WO2024099737A1 - Filter - Google Patents

Abstract

2. The invention relates to a filter for treating process fluid such as that which in particular arises during hydrogen electrolysis, preferably for separating hydrogen and/or oxygen from process water, having a first filter element (10) and a second filter element (12), which encloses the first filter element (10) with the formation of a flow space (14) with a predefinable radial spacing, wherein each filter element (10, 12) has a filter medium (16, 18) through which the process fluid can flow in a flow-through direction (24) from the outside to the inside or preferably from the inside to the outside, wherein, seen in the flow-through direction (24), the one filter medium (16) forms a first degassing stage, which is used to enlarge gas bubbles through coalescence and to remove same from the process fluid through separation caused by buoyancy, and the subsequent further filter medium (18) forms a second degassing stage, which is used to remove very finely distributed gas bubbles remaining in the process fluid, again through coalescence and the separation of same through rising caused by buoyancy.

Description

Filter

The invention relates to a filter for treating process fluid, as it is produced in particular during hydrogen electrolysis, preferably for separating hydrogen and/or oxygen from process water.

DE 10 2021 001 631 A1 discloses a method for treating process fluids such as those produced when a process fluid is broken down into different process gases with the aid of electric current in an electrolysis cell, with at least one fluid circuit in which at least one of the process gases is present in the form contained in the process fluid to form the process fluid, wherein at least one fluid storage tank is present as part of the fluid circuit, in which at least one filter device is accommodated, by means of which the process fluid is cleaned of any particle contamination and at the same time the contained process gas is separated from the process fluid while retaining the process fluid. The filter device used here and known in this respect has a preferably replaceable filter element through which a fluid can flow from the inside to the outside, wherein the filter element is surrounded by a housing wall while maintaining a predeterminable radial distance and forming a fluid flow space. which is designed as an outflow pipe and has a plurality of passage points, one part of which is arranged below the respective variable fluid level in the fluid storage tank and the other part above these fluid levels.

Based on this prior art, the invention is based on the object of further improving the known solution while retaining its advantages, in particular to achieve an even higher rate of separated gas from a process fluid.

A filter having the features of patent claim 1 in its entirety solves this problem.

The filter according to the invention has a first filter element and a second filter element which surrounds the first filter element to form a flow space with a predeterminable radial distance, wherein each filter element has a filter medium through which the process fluid can flow from the outside to the inside or preferably from the inside to the outside in a flow direction, wherein, viewed in the flow direction, one filter medium forms a first degassing stage which serves to enlarge gas bubbles by coalescence and to remove them from the process fluid by buoyancy-related separation and the subsequent further filter medium forms a second degassing stage which serves to remove finely distributed gas bubbles remaining in the process fluid by coalescence and to separate them again by buoyancy-related rising.

In this way, a two-stage degassing filter is created in one unit, which greatly improves the separation of fluid and gas compared to the known solution. In the area of the hydrogen electrolysis already mentioned, the process leads to the release of of oxygen and hydrogen from the process water as the process fluid. For both hydrogen and oxygen, there are two separate fluid circuits due to the process, i.e. there is a circuit with water and free hydrogen bubbles and another circuit with water and free oxygen bubbles. A separate separator is used for each of these circuits, the task of which is to separate the corresponding gas from the liquid. The gas contents that can arise during the process are between 30 and 95 percent by volume and with the degassing filter according to the invention with its improved degassing rates, a significant reduction in the respective separator size or separator volume can be achieved and thanks to the installation volume saved in this way, the filter according to the invention can be used increasingly for a variety of practical applications. The filter media used in each case for the first and second element are preferably different from one another depending on the degassing task to be solved.

In a preferred embodiment of the filter according to the invention, the filter medium preceding in the direction of flow consists of a deep filter candle, which is designed as a hollow cylindrical filter casing to increase the filter volume. This results in a coaxial arrangement of two filter stages that serve to degas a process fluid, with the first filter stage leading to a first coalescence of the gas bubbles, which then increase in volume accordingly, rise due to buoyancy and are thus separated from the process fluid. The air bubbles that have not yet been separated up to this point are then retained by the second degassing stage and again fed to a coalescence process, so that the gas bubbles, which are also finely dispersed in the fluid, increase in volume, rise due to buoyancy and are then also separated from the process fluid, usually in the form of process water. It is particularly preferred that the filter uses meltblown fibers to form the depth filter candle, which are preferably sprayed onto a fluid-permeable support body on which the filter casing rests along its inner circumference. The depth filter candle used is designed to be extremely voluminous compared to a pleated element material, which results in improved gas discharge behavior. In this respect, the meltblown depth filter candle forms a hollow cylindrical, solid filter casing block with a predeterminable porosity.

