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    • 专利摘要:
    The object of the invention relates to a tangential flow separation element comprising a rigid one-piece porous support (2) within the volume of which at least one channel (41) for the circulation of the fluid medium to be treated has a flexible volume of circulation (V1) defined by the displacement around a reference axis along a curvilinear trajectory, of a generating section and in that this reference axis does not pass through said generating section and is contained in the volume of the porous support .
    公开号:FR3060410A1
    申请号:FR1663058
    申请日:2016-12-21
    公开日:2018-06-22
    发明作者:Philippe Lescoche；Jerome Anquetil
    申请人:Technologies Avancees et Membranes Industrielles SA；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Holder (s): ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND INDUSTRIAL MEMBRANES Simplified joint-stock company.
    Extension request (s)
    Agent (s): CABINET BEAU DE LOMENIE Civil society.
    FR 3 060 410 - A1
    104; TANGENTIAL FLOW SEPARATION ELEMENT INCLUDING FLEXUAL CHANNELS.
    ©) The object of the invention relates to a separation element by tangential flow comprising a rigid porous monobloc support (2) inside the volume of which at least one channel (4-,) for the circulation of the fluid medium to be treated has a flexible circulation volume (V1) defined by the displacement around a reference axis along a curvilinear trajectory, of a generating section and in that this reference axis does not cross said generating section and is contained in the volume of the porous support.
    t, is Vi i V. f
    The present invention relates to the technical field of separation elements by tangential flow of a fluid medium to be treated into a filtrate and a retentate, commonly called filtration membranes.
    More specifically, the invention relates to new geometries of channels of these separation elements making it possible to increase the flow of the filtrate and / or to reduce the energy consumption of the installations implementing these separation elements.
    The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing by additive method such separation elements by tangential flow.
    Separation processes using membranes are used in many sectors, in particular in the environment for the production of drinking water and the treatment of industrial effluents, in the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food industry and in the field. of biotechnology.
    A membrane constitutes a selective barrier which allows, under the action of a transfer force, ie the passage or the stopping of certain components of the fluid medium to be treated. The passage or the stopping of the components results from their size compared to the size of the pores of the membrane which then behaves like a filter. Depending on the size of the pores, these techniques are called microfiltration, ultrafiltration or nanofiltration.
    There are membranes with different structures and textures. The membranes are, in general, made up of a porous support which ensures the mechanical resistance of the membrane and which, defining the number and the morphology of the channels, determines the total filtering surface of the membrane. It is indeed on the interior walls of these channels that a layer called the separating layer, the filtration layer, the separation layer, the active layer or the skin ensures separation. During the separation, the filtered fluid is transferred through the separating layer, then this fluid spreads through the porous texture of the support to go towards the outer perimeter surface of the porous support. This part of the fluid to be treated having passed through the separation layer and the porous support is called permeate or filtrate and is recovered by a collection chamber surrounding the membrane. The other part is called retentate and is most often reinjected into the fluid to be treated upstream of the membrane, thanks to a circulation loop.
    Conventionally, when the support is made of ceramic material, the support is first manufactured in the desired shape by extrusion, then sintered at a temperature and for a time sufficient to ensure the required solidity, while retaining in the ceramic obtained open and interconnected porous texture desired. This process requires one or more rectilinear channels to be obtained, inside which the separating layer or layers are then deposited and sintered. The supports are traditionally of tubular shape and comprise one or more rectilinear channels arranged parallel to the central axis of the support. In general, the internal surface of the channels is smooth and has no irregularities.
    However, it has been found that the filtration membranes manufactured from supports having such geometries come up against clogging problems and therefore exhibit limited performance in terms of flow. Indeed, small particles and macromolecules can be adsorbed on the surface of the separating layer or deposit there by forming a gel or a deposit, they can even penetrate into the porosity and block certain pores.
    The principle of any membrane separation, and in particular tangential separation, using filtration elements, resides in a selective transfer whose efficiency is dependent on the selectivity of the membrane (the active layer) and the permeability (flux) of the filter element considered as a whole (support + active layer). Selectivity and permeability are not only determined by the characteristics of the active layer and its support because they can be reduced or limited by the appearance of clogging resulting from a concentration polarization, a deposit or '' blocked pores.
    The concentration polarization phenomenon operates during a filtration operation when the macromolecules present in the liquid to be treated concentrate at the membrane / solution interface where they exert an osmotic back pressure opposite to the separation force or backscatter in the the heart of the liquid to be treated according to Fick's law. The concentration polarization phenomenon results from the accumulation of the retained compounds in the vicinity of the membrane due to the permeation of the solvent.
    It is when the concentration of particles on the surface of the membrane increases until causing the appearance of a condensed phase in the form of a gel or a cohesive deposit that hydraulic resistance appears additional to that of the membrane.
    The blocking of the pores operates when there is an intrusion of particles of sizes less than or equal to those of the pores, which results in a reduction of the filtering surface.
    Clogging, its reversibility or irreversibility, are complex phenomena which depend on the filtration element and in particular on the separating layers, the liquid to be treated and the operating parameters.
    Clogging is an important brake on the economic attractiveness of filtration because it leads, during the dimensioning of filtration installations, to increasing the installed surfaces in order to satisfy the volume requirements to be treated on the one hand and it makes necessary the setting use of specific technical means to remedy this a posteriori, such as cleaning cycles using detergents or periodic back-filtration on the other hand.
    In the prior art, numerous technical solutions have already been proposed in order to increase the flow of filtrate aimed at reducing the clogging phenomenon by the creation of a turbulent flow regime inside the channel of a filter element.
    According to a first type of solution, it has been proposed to introduce into the channels tubular filtration elements, propellers or screws intended to create turbulence or vortex, as taught by US Pat. No. 3,648,754 or in the publication Reduction of membrane fouling using a helîcal baffle for cross flow microfiltration Scholl of Chemical engineering, University Sains Malaysia - 2003, AL Ahmad, A.Mariadas, MMD Zulkali.
    The propeller introduced into the canal is an attached object that needs to be fixed (most often at the entrance to the canal). The introduction into each channel of this propeller and its attachment to the inlet of each channel is difficult to achieve. Furthermore, the diameter of the propeller is less than that of the channel itself to allow its introduction and if necessary also its extraction. It follows the existence of a play which makes that the propeller floats and can vibrate freely in the channel involving a friction against the active layer which it irreversibly damages. In addition, the existence of a clearance generates a lateral leak which short-circuits the circulation of the fluid along the propeller, which reduces the efficiency of the propeller.
    Another type of solution aims at producing imprints or reliefs on the internal wall of the channels to create, near the filtering surface, a disturbance for the fluid medium, thereby limiting the accumulation of material and clogging. Patent EP 0 813 445 proposes that each channel has in its wall a helical groove with a single, double or triple pitch, with a cross section of the order of 25% of the total section of the channel. Application FR 2 736 843 teaches to produce porous tubes comprising a single channel, the walls of which have indentations, while the peripheral wall of the support is smooth. For this, the porous tube is shaped, by means of an extrusion die which comprises a cylindrical spindle disposed along its axis, the spindle or the die outlet die being rotatably mounted and of non-circular section.
    The production of grooves or imprints on the internal surface of the channels does not impose a helical trajectory on the entire fluid medium, limiting the advantage of such solutions. Furthermore, the technique for manufacturing these separating elements is limited to certain types of imprints, namely imprints which are continuous from one end to the other of the separating element and which cannot generate any variation in the passage section of the canal. In addition, it cannot be transposed to the production of separation elements comprising several internal channels. Now, multi-channel separating elements are more and more sought after because they make it possible to increase the filtering surface and thus improve performance.
    For the same purpose, patent application FR 3 024 665 proposes to produce, from the internal wall of the channels, obstacles to the circulation of the fluid to be filtered having a continuity of material and porous texture with the support. Such obstacles obstruct or disturb the passage of the fluid by forcing them to bypass, hence the creation of turbulence conducive to a reduction in clogging; with however as a major drawback the simultaneous creation, immediately downstream of each obstacle, of an inoperative zone where the speed of the fluid is almost zero.
