MODULAR DISTRIBUTOR HEAD FOR MEMBRANE HOUSING BODIES

Abstract

Subject-matter of the invention is a modular distribution head for a membrane housing body including a front side, a pipe connection to the membrane housing body, a gasket to seal the membrane housing body which is placed in the pipe connection, at least two flow openings in the distribution head through which the liquid can flow in and out of the distribution head and the membrane housing body whilst the flow opening is e.g. a liquid inlet, a permeate outlet or a concentrate outlet. The use of the distribution head or plant as per the invention leads to a considerable reduction in space required. In addition to less required space, a further advantage of the distribution heads as per the invention is that the connector pieces and the hydraulic connections are no longer necessary since the distribution heads are directly connected to each other and less collector pipes are needed in a plant.

Claims

1. Modular distribution head (1) for a membrane housing body (2) including at least two flow openings (3) in the distribution head (1) through which the liquid can flow in and out of the distribution head (1) and the membrane housing body (2), a front side (4), which forms one side of the distribution head (1), a pipe connection in the distribution head (1) for the membrane housing body (2), which is used to seal the membrane housing body (2), and which has to be located on the front side (4) of the opposite side (6) of the distribution head (1), a gasket (7) to seal the membrane housing body (2), which is placed in the pipe connection, characterised by the fact that the distribution head (1) has on the inside at least a collector space (11) to collect the liquid and the flow openings (3, 9,10) of the distribution head are arranged vertically to front side (4).

2. Distribution head (1) as per patent claim 1, characterised by fact that the distribution head is (1) cuboid, cubic or cylindrical.

3. Distribution head (1) as per claim 2, characterised by the fact that the distribution head (1) has at least a cavity (12) to hold a closing tensile element (13) whilst the cavity (12) is located parallel to the front panel (4).

4. Distribution head (1) as per patent claim 3, characterised by the fact, that the distribution head (1) has a compression plate (14), which is arranged vertically to the front side (4) and has openings (15) to hold the closing tensile elements (13) which are arranged congruently to the cavities (12).

5. Distribution head (1) according to claim 1, characterised by the fact, that the flow openings (3, 9,10) each have a coupler (8) which is integrated into the distribution head (1) or that a connecting piece (17) is connected to the flow openings (3, 9, 10).

6. Distribution head (1) according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the flow openings (3) are a liquid inlet (3) (feed), a permeate outlet (9) and/or concentrate outlet (10).

7. Distribution head (1) according to claim 1, characterised by the fact, that the distribution head has a diffuser (18) which is located in the pipe connection.

8. Distribution head (1) according to claim 1, characterised by the fact, that the distribution head (1) has a flow reducer (19) to regulate the flow rate, preferably a flow reducer ring.

9. Distribution head (1) according to claim 1, characterised by the fact, that the distribution head (1) has recesses (20) which are vertical to the front side (4) and in which axial tensile elements (21) of the membrane housing body (2) are arranged.

10. Plant with at least one membrane housing body (2), at least one membrane element (22) in each membrane housing body and at least one distribution head (1) as per claim 1.

Description

[0047] The invention is explained in more detail using these drawings. It shows

[0048] Drawing 1a a distribution head as per the invention for the liquid inlet which is mounted on the membrane housing body,

[0049] Drawing 1b the distribution head as per the invention according to drawing 1a without membrane housing body,

[0050] Drawing 2 a section through the distribution head as per the invention as per drawing 1a,

[0051] Drawing 3 the distribution head as per the invention according to drawing 1a with connector pieces,

[0052] Drawing 4a a distribution head as per the invention for the liquid outlet which is mounted on the membrane housing body,

[0053] Drawing 4b the distribution head as per the invention according to drawing 4a without membrane housing body

[0054] Drawing 5 a section through a distribution head as per the invention as per drawing 4a,

[0055] Drawing 6 a membrane housing body without distribution heads,

[0056] Drawing 7 a section through four connected distribution heads as per drawing 1a,

[0057] Drawing 8 a section through four connected distribution heads as per drawing 4a,

[0058] Drawing 9 a longitudinal section through a plant as per the invention with four membrane housing bodies and four connected distribution heads each at the inlet and outlet side of the membrane housing body and

[0059] Drawing 10 a top view of the front side of the distribution head from drawing 4b.

[0060] Drawing 1a shows a distribution head 1 as per the invention in the design as inlet section (feed). The distribution head 1 is connected to a membrane housing body 2, which is only partly shown. The distribution head 1 has two flow openings 3 of which only the front one is apparent and a front side 4. Two sides 6a and 6b of the distribution head 1 can be seen. The flow opening 3 is located on the side 6b. The flow opening 3 leads to a collector room 11, which is located on the inside of the distribution head 1. In the side 6b, there are also 4 openings 12 visible, which are used each to hold a closing tensile element 13. A coupling ring 8 is located at the flow opening 3 with which the distribution head 1 is coupled to an adjacent distribution head.

[0061] Drawing 1b shows the distribution head 1 as per drawing 1a without fitted membrane housing body 2. The pipe connection is closed with a back plate 24. The back plate 24 has a flow opening 23 to the membrane housing body. A flow reducer 19 is located in the flow opening 23. The flow opening 3 has a seat 5 for the coupler 8 which is not fitted here.