Instead of constructing the depth filter candle from meltblown fibers, it is also possible to construct it from a sintered material, either in the form of a sintered metal filter or in the form of a ceramic filter, each with a predeterminable filter permeability.

For reliable degassing processes with a high separation rate, it has proven advantageous to choose a filter fineness of between 10 fjm and 200 fjm for the depth filter candle. If meltblown fibers are used for the depth filter candle to a greater or lesser extent, the fiber diameter is preferably between 0.1 fjm and 2000 fjm and the mean flow pore diameter (MFP/Mean Flow Pore Size) is preferably between 1 fjm and 2000 fjm.

For a pure construction of the filter, all essential components are preferably made of one and the same plastic material and if metals such as stainless steel or titanium are used as the filter medium for the filter, it is preferably provided that in each case all filter media consist of one and the same metal material.

Particularly preferably, it can be provided that the filter medium following the one filter medium in the flow direction has at least a two-layer, preferably three-layer mat construction, which allows an additional improved particle cleaning from the fluid flow. The invention further relates to a device with a container for accommodating at least one filter as described above, wherein the container has at least one inlet for gas-containing process fluid and an outlet for the gas separated in the container and a further outlet for the process fluid freed from the gas, wherein the respective filter flows from the inside to the outside from the inlet of the container, above a fluid level in the container, passes the separated gas on to one outlet in the container, and process fluid collected in the container below this fluid level is discharged from the container via the further outlet. Preferably, it is provided that a parallel flow to the respective filter in the container takes place from below via openings in a separating plate in the container, which extends parallel to the fluid level that occurs during operation, and that a suction connection is provided between the individual filters, which opens out above the adapter plate and below the fluid level in the container and is connected to the further outlet for the process fluid.

In the following, the filter according to the invention is explained in more detail using various embodiments and in the context of a container installation according to the drawing. In principle and not to scale, the

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filter;

Figures 2 and 3 show, in the form of a longitudinal section through Figure 1, two different embodiments of the filter;

Figures 4, 5 and 6, 7 are enlarged views of the head and foot sides of the filter according to Figure 2 and the filter according to Figure 3, respectively; and Figures 8 and 9 show the installation situation of filters according to Figures 1 to 3 in a container in a side view and in plan view.

Figures 2 and 4 and 5 relate to a first embodiment of the filter according to the invention. The filter in question is used to treat process fluid, such as is produced in particular during hydrogen electrolysis, preferably to separate hydrogen and/or oxygen from process water. The filter has a first filter element 10 and a second filter element 12 combined in one structural unit, which surrounds the first filter element 10 to form a flow space 14 with a predeterminable radial distance.

It is further provided that the first filter element 10 has a first filter medium 16 and the second filter element 12 has a second filter medium 18. The first filter medium 16 is supported on the inner circumference by a fluid-permeable support body 20 in the form of a support grid. The second filter medium 18 is surrounded on the outer circumference by a further fluid-permeable support body 22, which is also designed in the form of a support grid. If necessary, further fluid-permeable support bodies (not shown) can be arranged on the outer circumference side of the first filter medium 16 and on the inner circumference side of the second filter medium 18. In the present case, the flow through the filter takes place in the flow direction from the inside to the outside, the flow direction in question being shown in Figure 2 with an arrow 24.

The first filter medium 16 is accommodated together with its inner support body 20 between an upper end cap 26 and a lower end cap 28. The second filter medium 18 with the further support body 22 is accommodated between the same end caps 26, 28 and with the same axial length. In this respect, the respective front ends of the first and second filter medium 16, 18 and the two support bodies 20, 22, preferably using a mirror welding process, are firmly or fluid-tightly connected to the end caps 26, 28. Further details of the end caps 26, 28 will be described in more detail below. Again viewed in the flow direction 24, the first filter medium 16 forms a first degassing stage, which serves to enlarge gas bubbles by coalescence and to remove them from the process fluid by buoyancy-related separation. The subsequent further filter medium 18 forms a second degassing stage, which serves to remove finely distributed gas bubbles remaining in the process fluid, again by coalescence, and to separate them by rising due to buoyancy. The first degassing stage, formed by the first filter element 10 as a whole, serves to enlarge existing gas bubbles, which then rise in the process fluid and are thus separated on the surface of the process fluid. The second filter element 12, which forms the second degassing stage, serves to further separate the remaining, finely distributed gas bubbles in the process fluid by coalescence to form larger bubble arrangements and separation by rising due to buoyancy.