    Another type of solution concerns the creation of Dean vortices to reduce clogging and increase the flow of permeate in organic ultrafiltration membranes. Thus, the publication "Developing lengths in woven and helical tubes with Dean vortiœs flows" Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 123-134 (2009) F. Springer, E. Carretier, D. Veyret, P. Moulin, deals theoretically and by numerical simulation of the appearance of Dean vortices and the increases in speed which they induce locally in organic hollow fibers of circular section curved helically, with however as major drawbacks a limitation of the diameter of said circular section to a maximum of 2 mm. In addition, the modalities of curvature of the organic fiber as described in this publication induce a dependence between the pitch and the diameter of the turns.
    In this context, the present invention proposes to provide new rigid filtration elements which have a single-channel or multi-channel structure with a geometry adapted to increase the flow of the filtrate and reduce the energy consumption of the installations implementing these separation elements. .
    To achieve this objective, the object of the invention relates to a separation element by tangential flow of a fluid medium to be treated into a filtrate and a retentate, said separation element comprising a rigid porous monobloc support inside the volume. which at least one channel for the circulation of the fluid medium to be treated is arranged between an inlet for the fluid medium to be treated and an outlet for the retentate, this rigid monobloc porous support comprising an external surface for recovering the filtrate having passed through said support. According to the invention, at least one channel present between the inlet and the outlet, a flexible volume of circulation defined by the displacement around a reference axis along a curvilinear trajectory, of a plane generating section and this reference axis does not pass through said generating section and is contained in the volume of the porous support.
    The separation element also includes one and / or the other of the following additional characteristics:
    - The flexible circulation volume of at least one channel is defined over only part of its length taken between the inlet and the outlet or over its entire length from its inlet to its outlet;
    - the one-piece rigid porous support comprises several circulation channels for the fluid medium arranged inside said support;
    - at least one cana! has a generating section with a constant or variable area;
    - at least one channel has a generating section with a constant or variable shape;
    - The generating section of at least one channel is spaced from the reference axis by a constant distance;
    - at least one channel is spaced from the reference axis by a variable distance;
    - The reference axis is tangent to the generating section of at least one channel;
    - A series of several channels having generating sections spaced from the reference axis by a distance R adapted to be separated from each other by partition walls;
    the generating section of at least one channel evolves along a trajectory resulting from a translational movement of constant or variable direction combined on at least a portion taken between the inlet and the outlet, with a rotational movement around the reference axis according to a constant or variable step and according to a levogyre or dextrogyre direction;
    - The trajectory has a pitch p between 0.1 mm and 250 mm and the distance between the curvilinear trajectory and the reference axis is between 0.1 mm and 100 mm;
    - The generating section of at least one channel taken on at least a portion between the inlet and the outlet, evolves along a helical trajectory;
    - The generating section of at least one channel, taken over a limited portion from the inlet and the outlet, evolves along a trajectory resulting from a translational movement parallel to the reference axis;
    - At least one channel has a generating section, extending perpendicular or parallel to the reference axis;
    - the porous support is made of a material chosen from organic materials such as Polyamide, polyetherketoneketone, polystyrene, Alumide, polyphenylsulfone, Thermoplastic fluorinated elastomers, Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Epoxy, Acrylate, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, Polymethacrylate, Polycarbonate polyetherimide, Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, polylactic acid, Polyvinyl chloride and mixtures thereof, chosen from the following inorganic materials such as aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, aluminum titanate, aluminum nitride, titanium nitride , Boron nitride, Silicon nitride, Sialon, Graphite carbon, Silicon carbide, Tungsten carbide and mixtures thereof, chosen from the following metallic materials such as Aluminum, Aluminum alloys, Cobalt and chromium alloys, Nickel alloys , Nickel and chromium alloys, Steels and stainless steels, Titanium, Alloys titanium, Copper and tin alloys, Copper, tin and aluminum alloys, Copper and zinc alloys and mixtures thereof;
    a porous support and at least one separating layer continuously deposited on the internal wall of each channel, each consisting of a ceramic, chosen from oxides, nitrides, carbides or other ceramic materials and their mixtures, and, in particular , titanium oxide, alumina, zirconia or a mixture thereof, titanium nitride, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, silicon carbide optionally in admixture with another ceramic material;
    - the channels have hydraulic diameters belonging to the range from 0.5 mm to 20 mm;
    - each channel has a constant or variable hydraulic diameter;
    the support has an average pore diameter belonging to the range from 4 μm to 100 μm;
    - the average pore diameter corresponds to the d50 value of the volume distribution, for which 50% of the total pore volume corresponds to the volume of pores with a diameter less than this d50; the volume distribution being obtained by penetration of mercury, for example according to the technique described in standard ISO 15901-1: 2005.
    Another object of the invention is to propose a new method of manufacturing a separation element by tangential flow in which the support is produced by the formation of elementary strata superimposed and successively linked together, so as to gradually increase the shape three-dimensional support in which is arranged at least one flexible channel according to the invention.
    Furthermore, the method according to the invention consists in producing the support by additive technique for which, thanks to computer design software, the shape of the support is cut into slices, these slices being produced one by one, in the form of strata. elementary superimposed and linked successively to each other, by repeating the following two steps: depositing a continuous, homogeneous bed of constant thickness of a powder material intended to form the support, the bed covering an area greater than the cross section of said porous body to be formed, taken at the level of the stratum, localized consolidation according to a pattern determined for each stratum, of part of the material deposited to create the elementary stratum, these two stages being repeated so as to allow each repetition, the simultaneous connection of the elementary stratum thus formed with the previously formed stratum, so as to make progr essentially the shape of the support.
    Various other characteristics will emerge from the description given below with reference to the appended drawings which show, by way of nonlimiting examples, embodiments of the subject of the invention.
    Figure IA is a front view illustrating a first embodiment of a separation element according to the invention.
    FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the separating element illustrated in FIG. IA.
    Figure IC is a longitudinal section of the separating element taken along lines C-C in FIG. IA.
    Figure ID is a view showing in perspective the trajectory used for the construction of a fiexious channel arranged in the separation element illustrated in FIG. IB.
    FIG. 2A illustrates the method of construction of a volume of circulation for a channel of a separation element according to the invention.
    Figure 2B is a perspective view of a volume of traffic in accordance with the invention showing different possible embodiments referenced F1 to F5 and described elsewhere.
    FIG. 3A illustrates an example of construction of a circulation volume in accordance with the invention for which the plane containing the plane section generating the volume is inclined by 90 ° relative to a reference axis.
    FIG. 3B illustrates the volume of circulation in accordance with the invention obtained according to the mode of construction illustrated in FIG. 3A.
    FIG. 4A illustrates an example of construction of a circulation volume in accordance with the invention for which the plane containing the generating section of the volume also contains the reference axis.
    FIG. 4B illustrates the volume of circulation in accordance with the invention obtained according to the mode of construction illustrated in FIG. 4A.
    FIG. 5A illustrates a more general example of the construction of a circulation volume in accordance with the invention for which the plane containing the plane generating section has an inclination with respect to the reference axis of between 0 ° and 90 °, the limits being excluded.
    FIG. 5B illustrates the flexible circulation volume in accordance with the invention obtained according to the mode of construction illustrated in FIG. 5A.
    Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a flexible circulation volume according to the invention, for which the distance between the generating flat section and a reference axis is te! that the reference axis is tangent to this generating section.
    Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a flexible circulation volume according to the invention, for which the distance between the generating flat section and a reference axis varies.
    FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a flexible circulation volume according to the invention, for which the distance between the generating flat section and a reference axis is constant while the pitch is also constant and the curvilinear reference axis.
    FIG. 9A is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a flexible circulation volume according to the invention, for which the trajectory of the levorotatory direction is connected to a trajectory of dextrorotatory direction by a rectilinear trajectory parallel to the axis reference.
    FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the example of embodiment of the flexible circulation volume in accordance with FIG. 9A.
    Figure 10A is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a flexible circulation volume according to the invention, for which the shape of the generating section varies.
