Filtration apparatus, system and method

Abstract

A membrane plate for a filtration system is provided including a body portion having a feed inlet configured to receive a fluid feed and a permeate outlet. The body portion includes a seal bead extending around one or more of the feed inlet, the permeate outlet, or a perimeter of a membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate. The seal bead is configured for sealing with a membrane.

Description

FILTRATION APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHODBACKGROUNDTechnical Field

[0001] Examples of the subject matter herein relate generally to filtration and more specifically to a filtration apparatus and system, and methods of sealing components of a filtration apparatus and system, such as a tangential flow filtration system.Discussion of Art

[0002] Liquids, primarily aqueous liquids, have been filtered by tangential flow modules with a plurality of filters stacked between manifolds, one at the bottom of the stack and one at the top of the stack. The filters are separated by screens and liquid-impervious layers to permit liquid flow as well as filtrate and retentate flow into and from the stack. Flow holes are provided through the layers within the stack. The holes are sealed with a material to prevent mixture of filtrate with incoming liquid feed or retentate.

[0003] Prior to the present invention, adjacent layers of the filtration system have been coupled via a heat seal. However, the depth of the heat seal is difficult to control which creates difficulty in producing consistent and uniform channel heights. Additionally, the excessive heat from the heat seal distorts components of the filtration system. The excessive heat also displaces a large amount of material, leading to the inconsistencies in bonding and channel height.

[0004] It may be desirable to have improvements in bonding, depth control, and uniformity, as well as to account for surface imperfections in part surfaces. It may be desirable to have a system and method that differs from those that are currently available. BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0005] In accordance with one example or aspect, a membrane plate for a filtration system is described. The membrane plate for the filtration system includes a body portion having a feed inlet configured to receive a fluid feed and a permeate outlet. The body portionincludes a seal bead extending around one or more of the feed inlet, the permeate outlet, or a perimeter of a membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate. The seal bead is configured for sealing with a membrane.

[0006] In an embodiment, the seal bead includes one or more of an arcuate cross-sectional profile, a rectangular cross-sectional profile, a trapezoidal cross-sectional profile, or a triangular cross-sectional profile.

[0007] In an embodiment, the seal bead has a height between about 0.002 inches and about 0.015 inches.

[0008] In an embodiment, the height of the seal bead is selected based on an expected deviation in a manufacturing tolerance of the body portion.

[0009] In an embodiment, the seal bead facilitates a seal with the membrane along substantially an entirety of the perimeter of the membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate.

[0010] In an embodiment, the seal bead is configured to extend at or above an uppermost portion of the body portion.

[0011] In an embodiment, the membrane plate is made of one or more of a polyolefin, silicone, urethane, a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoplastic urethane, or a thermoplastic vulcanizate.

[0012] In accordance with another example or aspect, a filtration module for a tangential flow filtration system is described. The filtration module includes a membrane plate including a body portion having a feed inlet configured to receive a fluid feed and a permeate outlet. The body portion may include a seal bead extending around one or more of the feed inlet, the permeate outlet, or a membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate. The seal bead may be configured for sealing with a membrane.

[0013] In an embodiment, the seal bead extends around a perimeter of the membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate.

[0014] In an embodiment, the seal bead includes one or more of an arcuate cross-sectional profile, a rectangular cross-sectional profile, a trapezoidal cross-sectional profile, or a triangular cross-sectional profile.

[0015] In an embodiment, the seal bead has a height between about 0.002 inches and about 0.015 inches.

[0016] In an embodiment, the seal bead facilitates a seal with the membrane along substantially an entirety of the perimeter of the membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate.

[0017] In an embodiment, the seal bead is configured to be displaceable responsive to the membrane being sealed to the membrane plate.

[0018] In an embodiment, the seal bead includes a thermoplastic material.

[0019] In accordance with one example or aspect, a method of manufacturing a filtration module is described. The method includes providing a body portion of a membrane plate with a seal bead. The seal bead extends around a perimeter of a membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate. The method further includes sealing the membrane plate to a membrane via the seal bead.

[0020] In an embodiment, the method further includes adding an elastomeric material into the seal bead.

[0021] In an embodiment, the method further includes forming the seal bead with one or more of an arcuate cross-sectional profile, a rectangular cross-sectional profile, a trapezoidal cross-sectional profile, or a triangular cross-sectional profile.

