Patent · US Expired

Process and apparatus for thickening of solid liquid mixtures by means of membrane

US5693229A · kind A · utility

29Cited by
10References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 26, 1995
Grant dateDec 2, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 26, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB01D61/22
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

To thicken retentate residues using ultra- or microfiltration to clarify fruit juices, apparatuses which have membrane modules (1, 2) are used in the cross-flow process with a retentate circuit. It is proposed that first, the process be carried out with virtually constant retentate overflow velocity at the membranes until there is an increased concentration. Then the transmembrane pressure of membrane modules (1, 2) is kept constant or further increased, and the overflow velocity is reduced, until the desired thickening of the retentate residue is achieved. So that the last reduction step can be carried out, speed-governed retentate displacement pumps (8) are employed. To prevent stoppages of the membranes of membrane modules (1, 2), the apparatus is operated with special flow dividers (10) for the retentate, or an individual circulating pump is associated with each group of membrane modules.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.