Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D45/00—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces
  • B01D45/12—Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by centrifugal forces
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D63/00—Apparatus in general for separation processes using semi-permeable membranes
  • B01D63/06—Tubular membrane modules
  • B01D63/066—Tubular membrane modules with a porous block having membrane coated passages
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
  • Y10T137/206—Flow affected by fluid contact, energy field or coanda effect [e.g., pure fluid device or system]
  • Y10T137/2224—Structure of body of device
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/249921—Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a multichannel element made of organic or inorganic porous material, intended for the filtration, separation or bringing into contact of liquid or gaseous fluids and for example microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, pervaporation, osmosis. inverse, to (bio) membrane reactors, to gas diffusers, to liquid or gas / liquid or gas contactors, to catalysis, or to fuel cells.
• the invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a multichannel element.
• Multichannel elements can be defined as elongated elements on their main axis and pierced with holes or channels oriented in this same axis.
• the main section of the element can be defined as the section perpendicular to this main axis. Generally this section is constant along the axis and the three-dimensional shape of the element then has an extrusion symmetry. This symmetry therefore makes it possible to define the volume extruded by its main section and its main axis, which axis is then a direction vector or generator of the shape of the element. Due to this symmetry of extrusion, the geometry of the multichannel element can therefore be reduced to the shape of its main section.
• the external perimeter of this main section can be circular, polygonal or other (for example multilobed).
• N corresponds to the number of channels of the element.
• the element is said to be multichannel if N> 1.
• N 1, corresponds to a single-channel element which is generally of tubular shape and is therefore excluded from the scope of this invention.
• This ring of material being coaxial in the center of the part has the major drawback of being oriented perpendicular to the direction of flow of the fluid and therefore not optimized for the evacuation of the filtered fluid.
• This ring of material also has the disadvantage of being a lost space for the distribution of the channels.
• the overall number of channels distributed over the cross-section of the multichannel element is limited by this constraint represented by the crown of material. From this limitation, the filtration surface of the element, represented by the whole of the surface carried by all the channels, is reduced.
• Document EP-A-0686424 describes an inorganic multichannel element for filtering a fluid whose channels are located on a single circle.
• Document EP-A-704236 describes a porous monolith support for a filtration membrane of circular or hexagonal external shape having a single ring of channels. These two documents do not describe a multichannel element with several channel crowns or a channel crown combined with a central channel. These geometries have the disadvantage of having surfaces filters limited by the constraint of using only a crown of channels.
• Document EP-A-0778073 describes inorganic elements for filtering a fluid medium having one or two rings of concentric channels and a central channel. These elements have a circular outer contour; they also have a continuous ring of coaxial material on the one hand between the two crowns of channels, and on the other hand, between the central channel and the crown of channels surrounding it. This geometry has the same drawbacks and limitations as the geometries with concentric channel crowns described above.
• Document OA-00/29098 describes a porous monolith support comprising a first set of channels having similar sections, in the central part of the support, separated from each other by walls of substantially radial direction having a common area along the axis. of the support, and at least a second set of channels having a peripheral arrangement around the first set of channels.
• the structure described in this document does not however make it possible to solve the problems encountered with the aforementioned prior art.
• the object and object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.
• the invention provides a multichannel element comprising at least a first ring of channels entangled with a second ring of channels.
• each of the partitions arranged between the channels of said first and second rings is non-perpendicular to the straight line passing through the center of said first and second rings and the middle of the partition considered.
• Each of the partitions arranged between the channels of said first and second crowns and the straight line passing through the center of said first and second crowns and the middle of the partition considered advantageously forms an angle between 0 and 60 degrees, preferably between 0 and 45 degrees.
• the overlap rate between said first ring and said second ring is at least equal to 0.4.
• said first and second rings are either circular or hexagonal.
• the channels of said first and second rings each have a shape chosen from the following general shapes: - rhombus;
• - trapezoid preferably substantially rectangle; - half orange quarter.
• the number of channels of said second ring is preferably equal to the number of channels of said first ring.
• the number of channels of said second ring is twice the number of channels of said first ring.
• the channels of said first ring all have the same shape.
• the channels of said second ring have a different shape channels of said first ring. It is advantageous that the channels of said second ring all have the same shape.
• said second ring consists of a plurality of pairs of adjacent channels, each of said pairs of adjacent channels comprising a first channel and a second channel symmetrical to the first channel with respect to a straight line passing through the center of said crowns.
• each of said pairs of channels is arranged between two successive channels of said first ring. It is advantageous that the number of crowns of channels is two and in that the channels of said first crown have the general shape of a flattened diamond and the channels of said second crown have the general shape of a half-quarter of orange.
• a third ring of channels is entangled with said first ring, said third ring having the same number of channels as said first ring and in that the general shape of the channels of said first and third rings is a rhombus or a flattened rhombus and the general shape of the channels of said second ring is a triangle, preferably substantially rectangle or isosceles, or a trapezium, preferably substantially rectangle.
