WO2013021026A1

WO2013021026A1 - Filtering device with quadrangular housing

Info

Publication number: WO2013021026A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/065573
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Goebbert; Manfred Volz; Steven Kloos; Joseph Edward Zuback
Original assignee: Ksm Water Gmbh
Priority date: 2011-08-10
Filing date: 2012-08-09
Publication date: 2013-02-14
Also published as: DE102011080764A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a filtering device (10) for filtering water. The filtering device (10) comprises a housing (12) and multiple membrane filter elements (14; 24) that are arranged parallel to one another in the housing (12). Each membrane filter element (14; 24) has a plurality of channels which run in the longitudinal direction of the membrane filter element (14; 24) and on the inner face of each of which a filter membrane is attached such that a permeate is provided outside of the membrane filter element (14; 24). The housing (12) has a quadrangular cross-section.

Description

[Bezeichnung der Erfindung erstellt durch ISA gemäß Regel 37.2] FILTEREINRICHTUNG MIT VIERECKIGEM GEHÄUSE[Designation of the invention prepared by ISA according to Rule 37.2] FILTERING DEVICE WITH QUADRUPTED HOUSING

The invention relates to a filter device for the filtration of water according to the preamble of claim 1.

The membrane filter elements of such a filter device usually comprise a porous material, for example ceramic.

Such a module is known in the art and operates, for example, as follows:

In one end of each channel, the medium to be filtered is introduced, the so-called unfiltered. On the way of the unfiltrate through the channel is transverse to the flow direction through the wall surface of the channel (porous material) cleaned the unfiltered and occurs as a filtrate from the wall surface in a collecting space between the membrane filter elements and the housing. For this purpose, the wall surface is covered with a wafer-thin filter membrane, which has the actual filtering effect. From the plenum, the filtrate is discharged. The process of filtering in a penetration of the unfiltered through a porous solid is called permeation, the filtrate is the so-called. Permeate.

Unfiltered unfiltered material exits the other end of the channels and, if appropriate, is returned to the first-mentioned end of the channel, thus forming a circuit.

In the field of water filtration, especially two types of membrane filter elements are known. On the one hand there are circular membrane filter elements in cross-section, which are referred to as tube membranes, usually have a cylindrical shape and in the longitudinal direction of a plurality of channels is present. In these, the liquid medium is usually filtered from the inside out. The filter membrane is applied inside the channels. On the other hand rectangular membrane filter elements are known in cross-section, which are referred to as flat membranes. Again, these are generally elongated with a plurality of channels extending in their longitudinal direction, which are generally filtered from outside to inside. The filter membrane is mounted on the outside of the channels. The flat membrane, or membrane filter elements which work from the outside inward, are known to be immersed in the unfiltrate during operation. In the tubular membranes, or in membrane filter elements that work from the inside out, the unfiltered material can be stored in a separate container and passed through the tube membranes.

Membrane filter elements, in particular with a tube membrane, are often arranged in a round housing. This means that round filter elements in the housings can not be optimally packed.

The object of the invention is to obtain as much filtration area as possible in the smallest possible space while reducing costs. This applies both to the filter device per se, as well as for an entire filtration plant construction. The membrane filter elements are - regardless of the nature of the membrane filter element (tube membrane or flat membrane) - uniform, operated in the same way.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are specified in subclaims.

Square housing devices can be packed much more densely than round housing devices. A quadrangular device thus has, in contrast to a round module, a higher filtration area, so that a throughput through the filter device becomes larger. The quadrangular shape of the housing can be rectangular, square but also trapezoidal or parallelogram-shaped. Particularly preferred is a rather flat, quadrangular shape of the housing, wherein only a few membrane filter elements are arranged parallel to each other in the housing. This increases the effectiveness of the filter device.

