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EP-4741046-A1 - SUPPORT DEVICE FOR USE WITH A MEMBRANE FILTRATION APPARATUS

EP4741046A1EP 4741046 A1EP4741046 A1EP 4741046A1EP-4741046-A1

Abstract

A support device (20) for use with a membrane filtration apparatus that includes an elongate membrane housing (11). The device facilitates loading and/or unloading of a membrane element (12) through an opening (11C) in an end portion (11A) of the housing (11). It comprises an end flange portion (28) abutting the end portion (11A) and a platform portion (22) projecting from the end flange portion (28) to support the membrane element (12). The device further includes an engagement portion (21) with a first clamp part (26) fixedly connected to the end flange portion (28) and a second clamp part (29) that clamps against a lower side (11H) of the membrane housing (11). The first clamp part (26) includes an adjustment element (37) configured to adjust the vertical position of a support surface (24) relative to the opening (11C) in the membrane housing (11).

Inventors

  • NEUBERT, Lars

Assignees

  • Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251105

Claims (15)

  1. A support device (20) for use with a membrane filtration apparatus (1) comprising an elongate membrane housing (11), said support device (20) being configured to support a membrane element (12) during loading and/or unloading of the membrane element (12) through an opening (11C) in an end portion (11A) of the membrane housing (11), said support device (20) comprising: an end flange portion (28) which is configured to abut the end portion (11A) of the membrane housing (11); a platform portion (22) that projects from the end flange portion (28) and is configured to support the membrane element (12) during said loading and/or unloading through the opening (11C); and an engagement portion (21) having a first clamp part (26) and a second clamp part (29), wherein the first clamp part (26) is fixedly connected to the end flange portion (28), and arranged to be hooked to an upper side (11G) of the end portion (11A) of the membrane housing (11), the second clamp part (29) is movably connected to the engagement portion (21), and arranged to be clamped against a lower side (11H) of the end portion (11A) of the membrane housing (11), and the first clamp part (26) comprises an adjustment element (37) configured to cooperate with the upper side (11G) of the end portion (11A) of the membrane housing (11), to adjust a vertical position of a support surface (24) with respect to the opening (11C) in the end portion (11A) of the membrane housing (11).
  2. A support device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment element (37) is arranged at a central top portion (49) of the first clamp part (26).
  3. A support device (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the adjustment element (37) is movable relative to the first clamp part (26), such that a membrane housing abutment surface (50) of the adjustment element (37) is movable relative to the first clamp part (26).
  4. A support device (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the adjustment element (37) has the form of a threaded screw (51) that extends through a threaded opening (52) in the first clamp part (26), with the head (53) of the screw (51) being located on an outside (54) of the first clamp part (26), and the tip (55) of the screw (51) being located on the inside (56) of the first clamp part (26).
  5. A support device (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the first clamp part (26) is connected with a weld (46) to an upper surface (57) of the end section (32) of the support device (20).
  6. A support device (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the first clamp part (26) comprises a first inclined engagement surface (58) that is arranged to abut a second inclined engagement surface (59) of the upper side (11G) of the end portion (11A) of the membrane housing (11).
  7. A support device (20) according to claim 6, wherein the inclined engagement surface (58) has a semi-circular extension around the end flange portion (28).
  8. A support device (20) according to claim 6, wherein the inclined engagement surface (58) is parallel to the second inclined engagement surface (59).
  9. A support device (20) according to claim 6, wherein the inclined engagement surface (58) extends from an inside (56) of the first clamp part (26) to an edge surface of an outer flange (44) of the first clamp part (26), the inclined engagement surface (58) being shorter than the second inclined engagement surface (59), the second inclined engagement surface (59) extending from an outer surface of a radial protrusion (11B) of the membrane housing (11) to the upper side (11G) of the end portion (11A).
  10. A support device (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the end flange portion (28) comprises an abutment surface (36) configured to face and abut the end portion (11A) of the membrane housing (11).
  11. A support device (20) according to claim 10, wherein the engagement portion (21) comprises at least one guiding pin (25A, 25B) which extends out from the abutment surface (36), the pin (25A, 25B) being configured to protrude into a slot (39) in the end portion (11A) of the membrane housing (11) when the end flange portion (28) abuts the end portion (11A) of the membrane housing (11).
  12. A support device (20) according to claim 11, wherein the end flange portion (28) comprises a first guiding pin (25A) and a second guiding pin (25B) extending out from the abutment surface (36), wherein the first guiding pin (25A) and the second guiding pin (25B) are located in a lower half (60) of the end flange portion (28), and spaced apart by at least one quarter of the circumference of the lower half (60).
  13. A support device (20) according to claim 11, wherein the guiding pin (25A, 25B) is arranged through a pin hole (48) that extends through the end flange portion (28).
  14. A support device (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the engagement portion (21) comprises an articulated joint (61) that connects first ends (62, 63) of the first and second clamp parts (26, 29) to each other, and a tensioning device (64) arranged opposite the articulated joint (61), for connecting second ends (65, 66) of the first and second clamp parts (26, 29) to each other and tightening the first and second clamp parts (26, 29) on the end portion (11A) of the membrane housing (11).
  15. A method for assembling a support device (20) according to any preceding claim against an elongate membrane housing (11), the method comprising: positioning (S1) the support device (20) against a membrane housing (11); arranging (S2) a first clamp part (26) against a radial protrusion (11B) of the membrane housing (11); arranging (S3) a first and second guiding pin (25A, 25B) in an end flange portion (28) of the support device (20) into a respective receiving recess (11F) in an end portion (11A) of the membrane housing (11); arranging (S4) a second clamp part (29) against the radial protrusion (11B); connecting (S2) the second clamp part (29) to the first clamp part (26); adjusting (S6) the vertical position of the support device (20) with respect to the elongate membrane housing (11).