• the shape of the channels of said crowns is provided by connecting leaves. Furthermore, the channels or said pairs of adjacent channels of said first and second rings are advantageously arranged at regular intervals on their respective rings.
• the multichannel element may further comprise a central channel, preferably circular or regular polygonal.
• the partitions arranged between the channels of said crowns preferably have a substantially identical thickness.
• the partitions arranged between the channels of said crowns can widen progressively, starting from their end directed towards the inside of said multichannel element to go towards their end directed towards the outside of said multichannel element.
• the invention proposes a multichannel element, comprising a crown of channels entangled with a central channel.
• the crown of channels preferably comprises 3 or 4 channels.
• the central channel advantageously has the general shape of a triangle.
• Said crown is advantageously constituted by three channels in the form of an orange quarter.
• the outer contour of said element is preferably circular.
• the invention provides a method of manufacturing a multi-channel element according to the invention in which said multi-channel element is obtained by extrusion.
• a multichannel element according to the invention is an elongated element, oriented on a main axis and containing N channels oriented in this same axis.
• this main axis is called the longitudinal axis and the section perpendicular to this main axis is called the cross section.
• the structure and the dimensions of the cross section of the element are preferably identical over the entire length of the element. The description will always be made by considering a cross section of the multichannel element.
• a channel crown is defined as a set of channels located on a closed curve, called the channel bearing curve.
• a channel is located on a given closed curve if its barycenter is located on this curve.
• the channels are preferably located on a circle, in which case the crown is said to be circular.
• the channels can be located on the sides or vertices of a polygon, preferably a regular polygon.
• the crown will then be called polygonal. It can advantageously be a hexagon in which case the crown is said to be hexagonal.
• two channels are said to be neighboring or adjacent if they have the same wall in common; this common wall then constitutes a partition separating the two channels.
• the invention proposes an element comprising at least a first ring of channels entangled with a second crown of channels.
• the second ring surrounds the first ring in the direction that the bearing curve of the second ring surrounds the bearing curve of the first ring.
• the two crowns have the same shape, advantageously chosen either circular or regular polygonal, in particular hexagonal.
• the two rings are preferably centered on the longitudinal axis of the element. It is advantageous that the load-bearing curves - circle, hexagon or other - on which the channels of the two entangled crowns are located are deduced from each other by homothety relative, preferably, to the longitudinal axis of the element . It is also advantageous for the outer contour of the element to have the same shape as the entangled crowns, or at least the same shape as the crown closest to the outer periphery of the element.
• the notion of entanglement of two crowns can be defined using the notion of entanglement radius of a channel.
• the radius of entanglement is the greatest distance between the carrier circle of the crown channels and the wall of this channel measured on the radii of this carrier circle.
• the radius of entanglement is the greatest distance between the side of the polygon carrying the channels on which this channel is located and the wall of this channel measured perpendicular to this side.
• the internal entanglement radius is the entanglement radius measured for the wall part of the channel from the side towards the center of the crown.
• the external entanglement radius is the entanglement radius measured for the wall part of the channel on the outward side of the crown.
• the tangles can originate outside the canal. Indeed, in the case of a channel having concave shapes, the barycenter can be located outside the channel. The bearing curve of the crown then passes at least partly outside the channel and the measurement of the entanglement radius can therefore have its origin outside the channel. On the other hand, the other measurement point must be located on the surface of the wall of the channel.
• the first ring and the second ring surrounding the first ring are entangled if for two neighboring channels, one belonging to the first ring and the other to the second ring, we have:
• Ri radius of the bearing circle of the first crown
• R 2 radius of the bearing circle of the second crown.
• the neighboring channels considered are located one on one side - called side A - of the polygon carrying the first ring and the other on the corresponding side - said side A 2 - the bearing polygon of the second crown.
• the distance D is then equal to the distance between the side ⁇ and the side A 2 , measured perpendicular to these two sides.
• the distance D corresponds to the difference in length of the apothems of the two load-bearing hexagons.
• the multichannel elements with circular and concentric crowns of round channels of the prior art are excluded from the definition of entangled crowns according to the present invention. Indeed, in this case, the difference in radii between the circles carrying two successive rings is greater - and not less - than the sum of the radii of entanglement of any two neighboring channels carried one by a first of these rings and the other by the second of these crowns, the entanglement radii being measured on the side closest to the neighboring channel. The difference comes from the thickness of the material crown that separates the two channel crowns.
• the difference comes from the thickness E of the material crown 3, which in this case is 0.8 mm.
• the overlap rate can be defined by:
• the overlap rate T between the first ring and the second ring is advantageously at least 0.3, preferably 0.4, more preferably at least 0.5.
• each of the partitions arranged between the channels of the first and second rings is non-perpendicular to the straight line passing through the center of the first and second rings and the middle of the partition considered.
• the term “partition between the channels” should be understood to mean any wall separating two neighboring channels both belonging to the same ring or one belonging to the first ring and the other to the second ring. A partition is therefore delimited on either side by the two neighboring channels considered.