In one embodiment of the filter according to the invention, the inner filter stage in the form of the filter element 10 consists of a voluminous melt-blown depth filter candle made of polypropylene. The filter fineness of the depth filter candle is preferably between 10 jL/m and 200 fjm; alternatively, a sintered filter (not shown in detail) with the same filter fineness can also be used here. To produce a depth filter candle from melt-blown fibers, these are preferably sprayed onto the inner support body 20. The outer filter stage with the second filter medium 18 consists of a three-layer, pleated structure made of polypropylene fabric. The mesh size of the two outer layers facing the support body 22 is preferably about 200 to 1000 fjm, which is relatively coarse. In contrast, the mesh size of the inner layer is 0.1 to 500 fjm, which can be described as relatively fine. The fold density of the pleated filter mat, which forms the second filter medium 18, is 0.1 to 6 folds per centimeter.

In addition to the polypropylene material mentioned, other plastic materials that can be used for production include polyamide or polyester. If one and the same plastic material is used for the filter media 16, 18 as well as for the support bodies 20 and 22 and for the end caps 26, 28, a pure structure is achieved, which helps to facilitate the recycling of the filter as a whole. Twill or satin weaves, as well as so-called smooth fabrics, can be used as weaves for the second filter medium 18. The use of other weaves is possible here. In addition to the three-layer structure described, there is also the possibility of a structure with two to five layers, whereby the mesh size should preferably be from coarse to fine as seen in the flow direction 24.

For the mirror welding process already mentioned, two identically designed centering rings 30, which are provided with through holes 32, are inserted into the flow space 14 in the area of the upper end cap 26 and in the area of the lower end cap 28. The upper centering ring 30, as viewed in the direction of Fig. 2, is again fixed to the upper end cap 26 with its upper free end face by means of mirror welding, and the through holes 32 made in the centering ring 30 serve to allow rising gas bubbles to pass from the flow space 14 between the two filter media 16, 18. Likewise, the lower centering ring 30, as viewed in the direction of Fig. 2, is mirror welded to the lower end cap 28 with its lower free end face. For this purpose, the respective centering ring 30 has an annular fixing web 34 on the inner circumference, as well as a comparable annular fixing web 36 on the outer circumference. The relevant webs 34, 36 take up approximately centrally between them a base section 38 of the respective centering ring 30, in which the through holes 32 are made. The through holes 32 extend at discrete distances from one another along the base section 38, which runs parallel to the alignment of the end caps 26, 28. Towards the outside, the respective fixing web 34, 36 is supported on upper parts of the outer circumference of the first filter medium 16 and on the inner circumference of the second filter medium 18. For the sake of simplicity, the two centering rings 30 are designed the same, whereby the lower centering ring 30 as viewed in the direction of Figure 2 does not necessarily have to have the through holes 32 for the removal of gas bubbles. In any case, the upper and lower free end faces of the two fixing webs 34, 36 of each centering ring 30 are also mirror-welded to the associated end cap 26 or 28. Instead of the mirror welding mentioned, other welding methods can also be used, for example transmission welding using laser light, as shown by way of example in the documents DE 10 2007 013 178 A1 and DE 10 2010 005 541 A1 of the property rights holder. Ultrasonic welding methods can also be used; the production of adhesive connections is also conceivable. The two webs 34, 36 each have pairs of protruding centering webs 39 facing outwards in the direction of the filter media 16, 18, which can at least partially penetrate into the flexible, yielding filter media 16, 18 in order to facilitate or enable the positioning of the webs 34 for the welding process within the filter. The centering webs 39 are ring-shaped and are an integral part of the respective fixing web 34, 36.