According to the invention, the unfiltered material is basically conducted into the channels of the membrane filter elements, so that the permeate forms outside the membrane filter elements in the quadrangular housing of the filter device. The direction of filtration is therefore basically directed from the inside to the outside. Advantageously, thereby the filter device - regardless of whether pipe membranes or flat membranes are used, are operated in the same way. This means that, for example, an inlet pipe flanged to the filter device, in which unfiltered material is conveyed to the filter device, can always be connected in a similar manner to the filter device and that the permeate discharges are likewise permanently assigned. This allows a modular and standardized design of a complete filtration system with a small footprint and a uniform operation of the membrane filter elements.

As a result, it is even possible in the filter device according to the invention for tube and flat membrane elements to be combined in the filter element as required. An embodiment with only one type of membrane filter elements is of course also possible.

In particular, in the use of tubular membrane elements is provided that a plurality of tube membrane elements are arranged at a small distance from each other, so almost touch each other with its circumference, leaving a small distance between the outer surfaces of the tube membranes. This is especially necessary because the tube membranes are never quite straight and a contacting arrangement would only be possible under high voltages. This nevertheless makes possible a dense packing of the filter device with tube membrane elements and / or flat membrane elements. For flat membrane elements, attention must be paid to a gap between the individual membrane filter elements and the housing. This development has the advantage that a Rückspüleffektivität of flat membrane elements is much better than tubular membrane elements.

It is further proposed that the filter device in the housing comprises a plurality of side by side and / or stacked flat membrane elements. The individual flat membrane elements thus form interchangeable modules, for example, at the place of use, whereby the maintenance costs are reduced and the field availability is improved. In addition, the individual flat membrane elements can be relatively small, which simplifies their manufacturability, and yet an overall large and powerful filter device can be created. Particularly preferred is a symmetrical structure with 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, etc. flat membrane elements.

According to the invention, a plurality of membrane filter elements can form a bundle or a group, which is encapsulated at both end regions of the membrane filter elements by an initially liquid, for example meltable, and then curable material ("casting material") and sealingly connected to the housing. The casting material applied to the two end regions of the membrane filter elements comprises a plastic, preferably a polymer, in particular a thermoplastic. Also thermosets or two-component plastics such as epoxies or acrylates are possible. The plastic thus blocks the spaces between the membrane filter elements. The plastics mentioned work reliably, can be processed easily and are inexpensive.

It is also proposed that a seal between the bundle or the group and the housing is rectangular, conical or L-shaped. The seals provide a reliable, at least liquid-tight seal between the bundle or the group and the housing. It can also compensate for different temperatures during operation, which could otherwise lead to expansion and contraction of components and could destroy the device.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is possible for the housing to each have an outlet opening for the permeate on opposite sides, and for the outlet openings to be connected to each other by two filter devices. The corresponding outlet openings may preferably be positioned at each filter device at the same location, which supports a modular design of the entire filtration system. It is particularly favorable if the two outlet openings of a housing are designed to be complementary to one another, for example "male / female", so that a simple coupling is possible.

Further advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination given, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The figures show in detail:

Figure 1 shows a quadrangular housing of a flat membrane equipped with filter device according to the invention in a plan view;

Figure 2 shows the filter device of Figure 1 in a sectional side view;

3 shows a quadrangular housing of a filter device equipped with tubular membranes according to the invention in a plan view;

Figure 4 shows the filter device of Figure 3 in a sectional side view;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of an end portion of the filter device of Figures 1 and 2 with an adapter for transferring a round tube shape to the quadrangular filter device;

FIG. 6 shows a filtration system with two filter devices according to FIGS. 1 and 2 connected together in a first manner;

FIG. 7 shows a filtration system with two filter devices connected in a second manner according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 8 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1 of a further alternative filter device;

FIG. 9 shows a representation similar to FIG. 1 of a further alternative filter device;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 2 of the filter device of Figure 9; and

FIG. 11 shows a representation similar to FIG. 9 of a further alternative filter device.

It is true that in various embodiments, functionally equivalent elements and regions are usually represented by the same reference numerals.

Figures 1 and 2 show a filter device 10 in a first embodiment, wherein in an elongated housing 12 with a quadrangular cross-section a plurality of membrane filter elements in the form of rectangular flat membrane elements 14 are arranged parallel to each other. The cross section of the housing 12 may also be square, trapezoidal or parallelogram in embodiments not shown. For the sake of clarity, only a flat membrane element is designated by reference numeral 14.

