JP2024517650A - FILTER BOX AND RETRIEVABLE SUBSEA FILTER MODULE COMPRISING FILTER BOX - Patent application - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a subsea filter box comprising a plurality of pressure vessels 1 forming at least one group of vertical pressure vessels. A first support plate 7 and a second support plate 8 include a plurality of fastening features 20, each supporting a pressure vessel end section 17, 6. Each of the plurality of pressure vessels extends between a fixture on the first support plate and a fixture on the second support plate. Each group of pressure vessels includes at least one inlet pressure vessel, one end pressure vessel 14 adjacent and in fluid connection with an intermediate pressure vessel 16, and a filter box frame clamping the first support plate 7 and the second support plate 8 to the plurality of pressure vessels. A filter module comprising at least one filter box is also disclosed.

Description

The present invention relates to a subsea filter box and a recoverable subsea filter module comprising the subsea filter box. In particular, the subsea filter module is adapted for use with a subsea template having a zone dedicated to the subsea filter module.

The subsea filter boxes and recoverable subsea filter modules are particularly intended for use in connection with desalination using RO membranes and hydrostatic pressure to fully or partially pressurize seawater through the RO membranes.

When a pressure vessel with a membrane is used undersea, the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the vessel is reduced, and therefore the required pressure rating of the vessel is also reduced.

In filtration, space can be an issue and it is an object of the present invention to provide a more compact stack of pressure vessels with membranes than conventional solutions. Compact stacking is particularly useful when pressure vessels with membranes are used in subsea modules, where space can be limited and large support vessels are typically required to install or retrieve large templates and modules, with high space requirements increasing costs in both production and installation.

Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes can be placed in seawater at depths that provide a hydrostatic pressure greater than the osmotic pressure (π). A hydrostatic pressure greater than π can be utilized in the desalination process to push water molecules through the RO membrane without the need for additional pressure. Subsea desalination is advantageous because the pump that provides the flow through the RO membrane can be placed downstream of the RO membrane, thus pumping only the desalinated water flow and not the entire seawater flow.

A typical pressure vessel for RO membranes has an outlet for the permeate in the center of one of the short sides opposite the inlet. In such locations, access to the end of the pressure vessel is necessary, which imposes special requirements on the stacking of pressure vessels. One of the objects of the present invention is to eliminate this limitation and provide greater flexibility in stacking pressure vessels. Furthermore, the subsea filter box of the present invention provides a compact structure, which is suitable for use in subsea modules and can be the basis for many pressure vessel and subsea filter box configurations.

The present invention relates to a subsea filter box comprising a plurality of vertical pressure vessels forming at least one group of vertical pressure vessels, each pressure vessel including a membrane, a first end section, and a second end section, each first end section including a first side and a first end section end face, each second end section including a second side and a second end section end face, the first end section end face facing away from the second end section end face.
At least one feed inlet is disposed on the first end section side, and at least one retentate outlet and at least one permeate/filtrate outlet are disposed on the second end section side. The subsea filter box comprises a first support plate with a plurality of fixed features each supporting the first end section, and a second support plate with a plurality of fixed features each supporting the second end section, whereby each of the plurality of pressure vessels extends between a fixed feature on the first support plate and a fixed feature on the second support plate. At least one group of pressure vessels includes at least one inlet pressure vessel with at least one feed outlet on the first end section side, at least one intermediate pressure vessel with at least one feed outlet on the first end section side, at least one permeate inlet on the second end section side, and at least one retentate inlet on the second end section side in fluid connection adjacent to the inlet pressure vessel. One end pressure vessel is in fluid connection adjacent to the intermediate pressure vessel. A clamping structure clamps the first support plate and the second support plate to the plurality of pressure vessels.
The inlet pressure vessel may be a five port pressure vessel, the end pressure vessel may be a four port pressure vessel, and the intermediate pressure vessel may be a six port pressure vessel.

The inlet pressure vessel may further include a permeate/filtrate outlet on the second end section side, and the end pressure vessel may include a retentate inlet on the second end section side.

The feed inlet, retentate outlet, and permeate/filtrate outlet of a pressure vessel can be secured to the feed outlet, retentate inlet, and permeate inlet of an adjacent pressure vessel, respectively, using releasable liquid couplings.