The lower end cap 28 has a downwardly projecting hollow cylindrical ring socket 40 with a sealing device 42 in the form of an O-ring, which is accommodated in an outer circumferential groove of the ring socket 40. In this way, the filter as a whole can be installed in a container housing 43 according to Figures 8 and 9, sealed from the environment, and the gas-containing process fluid can be supplied via the hollow through-channel of the ring connector 40 to the central inner side 44 of the filter, which is designed as an inflow chamber and is surrounded closest to the support body 20 and the first filter medium 16. The sealing device 42 with O-ring can also be omitted in order to maintain a pure structure and replaced by a clamp connection (not shown). From this inner side 44, the process fluid passes along the flow direction 24 after passing the first filter element 10 into the flow chamber 14 and from there via the second filter element 12 with the subsequent further support body 22 to the outside 45 of the filter, which corresponds to the interior of the container housing 43 as part of a container receptacle for the respective filter and will be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 8 and 9.

The upper end cap 26 has outlet openings 46 coaxial with the alignment of the upper through holes 32 in the centering ring 30, which, as shown in particular in Figure 4, open with one free end into the flow space 14 above the centering ring 30 and with their other free end into an annular gap 48, which opens from the inside of the upper end cap 26, which is closed in this respect, onto the outside 45 of the filter. To form the circumferential annular gap 48 (not shown), an upper cap region 50 is set off from a lower end cap region 52 of the upper end cap 26, forming a radially outwardly projecting shoulder. Instead of a common annular gap 48 for all outlet openings 46 in the cover region of the end cap 26, however, each outlet opening 46 is preferably connected to the outside 45 of the filter via its own flow channel 49, as shown in particular in Figure 1. Furthermore, it has proven advantageous to make the respective flow channel 49 relatively narrow and the free diameter of the outlet openings 46 is selected to be smaller than the free diameter of the through holes 32 in the centering ring 30. In any case, gas bubbles rising in the flow space 14 pass through the through holes 32 in the upper centering ring 30 and through the outlet openings 46 into the individual flow channels 49 of the upper end cap 26 in order to be able to discharge them from the process fluid and from the filter to the environment in the form of the filter outer side 45.

In the coaxial arrangement of two filter stages with a flow from the inside to the outside and with a flow from below via the ring nozzle 40, a pure construction of the filter media 16, 18 made of metal materials, in particular of stainless steel or titanium, can be carried out instead of the previous media construction.

In this embodiment, the inner filter stage in the form of the first filter medium 16 is a three-layer, pleated structure made of stainless steel. This structure replaces the voluminous meltblown structure made of the polypropylene variant shown above. The mesh size of the two outer layers in the direction of the flow space 14 is again relatively coarse with values between 200 and 1000 fjm. The mesh size of the subsequent inner layer, on the other hand, is relatively fine and has values between 0.1 and 500 fjm. In addition to stainless steel, titanium can also be used without any problem. The fold density of the pleated filter material is 4 to 8 folds per square centimeter and the weave types used can be, for example, twill, satin, smooth fabric, etc. A structure with 2 to 5 layers is also conceivable; here too, the mesh size should go from coarse to fine in the flow direction 24. Alternatively, sintered filters with similar degassing properties can be used.

The outer filter stage in the form of the second filter medium 18 also consists of a three-layer, pleated structure made of stainless steel with comparable achable mesh sizes on the outside and inside, as stated above. The fold density is preferably 0.1 to 6 folds per centimeter and the weave types described above are also used. Coating the entire filter or just the individual fabrics 16, 18 can lead to a further improvement in the degassing properties, especially if the coating is carried out with materials that promote coalescence. The materials used for the filter media 16, 18 can also be passivated in this way in order to prevent the release of electrons and iron ions. As far as the functionality of a two-stage degassing filter that is made entirely of metal is concerned, this corresponds to the solution presented above. Instead of the welding processes presented, the metallic filter media 16, 18 can also be glued to the associated end caps 26, 28 or crimped together using a metallic connection technique (not shown). For an improved degassing process, it has proven advantageous to select a correspondingly large fold density for the first filter medium 16 and a correspondingly low fold density for the outer filter medium 18.

The second embodiment according to Figures 3 and 6 and 7 is explained below only insofar as it differs significantly from the embodiment described above. In particular, the same reference numerals as stated above are used for the same components and the statements made in this regard therefore also apply to the further second embodiment. Instead of the centering ring 30 described above, a single circumferential positioning ring 54 is used for the second embodiment, which is supported with a predeterminable axial extension on the inner peripheral side of the second filter medium 18, in each case towards its free end regions. The respective positioning ring 54 in turn has pairs of centering webs 39 on the outer peripheral side, which at least partially engage in the inner peripheral side of the second filter medium 18 in order to determine the position of the positioning ring 54 at the respective end region of the second filter medium 18. In this way, the mirror welding process can be sensibly supported by means of the two positioning rings 54.

