Membrane Pocket Module Having Rotationally Secured Deflection Discs

Abstract

The invention relates to membrane modules, in particular membrane pocket modules, which comprise membrane pocket stacks which are disposed in a housing having at least one feed inlet, at least one retentate outlet, and at least one permeate outlet. The invention also relates to the use of the membrane module according to the invention for separating mixtures of liquids and/or gases. The membrane of the previously known type, also referred to as a GS module, comprises a housing which for forming a container interior space by means of finisher discs at two end sides is closed in a pressure-tight manner. The finisher discs comprise at least one feed inlet, at least one retentate outlet, and one permeate outlet, wherein at least one membrane pocket stack which has a plurality of membrane pockets which are lined up beside one another and are mutually separated by seals and which are push-fitted onto a permeate tube is disposed in the container interior space. The permeate tube protrudes beyond the at least one permeate outlet of the finisher discs. The membrane module according to the invention is characterized in that the permeate tube and the permeate outlet of the finisher discs are aligned in an alternating manner by way of a key-and-groove connection.

Claims

1. Membrane module comprising a housing for forming a container interior space by means of finisher discs at two end sides is closed in a pressure-tight manner, and the finisher discs comprise at least one feed inlet, at least one retentate outlet, and at least one permeate outlet, wherein at least one membrane pocket stack which has a plurality of membrane pockets which are lined up beside one another and are mutually separated by seals and which are push-fitted onto a permeate tube is disposed in the container interior space, wherein the permeate tube protrudes beyond the at least one permeate outlet of the finisher discs, wherein the permeate tube and the finisher discs by way of a key-and-groove connection are aligned in an alternating manner on the permeate tube and the permeate outlet of the finisher discs.

2. Membrane module according to claim 1, wherein the membrane pocket stacks further comprise deflection discs that by means of a central bore are push-fitted onto the permeate tube, wherein the deflection discs have in each case recesses for directing in a meandering feed stream a feed flow from the at least one feed inlet to the at least one retentate outlet, wherein the permeate tube and the deflection discs by way of a key-and-groove connection are also aligned in an alternating manner.

3. Membrane module according to claim 1, wherein at least one groove is provided in the permeate tube, and at least one feather key is in each case provided in the permeate outlet of the finisher discs and, if present, at least one feather key is in each case provided in the central bore of the deflection discs.

4. Membrane module according to claim 3, wherein grooves are provided in the permeate tube, and two feather keys are in each case provided in the permeate outlet of the finisher discs and, if present, the central bores of the deflection discs (5), said two feather keys being offset by 180.

5. A method of separating mixtures of liquids and/or gases comprising providing a membrane module according claim 1, for separating mixtures of liquids and/or gases.

6. A method of separating mixtures of liquids and/or gases according to claim 5, for reducing the emissions on breathing lines of storage tanks.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The invention will henceforth be explained in more detail in an exemplary manner by means of figures which do not limit the invention. In said figures:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a membrane module according to the invention, wherein the housing, the finisher discs, the deflection discs, the permeate tube, and the permeate caps, but not the membrane stack, are illustrated in the figure;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a permeate tube having an assembled deflection disc, said permeate tube being capable of being used in the membrane module according to the invention;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a finisher disc which is capable of being used in the membrane module according to the invention;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a deflection disc which is capable of being used in the membrane module according to the invention; and

[0024] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a permeate cap which is capable of being used in the membrane module according to the invention.

[0025] Reverting to FIG. 1, the membrane module 1 according to the invention has a housing 2 which for forming a container interior space by means of finisher discs 4 at two ends sides is closed in a pressure-tight manner. Bores 41 for the feed inlet or the retentate outlet, respectively, are situated in the finisher discs 4. Furthermore, bores for push-fitting a permeate tube 3 are situated in the finisher discs 4, said bores 41, as is shown in an exemplary manner here, centrally being disposed in the finisher discs 4. The permeate tube 3 by means of a permeate cap 6 is on both sides flange-fitted to at least one of the finisher discs 4. At least one end of the permeate tube 3 comprises a permeate outlet 33.

[0026] One or a plurality of deflection discs 7 (FIG. 4) are situated in the housing, wherein the deflection discs 7 have in each case recesses for directing in a meandering feed stream a feed flow from the at least one feed inlet 41 to at least one retentate outlet. The deflection disc 7 likewise have a bore for push-fitting a permeate tube 3, said bore centrally being disposed in the deflection discs 7. A plurality of deflection discs 7, for example two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten, or even more, deflection discs 7, for forming a plurality of compartment portions of the membrane module are typically disposed in the housing. Membrane pockets stacks (not shown) which divide the feed flow into a retentate flow and a permeate flow are disposed between the finisher discs 4, or between the deflection discs 7 and the finisher discs 4, or between the finisher discs 7, respectively. The stacking of the pockets is preferably performed in an alternating manner using this annular seal so that no retentate can make its way into the permeate tube. The permeate of the pockets is dissipated centrally toward the inside and is discharged by way of the permeate tube.