Releasable liquid couplings provide a mechanical joint that provides a strong connection and can mechanically secure pressure vessels to one another within a group of vertical pressure vessels.

Each pressure vessel may include a permeate end cap that seals the permeate side of the pressure vessel. The permeate end cap may include a permeate channel that is secured to the threads of the permeate/filtrate outlet tube of the pressure vessel using an end cap mounting bracket formed as a tube with internal threads that thread into the permeate/filtrate outlet tube and a port on the side to allow permeate to exit the tube and to hold the end cap to the permeate/filtrate outlet tube.

The first end section end face may be parallel to the second end section end face.

The membrane may be a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane and the subsea filter box may be adapted for use in subsea desalination, whereby the feed is seawater, the retentate is brine and the permeate is freshwater.

The present invention further relates to a recoverable subsea filter module with at least one filter box as described above, comprising a plurality of groups of vertical pressure vessels further comprising a feed inlet header in fluid communication with each feed inlet of each inlet pressure vessel. The retentate header is in fluid communication with each retentate outlet of each inlet pressure vessel or one of each end pressure vessel. The permeate header is in fluid communication with each permeate/filtrate outlet of each inlet pressure vessel or one of each end pressure vessel.

The subsea filter module may include two filter boxes, a first of the two filter boxes being positioned above a second of the two filter boxes such that the longitudinal centerline of each pressure vessel of the first filter box coincides with the longitudinal centerline of the pressure vessel of the second filter box.

The recoverable subsea filter module may further include a subsea desalination template with a recoverable subsea filter module zone, a retentate outlet pipe extending from the desalination module, and a permeate service line extending from the desalination template to a permeate receiving facility.

The present invention further relates to a vertical pressure vessel with a membrane. The first end section includes a first side and a first end section end face. The second end section includes a second side and a second end section end face. The first end section end face faces away from the second end section end face. At least one feed inlet is disposed on the first end section side. At least one retentate outlet and at least one permeate/filtrate outlet are disposed on the second end section side. At least one of the feed outlets is disposed on the first end section side, the retentate inlet is disposed on the second end section side, and the permeate inlet is disposed on the second end section side.

The membrane may be an RO membrane and the pressure vessel may be a desalination pressure vessel.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a filter box according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bottom support plate. FIG. 3 is a top view of the bottom support plate as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom support plate as shown in FIG. 3 taken along line AA. FIG. 2 is a side view of the pressure vessel. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom section of the pressure vessel. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the first section/top section of the pressure vessel. 1A-1C are schematic diagrams of different embodiments of a bank of six pressure vessels; 1A-1C are schematic diagrams of different embodiments of a bank of six pressure vessels; 1A-1C are schematic diagrams of different embodiments of a bank of six pressure vessels; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a subsea retrieveable filter box module according to the present invention comprising two filter boxes as shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a side view of the retrieveable filter box module of FIG. 9 from a first side. FIG. 10 is a side view of the retrieveable filter box module of FIG. 9 from a second side. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a subsea desalination template with a retrievable filter box module of the present invention.

For a detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, please first refer to the attached figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filter box according to the present invention. The filter box includes a number of pressure vessels 1. The pressure vessels 1 are shown in six rows, with ten pressure vessels 1 in each row, for a total of sixty pressure vessels 1, creating ten columns of six pressure vessels 1 each. Each pressure vessel includes a liquid inlet 2 in a first section of the pressure vessel or pressure vessel top section 17, and a retentate outlet 3 and a permeate/filtrate outlet 4 in a second section/bottom section 6 of the pressure vessel. A pressure vessel center section 5 connects the pressure vessel bottom section 6 and the pressure vessel top section 17, and holds the RO membranes.

Each of the ten rows includes four six-port intermediate pressure vessels 16, one four-port end pressure vessel 14 at the end of the first row, and one five-port inlet pressure vessel 15 at the end of the second row. The five-port inlet pressure vessel 15 provides an inlet port for liquid. The pressure vessels 1 in a row are fluidly connected to each other, allowing liquid flow between the pressure vessels 1 and mechanically coupling the pressure vessels to hold the pressure vessels 1 in each row together. The feed liquids are typically seawater, permeate (desalinated water), and brine (high salinity seawater). In addition to the three ports listed above, the four-port pressure vessel 14 includes a retentate inlet.
In addition to the three ports listed above, the five-port pressure vessel 15 includes a liquid outlet and a permeate inlet.
In addition to the three ports listed above, the six-port pressure vessel 16 includes a retentate inlet, a liquid outlet, and a permeate inlet.