[0022] In an embodiment, the seal bead has a height between about 0.002 inches and about 0.015 inches.

[0023] In an embodiment, the seal bead is configured to extend at or above an uppermost portion of the body portion.

[0024] In an embodiment, the method further includes displacing the seal bead responsive to bonding the membrane plate to the membrane.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The subject matter may be understood from reading the following description of non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:

[0026] Fig. 1 is a top view of a membrane plate of a filtration system, according to an embodiment;

[0027] Fig. 2 is a top view of a portion of the membrane plate of Fig. 1, according to an embodiment;

[0028] Fig. 3a is a cross-sectional view of a membrane plate of a filtration system, according to an embodiment;

[0029] Fig. 3b is a cross-sectional view of a membrane plate of a filtration system, according to an embodiment;

[0030] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a membrane plate coupled with a membrane, according to an embodiment;

[0031] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a membrane plate coupled with a membrane, according to another embodiment; and

[0032] Fig. 6 is an exploded schematic view of a membrane plate and a membrane, according to an embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0034] “TFF assembly,” “TFF system” and “TFF apparatus” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a tangential flow filtration system that is configured for operation in a recirculation mode where at least a portion of the retentate is returned to the system as feed. These terms include, but are not limited to, single pass tangential fluid flow systems as well as TFF systems that utilize recirculation loops.

[0035] The terms “feed,” “feed sample” and “feed stream” refer to the solution that is delivered to a filtration module to be filtered. The feed that is delivered to a filtration module for filtration can be, for example, feed from a feed container (e.g., vessel, tank) external to the system, or retentate from a preceding filtration module in the same system.

[0036] The term “filtration” generally refers to the act of separating the feed sample into two streams, a permeate and a retentate, using membranes.

[0037] The terms “permeate” and “filtrate” refer to that portion of the feed that has permeated through the membrane.

[0038] The term “retentate” refers to the portion of the solution that has been retained by the membrane (i.e., does not pass through the membrane).

[0039] “Feed line” or “feed channel” refers to a conduit for conveying a feed from a feed source (e.g., a feed container) to one or more processing units in a filtration assembly.

[0040] The expression “flow path” refers to a channel supporting the flow of a liquid (e.g., feed, retentate, permeate) through all or part of a TFF system. Thus, a TFF system can have multiple flow paths, including a flow path through the entire system from the feed inlet to the retentate outlet, a flow path within a filtration module (e.g., a flow path through TFF cassettes and / or a manifold segment in a filtration module) and a flow path between two ormore adjacent filtration modules (e.g., a flow path between manifold segments in adjacent filtration modules). The flow path can have any topology which supports tangential flow (e.g., straight, coiled, arranged in zigzag fashion).

[0041] A “filtration module” refers to a cassette in a TFF system or to one or more cassettes fluidly connected to a manifold segment.

[0042] A “manifold segment” refers to a block having a plurality of manifolds, including a manifold for carrying a feed, a manifold for carrying a retentate, and a manifold for carrying a permeate. Each manifold segment is fluidly connected to one or more cassettes.

[0043] A “TFF cassette” or “cassette” refers to a plate-and-frame structure including a filtration membrane (e.g., an ultrafiltration membrane, a microfiltration membrane) and separate feed / retentate and permeate flow channels suitable for TFF processes.

[0044] “Filtration membrane” refers to a selectively permeable membrane for separating a feed into a permeate stream and a retentate stream using a TFF process. Filtration membranes include, but are not limited to, ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, microfiltration (MF) membranes, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes and nanofiltration (NF) membranes.

[0045] The term “plurality,” when used herein to describe processing units, refers to two or more processing units.

[0046] “Fluidly connected” refers to two or more components of a TFF system (e.g., two or more manifold segments, two or more TFF cassettes, a manifold segment and one or more TFF cassettes), that are connected by one or more conduits (e.g., a feed channel, a retentate channel, a permeate channel) such that a liquid can flow from one component to the other.

[0047] Embodiments of the subject matter described herein may relate to methods or systems of sealing a membrane of a filtration device. Specifically, embodiments may relate to a method or system for sealing a membrane of a tangential flow filtration device. Themethod or system may include having a seal bead around a portion of the filtration device, for example around a membrane plate. The seal bead may be configured to seal with a membrane of the filtration device.

