Filtration Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filtration device being adapted for continuous vibration and pressure driven filtration. Said filtration device comprises a filter module which comprises at least one tubular semipermeable membrane element, said module further comprises a drain area for permeate, an outlet for permeate, an inlet for feed fluid and an outlet for retentate; said module further comprises one or more flexible volume chambers being filled with gas and in close contact with but separated from the internal module of the filter module through a flexible wall; said filtration device comprises a vibration motor being adapted to provide a vibrating motion to the device.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A filtration device, comprising: a filter module adapted for filtration of media, the filter module comprising one or more tubular membrane elements, the filter module comprising two or more gas-filled flexible volume chambers positioned at ends of the filter module, the filter module comprising at least one inlet for media to be filtered and at least one retentate outlet for retentate, the at least one inlet and the at least one retentate outlet being positioned at the ends of the module, the filter module comprising at least one semipermeable tubular membrane forming a path between the inlet and the retentate outlet, the at least one semipermeable tubular membrane being associated with one of the tubular membrane elements and forming a semipermeable wall separating the retentate from a drain area, the drain area comprising a permeate outlet.

16. The filtration device according to claim 1, wherein each of the gas-filled flexible volume chambers comprises (i) a flexible gasket adapted to separate a gas volume of the flexible volume chambers from a remainder of the filter module, and (ii) rigid walls coupled to the flexible gasket.

17. The filtration device according to claim 1, wherein the semipermeable tubular membrane is formed on an inside or an outside of the tubular membrane element.

18. The filtration device according to claim 17, wherein the tubular membrane element has a round or square cross section.

19. The filtration device according to claim 1, wherein the semipermeable tubular membrane is formed on an inside of one or more tubular cavities in the tubular membrane elements.

20. The filtration device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible volume chambers can be connected to a gas pressure source for increasing or decreasing volume of the flexible volume chambers.

21. The filtration device according to claim 1, wherein the two flexible volume chambers are positioned at opposing ends of the filter module.

22. The filtration device according to claim 21, wherein the at least one inlet and the at least one retentate outlet are located within the filter module between the two flexible volume chambers.

23. The filtration device according to claim 22, wherein a first one of the two flexible volume chambers is adjacent to the at least one inlet and a second one of the two flexible volume chambers is adjacent to the at least one retentate outlet.

24. The filtration device according to claim 22, further including an inlet chamber that leads to the at least one inlet and an outlet chamber that leads to the at least one retentate outlet, wherein a first one of the two flexible volume chambers is directly adjacent to the inlet chamber and a second one of the two flexible volume chambers is directly adjacent to the outlet chamber.

25. The filtration device according to claim 24, wherein the first one of the two flexible volume chambers is separated from the inlet chamber by a first flexible membrane that forms part of the first one of the two flexible volume chambers, and wherein the second one of the two flexible volume chambers is separated from the outlet chamber by a second flexible membrane that forms part of the second one of the two flexible volume chambers.

26. The filtration device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional filter module, the filter modules being connected to one or more vibration motors.

27. The filtration device according to claim 1, further comprising a vibration motor, the vibration motor being connected to the filter module, the vibration motor configured to provide a vibration driven dead-end filtration operation, wherein one part of the media is concentrated in the filter module and discharged at the end of the operation or intermittently.

28. The filtration device according to claim 27, wherein the vibration action assists in cleaning the semipermeable membrane filter during operation.

29. The filtration device according to claim 27, wherein the filter device continuously separates media entering the device through at least one inlet, the media having a high solids content, a high viscosity, or requiring a high sanitary demand.

30. The filtration device according to claim 27, wherein the filter device is for concentrating or separating entities in solution such as polypeptides, enzymes, proteins, yeast, or cells in a liquid and/or a combination thereof in a permeate phase exiting the device through the permeate outlet and a retentate phase exiting the device through the at least one retentate outlet.

31. A filtration device, comprising: a filter module adapted for pressure and vibration-driven filtration of media, the filter module comprises one or more tubular membrane elements, two or more gas-filled flexible volume chambers each positioned at one end of the filter module, at least one inlet for media to be filtered, and at least one retentate outlet for retentate, the inlet and retentate outlet being positioned at distal ends of the filter module and proximal to the flexible volume chambers, the filter module further including at least one semipermeable tubular membrane associated with one of tubular membrane elements that forms a path between the inlet and retentate outlet, the one semipermeable tubular membrane forming a semipermeable wall separating the retentate from a drain area, the drain area comprising a permeate outlet; a vibration motor having a receptacle for mounting the filter module, the vibration motor being adapted to provide a vibrating motion to the filter module, the flexible volume chambers having at least one flexible chamber wall in contact with the retentate flow and being adapted to expand and/or compress their volumes to allow the retentate to undergo a back-and-forth movement relative to a surface the semipermeable membrane in response to the vibrating motion.