• the partitions are preferably substantially planar. In this case, each partition is delimited on either side by a respective right side participating in the definition of the contour of a corresponding channel from the two neighboring channels considered. These two straight sides obviously face each other substantially.
• the partition is then delimited in length by the imaginary segment joining the corresponding ends of the aforementioned straight sides.
• the contours of the channels are arranged by fillets, it will be considered that the end of these straight sides corresponds to the start of the fillets, excluding the fillets themselves.
• the middle of a partition is defined as the point located on the center line of the partition and at equal distance, measured along the center line, from the aforementioned imaginary segments delimiting the considered partition.
• a partition arranged between two neighboring channels is not perpendicular to the line passing through the center of the first and second crowns and the middle of the partition considered if the center line of the partition is non-perpendicular to the aforementioned straight line.
• the center line of a partition is not a straight line, for example, if it is curved, its general orientation will be considered in place of the center line.
• the shape of the longitudinal channels along their cross section is defined to obtain partitions separating them which have a substantially constant thickness.
• the partition walls between channels gradually widen, starting from a minimum thickness from their end directed inwards, leading to a maximum thickness at their end directed towards the external periphery. of the multichannel element considered, which has the effect of facilitating the evacuation of the permeate towards the outside as the sign EP-A-0609275.
• the minimum thickness or maximum thickness of a partition is defined by the distance measured along a perpendicular to the center line of this partition passing through the end of one of the sides defining the partition, the perpendicular cutting the other side defining the partition; failing to cut this other side, we will consider the perpendicular to the midline passing through the end of this other side.
• the channels are arranged by fillets, we will consider that the end of one side of a partition corresponds to the start of the fillets, excluding the fillets themselves as already mentioned above.
• the shape of these channels is defined so as to obtain an optimization of the entanglement of the channels. This entanglement allows a better distribution of the channels on the section of the element.
• the channels of the same crown are preferably all identical (including by symmetry), but it is advantageous to have at least two different shapes of channels for all of the channel crowns. In the case where all the channels of a given crown have the same shape, these channels are preferably all arranged on the bearing curve of the crown with the same inclination relative to this curve. As a variant, it may be advantageous to combine the channels on the same crown in pairs, each pair comprising a first channel with a given shape and an adjacent channel with a shape symmetrical to the first with respect to a straight line passing through the center of the crowned.
• the channels or the pairs of channels in the aforementioned variant are preferably distributed regularly over the bearing curve of the crown.
• the multichannel element may comprise more than two crowns of channels for which two successive crowns each time meet the characteristics of the invention. It is also possible to have in the same multi-channel element channel crowns according to the invention and other channel crowns produced according to the prior art.
• the invention proposes a multichannel element comprising a ring of channels entangled with a central channel.
• the crown of channels is circular, it will be considered to be entangled with the central channel if the radius of the circle carrying the channels of the crown is less than the sum of the maximum radius of the central channel and the radius of entanglement internal of a crown canal.
• the definition of the internal tangle radius is that previously defined. It is preferred that all of the crown channels verify this relationship.
• the tangled structure of the multichannel elements according to the invention has a first advantage of having large filtration surfaces which correspond to the sum of the surfaces of the different channels. Indeed, a larger number of channels can be distributed over the section of the element compared to the geometries with concentric channel crowns. Indeed, in the latter, the crowns of material form rings which delimit spaces not used for the distribution of the channels and therefore reduce their number. With the crowns of tangled channels, this greater number of channels with constant hydraulic diameter allows to obtain superior filtration surfaces, which represents an essential criterion for the filter elements.
• a second advantage of this geometry corresponds to better evacuation of the filtered liquid through the multichannel element.
• the element according to the invention therefore does not have the disadvantage of a crown system of concentric channels where the crowns of material form rings centered on the part and not optimized for the evacuation of the fluid since they are oriented opposite, perpendicularly, to the generally radial direction of flow of the filtered fluid.
• a third advantage of this geometry corresponds to the better distribution of the pressure differences between the inside of the channels and the outside of the element.
• a fourth advantage of this invention comes from the better mechanical strength of this type of geometry. Indeed, a geometry with entangled crowns of channels presents a distribution of the material which creates a real tangled framework which makes it possible to better distribute the mechanical stresses through the whole of the multichannel element.
• the multichannel elements according to the invention are optimized from the point of view of their filtration surface and their mechanical and hydrodynamic properties.
• FIG. 1 represents a cross section of a multichannel element with two circular and concentric rings of round channels of the prior art
• FIG. 2 represents a cross section of a multichannel element 100 corresponding to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 3 represents a cross section of a multichannel element 200 corresponding to a second embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 4 represents a cross section of a multichannel element 300 corresponding to a third embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 5 represents a cross section of a multichannel element 400 corresponding to a fourth embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 6 represents a cross section of a multichannel element 500 corresponding to a fifth embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 7 schematically represents a cross section of a multichannel element 600 corresponding to a sixth embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 2 represents a cross section of a multichannel element 100 corresponding to a first embodiment of the invention.