The pressure vessel 1 is held in place between a first support plate/top support plate 7 and a second support plate/bottom support plate 8, both of which are provided with a circular recess forming a fixed profile for each pressure vessel 1. The first support plate/top support plate 7 and the second support plate/bottom support plate 8 are clamped together by a clamp structure. The clamp structure may include an upper frame part 9 supporting the upper support plate 7 and a lower frame part 10 supporting the bottom support plate 8. Each of the upper frame part 9 and the lower frame part 10 is connected to two central frame parts 11 at four frame joints 12, which also form part of the clamp structure that clamps these parts together. The pressure vessel support clamps 13 hold the pressure vessel to the outside line (the four-port pressure vessel 14 to one central frame part 11 and the five-port pressure vessel 15 to the other central frame part 11). The pressure vessel support clamps 13 are typically clamps that encircle the pressure vessel. Some of the pressure vessels include retentate inlets 33 and permeate inlets 34 for communicating liquid between the pressure vessels.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is also applicable to other systems, such as sulfate removal, where a feed stream entering at inlet 2 is filtered by any type of filter cartridge located inside pressure vessel 1 resulting in a filtrate stream at outlet 4 and a retentate stream at outlet 3.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a bottom support plate 8, which is also similar to the top support frame 7 shown in Figure 1. The bottom support plate 8 includes one circular recess or fixed feature 20 for each pressure vessel that the support plate is intended to hold, in this case 60 fixed features 20 in a pattern with 6 rows and 10 columns of fixed features. The fixed features are coincident with one another.

The fixed profile 20 is a profile that prevents lateral and vertical displacement of the pressure vessel. The fixed profile is adapted to the shape and size of the end of the pressure vessel.

Approximate dimensions are included in Figures 3 and 4 to indicate the order of magnitude of the size of the support plates.

Figure 3 is a top view of the bottom support plate 8 as shown in Figure 2. The distance c between each of the fixed features 20 formed as circular recesses is typically 36 cm. The width w of the plate is typically 230 cm and the length l of the plate is typically 370 cm.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom support plate 8 taken along line A-A as shown in Figure 3, showing that the diameter D of the fixed feature 20 is 30 cm, and the diameter d of the hole through the support plate at the centre of each recess is 3 cm. The thickness t of the support plate is 13 cm, and the depth h of each recess is 6 cm.

Figure 5 is a side view of a pressure vessel with a liquid inlet 2, a retentate outlet 3, a permeate/filtrate outlet 4, a feed outlet 32, a retentate inlet 33, and a permeate inlet 34. A top plug 35 allows access to the liquid inlet chamber of the pressure vessel. A permeate end cap 30 seals the permeate side of the pressure vessel and contains the permeate channel. The pressure vessel includes a first pressure vessel end section (top) 17 and a second pressure vessel end section (bottom) 6.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the pressure vessel bottom section 6. Retentate outlet 3, retentate inlet 33, permeate/filtrate outlet 4, and permeate inlet 34 are shown. A permeate end cap 30, which seals the permeate side of the pressure vessel, includes a permeate channel 31 that extends as a perforated hollow channel from the base to guide flow from the inlet and outlet. The permeate end cap 30 includes a second/bottom pressure vessel end section end face 22 and a second/bottom pressure vessel end section side face 24. The end section 30 is secured to the threads of the permeate/filtrate outlet tube 38 of the pressure vessel with an end cap mounting bracket 36 formed as a tube with internal threads that thread into the permeate/filtrate outlet tube 38 and a port on the side to allow permeate to flow out of the tube. A gasket or seal 37 seals between the end section 30 and the end face of the pressure vessel. The end cap mounting bracket 36 holds the end cap 30 to the pressure vessel. The end cap 30 includes a tool attachment portion 25, such as a recess for receiving a hex/Allen key or a Torx key.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the first/upper section 17 of the pressure vessel. The feed inlet 2, feed outlet 32 are shown. The top plug 35 allows access to the feed inlet chamber of the pressure vessel. The first/upper pressure vessel end section end face 21 and the first/upper pressure vessel end section side face 23 are shown.

