US 11,786,868 B2
Three-dimensional feed spacers with TPMS architectures for membrane-based systems
Hassan Arafat, Abu Dhabi (AE); Rashid Abu Al-Rub, Abu Dhabi (AE); Nurshaun Sreedhar, Abu Dhabi (AE); Oraib Al-Ketan, Abu Dhabi (AE); and Navya Thomas, Abu Dhabi (AE)
Assigned to Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi (AE)
Filed by Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi (AE)
Filed on Jul. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/368,583.
Application 17/368,583 is a division of application No. 15/795,864, filed on Oct. 27, 2017, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/413,435, filed on Oct. 27, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0331118 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01D 63/12 (2006.01); B01D 63/06 (2006.01); B01D 63/08 (2006.01); B01D 63/10 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 63/12 (2013.01) [B01D 63/06 (2013.01); B01D 63/062 (2013.01); B01D 63/065 (2013.01); B01D 63/08 (2013.01); B01D 63/10 (2013.01); B01D 63/103 (2013.01); B01D 2313/143 (2013.01); B01D 2313/146 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A filtration device comprising:
a filter element configured to allow a fluid to pass through, the filter element comprising at least:
two membrane layers; and
a 3D-printed spacer that is 0.5 mm or less thick and is positioned sandwiched between at least the two membrane layers, the 3D-printed spacer having a structure comprising a plurality of layers, each of the layers having a two-dimensional pattern, wherein the plurality of layers are stacked on one another to form a plurality of unit cells arranged in three dimension, each of the plurality of unit cells comprising a cavity that is 0.5 mm or less in diameter and is defined by a triply periodic minimal surface, wherein the cavities of the plurality of unit cells are interconnected to allow the fluid to pass through the cavities and to allow the 3D-printed spacer to act as an efficient feed or permeate spacer.