Ceramic membrane module with external frame assembly and related methods

1. A method, comprising:

disposing a membrane within a housing, the membrane having first and second membrane ends, the housing having a first and second housing ends, the membrane comprising capillaries extending from the first membrane end;

disposing a sealing pad on the membrane;

disposing a drive plate on the sealing pad;

using an external frame assembly to apply a force to the sealing pad, the external frame assembly comprising an external frame;

disposing potting material into the housing so that up to 10% of the capillaries are plugged at the first membrane end, thereby providing a filtration assembly; and

removing the filtration assembly from the external frame assembly to provide a ceramic membrane model system.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a compression assembly to apply the force to the sealing pad.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using a compression assembly to apply the force to the sealing pad; and

compressing the sealing pads against the first and second membrane ends.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disposing a spacer on the sealing pad between the sealing pad and the drive plate.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disposing an end plate at each of the first and second ends of the housing.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a uniform force to the sealing pad.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is recessed from at least one member selected from the group consisting of the first housing end and the second housing end.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the external frame comprises elongate members.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the potting material is disposed into the housing so that less than 5% of the capillaries plugged are plugged at the first membrane end.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the membrane extends from the first membrane end to the second membrane end.

11. A method of forming a ceramic membrane model system which comprises a membrane in a housing, the membrane having first and second membrane ends, the housing having a first and second housing ends, the membrane comprising capillaries extending from the first membrane end, a sealing pad on the membrane being disposed on the membrane, a drive plate being disposed on on the sealing pad, the method comprising:

using an external frame assembly to apply a force to the sealing pad, the external frame assembly comprising an external frame;

disposing potting material into the housing so that up to 10% of the capillaries are plugged at the first membrane end, thereby providing a filtration assembly; and

removing the filtration assembly from the external frame assembly to provide a ceramic membrane model system.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising using a compression assembly to apply the force to the sealing pad.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

using a compression assembly to apply the force to the sealing pad; and

compressing the sealing pads against the first and second membrane ends.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disposing a spacer on the sealing pad between the sealing pad and the drive plate.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disposing an end plate at each of the first and second ends of the housing.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising applying a uniform force to the sealing pad.

17. An assembly, comprising:

a housing having first and second housing ends and an outer circumference;

a membrane assembly disposed within the housing, the membrane assembly extending from a first membrane end to a second membrane end, the membrane assembly comprising channels therein, the channels having channel ends;

an external frame assembly disposed about the outer circumference of the housing;

a sealing pad disposed at the first and second membrane ends, the sealing pads being disposed directly against channel ends of the channels;

a drive plate adjacent the first and second membrane ends;

a spacer between the sealing pad and the drive plate,

wherein the external frame assembly comprises a compression assembly configured to apply a compressive force to the spacer and the sealing pad so that the sealing pad seals the channel ends when force is applied to the drive plate.

18. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein the compression assembly is configured to apply force to the each end plate via the external frame assembly without applying force to the housing.

19. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein the compression assembly comprises compression rods and fasteners.

20. The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the compression rods are discrete components separate from the frame assembly.