As shown in particular in Figure 7, the second filter element 12 with its outer support body 22 as well as the second filter medium 18 and the lower positioning ring 54 is connected, in particular welded, to an independent ring cap 56 which, in the installation position shown in Figure 7, is supported on a flange-like projection 58 of the lower end cap 28 on the bottom side. In this way, the ring cap 56 stands on parts of the lower end cap 28 without protruding. For sealing, in the area of the step-like transition between the projection 58 and the rest of the lower end cap 28, a further sealing device 62 is introduced into a radially outwardly open ring groove 60 of the latter, which seals the interior of the filter from the environment in the form of the filter outer side 45. Just as the first sealing device 42 on the ring nozzle 40 can be dispensed with, the further sealing device 62 can also be dispensed with if a clamp connection (not shown) is to be used at the respective connection point, which can be additionally secured by means of a welded or adhesive connection.

Accordingly, the outer support body 22 and the second filter medium 18 are welded together with the lower positioning ring 54 to the top of the ring cap 56 on the bottom side, in particular mirror-welded. Furthermore, the inner support tube 20 is welded on its underside together with the underside of the associated filter medium 16 to the top of the actual lower end cap 28, in particular mirror-welded. Accordingly, the upper end of the outer support body 22 is welded to the associated second filter medium 18 and the upper positioning ring 54 to the lower, flat front side of the upper end cap 26. In this embodiment, the outlet openings 46 in the upper end cap 26 again open into the flow chamber 14. However, what is different from the embodiments described above is that the first filter element 10 has its own end cap 64, which is designed as a flat annular disk and leaves a gap-shaped passageway 66 free, formed from the top of the end cap 64 and the adjacent underside of the upper end cap 26. In this way, the hollow cylindrical flow space 14 is connected at its upper end via the passageway 66 in a media-conducting manner. In this way, tolerance compensation between the two filter elements 16, 18 is also possible. For the entire structure of the filter according to the second embodiment, the same materials as described above are used. The connections of the individual filter components to one another in order to obtain an overall filter can be implemented particularly cost-effectively using the materials mentioned in addition to the mirror welding process mentioned, and overall, with regard to the solid welded connections, the filter can be designed as an easily recyclable disposable product. If the filters according to Figures 2 and 3 are viewed from the outside, the illustration according to Figure 1 results.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, a total of six filters are inserted into a container housing 43 as described above, with a cover part 68 that can be removed from the housing 43 for the purpose of removing used filters and exchanging them for new elements. The cover part 68 is provided with a hold-down device 70 in order to hold the individual filters consisting of the first and second filter elements 10, 12 in position. For this purpose, when the cover part 68 is closed, the hold-down device 70 presses the individual filters from above via the respective ring nozzle 40 onto a separating or adapter plate 72 with correspondingly designed ring recesses 74. The container housing 43 or the container also has an inlet 76 for gas-containing process fluid on the bottom side, as well as an outlet 78 for the gas separated in the container 43 and a further outlet 80 for the process fluid freed from the gas, with the respective filter starting from the inlet 76 of the container 43 from the inside to the outside. The separated gas is passed on above a fluid level 82 in the container 43 to the one outlet 78 in the container 43. Process fluid accumulated below this fluid level 82 in the container 43, however, leaves the container 43 via the further outlet 80.

For a parallel flow of the respective filter from below via the openings in the form of the ring recesses 74 in the adapter or separating plate 72 in the container 43, the openings are aligned vertically as shown in Figure 8. In particular, the respective filter is led upwards above the fluid level 82 and extends between the separating or adapter plate 72 and the hold-down device 70. For improved removal of the process fluid or process water, a suction connection 84 is provided between the individual filters, which opens out laterally above the separating or adapter plate 72 and below the fluid level 82 in the container 43 and is thus connected to the further outlet 80 for the process fluid. In this way, it is easily possible to accommodate 3 to 30 degassing filters in a tank in the form of the container 43. The number of filters used can be selected depending on the volume flow to be treated. What is important is the parallel flow of the degassing filters from below via the separating or adapter plate 72. The container 43 or the container housing is preferably made of stainless steel and has an inner coating for passivation and corrosion protection.