[0027] FIG. 1 in an exemplary manner shows an assembly having a stage separation disc 5 which divides the membrane module into dissimilar stages.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a permeate tube 3 according to the invention, having an assembled stage separation disc 5. The permeate tube 3 shown has a round permeate tube cross section 32 which is provided with two grooves 34 which are offset by 180. The permeate tube has a plurality (for example two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, or even more) of permeate inlet bores 31 for receiving the permeate flow from the membrane pockets. The permeate tube 3 can be integral or in multiple parts, such that a stage separation disc can be push-fitted thereon and again be removed therefrom when required. A two-part permeate tube 3 in which a stage separation disc 5 is screw-fitted to the permeate tube 3 by means of an internal thread, or is welded thereto, is shown in FIG. 2. Deflection discs 7 (FIG. 4) which within a membrane stage subdivide the latter into compartment regions are push-fitted conjointly with the membrane stacks onto the permeate tube 3.

[0029] The stage separation disc 5 preferably has a substantially circular cross-section which corresponds to the cross section of the housing, wherein the cross section is however chamfered on a circular segment such that the feed flow within the housing can make its way from one stage to the next. The stage separation disc on the circumference thereof preferably has a groove into which a seal, such as a rubber seal, can be inserted. The permeate tube 3 preferably has at least one external thread, preferably at least two external threads, for fixing at least one permeate cap 6, preferably two permeate caps 6. It is also provided that the permeate tube 3 is in two parts, wherein one part of the permeate tube 3 at the ends thereof supports two external threads, for fixing the permeate cap 6 by means of an internal thread in the permeate cap 6, on the one hand, and for fixing a stage separation disc 5 by means of an internal thread in the stage separation disc 5 as well as a second part of the permeate tube 3 by way of an internal thread of the second part of the permeate tube 3, on the other hand. The second part of the permeate tube 3 at one end has an internal thread for fixing the first part of the permeate tube 3 on the external thread of the latter, and the stage separation disc lying therebetween, and at the other end an external thread for fixing the permeate cap 6.

[0030] The permeate outlet 33 is performed centrally by way of the permeate tube, for example by applying negative pressure. If the membrane module 1 by way of a stage separation disc 5 is subdivided into two stages, the permeate outlet 33 of the respective stages is performed at opposite side of the permeate tube 3; consequently, two permeate outlets 33 are provided in the case of this configuration.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a finisher disc 4 according to the invention which closes the housing 2 on both sides (FIG. 1). The finisher disc 4 shown has a circular cross-section which corresponds to the cross section of the housing. A sealing groove 43 for receiving a seal such as a rubber seal is preferably provided for gas-tight sealing. The finisher disc 4 has at least one bore 41 for letting in a feed flow, or for letting out a retentate flow (feed inlet bore/retentate outlet bore 41). The finisher disc 4 furthermore has a bore for push-fitting the permeate tube 3 (FIG. 1), said bore in the present case being centrally disposed. The bore has a circular cross-section which corresponds to the permeate tube cross section 32 (FIG. 2). Moreover, the bore has at least one feather key 42 for aligning in an alternating manner the permeate tube 3 and the finisher disc 4. The finisher disc 4 shown has a round cross-section which is provided with two feather keys 42 which are offset by 180.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a deflection disc 7 according to the invention which can be push-fitted over the permeate tube. The deflection disc 4 shown has a substantially circular cross-section which corresponds to the cross section of the housing, wherein the cross section is however chamfered on a circular segment such that the feed flow within the membrane module can make its way from one compartment region to the next. The deflection discs by way of the chamfered circular segments thereof are preferably installed so as to be in each case 180 offset in the housing such that the feed flow in a meandering feed stream makes its way from the at least one feed inlet 41 (FIG. 1) to at least one retentate outlet. A sealing groove 73 for receiving a seal such as a rubber seal is preferably provided for gas-tight sealing.

[0033] The deflection disc 7 has a bore for push-fitting the permeate tube 3 (FIG. 1), said bore in the present case being centrally disposed. The bore has a circular cross-section which corresponds to the permeate tube cross-section 32 (FIG. 2). Moreover, the bore has at least one feather key 72 for aligning in an alternating manner the permeate tube 3 and the deflection disc 7. The deflection disc 7 shown has a round cross-section which is provided with two feather key 72 which are offset by 180.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a permeate cap 6 which serves for flange-fitting the permeate tube 3 to the finisher disc in a flange region 65. The permeate cap 6 preferably has an internal thread which corresponds to the external thread at the ends of the permeate tube 3. The permeate cap 6 preferably has a cylindrical permeate cap body 64 in which a key groove 67 for fixing the permeate cap 6 on the permeate tube 3 by means of a key tool is provided. Alternatively, the permeate cap body can also be configured in an angular manner, for example so as to be hexagonal, such that said permeate cap body can be tightly screwed to the permeate tube with the aid of a key tool.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0035] 1. Membrane module [0036] 2. Housing [0037] 3. Permeate tube [0038] 4. Finisher disc [0039] 5. Stage separation disc [0040] 6. Permeate cap [0041] 7. Deflection disc [0042] 8. Permeate inlet bores [0043] 9. Permeate tube cross section [0044] 10. Permeate outlet [0045] 11. Groove [0046] 12. Feed inlet bore/retentate outlet bore [0047] 13. Feather key [0048] 14. Sealing groove [0049] 15. Permeate cap body [0050] 16. Flange region [0051] 17. Key groove [0052] 18. Feather key [0053] 19. Sealing groove.