In the four-port pressure vessel 14 described in connection with FIG. 1, the feed outlet 32 and the permeate inlet 34 are blocked or omitted.

In the five-port pressure vessel 15 described in connection with FIG. 1, the retentate inlet 33 is omitted or blocked.

8a, 8b, and 8c are schematic diagrams of a row of six pressure vessels 1. The figures show different embodiments with slightly different outlet configurations. In 8a, the pressure vessels include four 6-port intermediate pressure vessels 16, a 4-port end pressure vessel 14 at the end of the first row, and a 5-port inlet pressure vessel 15 at the end of the second row. The pressure vessels 1 in a row are fluidly connected to each other by releasable liquid couplings 18, which allow the flow of seawater, permeate (desalinated water) and brine (high salinity seawater) between the pressure vessels 1 (if the pressure vessels are used for desalination) and also mechanically join the pressure vessels 1 and hold the pressure vessels 1 of each row together. The ports are provided with releasable liquid couplings 18 at each of the feed inlets 2, the retentate outlet 3, and the permeate/filtrate outlet 4. In addition to the three ports listed above, the 4-port pressure vessel 14 includes a retentate inlet 33. In addition to the three ports listed above, the five-port pressure vessel 15 includes a feed outlet 32 and a permeate inlet 34. In addition to the three ports listed above, the six-port pressure vessel 16 includes a retentate inlet 33, a feed outlet 32, and a permeate inlet 34.

The releasable liquid couplings 18 can be formed as clamp connectors/connection clamps, as threaded connectors. Suitable couplings are sold as Victaulic couplings, Victaulic being a trade name. Permeate end caps 30 are disposed at the bottom of each of the pressure vessels 1.

The only difference between the six pressure vessels 1 is the number of ports. All pressure vessels have the same dimensions.

Figure 8b shows a different embodiment in which the inlet pressure vessel 15 includes six ports, including a permeate/filtrate outlet 4, a retentate outlet 3, a permeate inlet 34, and a retentate inlet 33. The end pressure vessel 14 includes only three ports, and thus no retentate or permeate inlets.

Figure 8c shows a different embodiment in which the inlet pressure vessel 15 contains four ports, including a feed outlet 32, a permeate/filtrate outlet 4, and a retentate outlet 3, but no permeate inlet or retentate inlet. The end pressure vessel 14 contains five ports, and thus both retentate and permeate inlets (permeate inlet 34 and retentate inlet 33) and outlets.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a filter box module according to the present invention with two filter boxes (14 columns instead of 10 columns of pressure vessels) one above the other as shown in Figure 1. The pressure vessels 1 are shown in six rows, with 14 pressure vessels 1 in each row, for a total of 168 pressure vessels 1. Each of the 14 columns of pressure vessels 1 is supplied with feed liquid through two inlet filters 40 in fluid communication with one feed header 42 per layer of the filter box. In Figure 9, there are two layers of filter boxes, and therefore two feed headers 42. The feed header 42 includes a plenum tube and one inlet tube in fluid communication with the feed inlet 2 per row of pressure vessels.

The permeate from each of the ten rows of pressure vessels 1 is directed to one permeate header 44 per layer of filter boxes. In FIG. 9, there are two layers of filter boxes and therefore two permeate headers 44. The permeate headers 44 include a plenum tube and one outlet tube in liquid connection with the permeate/filtrate outlet 4 per row of pressure vessels.

The brine from each of the ten rows of pressure vessels 1 is directed to one retentate header 43 per layer of filter boxes. In FIG. 9, there are two layers of filter boxes and therefore two retentate headers 43. The retentate headers 43 include a plenum tube and one inlet tube in liquid connection with the retentate outlet per row of pressure vessels.

The pressure vessel 1 is held in place between a first support plate/top support plate 7 and a second support plate/bottom support plate 8. The top support plate 7 and bottom support plate 8 are disposed within the upper frame portion 9 and lower frame portion 10 of each filter box, respectively.

