US 7,569,144 B2
Device for the separation of a fluid into at least two fractions, using a plurality of membrane filters, and use thereof
Olivier De Biran, Fleurieu sur Saone (France); Alain Wallart, Saint-Martin la Plaine (France); Bernard Castelas, Larchmont, N.Y. (US); and Michael Fishinger, Rahway, N.J. (US)
Assigned to Applexion, Saint Maurice de Beynost (France)
Appl. No. 10/557,472
PCT Filed May 19, 2004, PCT No. PCT/FR2004/001246
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Feb. 20, 2007,
PCT Pub. No. WO2004/103533, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 02, 2004.
Claims priority of application No. 03 06105 (FR), filed on May 21, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2007/0125722 A1, Jun. 07, 2007
Int. Cl. B01D 63/08 (2006.01); B01D 61/18 (2006.01); B01D 61/00 (2006.01); B01D 65/10 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 210—321.75  [210/321.6; 210/321.84; 210/418; 210/433.1; 210/434; 210/499; 422/101] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for the separation of a fluid into a first fraction and at least one second fraction by bringing the fluid into contact with a plurality of filtration membranes, said device comprising at least one sub-assembly of membrane-support plates on each of the opposite faces of which is fixed a filtration membrane, mounted on a part of the membrane-support plate said device comprising means for guiding fluid for the drainage, inside of a recovery space delimited between the membrane and the membrane-support plate, of the first fraction of the fluid passing through the membrane towards a set of evacuation channels of the first fraction of the fluid into a part adjacent to a lateral edge of the membrane-support plate and for obtaining turbulence on the outflow of the fluid, the membrane-support plates of the assembly being mounted against one another in a watertight manner, at their peripheral part, two adjacent membrane-support plates delimiting a space for the reception and circulation of the fluid between two membranes fixed on opposing faces of two adjacent membrane-support plates, means for supplying the reception and circulation spaces of the sub-assembly with fluid, means for recovery of the first fraction of fluid in communication with assemblies of channels for evacuation of the first fraction of fluid and means for evacuation of the fluid separated from the first fraction constituting the second fraction of the fluid, wherein the assemblies of evacuation channels of the first fraction of the fluid comprise, for each of the membrane-support plates of the sub-assembly and for each of the recovery spaces, a portion provided inside a rigid part adjacent to the lateral edge of the membrane-support plate containing a plugging means which can be actuated in order to stop the circulation of the first fluid in the corresponding recovery space.