    FIG. 1OB is a view along a longitudinal sectional plane passing through the reference axis illustrating the example of embodiment of the flexible circulation volume in accordance with FIG. 1OA.
    Figure 11A is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a flexible circulation volume according to the invention, for which the area of the generating section varies.
    FIG. 11B is a view along a longitudinal section plane passing through the reference axis illustrating the example of embodiment of the flexible circulation volume in accordance with FIG. 11A.
    FIG. 12A is a perspective view illustrating the portion of a flexible circulation volume in accordance with the invention, for which sections with trajectory of levorotatory direction alternate directly with sections with trajectory of dextrorotatory direction.
    FIG. 12B is a perspective view illustrating the embodiment of the flexible circulation volume in accordance with! A FIG. 12A.
    Figure 13A is an elevational view of a support provided with a pair of channels according to the invention.
    Figure 13B is a perspective view illustrating the support provided with a pair of channels according to the invention and in FIG. 13A.
    Figure 13C is a longitudinal sectional view of the support taken along lines C-C of FIG. 13A.
    FIG. 13D is a perspective view showing, taken separately, the flexible circulation volumes VI and V2 according to the invention for each of the two channels illustrated in FIGS. 13A to 13C.
    FIG. 13E is a perspective view showing, taken separately, the paths HI and H2 of the flexible volumes VI and V2 of circulation in accordance with the invention of each of the two channels, illustrated in FIGS. 13A to 13D.
    FIG. 14A is an elevation view of a support provided with the duplication of seven pairs of channels each conforming to FIGS. 13A to 13E.
    FIG. 14B is a perspective view showing the flexible circulation volumes in accordance with the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 13A to 13E, duplicated seven times within the same medium.
    FIG. 15A is an elevation view of a support provided with twenty-three channels comprising three categories of channels.
    FIG. 15B is a view in longitudinal section of the support taken along lines B-B of FIG. ISA.
    FIG. 15C is a perspective view showing the volume of circulation of the central channel illustrated in FIG. 15A.
    Figure 15D is a perspective view showing the volume of traffic in accordance with the invention of one of the six channels belonging to the intermediate category.
    Figure 15 is a perspective view showing the volumes of traffic in accordance with the invention of the six channels belonging to the intermediate category and surrounding the central channel.
    Figure 15F is a perspective view showing the volume of traffic in accordance with the invention of one of the sixteen channels belonging to the peripheral category.
    Figure 15G is a perspective view showing the volumes of traffic in accordance with the invention of one of the sixteen peripheral channels surrounding the channels of the intermediate category.
    FIG. 15H is a perspective view showing, within the same support, the volumes of circulation in accordance with the invention of twenty-two channels surrounding a central channel as illustrated in FIGS. 15D to 15G.
    In preliminary, some definitions of the terms used within the framework of the invention will be given.
    By average grain size is meant the value d50 of a volume distribution for which 50% of the total volume of the grains corresponds to the volume of the grains of diameter less than this d50. The volume distribution is the curve (analytical function) representing the frequencies of the grain volumes as a function of their diameter. The d50 corresponds to the median separating into two equal parts, the area located under the frequency curve obtained by particle size distribution, by laser diffraction which is the reference technique used in the context of the invention for measuring the mean diameter of the grains . We will refer, in particular, for the d50 measurement technique:
    - to standard ISO 13320: 2009, for the measurement technique by laser granulometry;
    - ISO 14488: 2007, for the sampling techniques of the powder analyzed;
    - to ISO 14887: 2000, as regards reproducible dispersion of the powder sample in the liquid before measurement by laser particle size.
    By average pore diameter is meant the value d50 of a volume distribution for which 50% of the total pore volume corresponds to the volume of pores with a diameter less than this d50. The volume distribution is the curve (analytical function) representing the frequencies of the pore volumes as a function of their diameter. The d50 corresponds to the median separating into two bright parts, the area located under the frequency curve obtained by mercury penetration, for average diameters of the order of a few nm or, in the case of smaller pore diameters, by adsorption of gas, and in particular of N2, these two techniques being used as references in the context of the invention for measuring the average diameter of the pores.
    In particular, the techniques described in:
    - ISO standard 15901-1: 2005, with regard to the mercury penetration measurement technique;
    - ISO 15901-2: 2006 and ISO 15901-3: 2007 standards, for the measurement technique by gas adsorption.
    The invention proposes elements for the tangential flow separation of a fluid medium to be treated into a filtrate and a retentate, which comprises a monolithic porous support provided with one or more channels whose geometry is selected to ensure circulation according to a flexible, sinuous and advantageously helical trajectory to most or all of the fluid to be filtered, the other part of the fluid being able to circulate in one or more non-flexuous channels.
    In this porous support, one or more circulation channels for the fluid to be filtered are provided. These circulation channels have an inlet and an outlet. In general, the entry of the circulation channels is positioned at one of the ends, this end playing the role of entry zone for the fluid medium to be treated and their exit is positioned at the other end of the support playing the role exit area for the retentate.
    In such separation elements, the body constituting the support has a porous texture. This porous texture is characterized by the average diameter of the pores deduced from their distribution measured by porometry by penetration of mercury. Typically, the porous support has an average pore diameter in the range from 4 µm to 100 µm.
    The porous texture of the support is open and forms a network of interconnected pores, which allows the fluid filtered by the separating filtration layer to pass through the porous support and to be recovered at the periphery. I! It is customary to measure the water permeability of the support to qualify the hydraulic resistance of the support. Indeed, in a porous medium, the stationary flow of an incompressible viscous fluid is governed by Darcy's law. The speed of the fluid in the porosity (the permeate) is proportional to the pressure gradient and inversely proportional to the dynamic viscosity of the fluid, via a characteristic parameter called permeability which can be measured, for example, according to French standard NF X 45- 101 of December 1996.
    The permeate is therefore, in turn, recovered on the peripheral surface of the porous support. The wall of the channels is continuously covered by, at least, a filtration separating layer which ensures the filtration of the fluid medium to be treated. The separating layers of filtration, by definition, must have an average pore diameter smaller than that of the support. The separating layers delimit the surface of the tangential flow separation element intended to be in contact with the fluid to be treated and along which the fluid to be treated will circulate.
    The thicknesses of the separating filtration layers typically vary between 1 μm and 100 μm in thickness. Of course, to ensure its separation function, and to serve as an active layer, the separating layers have an average pore diameter smaller than the average pore diameter of the support. Most often, the average pore diameter of the filtration separating layers is at least a factor of 3, and preferably at least a factor of 5 compared to that of the support.
    The concepts of a microfiltration, ultrafiltration and nanofiltration separating layer are well known to those skilled in the art. It is generally accepted that;
    - The microfiltration separating layers have an average pore diameter of between 0.1 μm and 10 μm;
    - The ultrafiltration separating layers have an average pore diameter between 10 nm and 0.1 pm;
    - the nanofiltration separating layers have an average pore diameter of between 0.5 nm and 10 nm.
    It is possible that this micro or ultrafiltration layer, known as the active layer, is deposited directly on the porous support, or else on an intermediate layer of smaller average pore diameter, itself deposited directly on the porous support.
    The separation layer can, for example, consist of a ceramic, chosen from oxides, nitrides, carbides or other ceramic materials and their mixtures, and, in particular, of titanium oxide, of alumina, zirconia or a mixture thereof, titanium nitride, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, silicon carbide optionally in admixture with another ceramic material.
    The separation layer can also, for example, consist of one or more polymers such as PAN, PS, PSS, PES, PVDF, cellulose acetate or other polymers.
    Figs. IA to ID illustrate a first embodiment of a separation element by tangential flow 1 according to the invention comprising a porous support 2 produced in an elongated shape so that this porous support is qualified as straight. The porous support 2 illustrated in FIGS. IA to ID has a circular cross section and thus has a cylindrical outer surface 3, but this cross section could be arbitrary or polygonal. According to a preferred characteristic of embodiment of the invention, the external or peripheral surface 3 of the support has a constant profile. In other words, the outer surface 3 has no surface irregularity other than that generated by a surface roughness inherent in the material and in the shaping process proper. Thus, the outer surface 3 has no deformations or imprints.
