Filter With Captured Membrane
The present inventive concept relates to devices and methods for pressure filtration utilizing spiral wound membranes, in which the volume between the filter membrane and the filter housing is partially or essentially completely filled with an impermeable material. The resulting device permits rapid filtration rates with improved pressure resistance and reduced contamination and microbial growth within the filtration device.
1 . A filtration device comprising:
a housing comprising an inner housing wall;
a filter assembly comprising an outer filter wall; and
wherein the housing is configured to enclose the filter assembly such that the inner housing wall and the outer filter wall define a gap volume, and wherein at least about 25% of the gap volume is occupied by a filler.
2 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly comprises a spirally wound membrane filter.
3 . The filtration device of claim 1 wherein the filter assembly comprises a nanofiltration filter.
4 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly comprises a reverse osmosis filter.
5 . The filtration device of claim 1 wherein at least about 50% of the gap volume is occupied by the filler.
6 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein at least about 90% of the gap volume is occupied by the filler.
7 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein essentially all of the gap volume is occupied by the filler.
8 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein the filler is fluid impermeable to water.
9 . The filtration device of claim 1 , wherein the filler is nonporous.
10 . The filtration device of claim 1 wherein the filler is affixed to the inner housing wall and affixed to the outer filter wall.
11 . The filtration device of claim 9 wherein the filler comprises a polymer.
12 . The filtration device of claim 9 wherein the filler comprises an epoxy resin.