32. The filtration device according to claim 31, wherein the vibration motor is adapted to provide vibrating motion of a linear nature.

33. The filtration device according to claim 31, where the vibration motor provides vibration motion to the filter module through an eccentric axis.

34. A filtration device, comprising: a filter module being adapted for continuous pressure and vibration driven filtration of media, the filter module comprising a retentate channel, two or more flexible volume chamber each positioned at an end of the retentate channel, at least one inlet for media to be filtered, and at least one retentate outlet for retentate, the at least one inlet and the at least one retentate outlet being positioned at distal ends of the filter module and proximal to the flexible volume chambers, the filter module further including at least one semipermeable tubular membrane located between the at least one inlet and the at least one retentate outlet and forming a semipermeable wall separating the retentate from a drain area, the drain area comprising a permeate outlet; and a vibration motor having a receptacle for mounting the filter module, the vibration motor being adapted to provide a vibrating motion to the filter module, the flexible volume chambers having at least one flexible chamber wall in contact with the retentate flow and being adapted to expand and/or compress their volumes to allow the retentate to undergo a back-and-forth movement relative to a surface the semipermeable membrane in response to the vibrating motion.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0049] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the filtration device having one filter module with a number of tubular filter elements.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, the media or retentate entry (6) and retentate exit connection (7) as well as gas cushion chamber (8A) and (81) are placed in either end of the long typically round module (2). The tubular membrane elements (16) are positioned in permeate collection chamber (10) said tubular elements are fixed in either end in a sealing and fixing potting (3, 4) sealing of permeate drain area from inlet and outlet chambers (5a, 5b). The cushion chambers (8A, 8B) are sealed off from the retentate chambers (5a, 5b) by a very flexible gasket membrane (14) that is edge wise sealed. The membrane surface (11) is formed on the inside wall of the tubular filter elements (16). The filter module is connected to the driving motor (12) through the connection part (13) and the device can vibrate back and forth or up and down when suspended in suitable springs. Connection hoses or tubes for media, permeate and retentate (6, 7 and 9) must be very flexible to allow for the vibrational movement of the device.

[0051] FIG. 1 further show a cut through of the filter module where 7 tubular filter elements (16) are seen in the permeate collection chamber (10).

[0052] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the filtration device having one filter module with a number of tubular filter elements.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the media or retentate entry (6) and retentate exit connection (7) as well as gas cushion chamber (8A) and (81) are placed in either end of the long round module (2). The tubular membrane elements (16) are positioned in the retentate channel (5c) said tubular elements are fixed in either end in a sealing and fixing potting (3, 4) sealing of permeate drain area (10) from retentate channel (5c). The flexible cushions (8A, 8B) are sealed off from the retentate channel (c) by a very flexible gastight balloon type membrane (14). The semipermeable membrane surface (11) is formed on the outside wall of the tubular filter elements (16). The filter module is connected to the driving motor (12) through the connection part (13) and the device can vibrate back and forth or up and down when suspended in suitable springs. Connections for media, permeate and retentate must be very flexible to allow for the vibrational movement of the device.

[0054] FIG. 2 further show a cut through of the filter module where the tubular filter elements (16) are seen in the retentate flow channel (5c).

[0055] FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a vibrating filtration device (1) with filter module (2) connected through a respectable (13) and a piston arm to a vibration drive motor (12) with eccentric axle (19).

[0056] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a vibrating filtration device (1) with 2 filter modules (2) connected through receptacles (13) and piston arms to a vibration drive motor (12) with eccentric axles (19). As the two filter modules moves in opposite directions, external vibrations can be eliminated.

[0057] FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a vibrating filtration device (1) with one filter module (2) connected to a feed tank, where feed is pumped from the feed tank (by gas being pumped into the feed tank, and the pressured gas forces the feed into the module retentate area (5a) via the feed or retentate entry (6). The same gas that pumps the feed is connected to the cushion chambers (8A, 8B) whereby the pressure is the same in the retentate area and the cushion chambers, allowing for an improved movement of the retentate in relation to the chamber during the vibration movement of the filter module (2) as the air cushions (8A, 8B) are squeezed or expanded.

