FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a spacer element for guiding flow media, in particular a device for filtering and separating the flow media by reverse osmosis or nanofiltration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The filtration systems usually use a disc-shaped spacer elements with a central hole to separate the two filter elements. These disc-shaped spacers have a central hole with a plurality of spaced openings through which the flow medium passes. In another type of known spacers, the filter elements are alternately placed in cavity formed between two baffles. The deflection plates have a central hole, around which a separate disc is placed, which defines an axial distance from the adjacent deflection disc and which is used to be tightened via a threaded rod arranged in the central hole of the deflection disc.

Another type of known spacer elements (EP0289740B1) are stacked on top of one another within a tubular housing, between which filter cushions are arranged. These spacer elements have a plurality of pointed projections on the two surfaces, which slightly distance the filter pads from the spacer elements. In long-term use, however, it has been shown that these projections increasingly penetrate and perforate into the filter cushions, resulting in loss of their function.

Another type of known spacing element (DE 19700231 Al) has semi-circular partition walls on where the inflow and outflow openings are diagonally opposite. These partition walls serve to direct the flow medium past the ineffective central zone and flood the dead zones at the edge.

The existing designs are with 180° sharp redirection of fluid flow which demands more pressure drop and therefore consumes more power. Another issue with designs is of arrangement of assembly of spacers within the filter modules. The existing spacing elements have no or only one specific matching point to assemble the disc which makes it difficult and time consuming. It becomes very tedious and difficult when one has to arrange huge filtration modules with around thousands of spacers. The present invention discloses a fluid flow spacing element which mitigates aforementioned problem by providing a spacer which consumes less pressure drop and power and is easy to assemble. In order to describe the invention hereinafter the fluid flow spacing element is referred as spacing element.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spacing element consume less pressure drop.

It is another object of the spacing element of present invention to provide the maximum contact time of the flowing fluid with the membrane element.

It is yet another object of the spacing element of present invention to provide an angular flow to fluid to prevent its sharp turn through spacer assembly.

It is still another of the spacing element of present invention to provide an easy mechanism for stacking of the spacing elements in the filter apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a spacing element (10) for filtering apparatus comprising a discshaped spacing element enclosing the membrane element (8) of the apparatus, a central opening (3) provided with criss-cross wall in which the top side opening wall (3a) and the bottom side opening wall (3b) are perpendicular to each other, a ribbed surface where the top side ribs (2a) are directing in 45° angle from the outer edge (1) of the spacing element to the central opening (3) meeting the bottom side ribs (2b) which are redirected in 45° angle to the outer edge (1) of the spacing element, wherein, the flowing fluid enters from the outer edge of the spacing element in an angular direction and is redirected to flow through the guiding path between two ribs onto the next spacing element in a sharp perpendicular direction, a mechanism for easy assembly of spacing elements wherein, a permeate openings (6) are present on surface of spacer at equal distance of pitch circle diameter with a male pin (4), a female recess (5) to match the corresponding permeate opening and a marking of matching dots (7) provided on outer edge of the spacing element in symmetric manner of 90° angle, wherein, each dot represents the centre of two adjacent male pins.

The angular flow of fluid makes the travelling path longer thus providing more contact time between flowing fluid and membrane surface enclosed between two spacing elements resulting in effective filtration and cleaning. The angular flowing direction of fluid becomes 90° (top side ribs + bottom side ribs) which therefore consumes less power and low pressure drop.

The fixing mechanism provides for easy stacking of assembly by matching the dots present on the outer edge of spacers and presence of male pins (4) and female recess (5) at near permeate openings (6).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is illustrated in the accompanying non-limiting drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Figure 1 illustrates a top view of spacing element of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a bottom view of spacing element of the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross-section of spacing element of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates the enlarged view of centre opening made of criss-cross walls representing the entry and exit passage of fluid in spacing element of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates the travelling path of fluid in spacing element of present invention.

Figure 6 illustrates the spacing element of present invention in a preferred embodiment.