• the multichannel element 100 is of the type with a crown of channels entangled with a central channel.
• the multichannel element 100 comprises an outer wall 102 in the form of a round tube having a longitudinal axis.
• the outer wall 102 preferably has a thickness that is substantially constant over its entire circumference.
• Three longitudinal and planar partitions 103-1, 103-2 and 103-3, are arranged inside the round tube formed by the outer wall 102 to divide the interior of the multichannel element 100 into four longitudinal channels.
• the three partitions 103-1, 103-2, 103-3 form an equilateral triangle whose center coincides with the longitudinal axis 101 and the vertices of which are connected to the outer wall 102.
• the partitions 103-1 , 103-2 and 103-3 each have a constant thickness identical to that of the others.
• a leave is preferably arranged at each connection between two successive partitions.
• each vertex of this triangle is advantageously connected to the external wall 102 by means of two symmetrical leaves with respect to the bisector of the angle formed by the vertex concerned.
• a first longitudinal channel 104 is defined by the space inside the equilateral triangle formed by the three partitions 103-1, 103-2, 103-3 and therefore constitutes a central channel.
• Three other longitudinal channels 105-1, 105-2 and 105-3 are respectively defined between each of the partitions 103-1, 103-2, 103-3 and the outer wall 102.
• Channels 105-1, 105-2 and 105 -3 all have the same cross section in the form of an orange quarter due to the equilateral triangle configuration of the partitions 103-1, 103-2, 103-3 centered on the longitudinal axis 101.
• channels 105-1, 105-2, 105-3 each have their respective barycenter 106-1, 106-2 and 106-3 located on a circle 107 centered on the longitudinal axis 101 and these three channels have the same inclination by relation to this circle 107.
• the multichannel element 100 has an outside diameter of 10 mm and the thickness of the outside wall 102 is 0.8 mm.
• the thickness of the partitions 103-1, 103-2, 103-3 is 0.5 mm.
• the radius of the imaginary circle passing through the vertices of the triangular channel 104 rounded off by the leaves, is 2.5 mm.
• Connection leave has a radius of 0.5 mm for channel 101 and a radius of 0.7 mm for channels 105-1, 105-2 and 105-3.
• the radius of the circle 107 is 3 mm.
• FIG. 3 represents a cross section of a multichannel element 200 corresponding to a second embodiment of the invention.
• the multichannel element 200 has the same structure as the multichannel element 100 of the first embodiment of the invention, except for adding six additional partitions 201-1, 201-2, 201-3, 207-1, 207- 2, 207-3.
• Partitions 201-1 and 207-1 are planar and longitudinal.
• the partition 207-1 is perpendicular to the partition 103-1 and extends from the longitudinal axis 101 to the partition 103-1
• the partition 201-1 is also perpendicular to the partition 103-1, but extends in the extension of the partition 207-1 from the partition 103-1 to the outer wall 102.
• the partitions 103-1, 103-2 and 103-2 of the multichannel element 100 are each divided into two channel separation partitions.
• the connection of the partitions 201-1 and 207-1 with the partition 103-1 is preferably made respectively by means of two radially symmetrical fillets.
• the connection of the partition 201-1 with the outer wall 102 is preferably made by means of two radially symmetrical fillets.
• the partitions 201-2 and 201-3 are obtained from the partition 201-1 by successive rotation of an angle 2 ⁇ / 3 relative to the longitudinal axis 101.
• the partitions 207-2 and 207-3 are obtained from the partition 207-1 by successive rotation of an angle 2 ⁇ / 3 relative to the longitudinal axis 101.
• the three partitions 207-1, 207-2 and 207-3 join in pairs on the 'longitudinal axis 101 preferably through a respective leave.
• the channel 104 of triangular cross section of the first embodiment of the invention is subdivided into three longitudinal channels 104a, 104b and 104c each having the same cross section in the form of a flattened diamond.
• flat diamond means the outer contour of the meeting of two isosceles triangles of different height but with a common base, with the vertices of the triangles located on either side of the common base.
• the three channels 105-1, 105-2, 105-3 having a cross section in the form of an orange quarter in the first embodiment of the invention are each subdivided into two channels having a radially symmetrical cross section relative to each other.
• the two partitions 201-1 and 207-1 obviously form each a zero angle with the straight line passing through their middle and the center of the two crowns of channels.
• partitions 201-2, 201-3, 207-2 and 207-3 The two partition walls between channels resulting from the division of the partition 103-1 by the partitions 201-1 and 207-1 are obviously non-perpendicular with the straight line passing through its middle and the center of the two crowns of channels .
• the center line 204 of the partition wall 206 between the channel 104b and the channel 105-lb has been shown.
• the ends of this partition 206 has been shown in dotted lines.
• the multichannel element 200 has an external diameter of 25 mm and the thickness of the external wall 102 is 2 mm.
• Connection leave has a radius of 1 mm.
• the thickness of the partitions 103-1, 103-2, 103-3 gradually increases by 0.8mm from the corresponding partitions 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 to reach 1mm at the opposite ends towards the outside of element 300.
