Cartridge of hybrid unitary wafers of hollow fiber membranes and module containing a stack of post-potted cartridges

US5366625A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Steven Kristian Pedersen · Burlington, CA
• Christopher J. Lipski · Burlington, CA
• Pierre Cote · Dundas, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 18, 1992
• Grant date: Nov 22, 1994
• Expiry date: Dec 18, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01D2313/44
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A module is disclosed for use as a membrane device, comprising, a shell with fluid couplings removably affixed to each of its ends and at least one non-disassemblable cartridge operably held within the shell. The cartridge is constructed from plural wafers sequentially coaxially aligned, each wafer consisting essentially of a generally planar frame and an array of hollow fibers of selectively permeable material adhesively held by their ends in opposed portions of the border of the frame, without initially potting the ends. Each frame has a central through-passage, and multiple frames together define an axial through passage in each cartridge through which a feedstream is typically flowed in "outside-in" flow. Each opposed portion of border is provided with longitudinal, laterally spaced apart grooves in its upper surface and the fibers trained in the grooves, and successive wafers are bonded together. The bores of the fibers are in open fluid communication with the permeate zone in the shell. Arrays lie in a plane substantially orthogonal to the direction of flow of the feedstream, and fibers of one array are staggered relative to those in a successive array. The ends of the fibers…