Permeate adapter for multi-tube pressure vessel

Abstract

A permeate adapter is provided. The permeate adapter may be used within a pressure vessel. The permeate adapter includes a front portion and an oppositely disposed back portion. The front portion includes a permeate opening for receiving an end of a permeate passage tube of a membrane cartridge and for being in fluid communication with a permeate reservoir. The front portion and the back portion each include one or more fluid openings. Fluid passageways are connected between the one or more front portion fluid openings and the back portion fluid openings. The fluid passageways receive an end of a membrane cartridge at the front portion. At the back portion, the fluid passageways are in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir adjacent the back portion of the permeate adapter.

1 . A permeate adapter for use within a pressure vessel, the permeate adapter comprising:
 a front plate having at least one fluid opening and a permeate opening which receives an end of a permeate passage tube of a membrane cartridge at the front plate and is in fluid communication with a permeate reservoir;   a back plate longitudinally spaced from the front plate and having at least one fluid opening;   at least one tube extending from the front plate to the back plate to fluidly couple the front plate fluid opening and the back plate fluid opening which receives an end of a membrane cartridge at the front plate and is in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir adjacent the back plate, the front plate and back plate comprising discrete structural bodies joined together by the at least one tube to form the permeate adapter; and   a tubular sleeve in which the front plate, back plate, and at least one tube are received, the tubular sleeve sealingly coupled to the front plate and to the back plate.   
     
     
         2 . The permeate adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the front plate comprises a front steel end-plate, and wherein the back plate comprises a back steel end-plate. 
     
     
         3 . The permeate adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the front steel end-plate comprises a front notch formed along an outer edge of the front steel-end plate, and wherein the back steel end-plate comprise a back notch formed along an outer edge of the back steel-end plate. 
     
     
         4 . The permeate adapter of  claim 3 , wherein the front steel end-plate comprises a front o-ring inserted in the front notch to provide isolation between the permeate adapter and a membrane cartridge chamber, the front o-ring sealingly compressed between the front steel end-plate and an inner surface of the tubular sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The permeate adapter of  claim 3 , wherein the back steel end-plate comprises a back o-ring inserted in the back notch and sealingly compressed between the back steel end-plate and an inner surface of the tubular sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The permeate adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tube is selected from the group consisting of a steel, composite, and ceramic pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The permeate adapter of  claim 1 , wherein said permeate adapter is disposed within a sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The permeate adapter of  claim 1  wherein said sleeve comprises permeate exit openings.