Filter membrane module, and method for its production

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a membrane module, comprising a plurality of elongated filter elements disposed in parallel adjacent to one another, each element comprising a longitudinal channel, a housing enclosing the filter elements, and a collector chamber between the housing and the filter elements.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A filter membrane module, comprising:
 a plurality of membranes, each membrane comprising a plurality of longitudinal conduits; and   a housing connected to and surrounding the membrane,   wherein:
 for each of at least two of the membranes:
 the membrane has a cross-section in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal conduits; 
 the cross-section comprises two curved sides and two flat sides; and 
 the two flat sides are opposite each other; and 
 
   the filter membrane module is configured so that during use of the filter membrane module a medium to be filtered enters the longitudinal conduits and a filtered medium passes through a porous ceramic material of the longitudinal conduits and enters a collecting space.   
     
     
         3 . The filter membrane module of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of membranes comprises a plurality of ceramic membranes. 
     
     
         4 . The filter membrane module of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of membranes is potted within the filter membrane module. 
     
     
         5 . The filter membrane module of  claim 2 , wherein each membrane has a segment of a circle cross section. 
     
     
         6 . The filter membrane module of  claim 2 , wherein, for each of the at least two membranes, at least one of the flat sides is a chord of a single circle. 
     
     
         7 . The filter membrane module of  claim 2 , wherein the filter membrane module has an interstice between adjacent membranes configured so that, during use of the filter membrane module, filtered medium pass through the interstice. 
     
     
         8 . The filter membrane module of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the filter membrane module has a cross-section in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal conduits;   the filter membrane module has at least one axis of mirror symmetry along the cross-section; and   the filter membrane module has no more than two axes of mirror symmetry along the cross-section.   
     
     
         9 . A filter membrane module, comprising:
 a plurality of membranes, each membrane comprising a plurality of longitudinal conduits; and   a housing connected to and surrounding the filter elements,   wherein:
 for each membrane:
 the membrane has a cross-section in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal conduits; and 
 the cross-section comprises a curved side and a flat side; 
 
 each of the flat sides is a chord of a single circle; and 
 the filter membrane module is configured so that during use of the filter membrane module a medium to be filtered enters the longitudinal conduits and a filtered medium passes through a porous ceramic material of the longitudinal conduits and enters a collecting space. 
   
     
     
         10 . The filter membrane module of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of membranes comprises a plurality of ceramic membranes. 
     
     
         11 . The filter membrane module of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of membranes is potted within the filter membrane module. 
     
     
         12 . The filter membrane module of  claim 9 , wherein each membrane has a segment of a circle cross section. 
     
     
         13 . The filter membrane module of  claim 9 , wherein the filter membrane module has an interstice between adjacent membranes configured so that, during use of the filter membrane module, filtered medium pass through the interstice. 
     
     
         14 . The filter membrane module of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the filter membrane module has a cross-section in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal conduits;   the filter membrane module has at least one axis of mirror symmetry along the cross-section; and   the filter membrane module has no more than two axes of mirror symmetry along the cross-section.   
     
     
         15 . A filter membrane module, comprising:
 a plurality of membranes, each membrane comprising a plurality of longitudinal conduits; and   a housing connected to and surrounding the filter elements,   wherein:
 the filter membrane module has a cross-section in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal conduits; 
 the filter membrane module has at least one axis of mirror symmetry along the cross-section; 
 the filter membrane module has no more than two axes of mirror symmetry along the cross-section; and 
 the filter membrane module is configured so that during use of the filter membrane module a medium to be filtered enters the longitudinal conduits and a filtered medium passes through a porous ceramic material of the longitudinal conduits and enters a collecting space. 
   
     
     
         16 . The filter membrane module of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of membranes comprises a plurality of ceramic membranes. 
     
     
         17 . The filter membrane module of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of membranes is potted within the filter membrane module. 
     
     
         18 . The filter membrane module of  claim 15 , wherein each membrane has a segment of a circle cross section. 
     
     
         19 . The filter membrane module of  claim 15 , wherein each membrane has at least one flat side that is a chord of a single circle. 
     
     
         20 . The filter membrane module of  claim 15 , wherein the filter membrane module has an interstice between adjacent membranes configured so that, during use of the filter membrane module, filtered medium pass through the interstice. 
     
     
         21 . The filter membrane module of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of membranes comprises a plurality of ceramic membranes;   the plurality of membranes is potted within the filter membrane module;   each membrane has a segment of a circle cross section;   each membrane has at least one flat side that is a chord of a single circle; and   the filter membrane module has an interstice between adjacent membranes configured so that, during use of the filter membrane module, filtered medium pass through the interstice.