Stackable and adjustable membrane module
One aspect of the present disclosure is a membrane for water treatment. The membrane preferably includes at least one membrane sub-unit, and at least one membrane cartridge disposed in the at least one membrane sub-unit, the at least one membrane cartridge having a non-cylindrical profile.
1 . A membrane module comprising:
a plurality of membrane sub-units configured to be removably coupled together to form at least a portion of a pressure housing of the membrane module, the pressure housing including an inlet and an outlet and defining an exterior surface of the membrane module, wherein the plurality of membrane sub-units include a first membrane sub-unit and a second membrane sub-unit;
a first membrane cartridge removably disposed in a first cavity defined by the first membrane sub-unit, the first membrane cartridge having a non-cylindrical profile; and
a second membrane cartridge removably disposed in a second cavity defined by the second membrane sub-unit, the second membrane cartridge having a non-cylindrical profile.
2 . The membrane module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of membrane sub-units further includes a third membrane sub-unit disposed between the first membrane sub-unit and the second membrane sub-unit, wherein the membrane module further comprises a third membrane cartridge configured to be removably disposed in a third cavity defined by the third membrane sub-unit, the third membrane cartridge having a non-cylindrical profile.
3 . The membrane module of claim 1 , wherein the second membrane sub-unit is stacked on the first membrane sub-unit.
4 . The membrane module of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second membrane sub-units each include a permeate side and a feed side; and
the first and second membrane sub-units are coupled to each other via at least their respective feed sides.
5 . The membrane module of claim 1 , wherein the pressure housing is configured to withstand at least 1 pound per square inch of gauge pressure (psig).
6 . The membrane module of claim 5 , wherein the pressure housing is configured to withstand at least 5 pounds per square inch of gauge pressure (psig).
7 . The membrane module of claim 6 , wherein the pressure housing is configured to withstand at least 30 pounds per square inch of gauge pressure (psig).
8 . The membrane module of claim 6 , wherein the membrane module is configured to be removably installed in a membrane filtration system.
9 . A system comprising:
a first membrane module comprising:
a pressure housing, the pressure housing defining an exterior surface of the first membrane module and including an inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of feed to be filtered by the system and an outlet;
a first membrane sub-unit defining a first cavity configured to removably receive a first plurality of membrane cartridges, the first plurality of membrane cartridges having a non-cylindrical profile; and
a second membrane sub-unit defining a second cavity configured to removably receive a second plurality of membrane cartridges, the second plurality of membrane cartridges having a non-cylindrical profile;
wherein the first membrane sub-unit and the second membrane sub-unit are configured to be removably coupled together to define at least a portion of the pressure housing.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the first membrane module further comprises a third membrane sub-unit disposed between the first membrane sub-unit and the second membrane sub-unit, the third membrane sub-unit defining a third cavity configured to removable receive a third plurality of membrane cartridges, the third plurality of membrane cartridges having a non-cylindrical profile.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the first and second membrane sub-units each include a permeate side and a feed side; and
the first and second membrane sub-units are coupled to each other via at least their respective feed sides.
12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the pressure housing is configured to withstand at least 1 pound per square inch of gauge pressure (psig).
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the pressure housing is configured to withstand at least 5 pounds per square inch of gauge pressure (psig).
14 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a second membrane module, wherein the first and second membrane modules are coupled in series.
15 . The membrane module of claim 1 , further comprising one or more seals between adjacent membrane sub-units of the plurality of membrane sub-units.
16 . The membrane module of claim 1 , wherein the first membrane sub-unit includes the inlet of the pressure housing and wherein the second membrane sub-unit includes the outlet of the pressure housing.
17 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a seal between the first membrane sub-unit and the second membrane sub-unit.
18 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first membrane sub-unit includes the inlet of the pressure housing and wherein the second membrane sub-unit includes the outlet of the pressure housing.
19 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a second membrane module, wherein the first and second membrane modules are coupled in parallel.
20 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising the first plurality of membrane cartridges.
21 . The system of claim 20 , further comprising the second plurality of membrane cartridges.
22 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the second membrane module comprises:
a second pressure housing, the second pressure housing defining a second exterior surface of the second membrane module and including a second inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to an outlet of the first membrane module and a second outlet;
a fourth membrane sub-unit defining a fourth cavity configured to removably receive a fourth plurality of membrane cartridges, the fourth plurality of membrane cartridges having a non-cylindrical profile; and
a fifth membrane sub-unit defining a fifth cavity configured to removably receive a fifth plurality of membrane cartridges, the fifth plurality of membrane cartridges having a non-cylindrical profile;
wherein the fourth membrane sub-unit and the fifth membrane sub-unit are configured to be removably coupled together to define at least a portion of the second pressure housing.
23 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the second membrane module comprises:
a second pressure housing, the second pressure housing defining a second exterior surface of the second membrane module and including a second inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to the source of feed to be filtered by the system and a second outlet;
a fourth first membrane sub-unit defining a fourth cavity configured to removably receive a fourth plurality of membrane cartridges, the fourth plurality of membrane cartridges having a non-cylindrical profile; and
a fifth membrane sub-unit defining a fifth cavity configured to removably receive a fifth plurality of membrane cartridges, the fifth plurality of membrane cartridges having a non-cylindrical profile;
wherein the fourth membrane sub-unit and the fifth membrane sub-unit are configured to be removably coupled together to define at least a portion of the second pressure housing; and
wherein the second membrane module is fluidly coupled to the source of feed to be filtered by the system.