Compact spiral-wound filter elements, modules and systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spiral-wound filter elements have lower flux compared to cassette filters, requiring impractically large pumps or long filtration flow paths, resulting in systems that are neither compact nor easy to use, while cassette filters are cumbersome and costly due to compression holder assemblies.
Innovation Solution
Development of improved spiral-wound filter elements that achieve at least 70% of the mass transfer limited permeate flux of cassette filters with a feed channel pressure drop no more than 1.2 times that of cassette filters, featuring compact designs without the need for compression housings or liners, and can be used in single-pass TFF systems with fluid connections in series or parallel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional spiral-wound membrane elements are used, then the system is simpler and does not require compression holder assemblies, but the flux is much lower than cassette filters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the spiral-wound element, specifically reducing the feed channel height from conventional values to approximately 0.5-2 mm, and optimizing the ratio of feed channel height to membrane thickness. These parameter changes enable the spiral-wound element to achieve flux comparable to cassette filters while maintaining the simplicity of the spiral-wound design without compression holders.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from the conventional spiral-wound configuration to a flat-sheet membrane configuration arranged in a stacked, plate-like structure. This dimensional change allows the filtration area to be compactly arranged while maintaining short flow paths, achieving both high flux and compactness without requiring compression holder assemblies.
2Productivity
If cassette filters are used, then high flux is achieved, but the system becomes more complex and costly due to compression holder assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the compression holder assembly from the filtration system by designing a self-supporting flat-sheet membrane structure that maintains its configuration through its own structural integrity and the rigidity of its support plates, without requiring external compression mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat-sheet membrane structure is designed to be self-supporting, where the membrane itself and its integrated support structure maintain the necessary configuration for filtration without requiring external compression holders or complex assembly mechanisms. The structure serves its own structural needs through its design.
3Productivity
If conventional spiral-wound elements are used to achieve similar flux to cassette filters, then impractically large pumps or long filtration flow paths are required, resulting in a system that is neither compact nor easy to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the feed channel height parameter to approximately 0.5-2 mm, which is significantly shorter than conventional spiral-wound elements. This parameter change reduces the flow path length required to achieve a given flux, enabling compact system design without requiring large pumps or long flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts a flat-sheet stacked configuration instead of a spiral-wound configuration, which allows for more efficient packing of filtration area in a compact volume. The stacked plate structure enables short flow paths while maintaining high filtration area density, achieving compactness without sacrificing flux.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The improved spiral-wound filter elements provide permeate fluxes comparable to cassette filters without increased pressure drop, offering compact, easy-to-use solutions for filtration systems, including TFF systems, and can be used in single-use applications to avoid cross-contamination.
Implementation Method 1
spiral-wound filter element having a permeate flux of at least about 70% of the mass transfer limited permeate flux of a reference cassette filter
Implementation Method 2
The process can be a tangential flow filtration (TFF) process
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides compact spiral-wound filter elements having cassette-like performance. The invention further provides filtration systems (e.g., TFF systems) and processes (e.g., SPTFF processes) employing compact spiral-wound filter elements having cassette-like performance.