module FM is shown in FIG 5 to the effect has been modified in that in the fluid chamber 14 '-. The space between the two filter stack - a pleated tubular membrane filter element MF 1 is arranged, which face each other with the closure elements 27 is permanently connected in a leak-tight manner or is detachably adapted. The space formed by the pleating 18 in turn forms a fluid space 14 ''. The pleating 18 is supported on the inside by perforated support elements 35 and supported against backflow through the inside of the fluid space 14 '. The inner fluid space 14 '' opens into a connection adapter 15 , which can be connected with the aid of ring seals 23 to the outlet of an enclosing housing 9 . In the circumferential direction, the filter module FM can be wrapped by a perforated backflow preventer 37 in the form of a coarse-mesh fabric or the like. The filter module FM locking tabs 30 of the filter module FM and locking elements 7 of the housing 9 can be set in the housing 9 in the axial direction. Through an additional connection 4 , the fluid space 14 '(pre-filtrate space) can be separately supplied with fluid and disposed of. This is preferentially arranged in the upper connecting plate 27 as a connection 4 'and can be supplied and disposed of via a pipe 21 guided in the fluid chamber 19 with a flexible connection with filler via the connection 5 ( FIG. 16) and valve arrangement 13 in the lower housing part 1 . The relatively short module according to FIGS. 8 and 9 can also be made longer and adapted to the height of a housing according to FIG. 16.

Step filterings can thus be carried out with a filter module according to FIGS. 6 to 10.

In the basic unit shown schematically in FIG. 10, the layer filter elements are processed in a 1: 1 ratio with a membrane filter MF , the membrane either being stiffly embedded in the sealing compound of the sealing elements 32 or being able to assume a kind of hinge effect free of the sealing compound. Depending on the direction of filtration, the membrane filter MF is located inside or outside, ie always on the filtrate side.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 11, the rectangular filter cuts 16 are provided with an embossing 33 'tapering towards the edge 28 to be sealed. These embossed edges 33 'are coated with a film or fleece 34 coated with the sealing material 32 , which is severed in the region of the support elements 17 to be kept open, so that the fluid guide in the retentate space into the support elements 17 and the fluid guide out of the support elements 17 into the Permeate space is guaranteed. With the help of this fluid-tight film 34 or a correspondingly dense fleece, the elasticity of the sealing elements 32 in connection with the blanks from filter layers 16 can be improved. Instead of a fluid-tight film 34 , nonwovens and / or filter membranes with good inherent strength can also be used if their retention capacity is at least as good as that of the filter cuts 16 . Instead of the continuous path 34 , corresponding sections can also be used from the outset.

In the preferred embodiment according to FIGS. 12 and 13, the filter module FM and housing 1 , 9 with connections 2 , 3 , 10 are shown as a relatively small-sized structural unit in the form of a disposable. The filter module FM constructed in its basic unit approximately according to FIGS. 5 and 7 has a backflow or pressure protection on the outside, which stabilizes the entire filter module FM in the circumferential direction as a wrap 38 . The wrap 38 can contain only depth filters as well as membrane filters. In the first case, for example, it is filtered from the outside in and the upstream winding 38 serves to protect and increase the service life of the layered filter element. In the second case, a membrane filter MF is used to filter from the inside out and the considerations described above apply. Furthermore, the area ratio of the layer filter: membrane filter can be made quite variable in this way.

In order to clarify these two variants, a filter module FM according to FIG. 12 is arranged in the surrounding filter housing 1, 9 made of plastic with the connecting pieces 2 , 3 , 10 , according to FIG. 13, with an external winding 38 in the form of a depth filter and for Forming a stage filtration downstream of a filter cassette (Plissie tion 18 ) with a pleated membrane filter MF arranged. The fluid chamber 14 'of the filter module FM passes through the interposition of the membrane filter MF in the fluid chamber or filtrate chamber 14 . In this case, the slurry is introduced through the nozzle 2 into the fluid chamber 19 and emerges as a filtrate from the fluid chamber 14 with nozzle 3 . The opening 15 'in the closure element 27 is formed here as a slot. A small gas filter 36 in the upper connecting plate 27 ensures a quick degassing possibility for the fluid space 14 ', so that an easier integrity check of the membrane filter element MF is given by conventional test methods, since the resistance in the layer filter does not have to be overcome. Accordingly, the filter module according to FIGS. 7 to 9 is equipped with a small gas filter 36 .

If the filter module FM is operated from the inside to the outside, the nozzle 3 forms the inlet for the cloudy, the pleating 18 the pre-filter, the filter layers FM the second stage and the winding 38 the final filter stage. The connection 10 serves to vent the housing at the highest point.

