Single-piece column structure for the separation of a fluid medium

Abstract

A separator element for obtaining molecular and/or particulate separation by tangential flow of a fluid medium for treatment into a filtrate and a retentate, the element comprising a structure ( 2 ) of at least two porous rigid columns ( 3 ) made of the same material, positioned side by side to define outside their outside walls a volume ( 4 ) for recovering the filtrate, each column ( 3 ) presenting internally at least one open structure ( 5 ) for passing a flow of the fluid medium, opening out in one of the ends of the porous column for inlet of the fluid medium for treatment and in the other end for outlet of the retentate. The element is a single-piece rigid structure ( 2 ) made as a single piece that is uniform and continuous throughout, without any bonds or exogenous additions.

1 . A separator element for obtaining molecular and/or particulate separation of a fluid medium for treatment into a filtrate and a retentate, the element comprising an inlet plate and an outlet plate supporting between them at least two porous rigid columns made of the same material, positioned side by side to define outside their outside walls a volume for recovering the filtrate, each column presenting internally at least one open structure for passing a flow of the fluid medium, opening out in one of the ends of the porous column for inlet of the fluid medium for treatment and in the other end for outlet of the retentate,
 wherein the element comprises a single-piece rigid structure made as a single piece that is uniform and continuous throughout, without any bonds or exogenous additions.   
     
     
         2 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous rigid columns possess outside shapes that are constant or that vary along their length. 
     
     
         3 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous rigid columns possess transverse dimensions that are constant or that vary along their length. 
     
     
         4 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the plates are made out of the same material as the porous columns so as to have identity and continuity of material and of porous texture between the plates and the columns, the material of the plates not being separate fittings. 
     
     
         5 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein each plate has an outside face that is sealed and in contact with the fluid medium for treatment or with the retentate. 
     
     
         6 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the plates possess a right section that is circular. 
     
     
         7 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the plates possess a right section that is non-circular. 
     
     
         8 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous columns are secured to one another via at least one connection bridge made of the same material as the plates and the columns. 
     
     
         9 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous columns are of shapes that are different or identical. 
     
     
         10 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous columns possesses transverse dimensions that are identical or different. 
     
     
         11 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous columns are cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         12 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous columns are helical in shape. 
     
     
         13 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous columns are intertwined together. 
     
     
         14 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous columns possess internal open structures for passing a flow of the fluid medium, which structures are identical for all of the porous columns or different for at least one of the porous columns. 
     
     
         15 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein each porous column includes a single channel as its open structure. 
     
     
         16 . The element according to  claim 15 , wherein the channels of the porous columns for each porous column define a constant thickness of porous material lying in the range 0.25 mm to 5 mm, while the distance between the porous columns lies in the range 0.125 mm to 10 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein each porous column includes as its open structure channels all having a peripheral wall facing the outside wall of the porous column. 
     
     
         18 . The element according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one separator layer for the fluid medium that is deposited continuously on the surface of the open structure that comes into contact with the fluid medium. 
     
     
         19 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous columns and the plates are made of organic material. 
     
     
         20 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous columns and the plates are made of a ceramic selected from the group consisting of oxides, nitrides, carbides, or other ceramic materials, and mixtures thereof, and in particular from titanium oxide, alumina, zirconia, and mixtures thereof, titanium nitride, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, and silicon carbide, possibly mixed with some other ceramic material. 
     
     
         21 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous columns and the plates are made of a non-metallic inorganic material. 
     
     
         22 . The element according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous columns and the plates are made of a pure metal such as aluminum, zinc, copper, or titanium, or in the form of an alloy of a plurality of these metals, or of stainless steel. 
     
     
         23 . A separator module for obtaining molecular and/or particulate separation of a fluid medium for treatment into a filtrate and a retentate, the device comprising a casing having at least one single-piece element in accordance with  claim 1 , having each plate mounted in a sealing gasket and having at least two porous rigid columns positioned side by side defining by their outside walls, the inside faces of the plates, and of the casing, a peripheral space for recovering the filtrate. 
     
     
         24 . The separator module according to  claim 23 , wherein the module comprises a compactness for a given hydraulic diameter that is increased by a factor of at least 20%, and preferably of 50%.