    The porous support 2 comprises at least one channel and, generally, several circulation channels 4i for the fluid medium each arranged inside the porous support 2. (The index i is used to generally designate a characteristic of the support and takes values 1, 2, 3 ... depending on the number of characteristics described in the exemplary embodiments).
    In a first exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. IA to ID, the porous support 2 comprises a single channel 4i and in a second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13A, two channels 4i and 4 2 . According to a third exemplary embodiment illustrated by Sa FIG. 14A, the porous support 2 has fourteen channels whereas, according to a fourth example illustrated in FIG. ISA, the porous support 2 has twenty-three channels divided into three categories of channels 4i, 4 2 and 4 3 .
    Each channel 4i corresponds to an area of the porous support 2 not comprising porous material and is delimited inside the porous support, by a wall 5 having a surface covered by at least one separating layer intended to be in contact with the fluid medium to be treated, circulating inside the channels. Part of the fluid medium passes through the separating layer deposited on the wall 5 and the porous support 2, so that this quantity of the treated fluid, called permeate, flows through the outer surface 3 of the porous support. The fluid medium to be treated circulates in the channel, between an inlet 6 and an outlet 7 in a direction of circulation represented by the arrow f. The inlet 6 is located at one end of the porous support and the outlet 7 at the other end of the porous support.
    According to the invention, the porous support 2 comprises at least one channel 4i, the geometry of which is adapted to increase the flow rate of the filtrate. This geometry is defined by the fact that each of these channels 4i has, between the inlet 6 and the outlet 7, at least one flexible volume of circulation Vi defined by the displacement around a reference axis Ai according to a curvilinear trajectory Hi, of a generating section Si located in a plane P said to be of reference. In addition, this reference axis Ai does not cross said generating section Si and is contained in the volume of the porous support 2.
    It should be understood that a channel 4i in accordance with the invention comprises at least one flexible volume of circulation Vi te! as characterized above. This flexible circulation volume Vi corresponds of course to a zone of the porous support 2 not comprising porous material, and limited by the walls of the channel. It should be noted that the porous support 2 has, according to the plane P, between its outer surface 3 and the wall S of the channel taken, a variable thickness.
    This flexible volume of circulation Vi according to the invention is defined between inlet 6 and outlet 7. This flexible volume of circulation Vi is present over only part of the length of the channel taken between inlet 6 and outlet 7 or over the entire length of the channel taken from its inlet to its outlet. Of course, the porous support 2 may comprise at least one circulation channel for the fluid medium to be treated which does not have a flexible circulation volume Vi in accordance with the invention.
    The general principle of construction of a flexible channel having a circulation volume Vi in accordance with the invention is particularly well illustrated with FIG. 2A. The general principle of construction of a flexible channel consists in making follow a planar generating section If a curvilinear trajectory Hï constructed between the two ends of this volume of circulation Vi by the movement of a point M belonging to this planar generating section and located at a distance R from a reference axis Ai. The movement of this point M follows a rotation around this reference axis Ai and a concomitant translation along this same reference axis. This rotation can be constant or variable. Likewise, this translation can be constant or variable. The distance R can also be constant or variable. The point M is any point of the generating section Si which is established in a reference plane P. The curvilinear trajectory Hi of the circulation volume Vï also gives the channel well, at least over the length of this circulation volume, a flexible character.
    It appears from the foregoing description that the flexible volume of circulation Vi of the channel can have very diverse geometric characteristics. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the reference axis Ai may be straight and / or curved without a turning point. This reference axis Ai can be rectilinear, according to part or all of the length of the flexuous circulation volume Vi. Likewise, this reference axis Ai can be curved, according to part or all of the length of the flexible circulation volume Vi. This reference axis Ai does not intersect the generator section Si, that is to say that it is always outside the flexuous circulation volume Vi. Thus, this reference axis Ai can be tangent to this generating section Si or be deviated from a variable or constant determined distance.
    As the flexible channel must necessarily be contained inside the volume of the porous support 2, it follows that the curvilinear trajectory Hi and the reference axis Ai must themselves be contained inside the volume of the porous support 2 .
    The curvilinear trajectory Hi can have very diverse geometric characteristics as a function of the values of the distance R, of the rotation and of the concomitant translation.
    The morphology of the flexible channel depends on the reference axis Ai, on the curvilinear trajectory Hi and also on the dimensions and the shape of the generating section Si and on the position of this generating section Si with respect to the curvilinear trajectory Hi and at the reference axis Ai. More specifically, Figs. 3A and 3B illustrate the case for which a circular section Si contained in a plane perpendicular to the rectilinear reference axis Ai follows a helical trajectory Hi around the reference axis Ai. According to this example, the reference plane P containing the circular section Si is perpendicular to the rectilinear reference axis Ai. The rotation of the circular section Si around the rectilinear reference axis Ai, combined with the translation of this circular section Si along the rectilinear reference axis Ai makes it possible to obtain a flexible channel whose geometric shape obtained is known as name of "torso column". Figs. 3A and 3B show by way of illustration, only two circular sections SI and S2 each contained in a plane PI, P2 perpendicular to the rectilinear reference axis Ai.
    Figs. 4A and 4B illustrate the case for which a circular section Si contained in a reference plane containing the rectilinear reference axis Ai follows a helical trajectory Hi around the reference axis Ai. According to this example, the reference plane P containing the circular section Si is parallel to the rectilinear reference axis Ai. The rotation of the circular section Si around the rectilinear reference axis Ai, combined with the translation of this circular section Si along the rectilinear reference axis Ai makes it possible to obtain a flexible channel whose geometric shape obtained is known as name of "screw of Saint-Gilles". Figs. 4A and 4B show by way of illustration, only two circular sections SI and S2 each contained in a plane Pi, P2 parallel to the rectilinear reference axis Ai.
    Figs. SA and SB illustrate a more general intermediate case for which a circular section Si contained in a plane having an inclination between 0 ° and 90 ° relative to the rectilinear reference axis Ai follows a helical trajectory Hi around the axis of reference Aï. The rotation of the circular section Si around the rectilinear reference axis Ai, combined with the translation of this circular section Si along the rectilinear reference axis Ai makes it possible to obtain a flexible channel whose geometric shape obtained is known under the name of "serpentine". This is typically the geometric shape obtained when a tube is wrapped around a cylinder. Figs. SA and SB show by way of illustration only two circular sections Si and S2 each contained in a plane PI, P2 inclined with respect to the rectilinear reference axis Ai.
    Table 1 below recalls the characteristics of these three examples:
    Figures 3A-3B 4A-4B 5A-5B Inclination of the plane containingia generator section Si relative to the reference axis Ai tilt= 90 ° tilt= 0 ° o ° <tilt<90 °
    In general, the pitch p or the value of the rotation of the generator section Si around the reference axis Ai can take different values. In the case of a helical Hi trajectory, the value of the rotation of the generator section Si around the reference axis Ai is equal to a multiple of 2π radians (for a propeller with several turns) or a fraction of 2π radians (for a propeller in less than one turn).
    As shown in Figs. 3A-3B, 4A-4B and 5A-5B, the curvilinear trajectory Hi has, for these three examples, a constant value of step p. Of course, the curvilinear trajectory Hi can have a variable pitch value p as it depends on the values of rotation and translation.
    The curvilinear trajectory Hi has a constant step p along part or all of the length of the flexible circulation volume Vi or a variable step p according to part or all of the length of the flexible circulation volume Vi.
    In Fig. 2B, the section F2 illustrates in particular the case of an invariable step p while the section F3 illustrates in particular the case of a variable step p.
    It should be noted that FIG. 2B illustrates various other parameters involved in the definition of the flexible channel according to the invention. Thus, the section F4 illustrates in particular the case of a levorotatory-dextrorotatory alternation separated by a portion Tr of straight channel and the section F5 illustrates in particular the case of a section Si of variable morphology while the section Fl illustrates in particular the case of 'a variable distance R.
