Flat sheet membrane filtration module with cylindrical housing
A membrane module comprising a cylindrical housing containing a plurality of flat sheet membranes oriented parallel with a longitudinal central axis of the housing, the edges of the one or more flat sheet membranes being embedded in a potting material.
1 . A membrane module comprising,
a tubular housing with round cross section;
a plurality of flat sheet membranes inside of the tubular housing; and,
a layer of potting material on the inside of the tubular housing,
wherein
the flat sheet membranes are oriented parallel with a longitudinal central axis of the housing and edges of the plurality of flat sheet membranes are embedded in and rigidly, adhesively connected to the potting material;
the potting material extends along the entire length of the flat sheet membranes; and
the potting material has an essentially annular shape and an essentially constant thickness.
2 . The membrane module of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sheet membranes are parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of the housing.
3 . The membrane module of claim 1 wherein the flat sheet membranes are essentially rectangular with a pair of longer edges and a pair of shorter ends and the flat sheet membranes are held by their longer edges in the potting material.
4 . The membrane module of claim 1 wherein the potting material extends along essentially the entire length of the housing.
5 . The membrane module of claim 1 comprising one or more fillers embedded in the potting material.
6 . The membrane module of claim 1 wherein one or more ends of the membranes are held in one or more grills at the ends of the housing.
7 . The membrane module of claim 1 wherein the flat sheet membranes have an inner cavity.
8 . The membrane module of claim 7 wherein the flat sheet membranes comprise a spacer fabric.
9 . The membrane module of claim 7 wherein the flat sheet membranes are integrated permeate channel membranes.
10 . The membrane module of claim 1 having one or more openings through the housing and into part of the potting material forming a permeate withdrawal path.
11 . The membrane module of claim 10 wherein the openings are slots cut in the housing and part way through the potting material.
12 . The membrane module of claim 10 comprising a permeate collection pipe passing through the membranes.
13 . The membrane module of claim 1 wherein each flat sheet membrane has two porous outer surfaces separated by a drainage layer.
14 . The membrane module of claim 1 wherein the potting material is one of urethane and epoxy.