AXIAL LABYRINTH SEAL FOR FILTRATION SYSTEMS

摘要

An axial face seal is described that may be employed to seal a spiral membrane element of a filtration system. A seal can be formed using a first seal plate for capping the spiral membrane element to engage a corresponding face of a second seal plate of an adjacent spiral membrane element. The faces of the first and second seal plates have complementary profiles that yield an intermeshed contact of the seal plates when the spiral membrane element is coupled to the adjacent spiral membrane element. The intermeshed contact creates a tortuous flow path from inside the spiral membrane element to the outside of the spiral membrane element, thereby sealing the spiral membrane element at the point of coupling with the adjacent spiral membrane element. Adjacent spiral membrane elements can be coupled using a latching mechanism that is engaged before the spiral membrane elements are inserted into the cylindrical housing.