The flat membrane elements 14 are formed cuboid and consist of a porous material, such as ceramic. The 9 membrane elements 14 are fixed to one another at the two end regions with a casting material made of plastic, preferably a polymer, initially applied there in the liquid state and then hardened, which forms a rectangular outer contour connecting section, whereby the interior of the filter device 10 relative to the outer region or the housing 12 is sealed. This is indicated in Figure 2 for the upper end region there by a hatching with the reference numeral 36.

The flat membrane elements 14 have a plurality of small channels in the interior, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the flat membrane elements 14. The channels are merely indicated in FIG. 1 and are not provided with reference numerals. On the inside of the channels a filter membrane is applied in each case. The individual flat membrane elements 14 are spaced apart by a gap 16. Between the outside in the housing 12 arranged flat membrane elements 14 and a wall of the housing 12, the filter device 10 also has a gap 16.

On the side wall of the housing 12, two outlet openings in the form of nozzles 18 for discharging liquid are arranged. In Figure 1 is further shown that the housing 12 at one end face a projecting flange with holes 20, for example. For the arrangement of an adapter (see Figure 5).

The filter device 10 operates in the first embodiment as follows:

A liquid to be filtered (unfiltrate), preferably contaminated water, is passed via a nozzle explained below at a front end of the housing 12 in its inner and in each case on an end face of the flat membrane elements 14 (see arrow 22), after which the unfiltrate channels the channels Flat membrane elements 14 flows through. This can also happen under pressure. A portion of the unfiltered material runs out at the opposite end face of the housing 12 of the filter device 10 again.

On its way through the channels, unfiltered material passes through the filter membrane and the porous ceramic material of the individual flat membrane element 14 transversely to the flow direction in the channels and exits between the membrane elements 14 in the intermediate space 16. All interspaces 16 together form a collecting space for the filtrate. The process of filtering in a penetration of the unfiltered through a solid is called permeation, the filtrate is the so-called. Permeate. From the interstices 16, the permeate passes to the port 18 (permeate), from where the filtered water is withdrawn for further use.

In known manner, the unfiltered out of the channels and unfiltered outgoing unfiltrate can be fed to a further or the same filter device 10, where it can be filtered. The further filter device can also be a filter device of another type.

The formed with a square cross-section housing 12 can be easily assembled in the course of a modular system with additional housing 12 to a powerful filtration system and has a large packing density, which is larger than comparable housing with a round cross-section. As a result, the throughput per volume element is increased in the filter device 10.

Figures 3 and 4 show the filter device 10 in a second embodiment, wherein a plurality of tubular membrane elements 24 are arranged parallel to each other in a housing 12 having a quadrangular cross-section. The tubular membrane elements 24 are those membrane filter elements which have a substantially cylindrical elongated body, which is traversed in its longitudinal direction by a plurality of parallel channels, which are open at the ends. The individual tube membrane elements 24 preferably touch each other with their circumference, but still produce - due to the tube shape - gaps 16 in which the permeate can be collected and fed to the permeate 18. Otherwise, the filter device 10 operates in the second embodiment according to the first embodiment.

In another embodiment, not shown, it is possible that flat membrane elements 14 and tube membrane elements 24 can be combined in a filter device 10 as needed. The filtration direction is basically from the inside to the outside.

FIG. 5 shows the possibility of connecting a nonfiltrate-carrying tube or hose to the filter device 10. For this purpose, an adapter 26 is provided which transfers a transition of an unfiltrate-carrying element with a round cross section (tube or hose) to the quadrangular cross section of the filter device 10. The adapter 26 is screwed onto the end face of the filter device 10, wherein the holes 20 are used in the flange of the filter device 10. The adapter 26 can be used for all embodiments of the filter device 10.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a filtration system 28 consisting of two filter devices 10 according to the invention, in each of which a permeate outlet 18 of a first filter device 10 is connected to a permeate outlet 18 of a second filter device 10. Of course, more than two filter devices 10 can be connected to a filtration system 28 with each other. All embodiments of the filter device 10 can be used individually or else mixed in the filtration system 28. Shown here is the use of flat membrane elements 14 according to FIGS. 1 and 2. A connection point 30 of the permeate outputs 18 is sealed in FIG. 6, for example, with an O-ring 32. In Figure 7, the permeate 18 are screwed together at the junction 30 with each other by sleeves and an intermediate piece, which is alternatively possible.