[0048] Embodiments are not limited to a specific size or configuration of membrane, filtration device, or system. Likewise, embodiments are not limited to the filtration of any specific type or volume of fluid or flow rate and are not limited to the removal of any specific component or product from a fluid. Embodiments may be suited for use with filtration systems such as those depicted and described in U.S. 10,350,550 and 10,183,108, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety, as well as those commercially available under the trademarks CENTRAMATE™ and CENTRASETTE™ (Pall Corporation, Port Washington, N.Y.).

[0049] Fig. 1 illustrates a top view of a membrane plate 10 of a filtration system, according to one embodiment. The filtration system may be a cassette comprised of plates, membranes, feed screens, and filtrate screens coupled together and configured to receive and filter a feed into a filtrate and retentate. One or more components of the filtration system may be referred to as a filtration module. The feed is designed to enter the filtration system through a feed inlet 14 and flow over a feed screen to a permeate outlet 16, where the screen is configured to filter the feed. The size and density of the screen may be adjusted based on the feed and the desired filtration characteristics. The feed screen may be embedded in a membrane 19, discussed further below.

[0050] The membrane plate 10 includes a body portion 12. The body portion includes a feed inlet 14 configured to receive a fluid feed and a permeate outlet 16 configured to receive the permeate. The membrane plate 10 may be made of various materials based on the desired use cases for the filtration system. For example, the membrane plate may be made of one or more of a polyolefin, silicone, urethane, a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoplastic urethane, and a thermoplastic vulcanizate.

[0051] Other suitable materials include but are not limited to thermoplastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, EVA copolymers, alpha olefins and metallocene copolymers, PF A, MFA, polycarbonate, vinyl copolymers such as PVC, polyamides such as nylon, polyesters, acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene(ABS), poly sulphone, polyethersulphone, poly aryl sulphone, polyphenyl sulphone, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and blends thereof, thermoplastic elastomers which can be formed of styrenic block copolymers, blends of EPDM and polypropylene and the like and which are sold under brand names such as Santoprene® polymer, Kraton® thermoplastic elastomer and Dynaflex® elastomer, EPDM rubber, thermosets such as closed cell foamed urethanes, and rubbers, either natural or synthetic.

[0052] The body portion 12 includes a seal bead 18. The seal bead may extend around one or more of the feed inlet 14, the permeate outlet 16, or a membrane facing surface 11 of the body portion 12 of the membrane plate. In one embodiment, the seal bead 18 may be the same material as the body portion 12, however, in other embodiments, the seal bead 18 may be a different material than the body portion 12. In one example, the seal bead 18 may be the same material as the membrane 19. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the seal bead extends around the membrane facing surface 11, as well as the feed inlet 14. The seal bead 18 surrounding the feed inlet and / or permeate outlet may serve as a gasket sealing surfaces to prevent / reduce leakage from the feed inlet and / or permeate outlet. Additionally, the seal bead may serve to compress the membrane plate 10 and the membrane 19 to reduce or prevent leakage.

[0053] In one embodiment, the seal bead may extend around substantially an entirety of the perimeter of a membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate. The seal bead may be a ridge, a protrusion, or the like. The seal bead 18 may be formed as part of the body portion 12 or may be a separate component added to the body portion 12. The seal bead 18 may be coupled to the body portion 12 via thermal welding, injection molding, adhesive, press-fit, or the like. The seal bead may facilitate sealing of the membrane plate and a membrane 19. The seal bead may provide a raised portion of materialto be heat sealed, facilitating bonding of the membrane plate and the membrane. The heat is configured to displace material of the seal bead to allow bonding of the membrane plate and the membrane. By having the raised seal bead, and material thereof, displaced, the membrane plate and membrane may largely be insulated from excessive heat, which would cause material displacement of the membrane plate and / or the membrane. Said another way, the seal bead being added to the body portion builds in a level of displacement that may aid in the bonding process without displacing material of the body portion. This allows for greater consistency and reliability of the filtration system and channels therein.

[0054] A cross-sectional profile of the seal bead may be one or more of arcuate, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, an irregular shape, or the like. The cross-sectional shape may be selected based on the shape and desired bonding characteristics of the remainder of the filtration system. The various cross-sectional shapes provide a different amount of material, as well as a different pattern of material displacement during the bonding process. Based on the filtration system and desired characteristics, a different cross-sectional shape may be selected.