• the thickness of the partitions 207-1, 207-2, 207-3 evolve in the same way from the longitudinal axis 101 towards the corresponding partitions 103-1, 103-2, 103-3, likewise that the thickness of the partitions 201-1, 201-2, 201-3 from these partitions 103-1, 103-2, 103-3 to the outer wall 102.
• the radius of the circle 202 is 3.9 mm and the radius of circle 203 is 8.3 mm.
• An average hydraulic diameter of all the channels is obtained of 5.6 mm and a filtering surface of 0.23 m 2 for a multichannel element 200 of length 1200 mm.
• the dimension ratios between r e ⁇ and r l2 with D resulting from this dimensioning example make it possible to obtain an overlap rate T of approximately 0.53 and an angle between the partitions between the channels coming from the division of partitions 103-1, 103-2, 103-3 and the radius passing through their center, of about 51 degrees.
• FIG. 4 represents a cross section of a multichannel element 300 corresponding to a third embodiment of the invention.
• the external shape of the multi-channel element 300 is that of a straight round tube having a longitudinal axis 301.
• the internal space of the multi-channel element 300 is subdivided into three series of longitudinal channels.
• the longitudinal channels of each of these three series are arranged on a respective circle 302, 303 and 304, forming three circular rings.
• the three circles 302, 303, 304 are preferably concentric and centered on the longitudinal axis 301.
• the radius of the circle 302 is less than that of the circle 303 and the radius of the circle 303 is less than that of the circle 304.
• the longitudinal channel 302-1 has the shape of a rhombus, one of the two axes of which intersects the longitudinal axis 301
• the corners of the rhombus thus formed are preferably arranged by a respective fillet
• the other five longitudinal channels located on the inner circle 302 have the same cross section as the channel 302-1 and are deduced therefrom by successive rotation of angle ⁇ / 3 relative to the longitudinal axis 301.
• the longitudinal channel 303-1 has the shape of a flattened diamond - cf. definition of the flat diamond given in relation to Figure 3.
• the axis of this deformed diamond which is perpendicular to the common base of the triangles forming the flat diamond, intersects the longitudinal axis 301.
• the corners of this flat diamond are preferably arranged by a respective leave.
• the other five longitudinal channels located on the intermediate circle 303 have the same cross section as the channel 303-1 and are deduced therefrom by successive rotation of angle ⁇ / 3 relative to the longitudinal axis 301.
• each of the channels located on the intermediate circle 303 is nested between two respective successive channels located on the inner circle 302.
• the channel 303-1 is partially disposed between the channels 302-1 and 302-2.
• the channels of circle 302 are advantageously offset by an angle ⁇ / 6 relative to the channels of circle 303.
• the longitudinal channels located on the outer circle 304 are twelve in number; only four are referenced in Figure 4 by 304-la, 304-lb, 304-2a and 304-2b.
• the longitudinal channel 304-la has the general shape of a right triangle, although the in principle right angle is in fact 78 degrees in the example illustrated due to the external curvature of the multichannel element.
• a first side of this triangle is substantially parallel and slightly offset with respect to a radius of the external contour of the multichannel element 300 and its end furthest from the axis longitudinal 301 forms the substantially right angle of the triangle with a second side which extends in a direction opposite to the radius of the above-mentioned outer contour.
• this first side is substantially oriented towards the longitudinal axis 301 to define a wedge-shaped partition, progressively widening from the inside to the outside of the multichannel element 300.
• the second side of the triangle can advantageously be circular and concentric with the external contour of the multi-channel element 300 instead of being straight to obtain an external wall of constant thickness.
• the corners of this triangle are preferably arranged by a respective leave.
• the longitudinal channel 304-lb is adjacent to and symmetrical to the channel 304-la with respect to the radius of the external contour of the element 300 to which the aforementioned first side of the triangle formed by the channel 304-la is parallel and slightly offset.
• the other five pairs of longitudinal channels located on the outer circle 304 have the same cross section as the pair of channels 304-la and 304-lb and are deduced therefrom by successive rotation of angle ⁇ / 3 relative to l longitudinal axis 301.
• each pair of successive channels located on the outer circle 304 is nested between two respective successive channels located on the intermediate circle 303.
• the channels 304 - The and 304-lb are partially arranged between the channels 303-1 and 303-2.
• the pairs of channels of circle 304 are advantageously offset by an angle ⁇ / 6 relative to the channels of circle 303.
• the channel crown of the inner circle 302 and the channel crown of the intermediate circle 303 are entangled.
• the ring of channels of the intermediate circle 303 and the ring of channels of the outer circle 304 are also, the relation 1 being verified in both cases.
• the multichannel element 300 has an external diameter of 25 mm and the thickness of the external wall at the level of the channels located on the circle 304 is 2 mm.
• the thickness of the partitions between the different longitudinal channels gradually increases by 0.8 mm at its end directed towards the inside to reach 1 mm at its opposite end directed towards the outside of the element 300.
