Gel potting method and method to reduce twinning for filtering hollow fiber membranes
US6592759B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 1, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01D63/023
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
To pot membranes in a header, a dense, viscous liquid, suspension or, preferably, a thixotropic, water soluble gel, is placed in a header pan in space reserved for a permeate channel. A plurality of hollow fiber membranes are collected together and their open ends are inserted into the gel. A fixing liquid, typically a resin, is placed over the gel. The fixing liquid surrounds each membrane and then solidifies, simultaneously sealing the outer surfaces of the membranes and forming a plug in the opening of the header to complete the permeate channel. After the fixing liquid has solidified, the gel is removed by various means. The space initially occupied by the gel becomes part of the permeate channel after the gel is removed. In one embodiment, membranes are grouped by a cushioning adhesive which later surrounds the membranes where they exit the completed header.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.