    The reference axis Ai can be deviated from the curvilinear trajectory Hi by an invariable distance R (Fig. 3A-3B, 4A-4B, 5A-5B) over all or part of the length of the flexible circulation volume Vï or of a variable distance along part or all of the length of the flexuous circulation volume Vi as illustrated in FIG. 7 where the distance R varies regularly but could of course change irregularly. According to this example, the 1st channel evolves along a helical-spiral trajectory.
    It is recalled that the distance R can be such that the reference axis Ai is tangent to this generating section Si. If in the example illustrated in FIGS. IA to 1D, the reference axis Al is moved away from the generator section SI, it can be envisaged as illustrated in the example of FIG. 6 that the generating section SI is tangent to the reference axis A1 which is also the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the porous support.
    It should be noted that FIG. 6 illustrates the particular case for which the plane containing the plane generating section Si of the volume (here a triangle) is inclined by 90 ° relative to a reference axis Aï tangent (here to one of the vertices of the triangle) to said section plane triangular generator. This Figure illustrates the case for which a triangular plane section Si contained in a plane Pi perpendicular to the rectilinear reference axis Ai follows a helical trajectory Hi around the reference axis Ai tangent to said plane triangular generating section. The rotation of the triangular section around the rectilinear reference axis Ai which it touches here at a point, combined with the translation of this triangular section Si along the rectilinear reference axis Ai makes it possible to obtain a flexible channel whose geometric shape is known under the name of "Archimedes screw". It should be noted that a flexible channel is obtained, the geometric shape of which is also known under the name of "Archimedes screw" in the particular case for which the plane containing the plane section generating the volume is parallel to an axis of reference Ai tangent at one point or at several points to said plane generating section and in the more general case for which the plane containing the plane generating section of the volume is inclined at any angle relative to a reference axis Ai tangent to a point to said generating plane section
    The curvilinear trajectory Hi is said to be helical when simultaneously the step p and the distance R are constant (Fig. 3B, 4B, SB). This curvilinear trajectory Hi can rotate around the reference axis Ai along part or all of the length of the flexuous volume of circulation Vi in the trigonometric direction (dextrorotatory) and / or in the opposite direction (levorotatory). Thus, the curvilinear trajectory Hi can be established in a single same direction or alternatively in the two opposite directions, on selected sections of equal or different lengths.
    In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the generating section follows a helical trajectory Hi of dextrorotatory direction with an invariable pitch p around a curvilinear reference axis Ai.
    In the example illustrated in Figs. 9A-9B, the trajectory HI of the levorotatory direction is connected to a trajectory of dextrorotatory direction H2 by a rectilinear trajectory Tr parallel to the reference axis Ai while in the example illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B, the levorotatory direction trajectory HI is directly connected to a levorotatory direction trajectory H2.
    Advantageously, the curvilinear trajectory Hi is established alternately in the dextrorotatory direction and the levorotatory direction in sections, for example of the same length (FIG. 12A-12B).
    The generating section Si of this flexible volume of circulation Vi can have any type of profile.
    The morphology or the shape of the generating section Si can be constant over part or all of the length of the flexuous circulation volume Vi or vary over some or all of the length of the flexuous circulation volume Vi. The morphology of the generating section Si of this circulation volume can thus, by way of nonlimiting examples, be polygonal, circular, semi-circular or oblong. Figs. 10A-10B illustrate the case for which the morphology of the generating section Si varies.
    The area of the generating section Si may have an invariable area according to part or all of the length of the flexible circulation volume Vi or an area which varies according to part or all of the length of the flexible circulation volume Vi. Figs. 11A-11B illustrate the case for which the area of the generating section Si varies.
    The particularities of the examples of flexible volumes illustrated in the preceding Figures are summarized in Table 2 below:
    3A4A5A 7 8 9A ÎOA 11A 12A Axis of straight X X X X X X reference Ai curvilinear X Morphologyof the section invariable X X X X X X generatorYes variable X Area ofsection invariable X X X X X X generatorYes variable X Distance R invariable X X X X X variable X X Not p invariable X X X X X X X variable Hi helical trajectory X X X X X X Dextrorotatory flexible channel X X X X X X Ievorotatory flexuous canal X X Right channel section X Reversal (s) of the sense ofrotation X X
    The following description gives preferred but nonlimiting exemplary embodiments of porous supports 2 comprising channels 4i with flexible volumes of circulation Vi in accordance with the invention.
    In the example illustrated in Figs. IA to ID, the generator section SI is a portion of a disc and the reference axis A1 is a straight line merged with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the porous support. The curvilinear trajectory HI is helical, that is to say that the distance R between the curvilinear trajectory HI and the reference axis Al is constant as is the pitch p of the helix which is constant. The reference axis A1 does not cross the generator section SI which extends in the example illustrated at a distance from this axis. Of course, the generator section SI can be tangent to the reference axis A1.
    The flexible circulation volume VI of the channel 4 t extends between the inlet 6 and the outlet 7 of the channel, along only part of the length of the channel. As shown more precisely in FIG. IB, the flexible circulation volume VI of the channel is arranged along a length L of the porous support 2 less than the total length of this porous support.
    According to an advantageous characteristic of embodiment, the generator section SI, taken over a limited portion from the inlet 6 and the outlet 7, evolves along a trajectory resulting from a translational movement parallel to the reference axis A1. The channel 4 X thus comprises, from the inlet 6 and from the outlet 7, circulation volumes respectively of the inlet Ve and of the outlet Vs rectilinear parallel to the reference axis Al and communicating with the flexible circulation volume VI of the canal. The channel 4i thus presents respectively, between its inlet 6 and its outlet 7, a circulation entry volume Ve, a flexible circulation volume VI and a circulation exit volume Vs.
    In the example illustrated in Figs. 13A to 13E, the porous support 2 is of tubular shape of circular section and comprises two channels 4i and 4 2 . These two channels have generating sections SI, S2 separated from each other by a partition 11. These generating sections SI, S2 have shapes in portions of identical discs with equally identical areas.
    Each channel 4i and 4 2 has a flexible volume of circulation VI, V2, establishing itself along a curvilinear trajectory H1, H2 in a helix which rotates around a reference axis A1, A2. The curvilinear trajectories HI and H2 which have identical constant steps are parallel to each other. The reference axes A1 and A2 coincide along a common straight line advantageously corresponding to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the porous support. Each curvilinear trajectory Hl, H2 is spaced from the reference axis A1, A2 by the same constant distance R so that the channels extend symmetrically with respect to the common reference axis by interlocking the one in the other.
    In the example illustrated, in Figs. 13A to 13E, the two channels have parallel paths, but it is clear that a series of several channels greater than 2 can be provided, the paths of which are parallel or even non-parallel. In the latter case, the channels obviously have generating sections spaced from the reference axis Ai by a distance R adapted to be separated from each other by partition walls 11.
    Similarly to the example illustrated in Figs. IA to ID, the fiexious circulation volume VI, V2 of the channels extends between the inlet 6 and the outlet 7 of the channel, according to only part of the length of the channel. Thus, each channel 4i and 4 2 respectively presents, between its input 6 and its output 7, a volume of circulation input Ve of rectilinear trajectory, the volume of circulation VI, V2 and a volume of circulation output Vs of trajectory rectilinear, it being understood that according to the invention, there is no direction of circulation and that the entry and the exit can be interchanged.
    According to the example illustrated in Figs. 13A to 13E, the porous support 2 comprises two channels 4i and 4 2 but it is clear that it can comprise a greater number of channels arranged symmetrically or not around a common reference axis or not, being separated from each other by partition walls 11.
    It should be noted that this structure of nested channels 4i and 4 2 can be duplicated as in the example illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, in which the porous support 2 comprises a series of seven two-channel structures 4i and 4 2 described in Figs, 13A to 13E. In this example illustrated in
    Fig. 14A and 14B, the porous support 2 thus comprises fourteen channels, but it is clear that provision can be made for a porous support with a different number of channels.