Description

Technical Field The invention relates to the field of membrane filtration, specifically to the assembly of a support device for a membrane filtration apparatus, particularly, but not exclusively, for use in manufacturing food products, such as dairy items and beverages. Background Membrane filtration is widely employed in process manufacturing, involving the physical separation of an incoming feed into two fractions via a membrane. The fraction that passes through the membrane is typically referred to as "permeate," while the remaining fraction is known as "retentate." Depending on the application, one or both fractions may be utilized in the production of various products. A membrane filtration apparatus generally comprises one or more filtration units, each designed to separate an incoming feed into permeate and retentate. Each unit includes one or more membrane elements housed in a containment structure. Commonly used membrane elements include hollow-fiber and spiral-wound types, often configured for installation in elongate, tubular housings in industrial applications. In industrial settings, periodic service and maintenance are essential to ensure consistent product quality and maximize equipment availability. For ease of service, these tubular housings may feature an end opening sealed with a removable end cap. By removing the end cap, the membrane elements within the filtration unit are accessible and can be extracted through the end opening for inspection, cleaning, or replacement. Reassembly involves reinserting the membrane elements into the housing and reattaching the end cap to cover the end opening. If the tubular housings are positioned horizontally, disassembly and reassembly are usually conducted manually. However, filtration units can be large, and membrane elements relatively heavy, making manual handling challenging for service personnel. Additionally, a filtration unit often contains multiple membrane elements that must be carefully aligned when loaded into the housing, often using an interconnector, also known as an anti-telescopic device (ATD), seal carrier, membrane end cap, or membrane coupler. Consequently, reassembling a filtration unit is often labor-intensive and time-consuming, frequently requiring at least two people. Despite careful handling, there is still a risk of misalignment between membrane elements, which can lead to leakage-a particularly undesirable and potentially severe issue in the production of consumable products such as food. Manual handling of heavy objects also increases the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, especially if the weight of the membrane element exceeds recommended limits for manual handling and/or if it is lifted in a position that places excessive strain on the musculoskeletal system. Limited access to the membrane elements may necessitate working at heights, further raising the risk of injuries when combined with heavy weights and potentially awkward lifting postures. Additionally, accidental dropping of membrane elements during removal can cause irreparable damage to the membrane element and/or the interconnector. Patent documents JP2013052316, JP2013052317, and JP2013052318 attempt to address these challenges by providing a free-standing support structure with a movable platform for holding membrane elements. The support structure can be positioned in front of a set of filtration units, and the motorized platform allows operators to align a membrane element with the end opening of the housing. The platform also includes a movable rod that, when connected to a membrane element, facilitates moving the membrane element in and out of the housing. While this prior art addresses several of the issues mentioned above, the free-standing support structure is bulky, heavy, and requires considerable space in front of the filtration unit. Furthermore, it is a complex device with multiple drive units enabling movement in the x, y, and z directions, likely resulting in high acquisition and maintenance costs. Summary It is an objective of the invention to at least partly overcome one or more limitations of the prior art. One objective is to provide a user-friendly, simple, and cost-effective technique for assembling a filtration unit in a membrane filtration apparatus. These objectives, along with additional objectives that may arise from the following description, are at least partly achieved by a support device and a method of assembling a filtration unit as outlined in the independent claims, with embodiments defined by the dependent claims. According to one aspect of the invention, the support device is designed for use with a membrane filtration apparatus comprising an elongate membrane housing. The support device is configured to support a membrane element during the loading and/or unloading of the membrane element through an opening in an end portion of the membrane housing. The support device comprises an end flange portion configured to abut the end