• the radius of the circle 302 is 3.8 mm
• the radius of circle 303 is 6.7 mm
• the radius of circle 304 is 9.1 mm.
• the rhombus has a length of 5 mm along its axis intersecting the longitudinal axis 301 and a width of 3 mm along its axis perpendicular to the previous one.
• the flattened rhombus has a common base of 3.4 mm with the isosceles triangle pointing towards the longitudinal axis 301 having a height of 1.5 mm and the other isosceles triangle a height of 2.7 mm.
• the side of the right-angled triangle parallel to a radius of the element 300 has a length of 2.55 mm and the side perpendicular to it has a length of 2.85 mm.
• These dimensions are given from leave to leave for each shape of channel, each leave having a radius of 0.5 mm.
• An average hydraulic diameter of all the channels was obtained of 3 mm and a filtering surface of 0.35 m 2 for an element 300 of length 1.2 m.
• the dimension ratios resulting from this design example make it possible to obtain an overlap rate T of approximately 0.5 for the crowns of the circles 302 and 303 and of approximately 0.83 for the crowns 303 and 304.
• An angle is also obtained between the partition walls between channels of the circles 302 and 303 and of the circles 303 and 304 relative to the radius passing through their center, of approximately 40 and 37 degrees, respectively.
• FIG. 5 represents a cross section of a multichannel element 400 corresponding to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
• the multichannel element 400 is based on a structure similar to that of the multichannel element 300 in FIG. 4.
• the multichannel element 400 has three series of longitudinal channels arranged on the circles 302, 303, 304 of similarly as for the multichannel element 300.
• the multichannel element 400 further comprises a central longitudinal channel 401 of circular cross section and concentric with the circles 302, 303, 304.
• the shape of the channels located on the circles 302, 303 and 304, their number and the respective radii of the circles 302, 303, 304 are adapted relative to the structure of the multichannel element 300, due to the existence of the central channel 401.
• the channels located on the circle 302 are ten in number and are arranged comparatively more towards the outside of the element to allow the arrangement of the central channel 401 and have a flattened diamond section.
• the channels on the circle 302 are deduced from each other preferably by rotation of angle ⁇ / 5 relative to the longitudinal axis 301.
• the number of channels of the circle 303 has similarly been increased to ten, deducing advantageously from each other by rotation of angle ⁇ / 5 relative to the longitudinal axis 301. Consequently, the number of channels on the circle 304 has been increased to twenty which are distributed in ten pairs of radially symmetrical channels similar as for element 300. Again, the pairs of channels are advantageously deduced from each other by rotation of an angle ⁇ / 5 relative to the longitudinal axis 301.
• the shape of the channels on the outer circle 304 has been changed.
• the general shape of right triangle has been extended by backing its second side forming the substantially right angle and facing the outside contour of the multichannel element 300, to a rectangle having in common with the triangle this second side.
• the channels therefore have the general shape of a substantially rectangular trapezium whose tip is substantially oriented towards the longitudinal axis 301, although the two substantially right angles of this trapezium in fact have only 78 degrees in the example illustrated.
• due to the external curvature of the multichannel element and that the two in principle parallel bases of the trapezium are preferably each substantially oriented towards the longitudinal axis 301 to form partitions of constant thickness with the neighboring channels.
• the side of the channel close to the periphery is preferably also circular and concentric with the outer contour of the multichannel element 400 instead of being straight, to obtain an outer wall of constant thickness.
• the corners of this trapezium are preferably still arranged by a respective leave.
• the changes in shape and dimensions obviously aim to harmonize the hydraulic diameter of the different channels.
• the channels of the circle 303 are now preferably offset by an angle ⁇ / 10 relative to the channels of the circle 302.
• the pairs of channels of the circle 304 are offset by an angle ⁇ / 10 relative to the channels of the circle 303.
• the channel crown of the inner circle 302 and the channel crown of the intermediate circle 303 are entangled, likewise, the channel crown of the intermediate circle 303 and the channel crown of the outer circle 304 the are also, the relation 1 being checked in both cases.
• the multi-channel element 400 has an external diameter of 25 mm and the thickness of the external wall at the level of the channels located on the circle 304 is 1 mm.
• the thickness of the partitions between the different longitudinal channels is 0.6 mm.
• the radius of circle 302 is 4.4 mm, the radius of circle 303 is 7.5 mm and the radius of circle 304 is 10.3 mm.
• the central channel 401 has a diameter of 3 mm.
• the flattened rhombus has a common base of 2.55 mm with the isosceles triangle pointing towards the longitudinal axis 301 having a height of 2.7 mm and the other isosceles triangle a height of 1.4 mm.
• the flattened rhombus has a common base of 3.4 mm with the isosceles triangle pointing towards the longitudinal axis 301 having a height of 1.3 mm and the other isosceles triangle a height of 2 mm.
• the side common to the triangle and to the rectangle has a length of 2.6 mm
• the height of the right triangle is 1.6 mm
• the width of the rectangle is 1.3 mm.