If such filter modules according to FIG. 13 are not designed as disposable, but are used in stainless steel housings according to FIGS. 7 and 16, a detachable connection between the filter module FM with the prefilter and layer filter on the one hand and the membrane filter cassette 18 on the other hand can counter the exhausted part of the overall module a new one can be exchanged to increase the total service life of the filter element.

Referring to FIG. 14 and 15, the individual filter modules FM connected either by welding or bonding permanently to an overall element or obligations with the help of ring like and plug-in adapters, see Fig. 16, releasably connected to each other. In both cases, the dimensions of the FM filter modules can be adapted to the steel housings on the market, which also serve to accommodate other filter elements.

In order to clarify this again, a typical filter housing for filtrations in the beverage industry is shown in FIG. 16. This has, for example, an inside diameter of 317 mm and an inside height of about 1300 mm.

The cuboidal filter module FM described in more detail above, consisting of layered filter elements according to FIG. 5 (or 7 to 8), can be used in a surrounding housing made of stainless steel. The housing consists of a housing base 1 with at least two connecting pieces 2 , 3 for the supply and disposal of the housing 1-12 supported on the housing leg 24 . The bell-shaped housing upper part 9 with a reinforcement ring 8 is connected with the interposition of elastic O-Ringdich lines 20 with the help of distributed over the circumference angeord Neten clamping elements 6 or a quick fastener sealingly connected to the housing base 1 . The upper part of the housing 9 has a ventilation nozzle 10 with a valve arrangement 11 at its highest point. The housing upper part 9 can be completely removed from the housing base 1 by means of the handles 12 after loosening the clamping elements 6 , so that the housing base 1 is also freely accessible from the inside for the assembly and removal of the filter module or FM . The centrally arranged nozzle 3 passes into a housing break through, which forms the actual sterile space 14 in the conventional direction of filtration, and the filter module FM described above engages with its closing element 27 with nozzle 15 by means of O-ring seals 23 in this housing opening 25 . Several locking elements 7 arranged over the circumference of the housing base can be brought into engagement with locking lugs 30 on the closing element 27 or connecting piece 15 , so that the filter module FM is locked overall in the axial direction and is secured against backflow from the outlet connecting piece 3 .

In the same way, the upper filter module FM via locking elements 7 ', 30 ' is connected to the lower filter module FM , which, as shown here, is rotated by 90 ° relative to one another and shown accordingly in section.

This locking is necessary in any case, since the various media such as the fluid to be filtered, washing-up liquid, hot water or gas can be introduced into the filter module both from one direction and from the other direction. The filter modules according to the invention made of filter layers FS can be operated in both directions.

It is also possible to modify the construction principle according to FIGS. 12 and 13 for a housing according to FIG. 16, by eliminating the plastic upper housing part 9 according to FIGS . 12, 13 and the filter module FM according to FIGS. 12, 13 with the lower plastic housing part 1 encapsulated pleating 18 is connected by means of a connecting adapter 15 to the lower housing part 1 according to FIG. 16.

The connection 5 with valve arrangement 13 , which is deactivated in FIG. 16, and the pipe 21, which can be guided in the fluid space 19 up to the upper module end, with a flexible coupling (not shown) at the pipe end serves for additional fluid guidance (flushing liquid, test agent, filler) into the interior of a module, e.g. the modified design of FIG. 7 to 9 or FIGS. 12 and 13. In the module according to Fig. 13 of the gas filter 36 can thereby be replaced by a connecting piece.

In the filter module shown in Fig. 17, the blanks 16 , 17 of the filter layers FS which are connected to form a stack are framed by side and end plates 22 ', 27 ' corresponding to the previously described closing elements 22 , 27 and with these in a support frame 39 with a frame opening 40 integrated. The support frame 39 made of plastic has a circumferential ring seal 23 'and laterally projecting guide lugs 41 for holding on guide rails 42 of a filter device, not shown, as it belongs to the prior art according to DE-OS 35 05 792. This arrangement makes it possible to utilize the housing space with such a known layer filter device with a much larger layer filter surface than was possible with a simple position that was previously customary. The filter module FM can be fastened on one side or on both sides in the support frame 39 .

Claims

1. From flat, edge-sealed layer filter elements with draining support elements stacked filter module for filtering liquids, which can be used in a housing with supply and disposal connections in such a way that fluid can get from one fluid space into another fluid space only through the filter elements, characterized in that the layered filter elements (FS) are formed by a plurality of strip-shaped, congruent and stacked blanks ( 16 ), the edges ( 33 , 33 ') of which are formed on two opposite sides of the stack in pairs by a sealing element according to an edge side of open pockets ( 32 ) in the form of an applied and curable plastic compound in the liquid state with draining spacing and the end faces of the stack are closed by plastic compound ( 32 ') overall, the open pockets on one side a first fluid space and the other open pockets hen are assigned to another fluid space of a housing.