The permeate template connection 45 and the retentate template connection 46 are in liquid contact with the permeate header 44 and the retentate header 43, respectively. The template connections 45, 46 are connected to the subsea desalination template when the filter box module is installed in the subsea desalination template.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is also applicable to other systems in which the flow of feed seawater through the seawater inlet filter 40 is filtered by any type of filter cartridge located inside the pressure vessel 1, with the filtrate flow exiting through the template connection 45 and the retentate exiting through the outlet 46.

10 is a side view of the filter box module of FIG. 9 from a first side, and FIG. 11 is a side view of the filter box module of FIG. 9 from a second side. Each of the filter boxes includes a top plate 7, a top frame 9, a bottom plate 8, and a bottom frame 10. Valves and liquid parameter sensors are disposed in the flow path between the retentate header 43 and the retentate template connection 46. Valves and liquid parameter sensors are disposed in the flow path between the permeate header 44 and the permeate template connection 45. The seawater header 42 is in fluid communication with the seawater inlet filter 40.

Liquid parameter sensors may include temperature sensors, salinity sensors, pressure sensors, mass flow sensors, contamination sensors, etc.

12 is a schematic diagram of a subsea desalination template 50 with a retrievable filter module 51 of the present invention in a retrievable subsea filter module zone 57. The filter module 51 is installed or retrieved from the desalination template from a support/service vessel 55. A retentate outlet pipe 53 extends from the desalination module 50 to a location remote from the feed inlet of the filter module 51. A permeate and service line 52 extends from the desalination template to a permeate receiving facility 54. A control station 56 can be connected to the subsea desalination template 50 and can provide power and control to the subsea desalination template 50. The subsea desalination template 50 can form part of a system with one or several circulation pumps for the feed, a system for one or several transport pumps for the permeate, a system with separate inlet filters, a system for monitoring operation, etc.

The subsea template 50 can include dedicated zones for the filter modules 51 of the present invention and can include connections for at least one of a permeate inlet, a retentate inlet, and a feed outlet.

The pressure vessel is an RO pressure vessel for water desalination. Other filtration pressure vessels may also be utilized with the present invention.

The above description has been made with RO membranes in mind, installed inside a pressure vessel for the purpose of desalination. However, in other systems, other types of membranes may be installed and the terminology may differ.

LIST OF NUMERALS 1 Pressure vessel 2 Feed inlet 3 Retentate outlet 4 Permeate/filtrate outlet 5 Pressure vessel central section 6 Second end section 7 First support plate 8 Second support plate 9 Upper frame section 10 Lower frame section 11 Central frame section 12 Frame joint 13 Pressure vessel support clamp 14 4-port end pressure vessel 15 5-port inlet pressure vessel 16 6-port intermediate pressure vessel 17 First end section 18 Releasable liquid coupling 20 Fixed feature/circular recess 21 First end section end face 22 Second end section end face 23 First end section side 24 Second end section side 25 Tooling attachment 30 Permeate end cap 31 Permeate channel 32 Feed outlet 33 Retentate inlet 34 Permeate inlet 35 Top plug 36 End cap mounting bracket 37 End cap seal 38 Permeate/filtrate outlet tubing 40 Feed inlet filter 42 Feed header 43 Retentate header 44 Permeate header 45 Permeate template connection 46 Retentate template connection 50 Desalination template 51 Filter module 52 Permeate and service lines 53 Retentate outlet pipe 54 Permeate receiving facility 55 Support vessel 56 Control station 57 Recoverable subsea filter module zone

Claims (13)