    According to the example illustrated in Figs. ISA at 3 p.m., the porous support 2 comprises twenty-three channels 4 broken down into three categories arranged concentrically from the center to the periphery of the porous support. The porous support 2 which, in the example, has a tubular shape of circular section, comprises in a first category, a straight central channel 4i centered on the longitudinal axis of symmetry Al of the porous support 2. This central channel 4i has a volume VI traffic which does not have the fiexious character according to the invention (Fig. 15C).
    The porous support 2 has, in a second so-called intermediate category, a series of six channels 4 2 arranged in a ring centered along the longitudinal axis of symmetry Al of the porous support 2. The channels 4 2 have generating sections S2 of shapes and d 'identical areas. In the example, each generating section S2 has a general non-circular shape. Each channel 4 2 has a fiexious volume of circulation V2, being established according to a curvilinear trajectory H2 in helix of constant pitch and constant distance R, this curvilinear trajectory H2 rotating around a reference axis corresponding to the longitudinal axis of Al symmetry (Fig. 15D).
    Each volume of circulation V2 is established at a distance around the central channel 4i. As shown in FIG. 15E, the fiexious circulation volumes V2 of all the channels 4 2 of the intermediate category, are established according to curvilinear trajectories H2 in helix with identical steps and identical distances R around a reference axis corresponding to l the longitudinal axis of symmetry Al. the six channels 4 2 extend symmetrically with respect to the axis Al by common reference nesting into each other.
    Similarly to the example illustrated in Figs. IA to 1D, the volume of circulation V2 of the channels extends between the inlet 6 and the outlet 7 of the channel, according to only part of the length of the channel. Thus, each channel 42 of the intermediate category has respectively, between its inlet 6 and its outlet 7, a circulation entry volume Ve of rectilinear trajectory, the flexuous circulation volume V2 and a circulation exit volume Vs of rectilinear trajectory .
    The porous support 2 has in a third category called peripheral, a series of sixteen channels 4 3 arranged in a ring centered along the longitudinal axis of symmetry Al of the porous support 2 and extending concentrically around the ring of the channels 4 2 of the second category. Channels 4 3 this third category exhibit generating sections S3 shapes and identical areas. In the example, each generating section S3 has a general shape of an isosceles trapezoid. Each channel 4 3 provides a flexuous traffic volume V3, standing along a helical path H3, H3 this curvilinear trajectory rotating about a reference axis corresponding to the longitudinal axis of symmetry Al (Fig. ISF). Each flexible circulation volume V3 is established at a distance around the channels 4 2 of the second category. As shown in FIG. 15G, the flexible circulation volumes V3 of the channels 4 3 of the third category are established according to curvilinear trajectories H3 in helix with identical steps and identical radii of gyration rotating around a reference axis corresponding to the longitudinal axis Al. the symmetry sixteen channels 4 3 extend symmetrically with respect to the axis Al by common reference nesting into each other.
    Analogously to the example illustrated in FIGS, IA to ID, the flexible volume of circulation V3 of the channels extends between the inlet 6 and the outlet 7 of the channel, according to only part of the length of the channel. Thus, each channel 4 3 of the peripheral category has respectively, between its input 6 and its output 7, a circulation entry volume Ve of rectilinear trajectory, the flexuous circulation volume V3 and a circulation output volume Vs of trajectory straight.
    Fig. 15H illustrates a porous support 2 in which the channels 4, 4 2 and 4 3 of the three categories are arranged, the flexible volumes of circulation of which are described by Ses Figs. 15C to 15G. Of course, the object of the invention can be implemented for a porous support comprising channels made in different numbers distributed according to a number of different categories.
    The numerical simulations of CFD type "Computational Fluid Dynamic" applied to the example illustrated in Figs. 13A to 13E gave, in terms of performance and energy consumption compared to straight channels of the same hydraulic diameter, the following results. These are the results of simulations made from a numerical model established on the basis of results of experimental measurements obtained by circulating as a fluid to be treated, a red wine in a rectilinear circular single-channel, with a transmembrane pressure of 1, 5 bar and a cutoff threshold of 0.2 pm.
    In table 3 below, the ratio Qp / Qa expressed in% between the volume flow rate of permeate Qp (m 3 / h) and the volume flow rate of supply of the fluid to be treated Qa (m 3 / h) gives an account of the intrinsic performance of the flexible channels compared to the straight channels of the same hydraulic diameter (Dh) for the same transmembrane pressure (PTM) and the same cutoff threshold (pm).
    The energy efficiency of the filtration unit within which the filtration elements include flexible channels of this type is expressed in cubic meters of permeate extracted per kilojoule of energy required to circulate the fluid to be treated. in the canals (m 3 / KJ). The average speed (m / s) in the corresponding channels is given in this table 3 for information.
    Dh = 3mm - PTM = 1,5bar - cut-off threshold of the active layer = Û, 2pm
    Filter element with straight channels
    Filter element with flexible channels according to the invention in accordance with Figs. IA to ID with a pitch of 24mm Filter element with flexible channels according to the invention in accordance with Figs. IA to ID with a pitch of 12 mm
    Qp / Qa m 3 / KJ m / s (%) 0.5 7.3.10 5 6.0 8.5 37.10 ' 5 1.6 13.13 59.10 ' 5 0.9
    The results presented in this table show, for this example of helical fiexious channels illustrated in FIGS. IA to ID, that, in comparison with a filtration element comprising rectilinear channels of the same hydraulic diameter:
    - in the case where the propeller pitch is 24mm, the intrinsic performance of the filter element is multiplied by 17 and its energy efficiency is multiplied by 5 in comparison with a filter element comprising rectilinear channels.
    - in the case where the propeller pitch is 12mm, the intrinsic performance of the filter element is multiplied by 26 and its energy efficiency is multiplied by 8.
    According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the fiexious channels 4Î according to the invention can have a pitch p of value independent of the value of the distance R between the curvilinear trajectory HI and the reference axis Ai. Thus, it is possible to produce fiexious channels with a pitch p of low value combined with a low value of the distance R. Typically, provision can be made for fiexious channels having a pitch p of between 1 mm and 250 mm with a distance R of between 0.1 mm and 100 mm. Furthermore, according to an advantageous characteristic, the fiexious channels according to the invention have hydraulic diameters belonging to the range going from 0.5 mm to 20 mm. It is recalled that the hydraulic diameter Dh is such that Dh = 4A / P where A is the area of the passage section of the channel and P is the wet perimeter of this section.
    Advantageously, each channel has a hydraulic diameter which can be constant or variable.
    In the context of the invention, the manufacture of the porous support 2, or even of the entire tangential flow separation element, is carried out using an additive technique. The method according to the invention consists in producing the three-dimensional structure of the support by formation of elementary layers superimposed and successively linked together so as to gradually increase the three-dimensional structure of the support.
    The method has the advantage, compared to the prior techniques, of producing the support in a single production step requiring no tooling or machining, and therefore allowing access to a greater range of geometries. support and allows to vary the shapes and dimensions of obstacles in the channels.
    In the case of the use of a solid material such as a powder, the thickness of the powder bed and therefore of each successively consolidated stratum is relatively small to allow its connection to the lower stratum, by application of the contribution of energy or projection of the liquid. In particular, a thickness of 20 μm to 200 μm of powder will be deposited, this thickness being a function of the additive technique selected.
    It is the repetition of the binary sequence which allows, stratum after stratum, to build the desired three-dimensional shape. The reason for consolidation may vary from one stratum to another. The growth of the desired three-dimensional shape is carried out according to a chosen growth direction.
    The particle size of the powder deposited is one of the factors which determines the minimum thickness of each powder bed, as well as the average final pore diameter obtained. In particular, use will be made of a powder of the material intended to constitute the support, for example a metal oxide powder, or even a powder of one of its precursors. The powder deposited will have, for example, an average grain size of the order of 35 μm to obtain an average pore diameter in the ceramic support of the order of 10 μm.
