IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,616,939
Granted Patent B2
US 12,616,939 · App. 18/004,668 · Granted May 5, 2026

Variable velocity patterns in cross-flow filtration

Inventors: Rodney E Herrington (Albuquerque, NM); Kevin Roderick (Albuquerque, NM); Stephen Aulbach (Cedar Crest, NM); Jay Kendall Weingardt (Albuquerque, NM); Jay Collin Weingardt (Albuquerque, NM); Nelson Longmire (Albuquerque, NM)
Assignee: Aqua Membranes, Inc.
B01D63/103B01D2313/143
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,616,939
App. No.
18/004,668
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatuses that can alter flow characteristics within the feed channel of a cross-flow filtration element by employing a varying geometry of the feed spacer at a fixed channel height.

Claims (8)

1 . A membrane sheet for use in a laminated composition, wherein the membrane sheet has an active surface configured to provide selective fluid separation, wherein the membrane sheet has feed spacing features disposed thereon, wherein a portion of the membrane occupied by the feed spacing features varies from a first end of the membrane sheet to an opposite end of the membrane sheet, from a first edge of the membrane sheet to a second edge of the membrane sheet, or both;

wherein each feed spacing feature extends from near the first edge of the membrane sheet to near the second edge of the membrane sheet, and has a width that is greater near the first edge of the membrane sheet than near the second edge of the membrane sheet.

2 . The membrane sheet of claim 1 , wherein the feed spacing features are separated by a distance measured parallel to the first edge, where the distance is greater in a region near the first end of the membrane sheet than in a region near the second end of the membrane sheet.

3 . The membrane sheet of claim 1 , further comprising:

(a) a permeate carrier;

(b) wherein the membrane sheet is disposed such that the surface of the membrane sheet opposite the active surface is in contact with the permeate carrier, the membrane sheet and the permeate carrier together forming a laminated composition.

4 . A spiral wound element, comprising a collection tube and a laminated composition as in claim 3 , spirally wound around the collection tube such that the permeate carrier is in fluid communication with the collection tube.

5 . A method of treating water, comprising providing a spiral wound element as in claim 4 , supplying feed water to the spiral wound element such that feed water is in contact with the active surface of the membrane sheet, and collecting treated water from the collection tube.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2024
From: AQUA MEMBRANES, INC.
To: SQN VENTURE INCOME FUND III, LP
Reel/Frame 066938/0764 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2023
From: LONGMIRE, NELSON
To: AQUA MEMBRANES, INC.
Reel/Frame 064515/0168 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63051738 · Jul 14, 2020
Related Publication 20230241556A1 · Aug 3, 2023
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