• the dimension ratios resulting from this design example make it possible to obtain an overlap rate T of approximately 0.15 for the crowns of the circles 302 and 303 and of approximately 0.2 for the crowns 303 and 304 On also obtains an angle between the partition walls between channels of circles 302 and 303 and circles 303 and 304 with respect to the radius passing through their center, of approximately 49 degrees and 44 degrees respectively
• FIG. 6 represents a cross section of a multichannel element 500 corresponding to a fifth embodiment of the invention.
• the multichannel element 500 is based on the structure of the multichannel element 300 of FIG. 4.
• the detailed description made about the multichannel element 300 also applies to the multichannel element 500, with the exception of details and modifications. following.
• the multichannel element 500 has the shape of a straight hexagonal tube instead of that of a round straight tube as is the case of the multichannel element 300.
• the outer contour of the cross section of the multichannel element 500 therefore describes a hexagon whose center is obviously located on the longitudinal axis 501 of the hexagonal tube thus defined.
• the vertices of the hexagon formed by the outer contour of the multichannel element 500 are rounded.
• the internal structure, that is to say the shape and arrangement of the longitudinal channels, of the multichannel element 300 has been adapted to the hexagonal contour of the element 500.
• the general shape and arrangement of the longitudinal channels located on the circles 302 and 303 have not been changed. However, the circle 304 and the longitudinal channels located on this circle have been modified. In cross section, the longitudinal channels which correspond to those located on the circle 304 of the multichannel element 300 are now located on a hexagon 502.
• This hexagon 502 is obtained by homothety of center located on the longitudinal axis 501 and ratio less than 1, applied to the hexagon formed by the external contour of the element multichannel 500.
• the longitudinal channels located on hexagon 502 have the general shape of an isosceles triangle. Concerning a first longitudinal channel 503-la, a first side of the triangle which it forms is substantially parallel and slightly offset with respect to a straight line passing through the center and a vertex of hexagon 502.
• the side of the triangle closest to the periphery of the element 500 is parallel to this periphery.
• the two sides of the triangle not parallel to the adjacent periphery of the multichannel element 500 have the same length.
• the vertices of this triangle are preferably arranged by a respective leave.
• each pair of successive channels located on hexagon 502 has the same cross section as the channels 304-la and 304-lb and are deduced therefrom by successive rotation of angle ⁇ / 3 relative to the axis longitudinal 501.
• each pair of successive channels located on hexagon 502 is nested between two respective successive channels located on the intermediate circle 303 in the same manner as for the multichannel element 300.
• the channels of the carrier circle 303 can also be considered to be located on a carrier hexagon 504 because the number of channels is six and are obtained from each other by rotation of angle ⁇ / 3.
• FIG. 7 represents a cross section of a multichannel element 600 corresponding to a sixth embodiment of the invention.
• the external shape of the multi-channel element 600 is that of a straight round tube.
• the outer contour of the cross section of the multichannel element 600 describes a circle whose center is obviously located on the longitudinal axis 601 of the round tube thus defined.
• the internal space of the multichannel element 600 is subdivided into two series of longitudinal channels.
• the longitudinal channels of each of these two series are arranged on a respective circle 602 and 603.
• the two circles 602 and 603 are preferably concentric.
• the two circles are advantageously centered on the longitudinal axis 601.
• the radius of the circle 602 is less than that of the circle 603.
• the longitudinal channel 602-1 has the shape of a crescent moon arranged symmetrically on a radius of the outer contour of the multi-channel element 600.
• the tips of the crescent moon are preferably arranged by a respective fillet.
• the other three longitudinal channels 602-2, 602-3 and 602-4 have the same cross section as the channel 602-1 and can be deduced therefrom by successive rotation of angle ⁇ / 2 relative to the longitudinal axis 601.
• the longitudinal channel 603-1 has the general shape of a circle or an ellipse. If the shape chosen is an ellipse, the minor axis of the ellipse is preferably merged with the radius of the external contour of the multichannel element 600 with respect to which the channel 602-1 is symmetrical.
• the concave part of the crescent moon formed by channel 602-1 serves as a cradle for circle or ellipse formed by channel 603-1, or in other words, channel 603-1 is partially located in the concave area of the crescent moon in the cross section of channel 602-1.
• the other three longitudinal channels 603-2, 603-3 and 603-4 have the same cross section as the channel 603-1 and are deduced therefrom by successive rotation of angle ⁇ / 2 relative to the longitudinal axis 601.
• the channel crown of the inner circle 602 and the channel crown of the outer circle 603 are entangled, the relation 1 being obviously verified.
• the partition walls between channels can preferably have a constant thickness, but they can more advantageously widen gradually starting from their end directed towards the 'interior to go towards their end directed towards the outer periphery of the multichannel element considered, as reflected in the dimensioning examples given for each figure.
• the shape and sizing of the different channels are chosen so that their hydraulic radii are equal to +/- 20%, preferably to +/- 10%.
• the channels of the inner crowns have a general shape of a rhombus or of a flattened rhombus, and moreover, that the channels of the outermost crown have a general shape of a triangle or of a triangle backed by a rectangle, possibly assembled by symmetrical pair.
