Liquid purification or separation – Casing divided by membrane into sections having inlet – Energy recovery from treated liquid
Patent
1981-03-17
1984-05-08
Spear, Jr., Frank A.
Liquid purification or separation
Casing divided by membrane into sections having inlet
Energy recovery from treated liquid
2104931, B01D 3100
Patent
active
044473265
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a device for the diffusion of substances between two fluids via semipermeable membranes, which are arranged in a stack separated by spacer plates, which on their surfaces are provided with ducts connected to the inlets and outlets for at least one of the said fluids, these spacer plates being arranged in the folds of one or more membranes folded in zigzag.
The device in accordance with the invention is intended in the first place to be used for the purification of blood, that is to say as a so-called artificial kidney. However, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, that the apparatus in accordance with the invention can also be used for many other purposes. It may be used for example for the oxygenation of blood. Alternatively, the device in accordance with the invention may be used for the transfer of substances from one gas to another. The term fluid, as used in the following description, means therefore gas as well as liquid.
BACKGROUND ART
Apparatus of the above-mentioned type are known in themselves and are described in detail for example in the German "Offenlegungsschrift" No. 25 23 803 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,585,131. It may be said, therefore, that these documents constitute part of the background art. For further illustration of the same, reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,411,630, 3,501,011, 3,511,381, 3,516,548, 3,734,298, 3,837,496, 4,051,041, 4,062,778, and 4,113,625 all of which show apparatus comprising a stack of spacer plates with membranes preferably arranged in pairs between them which, however, cannot be said to be folded in zigzag. Such folding is disclosed instead, for example, in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,116,841, 3,929,295, 3,862,031, 3,788,482 and 3,780,870.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The device in accordance with the invention is characterised by two transverse ducts, arranged near two opposite front edges of the plates and substantially parallel with these front edges, which open onto at least one of the lateral edges which connect the front edges of the plates. As a result, a very simple apparatus is obtained, wherein both the said fluids can be sealed off securely in respect of one another.
The stacks of plates and membrane portions between them are preferably given an elongated shape with the said lateral edges being arranged in longitudinal direction of the pack. The transverse ducts may extend transversely over the spacer plates, opening onto both the opposite lateral edges. This makes it possible, for example, for two transverse ducts arranged directly opposite one another to be utilized for the supply of one medium, while a space between them which is separated from them by two membrane layers can be utilized for the supply of the other fluid medium.
The membrane material is preferably arranged folded with its folded edges parallel and substantially coinciding with the lateral edges of the plates. The lateral edges may then assist in the folding.
The plates are preferably arranged so that they are inserted into the membrane material from one side only, that is to say into every other fold. One of the said fluids can then be supplied from this side, whilst the other fluid can be introduced from the opposite side, that is to say into the folds from which do not contain any spacer plates. Alternatively, another type of spacer plates may be inserted into the last-named folds.
A particularly good seal can be achieved if sealing beads are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the plates parallel with their lateral edges and near these edges, whose object it is to press the membrane material placed between them against the adjoining spacer plate. In the same way sealing beads may be arranged in the transverse direction of the plates between the said transverse ducts and adjoining front edges, parallel with these edges, in order to press the membrane material placed between them tightly against the adjoining spacer plate. Thanks to these sealing beads, the required quantity of sealing material, which otherwise is injected
REFERENCES:
patent: 3396849 (1968-08-01), Lande et al.
patent: 3585131 (1971-06-01), Esmond
patent: 3862031 (1975-01-01), Leonard
patent: 4219422 (1980-08-01), Knothe et al.
Christopherson Kjell H. I.
Riede Gerhard
Gambro AG
Spear, Jr. Frank A.
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