Figure 7 illustrates the spacing element of present invention in assembled in filter module assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A spacing element (10) of the present invention is a disc shaped spacer separating the membrane (8) cushion in the module arrangement used for filtration and separation of water ions. The object of the spacing element of present invention is to consume less pressure drop for providing the maximum contact time of the flowing fluid with the membrane surface resulting in efficient filtration and cleaning of the membranes. The flow pattern of spacing element is designed in such a way that the flow is directed and redirected in perpendicular direction which consumes less pressure drop. The sharp angular flow path of fluid passes through the spacing element on to the surface of membrane cushion and is redirected to the next spacing element present in stack of filter module assembly. The spacing elements are stacked one above the other and a membrane cushion is placed between two surfaces of the adjacent spacers (figure number 7). Thus, flowing fluid enters from the outer edge of the spacing element in an angular direction and is redirected in sharp perpendicular redirection to the next spacing element disc.

The figure number 1 and 2 illustrates the surface area of the spacing element characterized by ribs (2) beginning from outer edge to concentric part of the spacing element. The ribs are designed in a way to direct the flow of fluid through the spacer assembly. The top side ribs (2a) are directed in 45° angle from the outer edge towards the central opening (3) meeting the bottom side ribs (2b) which are redirected in 45° angle towards the outer edge (1). The sum angle of the top side ribs plus angle of bottom side ribs leads to a total of 90° angle of perpendicular flow. Thus, redirection of flow of fluid doesn’t require sharp turn and consumes less pressure drop. The present invention thus achieves the aim of consuming less pressure drop for filtration.

The figure number 4 of spacing element of the present invention illustrates a enlarged view of centre opening (3) made of criss-cross walls wherein the top side opening wall (3a) and bottom side opening wall (3b) are perpendicular to each other.

The fluid flow path The figure number 5 illustrates the travelling path of the flowing fluid, the fluid enters from the outer edge (1) the spacing element and is directed towards the centre opening (3) by the guiding path - a space between two adjacent ribs. The top side ribs (2a) are directed in 45° angle towards the centre (3), thus making fluid flow in angular direction of 45° angle towards the centre opening.The bottom side ribs (2b) are directed in 45° angle towards the outer edge (1), thus making the fluid coming from the bottom side opening wall (3b) to flow through the guiding path between bottom ribs (2b) in angular direction of 45° angle towards the outer edge (1) of next spacing element of the assembly. This cycle repeats with every spacing element arranged in stack of filter module.

Advantages of angular flow of fluid

As flow of fluid becomes angular the travelling path becomes longer and therefore provides more contact time between flowing fluid and membrane surface enclosed between two spacing elements. This helps in effective purification and also in cleaning of the membrane the cleaning solution will have more contact time with the membrane surface for better cleaning. The angular flowing direction of fluid becomes 90° (top side ribs + bottom side ribs) which therefore consumes less power and low pressure drop.

Fixing Mechanism

The figure number 1 and 2 illustrates the spacing element (10) of present invention having permeate openings (6) placed at the same pitch circle diameter at an equal distance. The spacing element assembly can be built by matching these permeate openings (6) with each other. The spacing element has male pin (4) and female recess (5) near these permeate openings (6) wherein, the male pin (4) of the one spacer is inserted to fit into the corresponding female recess (5) of the adjacent spacer. The male pins (4) and female recess (5) as shown in figure number 3 are present on the same spacer right behind each other thus allowing the easy stacking of the spacers. The male pins (4) are pin-like projections to be inserted into the recess of female recess (5) of an adjacent spacer element so that an absolutely uniformly aligned stack of filter elements can be put together without any effort.

The figure number 3 illustrates the matching dots (7) provided on outer edge of spacer for matching, each such dot represents the centre of mail pins (4). The assembly segments are divided into equal parts of 90° with same dimension and shape, hence any part (90° segment ) of top spacing element can fit with the any part (90° segment) of the spacing element present below of assembly. Therefore, in order to assembly the spacing elements one above the other any dot on the outer edge is matched with the next dot and the male pins (4) are inserted into the female recess (5) of the other spacing element.

The figure number 6 illustrates the preferred view of the embodiment of the spacing element of present invention which represent the outer edge (1), central opening (3) made of criss-cross walls, ribbed surface (2) on opposite sides, permeate opening (6) and the male pins (4) projecting in upwards direction while female recess (5) are on exact opposite side (not shown).

The foregoing description explains the structure and the principles of operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Various changes and the modifications may be made of course, without departing from the scope of the present invention.