• the multichannel elements according to the invention preferably have the same cross section over their entire length, thus allowing their manufacture by extrusion through a die with for example a ceramic paste.
• the multichannel element can be used as it is, for example to inject reaction gas or to form dispersions, gas / liquid, liquid / liquid (emulsions) or others.
• the multichannel element can also be associated with a bacterium (in particular immobilized), in particular for the implementation of aerobic reactions.
• the multichannel element can also be associated with a zeolite or a catalyst.
• the multichannel elements of the present invention can also be produced in the form of a support (macroporous) on which one or more filter layers are arranged.
• the membranes thus obtained are particularly suitable for tangential filtration.
• the invention also relates to a filtration membrane comprising a multichannel element according to the invention, in association with at least one filtering layer.
• the multichannel elements according to the invention are preferably used in tangential filtration, which implies that the channels are through. They can also be used in frontal filtration in which case one end of each channel is blocked.
• the invention also relates to a reaction and / or filtration module comprising at least one multichannel element according to the invention (modified or not) or at least one membrane according to the invention.
• the multichannel element is made of classic material.
• it can be composed of a f ⁇ ttée ceramic, a sintered metal, porous carbon, a composite material, an organomineral or organic compound.
• the constituent material can be porous or dense, preferably porous.
• the multichannel elements of the present invention can be made of porous ceramic.
• the extrusion process comprises the conventional steps, such as:
• the mineral part of said paste comprises particles of a mineral compound which will form, after sintering, the porous network (homogeneous in its volume).
• the mineral compound advantageously metallic, is either a non-oxide compound or a metallic oxide.
• a derivative of silicon or aluminum will be chosen and preferably silicon carbide, silicon mtride or aluminum mtride.
• the metal compound is an oxide, it will be chosen from oxides of aluminum, of silicon or of metals of groups IVA (group of titanium) or VA (group of vanadium) and preferably alumina, oxide of zirconium or titanium oxide. These oxides can be used alone or as a mixture.
• the content of mineral compound in the dough will be between 50 and 90% by mass.
• the organic binder will give the paste the rheological properties necessary for extrusion and the mechanical properties necessary to obtain good cohesion of the product after extrusion.
• Said organic binder is preferably, but not necessarily, a water-soluble polymer.
• the polymer will present, for example, for a solution at 2% by mass, a viscosity measured at 20 ° C. of between 4 and lOPa / s.
• This polymer can be chosen from celluloses and their derivatives (HEC, CMC, HPC, HPMC, etc.), or can also be a polyacrylic acid, polyethylene glycol, a polyvinyl alcohol, a microc ⁇ stalline cellulose, etc.
• the paste will contain example between 2 and 10% by mass of organic binder.
• the role of the solvent is to disperse the mineral part and the binder.
• water will be chosen as the solvent; in the case where the polymer is not water-soluble, an alcohol will be chosen, for example 1 ethanol as solvent.
• concentration of the solvent will be for example between 8 and 40% by mass.
• a solvent-soluble deflocculant will improve the dispersion of the particles of the metal compound.
• We will choose for example a polyacrylic acid, a phospho-organic acid or an alkyl sulfonic acid.
• the deflocculant content is of the order of 0.5 to 1% by mass.
• extrusion aid agent such as polyethylene glycol
• the content of extruding agent is of the order of 0.5 to 1% by mass.
• the shaping is carried out conventionally by extrusion. Using a screw or a piston, the dough is pushed through a complex die in order to take its geometry.
• the membrane blanks are collected at the outlet of the die, dried in the open air in order to remove the water or the solvent, then sintered at a temperature of between 1300 and 1700 ° C. for for example two hours.
• This sintering is carried out under a normal or neutral atmosphere (for example argon) in the case of paste based on metal oxide, and under a neutral atmosphere (for example argon or helium) in the case where the compound metallic is a non-oxide.
• the extrusion device is a conventional device, that is to say it comprises a die, with disposed in the center thereof a crown supporting the pins which will form the channels.
• the blanks obtained at the outlet of the extrusion device can be dried and / or sintered in rotating barrels, for example according to the technique described in patent FR-A-2229313 in the name of Ceraver.
• the invention more particularly relates to a multichannel element characterized in that the channel (104) and / or the crowns (202, 302, 303, 504; 203 , 303, 304, 502; 107) are entangled at least two by two, or in other words are all or all entangled.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
• Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
• Porous Artificial Stone Or Porous Ceramic Products (AREA)

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• 2000
  • 2000-02-21 FR FR0002129A patent/FR2805331B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2001
  • 2001-02-20 AU AU2001235725A patent/AU2001235725A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-02-20 EP EP01907852A patent/EP1286755A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-02-20 JP JP2001561426A patent/JP4574101B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-02-20 US US10/204,350 patent/US20030155290A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-02-20 CA CA002400613A patent/CA2400613A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-02-20 WO PCT/FR2001/000495 patent/WO2001062370A1/fr not_active Ceased

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