    The Applicant has found that the adjustment of various parameters such as the choice of material and, for a given material, the average size of the grains of the powder used, and, for a given material and a granularity, the thickness of the bed powder repeated layer after layer on the one hand and the adjustment of different parameters specific to the technology chosen for consolidation allows the obtaining and control of a residual porous texture interconnected within the consolidated monolith. This residual porous texture is the result of sintering or controlled bonding of the powder grains leaving inter-granular voids interconnected.
    In the case of the use of an energy beam, the main parameters, on which it is possible to act, are its focusing, that is to say the diameter of the beam at the level of the impact with the powder bed, the scanning speed of the powder bed by the beam of photons or electrons or even the rate of recovery of the impact surfaces of the energy beam during the constitution of a stratum.
    In the case of the use of a spray of liquid, the main parameters on which it is possible to act, are the weight of the drops, their frequency, the speed of sweeping of the powder bed by the "jet" of drops or the recovery rate during each pass.
    The Applicant has also found that it is possible, by modulating the various parameters previously described, to adjust the size distribution of the pores and, for each given pore population, to control their number and their tortuosity.
    Once the powder has been agglomerated in the selected areas, the grains of non-agglomerated material powder is removed by any suitable technique, the initial fluidity of the powder used facilitating this operation. It is possible to use air circulation (suction) or water circulation or vibration techniques to get rid of the last traces of powder remaining in the flexible channels or in the walls of the shapes produced.
    The final consolidation of the filter element and the final state of the porous texture are most often obtained by one or more thermal post-treatments which have the objective of removing the binders (debinding) and / or sintering the material itself. The temperature chosen for such a final sintering will depend on the nature of the inorganic material used and on the average grain size of the powder used.
    The support, or even the entire tangential flow separation element, is thus produced stratum after stratum. For this, upstream, using computer design software, the three-dimensional structure of the support or of the element of separation by tangential flow to be produced is cut into slices. The three-dimensional virtual object to be produced is thus cut into two-dimensional slices of very thin thickness. These thin slices will then be produced one by one, in the form of elementary layers superimposed and linked together, so as to gradually increase the desired three-dimensional shape.
    This three-dimensional structure is produced:
    - either by repeating the following steps:
    • production of a bed of a solid material (organic or inorganic powder) or liquid (organic or liquid precursor in which is dispersed a powder which can be organic or inorganic) intended to form the porous support, the bed being thick constant along a surface greater than the section of said porous support taken at the level of the stratum;
    • localized consolidation according to a determined pattern for each stratum, of a part of material produced to create the elementary stratum, and simultaneous connection of the elementary stratum thus formed to the preceding stratum;
    - Either by the successive creation of beads of material formed following ia fusion of an organic or inorganic powder projected in the beam of a laser according to the predetermined pattern for each stratum;
    - Either by continuous or discontinuous fusion (drop) of a wire of a hot-melt solid precursor. When the precursor is a hot-melt organic polymer used only the support is organic in nature and immediately usable for the deposition of a layer of organic nature. When the precursor is a mixture of a hot-melt organic polymer and an inorganic ceramic or metallic powder, the support is, after removal of the polymer serving as binder and after sintering of the grains of the inorganic powder, of inorganic nature.
    Generally, in the first case, the material used is either solid or liquid and the consolidation of the elementary strata is carried out by an energy supply or by projection of a liquid into fine droplets. The localized energy supply can be done with a directed light beam (LED or LASER) or a directed electron beam, or with any energy source allowing its focusing and a scanning of the powder bed according to the pattern. selected by CAD. The energy-material interaction then leads either to sintering, or to a melting / solidification of the material, or even to a photo-polymerization or photo-crosslinking of the material, depending on its nature and that of the energy source. used.
    The localized supply of liquid on a powder bed can be done with microdroplets created using a piezoelectric system, possibly charged and directed in an electrostatic field. The liquid is then a binder or a binder activating agent previously added to the ceramic powder.
    The use of an additive technique envisaged in the context of the invention makes it possible to obtain, compared with the prior techniques, on the one hand, a gain in terms of reliability and production rate, and on the other hand a great variability in the choice of the shapes of the support and the shapes and reliefs which can be shaped in the channel or channels inside the support.
    In the context of the invention, for the design of the three-dimensional shape, various additive techniques can be used, such as for example, SLS (from the English Selective Laser Sintering) or SLM (from the English Selective Laser Melting), 3D or Bïnder-Jetting printing, LCM (Lithography-based Ceramic Manufacturing), FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), Stereolithography (Stereolithography Apparatus SLA).
    Within the framework of the invention, the aim is elements of separation of a fluid medium by tangential filtration, commonly called filtration membranes. Such separation elements comprise a porous support made of an organic or inorganic material.
    For an organic porous support, provision may be made, as nonlimiting examples, from the following organic materials: Polyamide, polyetherketketone, polystyrene, alumide, polyphenylsulfone, thermoplastic fluorinated elastomers, polypropylene, polyethylene, epoxy, acrylate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, Polymethyl methacrylate, Polycarbonate, Nylon, polyetherimide, Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, polylactic acid, Polyvinyl chloride and mixtures thereof.
    For a non-metallic inorganic porous support (ceramic), provision may be made, as non-limiting examples, from the following inorganic materials: Aluminum oxide, Titanium oxide, Zirconium oxide, Aluminum titanate, Nitride aluminum, Titanium nitride, Boron nitride, Silicon nitride, Sialon, Graphite carbon, Silicon carbide, Tungsten carbide and their mixtures.
    For a porous inorganic metail support (Metals and alloys), it may be expected to choose, by way of nonlimiting examples, from the following metallic materials: Aluminum, Aluminum alloys, Cobalt and chromium alloys, Nickel alloys, Nickel and chromium alloys, Steels and stainless steels, Titanium, Titanium alloys, Copper and tin alloys, Copper, tin and aluminum alloys, Copper and zinc alloys and their mixtures.
    权利要求:
    Claims (22)
    [1" id="c-fr-0001]
    1 - Separation element by tangential flow of a fluid medium to be treated into a filtrate and a retentate, said separation element comprising a rigid porous monobloc support (2) inside the volume of which at least one channel (4i) for ia circulation of the fluid medium to be treated is arranged between an inlet (6) for the fluid medium to be treated and an outlet (7) for the retentate, this rigid monobloc porous support comprising an external surface (3) for recovering the filtrate having passed through said support, characterized in that at least one channel (4i) has, between the inlet and the outlet, a flexible volume of circulation (Vi) defined by the displacement around a reference axis (Ai) according to a curvilinear trajectory ( Hi), of a plane generating section (Si) and in that this reference axis (Ai) does not cross said generating section (Si) and is contained in the volume of the porous support.
    [2" id="c-fr-0002]
    2 - tangential flow separation element according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible circulation volume (Vi) of at least one channel (4i) is defined over only part of its length taken between the inlet and the exit or over its entire length from entry to exit.
    [3" id="c-fr-0003]
    3 - tangential flow separation element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rigid porous monobloc support (2) comprises several channels (4i) for circulation for the fluid medium arranged inside said support.
    [4" id="c-fr-0004]
    4 - Separation element by tangential flow according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one channel (4) has a generating section (Si) with a constant or variable area.
    [5" id="c-fr-0005]
    5 - Separation element by tangential flow according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one channel (4i) has a generating section (Si) with a constant or variable shape.
    [6" id="c-fr-0006]
    6 - separation element by tangential flow according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the generating section of at least one channel (4i) is spaced from the reference axis (Ai) by a constant distance .
    [7" id="c-fr-0007]
    7 - separation element by tangential flow according to claim 6, characterized in that the generating section of at least one channel (4i) is spaced from the reference axis (Ai) by a variable distance.
    [8" id="c-fr-0008]
    8 - Separation element by tangential flow according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the reference axis (Ai) is tangent to the generating section of at least one channel (4i).
    [9" id="c-fr-0009]
    9 - separation element by tangential flow according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one series of several channels having generating sections spaced from the reference axis (Ai) by a suitable distance R to be separated from each other by partition walls (li).
