The improved performance customers experience with the SmartFlow Technologies tangential flow filtration platform are the result of combining improved liquid flow throughout the module, selectable open channel heights to enable viscous fluid processing, and the widest selection of membranes in the industry. The key to selecting the correct combination of membrane, channel height, membrane polymer, and pore size is the customer product testing that is done in the Applications laboratories.
Each customer application is tested to assure the filtration process meets the customer's needs. Once the combination of module, membrane, and channel height is determined, the Applications lab goes further to define the optimum operating process parameters of pressure, flow rate, temperature, and if necessary pH. Once defined in the Applications laboratory, the process is linearly scalable to the customer production volumes.
With thousands of possible product combinations, SmartFlow manufactures the modules to the customer requirements, not just offering a limited number of product configurations.
Open Channel Design - The ConSep® module’s open channel design provides benefits that include controlled flow at the membrane surface, the ability to concentrate products to thick paste consistency, and improved membrane cleaning.
Uniform Flow - Traditional TFF filter designs suffer from non-uniform flow through the modules. The SmartFlow design solves this problem. The transversely situated inlet and outlet ports in the ConSep® holder create equal flow path lengths in each channel of the module. The equal flow paths ensure the flow and pressure are equal and therefore the entire membrane area is performing in a consistent manner. The uniform flow also assists in efficient membrane cleaning because there are no areas of low or no flow in the module.
Membrane Selection- SmartFlow Technologies has over 25 years testing and selecting commercially available membranes for use in the ConSep® modules. We have over 25 membrane suppliers and 10 different membrane polymers. The membranes include macrofiltration, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis ratings. With this range of membranes available SmartFlow can select the right membrane to meet your separation requirements.
Linear Scalability - The combination of the uniform flow and open channel design enable the SmartFlow technology to scale linearly from lab testing to pilot scale in-plant trials, to installed production systems. With hundreds of installed systems that verify this scalability, you can trust SmartFlow to design and manufacture the system you require.
