Importance

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Abstract

In the ultrafiltration of liquids such as vinegar, wine, etc., the liquid to be filtered is fed from and back to a circulating tank through at least one filtration circuit including at least two serially connected, vertically spaced, non-horizontal filter modules through each of which the liquid flows from top to bottom. Each filter module consists of a pipe enclosing a bundle of capillary tubes of semi-permeable membrane material and having a lateral outlet for filtered liquid. Each two successive filter modules are separated from one another by a fall interval zone through which unfiltered liquid can flow with a negligibly low pressure drop from the outlet of the upper filter module to the inlet of the lower one, and each fall interval zone is so arranged that the pressure drop occurring in the upper one of each two successive filter modules is equalized, to the extent of about 0.5 to 1.5 times, by the weight of the liquid column in that fall interval zone, thereby to establish and maintain at the inlet of the lower one of each two successive filter modules approximately the same hydrostatic pressure as is established and maintained at the inlet of the upper one. This abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention, however, the full nature and extent of the invention being discernible only by reference to and from the entire disclosure.

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First Claim