General Electric Company

Bl Technologies, Inc.

Phillip Goebel

Yatin Tayalia

Prasanna Rao Dontula

Kenneth J Sieth

Richard M Reckin

Thomas J Cartwright

Prashant Vishwanath Shrikhande

Duane S Freimuth

Chia Kung

Steven John Harrold

Peter S Cartwright

Cha Moua

David M Polizzotti

David Olson

Abdul Rafi Khwaja

Membrane elements that use multiple membrane leaves may have a limited total active membrane area due to an increased diameter at the ends of the element. Membrane leaves may comprise a permeate carrier positioned between one or more membrane sheets. Adhesive may be used to seal one or more edges of the membrane leaf. The membrane sheets, permeate carrier and the adhesive contribute to the thickness of the edges of the membrane leaf and the diameter at the ends of the element. A reduced thickness of the edges of the permeate carrier may reduce the diameter at the ends of an element. Another permeate carrier sheet may also be used that is distanced from at least one edge of the membrane sheet so the permeate carrier sheet does not contribute towards the increased diameter at the ends of the element.

Material efficiency and fabrication of membrane elements

A permeate carrier to be described in detail below has side edges, alternatively called borders, that are thinner than a central part of the permeate carrier. Adhesive is applied to the side edges to form a seal when a membrane leaf is formed around the permeate carrier. After the membrane leaf is wound around a central tube, the side edges extend in a spiral around the central tube. The transition between the side edges and the central part of the permeate carrier helps prevent adhesive from flowing into the central part of the permeate carrier. The reduced thickness of the side edges also reduces an increase in diameter at the ends of an element that might otherwise be caused by the adhesive.

Spiral wound membrane permeate carrier with thin border

A spiral wound module is suitable for use with high temperature water that is also very alkaline or has a high pH, for example SAGD produced water. The module uses a polyamide-based membrane with a polysulfone or polyethersulfone backing material. For other components, the module uses primarily one or more of, EPDM; polyamide; polyphenylene oxide; polyphenylene sulfide; polysulfone; polyethersulfone; polysulfonamide; polyvinylidene fluoride; mylar; fiberglass; and, epoxy. Polyester is not used. Polypropylene is not used for the feed spacer. For example, a module may use a PVDF feed spacer, a nylon permeate spacer and a polysulfone center tube. The center tube may be provided with 4 rows of 0.063&#x2033; diameter holes and be rolled under high tension.

Spiral wound membrane element and treatment of SAGD produced water or other high temperature alkaline fluids

The disclosed product water tube is for use with a filter element having a filter membrane. The product water tube has a tube wall with a plurality of apertures formed therein to allow permeate from the filter membrane to pass through the tube wall and into a center portion of the tube. The tube wall has an outer surface having a pattern of ridges and channels that conduct the permeate across the outer surface of the tube to the apertures.

Spiral wound membrane element product water tube with external flow grooves

A home RO filtration system includes a membrane module having an inlet connected to a feed line, the membrane module also having a concentrate outlet coupled to a concentrate line, and a permeate outlet coupled to a permeate line. The permeate line communicates with a faucet. The system includes a flush reservoir communicatively coupled between the permeate line and the feed line. The system is configured such that after the faucet is turned off, a portion of permeate is delivered to the reservoir and then delivered to the inlet of the module to flush the module.

Method and system to flush an RO system

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New Hope, MN, United States of America

Phillip Goebel