Separation system and method

Abstract

A filtration system and method is disclosed. The filtration system includes a separation system with a primary process vessel with a main body enclosing an internal volume, and a removable end cap coupled to one of the ends of the main body. The primary process vessel includes fluid apertures enabling a fluid stream to enter or exit the inner volume. The separation system includes a filter support positioned in the inner volume, and a filter assembly coupled to the filter support. In some embodiments, the separation system is fluidly coupled to another separation system.

1 . A filtration method comprising: providing at least one separation system, the separation system comprising:
 a primary process vessel comprising a main body including first and second ends, the main body enclosing an internal volume; and   at least one removable end cap coupled to at least one of the ends of the main body;   a plurality of fluid apertures arranged to enable at least one fluid to enter or exit the internal volume of the primary process vessel, the plurality of fluid apertures including at least two fluid inlet ports and at least two fluid outlet ports; and   at least one filter support positioned in the internal volume; and   at least one filter assembly coupled to the at least one filter support; and   operating the at least one separation system using at least one process configuration, the process configuration comprising:   passing at least one untreated fluid into the at least two fluid inlet ports;   filtering the at least one untreated fluid using the at least one filter assembly to form at least one treated fluid stream; and   eluting the at least one treated fluid from the primary process vessel using the at least two fluid outlet ports.   
     
     
         2 . The filtration method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluid apertures comprises at least one vent, at least one drain, and at least one control valve coupled to at least one aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The filtration method of  claim 1 , wherein the process configuration comprises passing four fluid inlet streams into the primary process vessel using four inlet ports and two fluid outlet streams out of the primary process vessel exiting through two outlet ports. 
     
     
         4 . The filtration method of  claim 1 , wherein the process configuration comprises passing two fluid inlet streams into the primary process vessel using two inlet ports and eluting four fluid outlet streams from the primary process vessel exiting through four fluid outlet ports. 
     
     
         5 . The filtration method of  claim 4 , wherein the four outlet streams comprise two continuous phase outlet streams and two discontinuous phase outlet streams. 
     
     
         6 . The filtration method of  claim 1 , wherein the process configuration comprises passing two fluid inlet streams into the primary process vessel using two inlet ports and eluting three fluid outlet streams from the primary process vessel exiting through three outlet ports. 
     
     
         7 . The filtration method of  claim 6 , wherein the three outlet streams comprise two discontinuous phase outlet streams and one continuous phase outlet stream. 
     
     
         8 . The filtration method of  claim 1 , wherein the process configuration comprises passing two fluid inlet streams into the primary process vessel using two inlet ports, eluting two fluid outlet streams from the primary process vessel using two outlet ports, and a re-injection process, the re-injection process comprising passing a wash fluid from one fluid outlet port and into a fluid inlet port. 
     
     
         9 . The filtration method of  claim 8 , wherein the wash fluid comprises amine water. 
     
     
         10 . The filtration method of  claim 8 , wherein the process configuration is a substantially continuous process. 
     
     
         11 . The filtration method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one process configuration comprises sharing or exchanging fluid streams between at least two separation systems using at least one aperture of the plurality of fluid apertures.