Couette membrane filtration apparatus for separating suspended components in a fluid medium using high shear

The present invention provides significant improvements in the design and performance of a specific type of Rotary Membrane Filter (RMF) apparatus which has the capability of separating particles from a fluid having the same and nearly the same density as the particles by utilizing shear to achieve...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors FISCHEL, RICHARD J, BRUMFIELD, ROBERT C
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
French
German
Published 12.08.1987
Edition4
Subjects
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
SEPARATION
TRANSPORTING
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Summary:The present invention provides significant improvements in the design and performance of a specific type of Rotary Membrane Filter (RMF) apparatus which has the capability of separating particles from a fluid having the same and nearly the same density as the particles by utilizing shear to achieve separation, not centrifugal forces. A particular application for the apparatus is in the processing of fluid suspensions in which the suspensions contain fragile particles which are subject to damage due to excessive shear stresses. The prior art describes processing at constant shear rate, whereas the present invention provides the design and optimization of operation of such an apparatus at constant shear stress, which is maintained at a value below that at which significant damage to the fragile particles is encountered. The use of the invention is plasmapheresis (blood separations) is described in detail, it being understood that the teachings of the invention are also directly applicable to other fluids containing fragile particles.The application of the RMF in a continuous flow processing system designed to extract blood plasma from a donor is described, including return of corpuscular components to the donor.
Bibliography:Application Number: EP19860309692