[0055] The seal bead is configured and positioned to provide a bonding surface between a membrane and the body portion. The seal bead allows a significant improvement in bonding depth control and uniformity. Additionally, the seal bead allows for surface imperfections in the part surface of the body portion. As the seal bead creates a smaller bonding surface compared to bonding of the body portion and membrane without a seal bead, less material is displaced during bonding. As a result, the only material displaced is the seal bead rather than material on the membrane facing surface of the body portion. With less displaced material, this arrangement improves uniformity and effective membrane area. Further, because there is less material required to bond the body portion and the membrane, less heat is needed to melt the material to facilitate bonding. This is beneficial, as excess heat distorts the components of the filtration system.

[0056] In addition to the shape of the seal bead being able to be selected based on desired characteristics of the filtration system, the size and / or height of the seal bead may be varied,as well. In embodiments, the height of the seal bead may be between 0.001 inches and 0.03 inches. In other examples, the height of the seal bead may be less than or greater than this range. The height of the seal bead may be selected based on an expected deviation in a manufacturing tolerance of the body portion. Further, based on the height and shape of the seal bead being selectable, this allows the seal bead to have a more repeatable feed channel height. The height and shape of the seal bead may be selected to increase the process window on seal height. For example, a seal bead having less material will melt away more easily and provide a larger process window on seal height because the seal bead melts more quickly, but the melt through the body will be slower resulting in a consistency when you bottom out on the body you have a larger time window to stop your heat sealing process without affecting dimensions.

[0057] The seal bead may extend at or above an uppermost portion of the body portion. The height of the seal bead may be selected to be the same height as a tallest portion of the body portion, for example the height of the highest imperfection on the body. This may allow for the desired consistency, while also reducing the amount of heat and time needed to seal the membrane plate and the membrane. Said another way, if the seal bead were a height substantially greater than the height of the tallest portion of the body portion, than the seal bead would require more heat and time to displace the material of the seal bead to facilitate bonding.

[0058] Fig. 3a is a cross-sectional view of a membrane plate of a filtration system, according to one embodiment. As discussed previously, the body portion 12 may have irregularities and / or imperfections along the membrane facing portion. For example, the body portion 12 may have a highest portion 20 that may form an uppermost portion of the body portion 12. In Fig. 3, this is a slight incline in the body portion spaced from the seal bead 18. However, in other examples, the highest portion 20 may be at different position. The seal bead 18 is sized to be a height greater than the highest portion 20 of the body portion 12. This allows the seal bead 18 to be engaged by a heating element (shown in Fig.6), rather than the body portion 12 being engaged by the heating element. This allowsdisplacement of material of the seal bead to facilitate bonding, rather than displacement of material of the body portion 12. The seal bead 18 builds in a level of displacement desirable for bonding that allows a consistent and repeatable channel height.

[0059] Fig. 3b is a cross-sectional view of a membrane plate of a filtration system, according to one embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3b, the irregularities and / or imperfections along the membrane facing portion may include lowered or sunk portion 23. The sunk portion 23 may be due to material shrink during molding. The seal bead 18 is positioned and designed to be a height 25 that extends above the membrane facing portion. Said another way, the seal bead 18 protrudes higher than the membrane facing portion / surface so a minimum chord of the seal bead 18 makes a good bond despite the body 12 not being flat. This arrangement allows greater manufacturing tolerance and ability to accommodate imperfections or irregularities without negatively impacting seal strength or filtration performance.

[0060] In some embodiments, the height of the seal bead is uniform around the perimeter of the body portion. In other embodiments, the height of the seal bead may vary around the perimeter of the body portion. For example, the height of the seal bead may be increased based on areas of the body portion that have greater deviation during manufacture, such that after manufacturing, the area has a consistent bond, height, shape, and / or durability. Said another way, the height of the seal bead may be increased for body portions that include the most variation in surface topography and / or height.

[0061] Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of a membrane plate 10 coupled with a membrane 19. As discussed, the membrane plate 10 is configured to be sealed to the membrane 19 to form a portion of the filtration system. As shown in Fig. 4, in some embodiments, the seal bead 18 may have minimal displacement. The seal bead 18 may maintain a substantially similar shape after sealing with the membrane 19. This may result from the highest or uppermost portion of the body portion 12 being substantially less than the height of the seal bead 18. As such, a relatively smaller portion of the seal bead 18 is needed to facilitate bonding.