2. Filter module according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing element ( 32 ) for spacing adjacent sealing elements ( 32 ) integrally formed spacers ( 31 ) with openings in the longitudinal direction of the pocket opening ( 29 ) and the integrally formed spacers ( 31 ), if necessary, in the Have pocket-shaped projections ( 31 ') protruding into it.

3. Filter module according to claim 1, characterized in that the draining support layers ( 17 ) are formed by plastic mesh or plastic fabric.

4. Filter module according to claim 1, characterized in that a fluid-tight film ( 34 ) is embedded as a U-shaped reinforcement in the plastic mass of the sealing element ( 32 ).

5. Filter module according to claim 1, characterized in that in the plastic mass ( 32 ) a fleece and / or membrane filter is embedded as reinforcement, the retention of which is that of the connected filter materials ( 16 ) is at least equivalent.

6. Filter module according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that the plastic mass ( 32 ) receiving edges of the filter cuts ( 16 ) are tapered in cross section by embossing or milling or bevels ( 33 , 33 ').

7. Filter module according to claim 1 to 6, characterized in that the plastic mass ( 32 ) made of polypropylene (PP) is formed.

8. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two mutually facing and by a support element ( 17 ) spaced surfaces of a filter layer (FS) a flat coating in the form of a fleece (FV) , a membrane (FM) or of a carton having a filter effect.

9. Filter module according to claim 1 to 8, characterized in that the draining support elements ( 17 ) in the plastic mass ( 32 ') of the end seal are fixed.

10. Filter module according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is essentially cuboid or rectangular columnar structure, from a first stack of rectangular blanks ( 16 ) of filter layers (FS) with draining support elements ( 17 ) and a second parallel and spaced-apart stack of interconnected and mutually sealed blanks ( 16 ) of filter layers (FS) and draining support elements ( 17 ) is formed, the end faces of the two stacks lying in one plane through the space ( 14 ') between the two stacks bridging terminating elements ( 22 ) are connected, and that the end faces of both stacks are sealed with these sealingly and the gap ( 14 ') bridging terminating elements ( 27 ) are completed, the free space ( 14 ') between the two stacks by at least one in the closing elements ( 27 ) arranged opening ( 15 , 15 ') with fluid is available and disposable.

11. Filter module according to claim 10, characterized in that the free space in the module by an independent fluid space ( 14 '') with fluid connection ( 15 ) forming membrane filter element (MF 1 ) is divided into two fluid spaces ( 14 'and 14 '') and the fluid space ( 14 ') upstream of the membrane filter element (MF 1 ) if necessary has a gas filter ( 36 ) and / or at least one connecting piece ( 4 ).

12. Filter module according to claim 10, characterized in that on the downstream end of the layer filter module is connected to its inner fluid space ( 14 ') adjoining membrane filter element ( 18 ) in a pleated, rectangular shape, the downstream pleated side with a pleating ( 18th ) sealingly encompassing connection adapter ( 1 , 3 ).

13. Filter module according to claim 12, characterized in that the inner fluid space ( 14 ') of the layer filter module, if necessary, has at least one of its own connecting piece and / or gas filter ( 36 ).

14. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is enclosed by permeable, optionally filtering reinforcing elements ( 37 , 38 ) against internal pressure loading.

15. Filter module according to claim 10, characterized in that a disposable unit of a filter device is formed by an enclosing integrated plastic housing ( 1 , 2 ) with connections ( 2 , 3 , 10 ).

16. Filter module according to claim 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, characterized in that a disposable unit of a step filter device is formed by a surrounding integrated plastic housing ( 1 , 2 ) with connections ( 2 , 3 , 10 ).

17. Filter module according to claim 10 to 16, characterized in that the inner fluid space ( 14 ') optionally a filling medium such as activated carbon, ion exchanger, absorption medium, catalyst, diatomaceous earth, zeta material, bactericidal media, bacteria, yeast and / or bioactive substances has or can be filled via a connecting piece ( 4 ).

18. Filter module according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a stack of connected blanks ( 16 ) of filter layers (FS) from an integrated frame ( 22 ', 27 ') is enclosed, which in turn with a support frame ( 39 ) Plastic with frame opening ( 40 ), all-round frame seal ( 23 ') and lateral guide lugs ( 41 ) is integrated into a filter cassette that can be used in a layered filter device.