[0058] In a not shown embodiment, the feed is pumped into the device by a suitable feed pump and gas in the flexible volume chambers (8A, 8B) can be adjusted by other means. In a not shown embodiment, a feed mixing pump is connected to the retentate exit (7) and to a feed or retentate back mix inlet connection (6), and this mixing pump can be used during operation to homogenize the retentate, or to ensure mixing during cleaning of the device.

[0059] It goes without saying that different modifications may be made to the examples described, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0060] The design shown allows for production of very small filter units for continuous filtration with very little dead volume inside as is a requested feature in drug development. It shall however be noted that the overall design hereby provides up-scaling possibilities to have many square meters of filtration area in one compact filtration unit.

[0061] All parts can be of food and pharmaceutical grade material with traceable origins, making the filtration unit suitable for human food consumables and the likes. The materials used can be of a plastic material that can be reused by re-melting or burned as a clean fossil-like fuel. The semipermeable membrane element can be of ceramic or metal or plastic or the like and is typically a sintered material with or without surface treatment. The parts of the unit can be produced by 3-D printing or sintering or by other means.

Working Examples

[0062] A new 350 cm.sup.2 filter assembly with a 0.2 micron polypropylene tubular membrane was mounted in the filter module and the filter module was mounted in the vibration drive unit. The Vibro unit was checked for leaks with water at 1 bar.

[0063] A 30 min lye wash pH 11 with 1.25% Divos 120 CL at 50? C. was performed at 0.5 bar pressure and the vibration motor at 15 Hz with partly opened retentate outlets. The unit was drained and flushed thoroughly with water. The unit was drained, and water was used as the media in a dead-end filtration at 0.1 bar with the vibration motor at 15 Hz and closed retentate outlets. The average flux was measured after 10 min to 420 LMH over a 5 min period.

[0064] The unit was drained, and orange juice was used as the media in a dead-end filtration at 0.5 bar with the vibration motor at 15 Hz and closed retentate outlet. The time was registered at each 50 ml of permeate produced and the average flux between the measuring points was calculated. The results are listed in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Permeate Permeate Time Volumen Flux (sec) (ml) (LMH) 0 0 40 50 183 80 100 147 140 150 142 200 200 127 270 250 117 340 300 111 420 350 98 500 400 83 600 450 82 700 500 80 800 550 79 900 600 77 1000 650 69 1100 700 61 1210 750 61 1320 800 60

[0065] The unit was drained, and water was used to flush out the media in a continuous filtration at 0.5 bar with the vibration motor at 15 Hz and partly opened retentate outlet for 15 min.

[0066] A 30 min lye wash pH 11 at 50? C. was performed at 0.5 bar pressure and the vibration motor at 15 Hz, with partly opened retentate outlets. The unit was drained and flushed thoroughly with water.

[0067] The unit was drained, and water was used as the media in a dead-end filtration at 0.1 bar with the vibration motor at 15 Hz and closed retentate outlets. The average flux was measured after 10 min to 410 LMH over a 1 min period.

[0068] The unit was drained, and orange juice was used as the media in a dead-end filtration at 0.5 bar with the vibration motor stopped and closed retentate outlet. The time was registered at each 50 ml of permeate produced and the average flux between the measuring points was calculated. The results are listed in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Permeate Permeate Time Volumen Flux (sec) (ml) (LMH) 0 0 40 50 158 160 100 53 240 150 79 370 200 48 500 250 48 660 300 39 840 350 35 1020 400 35 1220 450 32 1430 550 30 1650 600 29 1900 650 25

[0069] The unit was drained, and water was used as the media to flush out the unit at 0.5 bar with the vibration motor at 15 Hz and partly opened retentate outlet for 15 min.

[0070] A 30 min lye wash pH 11 at 50? C. was performed at 0.5 bar pressure and the vibration motor at 15 Hz with partly opened retentate outlets. The unit was drained and flushed thoroughly with water.

[0071] The unit was drained, and the average water flux was measured after 10 min to 380 LMH over a 1 min period.

[0072] Conclusion: A 15 Hz vibration made the orange juice filtration faster and unit was seen to be performing as larger unit using same membrane.