A subsea filter box comprising a plurality of vertical pressure vessels (1) forming at least one group of vertical pressure vessels,
Each pressure vessel (1) has a membrane, a first end section (17), and a second end section (6);
Each first end section (17) has a first side (23) and a first end section end face (21);
Each second end section (6) has a second side (24) and a second end section end face (22);
said first end section end face (21) faces away from said second end section end face (22);
Each pressure vessel (1)
at least one feed liquid inlet (2) on said first end section side (23);
at least one retentate outlet (3) and at least one permeate/filtrate outlet (4) on said second end section side (24);
The subsea filter box comprises:
a first support plate (7) having a plurality of fastening features (20) each supporting a first end section (17);
a second support plate (8) having a plurality of fixed features (20) each supporting a second end section (6), whereby each of the plurality of pressure vessels extends between a fixed feature (20) on the first support plate (7) and a fixed feature (20) on the second support plate (8);
At least one group of pressure vessels comprises at least
an inlet pressure vessel (15) having at least one feed liquid outlet (32) on said first end section side (23);
at least one intermediate pressure vessel (16) having at least one feed liquid outlet (32) on said first end section side (23);
at least one permeate inlet (34) on said second end section side (24);
at least one retentate inlet (33) in said second end section side (24) adjacent and in fluid connection with said inlet pressure vessel (15);
an end pressure vessel (14) adjacent and in fluid communication with the intermediate pressure vessel (16);
and a clamping structure for clamping the first support plate (7) and the second support plate (8) to the plurality of pressure vessels (1). The subsea filter box of claim 1, wherein the inlet pressure vessel (15) is a five-port pressure vessel, the end pressure vessel (14) is a four-port pressure vessel, and the at least one intermediate pressure vessel (16) is a six-port pressure vessel. The subsea filter box of claim 2, wherein the inlet pressure vessel (15) further has a permeate/filtrate outlet (4) at the second end section side (24) and the end pressure vessel (14) has a retentate inlet (33) at the second end section side (24). The subsea filter box of claim 1, wherein the liquid inlet (2), the retentate outlet (3), and the permeate/filtrate outlet (4) of a pressure vessel are secured to the feed outlet (32), the retentate inlet (33), and the permeate inlet (34) of an adjacent pressure vessel, respectively, using releasable liquid couplings (18). The subsea filter box of claim 4, wherein the releasable liquid coupling (18) provides a mechanical joint that provides a robust connection to mechanically secure the pressure vessels together within a group of vertical pressure vessels. The subsea filter box of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each pressure vessel comprises a permeate end cap (30) sealing the permeate side of the pressure vessel, the permeate end cap (30) having a permeate channel (31) that is secured to the threads of the permeate/filtrate outlet tube (38) of the pressure vessel using an end cap mounting bracket (36) formed as a tube with internal threads that screw into the permeate/filtrate outlet tube (38) and a port on the side to allow the permeate to exit the tube and to hold the end cap (30) to the permeate/filtrate outlet tube (38). The subsea filter box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first end section end face can be parallel to the second end section end face. The subsea filter box of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the membrane is a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane and the subsea filter box is adapted for use in subsea desalination, whereby the feed liquid is seawater, the retentate is brine and the permeate is freshwater. A recoverable subsea filter module comprising at least one subsea filter box according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a plurality of groups of vertical pressure vessels (1),
a liquid inlet header (42) in liquid communication with each liquid inlet (2) of each inlet pressure vessel (15);
a retentate header (43) in fluid communication with each retentate outlet (3) of one of the inlet pressure vessels (15) or each end pressure vessel (14);
The recoverable subsea filter module further comprises a permeate header (44) in fluid communication with each of the inlet pressure vessels (15) or each of the permeate/filtrate outlets (4) of one of the end pressure vessels (14). The recoverable subsea filter module of claim 9, having two subsea filter boxes, a first of the two subsea filter boxes being positioned above a second of the two subsea filter boxes, such that a longitudinal centerline of each pressure vessel of the first subsea filter box coincides with a longitudinal centerline of a pressure vessel of the second subsea filter box. a subsea desalination template (50) with a recoverable subsea filter module zone (57);
a retentate outlet pipe (53) extending from the desalination module (50);
11. The recoverable subsea filter module of claim 9 or 10, further comprising a permeate and service line (52) extending from the desalination template to a permeate receiving facility (54). A membrane,
a first end section (17) having a first side (23) and a first end section end face (21);
a second end section (6) having a second side (24) and a second end section end face (22), said first end section end face (21) facing away from said second end section end face (22);
at least one feed inlet (2) on said first end section side (23);
at least one retentate outlet (3) and at least one permeate/filtrate outlet (4) on said second end section side (24);
a feed outlet (32) on said first end section side (23), a retentate inlet (33) on said second end section side (24), and at least one of a permeate inlet (34) on said second end section side (24). The vertical pressure vessel (1) of claim 12, wherein the membrane is an RO membrane and the pressure vessel is a desalination pressure vessel (1).

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