[0062] Drawing 2 shows a section through the distribution head 1 as per drawing 1. The distribution head 1 is fitted to a membrane housing body 2. A membrane element 22 is visible in the membrane housing body (not fully shown). An opening is located in the distribution head 1 opposite the front side 4 which is designed as pipe connection for the membrane housing body 2. The distribution head 1 also has an opening 27 for the pressure measurement on the inlet. The membrane housing body 2 is sealed with a circumferential seal 7.

[0063] The liquid can flow from the collector room 11 through opening 23 into the membrane housing body.

[0064] Here the liquid flows through the flow reducer 19 which is designed as a ring. After passing through the flow reducer 19, the liquid flows through the diffuser 18 and is thus distributed evenly over the cross-section of the membrane element 22.

[0065] Drawing 3 shows the distribution head 1 as per drawing 1a with connector piece 17. The distribution head 1 can be coupled with the pipe to the liquid inlet via connector piece 17. Normally, the coupling is done via hydraulic coupling part.

[0066] Drawing 4a shows a distribution head 1 as per the invention which is designed as an outlet section. In the side 6b of the distribution head, there is a flow opening 10 for the permeate and a flow opening 9 for the concentrate. The flow opening 9 leads to a collector room 11a for the concentrate whilst the flow opening 10 to a second collector room 11b for the permeate. The distribution head 1 has also four cavities 12 starting from the side 6b to accommodate the closing tensile elements.

[0067] Drawing 4b has a visible distribution head 1 as per drawing 4a without fitted membrane housing body 2. The pipe connection is closed with a back plate 24. In the middle, a back plate 24 is located in the membrane connector 25. The permeate goes through the membrane connector 25 from the membrane into the permeate collector room 11b. In the back plate, there is also a concentrate outlet 26 through which the concentratepotentially through a flow reducerreaches the concentrate collector room 11a.

[0068] Drawing 5 shows a section through the distribution head 1 as per the invention as per drawing 4a. Collector room 11a for the concentrate and the collector room 11b for the permeate are visible. The membrane housing body 2 is also connected with the distribution head 1 via a gasket 7. The collector room 11a also has a connection 28 for a measuring lance for pressure measurement of the concentrate.

[0069] Drawing 6 shows a membrane housing body without distribution heads. Four axial tensile elements 21 are located in the membrane housing body 2. The membrane housing body 2 also has three saddles 16 in front of which the distribution heads 1 are placed. The saddles 16 are used to stack the membrane housing bodies 2 and to support the membrane housing body 2 on the floor.

[0070] In drawing 7, a plant as per the invention is shown with four distribution heads 1 as per the invention on the feed side and four distribution heads 1 as per the invention on the permeate/concentrate side. There are four membrane housing bodies 2 between the two units of Multiports. The distribution heads 1a on the feed site are shown as sectional drawings. It is clear that each of the flow openings 3a and 3b of 2 adjacent distribution heads are connected to each other via the coupler 8. The distribution heads 1 are held together through four closing tensile elements 13. Compression plates 14 are located on the outside of the relevant outer distribution heads. Each distribution head 1 has a flow opening 23 to the membrane housing body. The cross-section shows the open collector rooms 11 in each of the distribution heads. The connector pieces 17b are in the rear to drain the concentrate and 17c to drain the permeate.

[0071] Drawing 8 shows a section of the plant from drawing 7 from the rear. The distribution heads 1b are here shown as section drawings. It is clear that each distribution head 1b has collector rooms 11a and 11b. Each of the collector rooms 11a for the distribution heads 1b are connected to each other via flow openings. Also, the collector rooms 11b are connected to each other via flow openings. On the outer end of the collector rooms 11a is a connection nozzle 17b visible. On the other side at the outer edge of the connected collector rooms 11b is a connection nozzle 17c visible. The individual distribution heads 1 are also held together through closing tensile elements 13.

[0072] Drawing 9 shows a longitudinal section through the plant as per invention according to drawings 7 and 8. Liquid flows into the collector rooms 11a of the distribution heads 1a via the connection nozzles 17a. The liquid flows then via the flow openings 23 through the flow reducer 19 to the diffuser 18. The liquid is distributed over the cross-section of the membrane housing body 2 at the diffuser 18 and flows through the membrane elements 22. The liquid splits into concentrate and permeate then reaches at the other end of the membrane housing bodies 2 the collector rooms of the distribution heads 1b. The permeate leaves the plant again through the connection nozzles 17c.

[0073] Drawing 10 shows a top view of the front side 4 of the distribution head 1 from drawing 4b. The recesses 20 for the axial tensile elements as well as the cavities 12 to hold the closing tensile elements are visible in the distribution head 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0074] 1 Distribution head [0075] 2 Membrane housing body [0076] 3 Flow opening for feed [0077] 4 Front side [0078] 5 Seat for coupler [0079] 6 Side of the distribution head [0080] 7 Gasket [0081] 8 Coupler [0082] 9 Flow opening for concentrate [0083] 10 Flow opening for permeate [0084] 11 Collector rooms [0085] 12 Cavities to hold a closing tensile element [0086] 13 Closing tensile element [0087] 14 Compression plate [0088] 15 Openings in compression plate [0089] 16 Saddle membrane housing body [0090] 17 Connector piece [0091] 18 Diffuser [0092] 19 Flow reducer [0093] 20 Recesses for axial tensile elements [0094] 21 Axial tensile element [0095] 22 Membrane element [0096] 23 Flow opening to membrane housing body [0097] 24 Back plate [0098] 25 Membrane connector [0099] 26 Concentrate outlet [0100] 27 Opening for pressure measurement in the inlet [0101] 28 Connection for measuring lance