FIG. 8 shows a further alternative embodiment of a filter device 10. Unlike that of FIGS. 1 and 2, a multiplicity of identical flat membrane elements 14 are arranged inside the rectangular housing 12, namely 3 "pillars" next to each other with 10 flat membrane elements 14 arranged one above the other the filter device 10 contains a total of 30 flat membrane elements 14. The filter device can be used in operation but also rotated by 90 °, ie with 10 "columns", each with 3 flat-mounted flat membrane elements 14th

The 30 flat membrane elements 14 may be cast in total or in each case individually at their respective ends with a hardening casting material, which then forms a rectangular outer contour having connecting portion. If they are encapsulated overall, a seal is required only at the outer edge of the connection portion relative to the housing 12. If they are individually encapsulated, the individually formed connection sections must each be sealed against each other, but instead the individual flat membrane elements 14 can be easily exchanged.

It goes without saying that the housing 12 shown in FIG. 8 also has inlet and outlet openings in the form of, for example, lateral sockets, which, however, are not shown in FIG. 8 for reasons of illustration.

A further alternative embodiment of a filter device 10 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In this filter device 10, 9 flat membrane elements 14 are combined to form a group 34, wherein in FIGS. 9 and 10 only one group is provided with a reference numeral 34 for reasons of clarity , Of course, in other embodiments, not shown, other amounts of flat membranes can be combined into one group, and in yet another embodiment, groups are used with different amounts of flat membranes within a filter device. It is even possible to combine 10 groups with flat membranes with groups with tubular membranes within a filter device.

Each group 34 is encapsulated at its two axial end portions in the manner described above several times with casting material which forms a rectangular connection portion 36 after curing, which is sealingly connected to the housing 12 and / or the connecting portions 36 of the adjacent groups 34 (For reasons of clarity, only one connection section is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 and provided with a reference numeral). In this way, extremely powerful filtering devices 10 can be created, which nevertheless have a modular construction and therefore can be manufactured inexpensively and easily maintained.

The filter device 10 shown in FIG. 11 is quite similar to that of FIGS. 9 and 10. However, it does not use flat membrane elements but tube membrane elements 24 similar to those of FIGS. 3 and 4, with 36 tube membrane elements 24 being combined to form a group 36 by way of example.

In the case of the casings 12 shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, it is of course also the case that ports 18 are provided for supplying and discharging fluid, which, however, are drawn only in FIG.

Claims

A filtering device (10) for filtering, in particular, water comprising a housing (12) and a plurality of membrane filter elements (14; 24) disposed in the housing (12), each membrane filter element (14; 24) having a plurality in the longitudinal direction of the membrane On the inside of each filter membrane is applied, so that a permeate outside the membrane filter element (14, 24) is available, characterized in that the housing (12) has a quadrangular cross-section having.
Filter device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the membrane filter elements is a tube membrane element (24).
Filter device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the tube membrane elements (24) are arranged at a small distance from each other.
Filter device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the membrane filter elements is a flat membrane element (14).
Filter device (10) according to claim 44, characterized in that it comprises in the housing (12) has a plurality of juxtaposed and / or stacked flat membrane elements (14).
Filter device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of membrane filter elements (14; 24) form a bundle or a group (34) which encapsulates at its or both end regions of a curable casting material and with the housing (12) is sealingly connected.
Filter device (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that a seal between the bundle or the group (34) and the housing (12) is rectangular, conical or L-shaped.
Filter device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (12) on opposite sides in each case at least one outlet opening (18) for the permeate.
Filter device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the outlet openings (18) are each connected to one another by two filter devices (10).