[0062] In other embodiments, for example Fig. 5, the seal bead 18 may have a greater displacement, such that the shape of the seal bead may change as a result of the displaced material. The displaced material may be referred to as melt 27, as shown in Fig. 5. The melt 27 may fill in the sunk portion 23 to reduce or eliminate leakage from the membrane plate. Further, the melt 27 may enhance bonding. Said another way, the seal bead may be flattened in some embodiments. This may result from the height of the highest portion of the body portion being closer to the height of the seal bead 18. This may necessitate more displacement of the seal bead 18 to facilitate bonding of the membrane plate 10 and the membrane 19. The height and size of the seal bead 18 may be selected to accommodate the body portion 12, and the contours thereof. The seal bead 18 may be selected to accommodate more space than is expected to be needed.

[0063] Fig. 6 is an exploded schematic view of a membrane plate 10 and a membrane 19 being heat sealed, according to one example. The membrane 19 including a substrate 21 is positioned above and below the membrane plate 10, and heat is applied via a heating apparatus 30. The heat is configured to heat seal the membrane 19 to the membrane plate 10. The schematic shown in Fig. 6 is prior to the heat being applied. After the heat is applied, the material of the seal bead 18 is configured to be displaced to facilitate the bonding of the membrane 19 and the membrane plate 10. In one example, the seal bead 18 is designed to be displaced on one side of the membrane. In another example, a second seal bead extending around a perimeter of a second membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate, as shown in Fig. 6. As shown and described in Figs. 4 and 5, the amount of material displacement may be adjusted based on desired use characteristics.

[0064] In one embodiment, a membrane plate for a filtration system is described. The membrane plate for the filtration system includes a body portion having a feed inlet configured to receive a fluid feed and a permeate outlet. The body portion includes a seal bead extending around one or more of the feed inlet, the permeate outlet, or a perimeter ofa membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate. The seal bead is configured for sealing with a membrane.

[0065] In one example, the seal bead includes one or more of an arcuate cross-sectional profile, a rectangular cross-sectional profile, a trapezoidal cross-sectional profile, or a triangular cross-sectional profile. The membrane plate may include a second seal bead extending around a perimeter of a second membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate. The seal bead may have a height between about 0.002 inches and about 0.015 inches. The height of the seal bead may be selected based on an expected deviation in a manufacturing tolerance of the body portion.

[0066] In one example, the seal bead may facilitate a seal with the membrane along substantially an entirety of the perimeter of the membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate. The seal bead may be configured to extend at or above an uppermost portion of the body portion. The membrane plate may be made of one or more of a polyolefin, silicone, urethane, a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoplastic urethane, or a thermoplastic vulcanizate.

[0067] In one embodiment, a filtration module for a tangential flow filtration system is described. The filtration module includes a membrane plate including a body portion having a feed inlet configured to receive a fluid feed and a permeate outlet. The body portion may include a seal bead extending around one or more of the feed inlet, the permeate outlet, or a membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate. The seal bead may be configured for sealing with a membrane.

[0068] In one example, the seal bead extends around a perimeter of the membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate. The seal bead may include one or more of an arcuate cross-sectional profile, a rectangular cross-sectional profile, a trapezoidal cross-sectional profile, or a triangular cross-sectional profile. The seal bead may have a height between about 0.002 inches and about 0.015 inches.

[0069] The seal bead may facilitate a seal with the membrane along substantially an entirety of the perimeter of the membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate. The seal bead is configured to be displaceable responsive to the membrane being sealed to the membrane plate. The seal bead may include a thermoplastic material.

[0070] In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a filtration module is described. The method includes providing a body portion of a membrane plate with a seal bead. The seal bead extends around a perimeter of a membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate. The method further includes sealing the membrane plate to a membrane via the seal bead.

[0071] In one example, the method includes adding an elastomeric material into the seal bead. The method may include forming the seal bead with one or more of an arcuate cross-sectional profile, a rectangular cross-sectional profile, a trapezoidal cross-sectional profile, or a triangular cross-sectional profile. The method may include providing the seal bead having a height between about 0.002 inches and about 0.015 inches. The seal bead may be configured to extend at or above an uppermost portion of the body portion. The method may include displacing the seal bead responsive to bonding the membrane plate to the membrane.