The gas bubbles separated by the first filter medium 16 and the second filter medium 18 through coalescence and buoyancy-related separation pass through the flow chamber 14 from the process fluid side to the gas side, which is above the fluid level 82 in the container 43. The gas collected in the flow chamber 14 then passes, as already explained, through the channel guides in the upper end cap 26, which are arranged above the fluid level 82, to the gas discharge side of the container 43 with the Gas connection 78. Overall, the two filter stages in the form of the first filter element 10 and the second filter element 12 with associated filter media 16, 18 are successively flowed through with gas-containing process fluid. The first filter stage in the form of the first filter element 10 then leads to a first coalescence or a pre-separation of the gas bubbles (air/hydrogen/oxygen). The retained gas bubbles coalesce and rise upwards, as do the enlarged gas bubbles after flowing through the filter stages 10, 12 in the annular gap between the first 10 and the second stage 12 formed by the flow space 14. After passing through the indicated degassing openings in the upper end cap 26, the gas bubbles pass over the fluid surface, i.e. over the fluid level area 82, which varies in height, according to Figure 8. The air bubbles that have not yet been separated up to that point are retained by the outer second degassing stage in the form of the second filter element 12, coalesce to that extent and then also rise upwards due to buoyancy, above the fluid level 82. The filter arrangement mentioned using appropriate container geometries can be used for any degassing processes for process fluids and are not restricted to process water, such as that produced during hydrogen electrolysis.

Claims

Patent claims Filter for treating process fluid, such as is produced in particular in hydrogen electrolysis, preferably for separating hydrogen and/or oxygen from process water, with a first filter element (10) and with a second filter element (12) which surrounds the first filter element (10) to form a flow space (14) with a predeterminable radial distance, wherein each filter element (10, 12) has a filter medium (16, 18) through which the process fluid can flow from the outside inwards or preferably from the inside outwards in a flow direction (24), wherein, viewed in the flow direction (24), one filter medium (16) forms a first degassing stage which serves to enlarge gas bubbles by coalescence and to remove them from the process fluid by buoyancy-related separation and the subsequent further filter medium (18) forms a second degassing stage which serves to remove finely distributed gas bubbles remaining in the process fluid by Coalescence and the separation of the same by rising due to buoyancy. Filter according to claim 1, characterized in that the one filter medium (16) preceding in the flow direction (24) consists of a depth filter candle, which is designed as a hollow cylindrical filter casing to increase the filter volume. Filter according to claim 2, characterized in that meltblown fibers are used to form the depth filter candle, which are preferably sprayed onto a fluid-permeable support body (20) on which the filter casing is supported along its inner peripheral side. 4. Filter according to claim 3, characterized in that the depth filter candle is constructed from a sintered material. 5. Filter according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the filter fineness of the depth filter candle constructed from meltblown fibers is between 10 fjm and 200 fjm, the fiber diameter is between 0.1 fjm and 2,000 fjm, and the average flow-effective pore diameter is between 1 fjm and 2,000 ji/m. 6. Filter according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that for a pure construction all components of the filter, such as filter media (16, 18), end caps (26, 28) and support bodies (20, 22) consist of one and the same plastic material, preferably of polypropylene. 7. Filter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter medium (18) following the one filter medium (16) in the flow direction has at least a two-layer, preferably a three-layer mat structure. 8. Filter according to claim 1, characterized in that for a pure construction the respective filter medium is constructed to form a two-stage degassing filter from metals, such as stainless steel or titanium, and that the respective filter medium (16, 18) of at least one filter element (10, 12) has at least a two-layer, preferably three-layer, pleated mat structure made of metal threads or metal fibers, preferably is constructed completely from stainless steel materials. 9. Device with a container (43) for receiving at least one filter according to one of the preceding claims, which has at least one inlet (76) for gas-containing process fluid and an outlet (78) for the gas separated in the container (43) and a further outlet (80) for the process fluid freed from the gas, wherein the respective filter flows from the inside to the outside starting from the inlet (76) of the container (43), above a fluid level (82) in the container (43) the separated gas is passed on to the one outlet (78) in the container (43) and below this fluid level (82) process fluid accumulated in the container (43) is discharged from the container (43) via the further outlet (80). Container according to claim 9, characterized in that a parallel flow to the respective filter takes place from below via openings (74) in a separating plate (72) in the container (43), which extends parallel to the fluid level (82), and that a suction connection (84) is provided between the individual filters, which opens out above the separating plate (72) and below the fluid level (82) in the container (43) and is connected to the further outlet (80) for the process fluid.