    [10" id="c-fr-0010]
    10 - Separation element by tangential flow according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the generating section (Si) of at least one channel (4î) evolves along a trajectory resulting from a movement of directional translation constant or variable combined on at least a portion taken between the input and the output, with a rotational movement around the reference axis (Ai) according to a constant or variable step (p) and in a levogyre or dextrogyre direction .
    [11" id="c-fr-0011]
    11 - Separation element by tangential flow according to claim 10, characterized in that the trajectory has a pitch p between 0.1 mm and 250 mm and in that the distance (R) between the curvilinear trajectory (Hl) and the axis of reference (Al) is between 0.1 mm and 100 mm.
    [12" id="c-fr-0012]
    12 - Tangential flow separation element according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the generating section (Si) of at least one channel (41) taken on at least a portion between the inlet and the outlet , evolves along a helical trajectory (Hi).
    [13" id="c-fr-0013]
    13 - Tangential flow separation element according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the generating section (Si) of at least one channel (4i), taken over a limited portion from the inlet ( 6) and of the output (7), evolves along a trajectory (Hi) resulting from a translational movement parallel to the reference axis.
    [14" id="c-fr-0014]
    14 - Tangential flow separation element according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that at least one channel (4i) has a generating section (Si), extending perpendicular or parallel to the reference axis .
    [15" id="c-fr-0015]
    15 - Tangential flow separation element according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the porous support (2) is made of a material chosen from organic materials such as Polyamide, polyetherketetonketone, polystyrene, Alumide, polyphenylsulfone, Thermoplastic fluorinated elastomers, Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Epoxy, Acrylate, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, Polymethyl methacrylate, Polycarbonate, Nylon, polyetherimide, Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, polylactic acid, Polyvinyl chloride and mixtures thereof, chosen from the following inorganic materials such as oxide , Titanium oxide, Zirconium oxide, Aluminum titanate, Aluminum nitride, Titanium nitride, Boron nitride, Silicon nitride, Sialon, Graphite carbon, Silicon carbide, Tungsten carbide and their mixtures, chosen among the following metallic materials such as Aluminum, Aluminum alloys, Cobalt alloys and t chromium, Nickel alloys, Nickel and chromium alloys, Steels and stainless steels, Titanium, Titanium alloys, Copper and tin alloys, Copper, tin and aluminum alloys, Copper and zinc and mixtures thereof.
    [16" id="c-fr-0016]
    16 - separation element by tangential flow according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it comprises a porous support (2) and at least one separating layer continuously deposited on the internal wall of each channel (4i) each consisting of a ceramic, chosen from oxides, nitrides, carbides or other ceramic materials and their mixtures, and, in particular, titanium oxide, alumina, zirconia or one of their mixtures , titanium nitride, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, silicon carbide optionally in admixture with another ceramic material.
    [17" id="c-fr-0017]
    17 - Separation element by tangential flow according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channels (4i) have hydraulic diameters belonging to the range from 0.5 mm to 20 mm.
    [18" id="c-fr-0018]
    18 - Separation element by tangential flow according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each channel (4i) has a constant or variable hydraulic diameter.
    [19" id="c-fr-0019]
    19 - Tangential flow separation element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (2) has an average diameter of pores belonging to the range from 4 pm to 100 pm.
    [20" id="c-fr-0020]
    20 - Tangential flow separation element according to claim 19, characterized in that the average pore diameter corresponds to the value d50 of the volume distribution, for which 50% of the total pore volume corresponds to the volume of pores of diameter less than this d50; the volume distribution being obtained by penetration of mercury, for example according to the technique described in standard ISO 15901-1: 2005.
    [21" id="c-fr-0021]
    21 - Method for manufacturing a tangential flow separation element according to one of the preceding claims, in which the support is produced by the formation of elementary layers superimposed and successively linked together, so as to gradually increase the three-dimensional shape of the support in which is arranged at least one flexible channel (4i) according to one of claims 1 to 20.
    [22" id="c-fr-0022]
    22 - Method according to claim 21, characterized in that it consists in producing the support by additive technique for which, thanks to computer design software, the shape of the support is cut into slices, these slices being produced one by one, in the form of elementary strata superimposed and linked successively to each other, by repeating the following two steps: depositing a continuous, homogeneous bed of constant thickness of a powder material intended to form the support, the bed covering a surface greater than the section of said porous body to be formed, taken at the level of the stratum; localized consolidation according to a determined pattern for each stratum, of part of the material deposited to create the elementary stratum, these two stages being repeated so as to allow each repetition, the simultaneous bonding of the elementary stratum thus formed to the previously stratum formed, so as to gradually increase the shape of the support.
    1/14
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    DK3558499T3|2021-02-22|
    PL3558499T3|2021-08-02|
    ES2844939T3|2021-07-23|
    EP3558499B8|2021-04-14|
    ZA201904134B|2020-12-23|
    CA3045589A1|2018-06-28|
    AU2017381013A1|2019-07-04|
    MX2019006348A|2019-08-14|
    PT3558499T|2021-01-29|
    CN110191752A|2019-08-30|
    WO2018115639A1|2018-06-28|
    EP3558499A1|2019-10-30|
    AR110547A1|2019-04-10|
    US20190321890A1|2019-10-24|
    PH12019501230A1|2019-09-23|
    JP2020501897A|2020-01-23|
    HUE053518T2|2021-07-28|
    FR3060410B1|2019-05-24|
    RU2744589C2|2021-03-11|
    BR112019010923A2|2019-10-01|
    RU2019122564A|2021-01-26|
    EP3558499B1|2020-11-25|
    RU2019122564A3|2021-01-26|
    KR20190104023A|2019-09-05|
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    法律状态:
    2017-12-20| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 2 |
    2018-06-22| PLSC| Publication of the preliminary search report|Effective date: 20180622 |
    2019-12-20| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 4 |
    2020-12-22| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 5 |
    2021-12-21| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 6 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    FR1663058A|FR3060410B1|2016-12-21|2016-12-21|TANGENTIAL FLOW SEPARATION ELEMENT INTEGRATING FLEXIBLE CHANNELS|
    FR1663058|2016-12-21|FR1663058A| FR3060410B1|2016-12-21|2016-12-21|TANGENTIAL FLOW SEPARATION ELEMENT INTEGRATING FLEXIBLE CHANNELS|
    PT178224069T| PT3558499T|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separation element incorporating flexuous channels|
    HUE17822406A| HUE053518T2|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separation element incorporating flexuous channels|
    KR1020197017949A| KR20190104023A|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separator element with flexible channel|
    DK17822406.9T| DK3558499T3|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separation element comprising twisted channels|
    EP17822406.9A| EP3558499B8|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separation element incorporating flexuous channels|
    MX2019006348A| MX2019006348A|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separation element incorporating flexuous channels.|
    PCT/FR2017/053537| WO2018115639A1|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separation element incorporating flexuous channels|
    JP2019533557A| JP2020501897A|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separation element with built-in tortuous flow path|
    PL17822406T| PL3558499T3|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separation element incorporating flexuous channels|
    BR112019010923A| BR112019010923A2|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|tangential flow separation element integrating flex channels|
    RU2019122564A| RU2744589C2|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Element for cross-flow filtration separation containing curved channels|
    US16/467,621| US20190321890A1|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separation element incorporating flexuous channels|
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    AU2017381013A| AU2017381013A1|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separation element incorporating flexuous channels|
    CN201780079416.9A| CN110191752A|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separation element comprising bending channel|
    CA3045589A| CA3045589A1|2016-12-21|2017-12-13|Tangential flow separation element incorporating flexuous channels|
    ARP170103567A| AR110547A1|2016-12-21|2017-12-19|SEPARATION ELEMENT BY TANGENTIAL FLOW THAT INTEGRATES FLEXUAL CHANNELS|
    PH12019501230A| PH12019501230A1|2016-12-21|2019-06-03|Tangential flow separation element incorporating flexuoux channels|
    ZA2019/04134A| ZA201904134B|2016-12-21|2019-06-25|Tangential flow separation element incorporating flexuous channels|
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