[0072] As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” do not exclude the plural of said elements or operations, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the invention do not exclude the existence of additional embodiments that incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising,” “comprises,” “including,” “includes,” “having,” or “has” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and do not impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, thelimitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function devoid of further structure.

[0073] The above description is illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the abovedescribed embodiments (and / or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the inventive subject matter without departing from its scope. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein define the parameters of the inventive subject matter, they are exemplary embodiments. Other embodiments will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the inventive subject matter should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[0074] Use of phrases such as “one or more of ... and,” “one or more of ... or,” “at least one of ... and,” and “at least one of ... or” are meant to encompass including only a single one of the items used in connection with the phrase, at least one of each one of the items used in connection with the phrase, or multiple ones of any or each of the items used in connection with the phrase. For example, “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C” each can mean (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, (3) at least one C, (4) at least one A and at least one B, (5) at least one A, at least one B, and at least one C, (6) at least one B and at least one C, or (7) at least one A and at least one C.

[0075] This written description uses examples to disclose several embodiments of the inventive subject matter, including the best mode, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments of inventive subject matter, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the inventive subject matter is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literallanguage of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A membrane plate for a filtration system, comprising:a body portion having a feed inlet configured to receive a fluid feed and a permeate outlet;wherein the body portion includes a seal bead extending around one or more of the feed inlet, the permeate outlet, or a perimeter of a membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate, the seal bead configured for sealing with a membrane.

2. The membrane plate of claim 1, wherein the seal bead includes one or more of an arcuate cross-sectional profile, a rectangular cross-sectional profile, a trapezoidal cross-sectional profile, or a triangular cross-sectional profile.

3. The membrane plate of claim 1, wherein the seal bead has a height between 0.002 inches and 0.015 inches.

4. The membrane plate of claim 3, wherein the height of the seal bead is selected based on an expected deviation in a manufacturing tolerance of the body portion.

5. The membrane plate of claim 1, wherein the seal bead facilitates a seal with the membrane along substantially an entirety of the perimeter of the membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate.

6. The membrane plate of claim 1, wherein the seal bead is configured to extend at or above an uppermost portion of the body portion.

7. The membrane plate of claim 6, wherein the membrane plate is made of one or more of a polyolefin, silicone, urethane, a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoplastic urethane, or a thermoplastic vulcanizate.

8. A filtration module for a tangential flow filtration system, comprising:a membrane plate including a body portion having a feed inlet configured to receive a fluid feed and a permeate outlet;wherein the body portion includes a seal bead extending around one or more of the feed inlet, the permeate outlet, or a membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate, the seal bead configured for sealing with a membrane.

9. The filtration module of claim 8, wherein the seal bead extends around a perimeter of the membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate.

10. The filtration module of claim 9, wherein the seal bead includes one or more of an arcuate cross-sectional profile, a rectangular cross-sectional profile, a trapezoidal cross-sectional profile, or a triangular cross-sectional profile.

11. The filtration module of claim 9, further comprising a second seal bead extending around a perimeter of a second membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate.

12. The filtration module of claim 8, wherein the seal bead has a height between 0.002 inches and 0.015 inches.

13. The filtration module of claim 9, wherein the seal bead facilitates a seal with the membrane along substantially an entirety of the perimeter of the membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate.

14. The filtration module of claim 8, wherein the seal bead is configured to be displaceable responsive to the membrane being sealed to the membrane plate.

15. The filtration module of claim 8, wherein the seal bead includes a thermoplastic material.

16. A method of manufacturing a filtration module, comprising:providing a body portion of a membrane plate with a seal bead, the seal bead extending around a perimeter of a membrane facing surface of the body portion of the membrane plate; andsealing the membrane plate to a membrane via the seal bead.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising adding an elastomeric material into the seal bead.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming the seal bead with one or more of an arcuate cross-sectional profile, a rectangular cross-sectional profile, a trapezoidal cross-sectional profile, or a triangular cross-sectional profile.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing the seal bead having a height between 0.002 inches and 0.015 inches.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the seal bead is configured to extend at or above an uppermost portion of the body portion.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising displacing the seal bead responsive to bonding the membrane plate to the membrane.

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