Filter assembly including spiral wound module, brine seal and end cap

1. A filter assembly adapted for insertion into an inner chamber of a pressure vessel, wherein the assembly comprises:

a spiral wound membrane module ( 2 ) comprising at least one membrane envelope ( 4 ) and feed spacer sheet ( 6 ) concentrically wound about a central permeate tube ( 8 ) extending along an axis (X) forming an inlet scroll face ( 30 ), an outlet scroll face ( 32 ) and a cylindrical outer peripheral surface ( 38 ),

a first end cap ( 33 ) having a first end cap surface ( 72 ) sealed to the inlet scroll face ( 30 ),

a second end cap ( 35 ) comprising a second end cap surface ( 72 ′) sealed to the outlet scroll face ( 32 ), said second end cap surface ( 72 ′) is suitable to restrict flow through a majority of the outlet scroll face ( 32 ) and prevent a short path for axial feed flow out of the module ( 2 ),

a brine seal ( 65 ) having a radially extending flexible lip ( 70 ) concentrically located about a portion of the outer peripheral surface ( 38 ) that defines a maximum outer diameter adapted to engage the inner chamber of the pressure vessel; said brine seal defining an upstream region including:

at least one opening ( 76 ) in the first end cap surface ( 72 ) near the permeate collection tube for permitting feed flow through the inlet scroll face ( 30 ) and into the feed spacer sheet ( 6 ) of module ( 2 )

wherein the end cap surface ( 72 ) covers at least 75% of the inlet scroll face ( 30 ) and restricts feed flow to areas located near the permeate collection tube ( 8 ) and spaced away from the outer peripheral surface ( 38 ); and

an outward radial flow path extending through the feed spacer sheet ( 6 ) wherein the majority of feed flow enters the module ( 2 ) through the first end cap ( 33 ) near the permeate tube ( 8 ), flows in a radial direction relative to the permeate collection tube ( 8 ), and exits the module ( 2 ) from: i) the outer peripheral surface ( 38 ) or ii) the outlet scroll face ( 32 ) near the outer peripheral surface ( 38 ) of the module ( 2 ).

2. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the end cap ( 33 ) further comprises a sleeve ( 74 ) concentrically located about a portion of the outer peripheral surface ( 38 ) and extending axially from the end cap surface ( 72 ).

3. The filter assembly of claim 2 wherein the brine seal ( 65 ) is sealed to the sleeve ( 74 ).

4. The filter assembly of claim 2 wherein the outer peripheral surface ( 38 ) of the module ( 2 ) comprises a porous surface ( 80 ) and the sleeve ( 74 ) extends axially over the porous surface ( 80 ).

5. The filter assembly of claim 2 wherein the brine seal ( 65 ) wraps concentrically about the sleeve ( 74 ), and wherein the sleeve ( 74 ) comprises a radially extending raised ridge ( 91 ).

6. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said second end cap surface ( 72 ′) covers the entire outlet scroll face ( 32 ).

7. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said second end cap surface ( 72 ′) covers at least 75% of the outlet scroll face ( 32 ) and the second end cap surface contains a bypass path near the permeate tube ( 8 ) suitable to allow an amount of concentrated feed within the feed spacer ( 6 ) to exit the module ( 2 ), said amount less than 10% of the feed.

8. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical outer peripheral surface ( 38 ) is a porous surface ( 80 ) that includes a plurality of holes ( 93 ) greater than 1 mm width.

9. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a first portion of the outer peripheral surface ( 38 ) is preferably non-porous upstream of the brine seal ( 65 ) and at least a second portion of the peripheral surface ( 38 ) is porous downstream of the brine seal.