Membrane module for mitigating evaporative fuel emissions of automobiles
AssigneeMahle International GmbH
InventorsThomas Ehlert, Achim Gommel, John Jackson, Simon Streng, Melanie Volz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular structure for a mitigating evaporative fuel emissions, such as for an automobile, is described. The structure may include a plurality of frames and membranes for flowing fuel vapor and reducing the emission of hydrocarbon therefrom. The structure may include flow guides that provide a meandering flow path for both the fuel vapor and a permeate. A flow guide providing parallel flow paths is also described.
Claims16
A filter assembly for reducing hydrocarbon emissions of a vehicle, the filter assembly comprising:
- a plurality of modules each comprising a frame and a membrane disposed at least partially within the frame,
- each of the membranes having a first and second side with an active layer disposed on the first side and an inert support layer disposed on the second side;
- each of the frames of the plurality of modules being disposed adjacent to and in contact with the frame of at least one neighboring module with the membranes of neighboring modules having the active layer facing each other to define at least one feed channel and the inert support layer facing each other to define at least one sweep channel in the filter assembly.
A filter assembly for reducing hydrocarbon emissions of a vehicle, the filter assembly comprising:
- at least one feed flow guide defining at least one feed channel formed therein,
- at least one sweep flow guide defining at least one sweep channel formed therein, and
- a plurality of membranes disposed between the at least one feed flow guide and at least one sweep flow guide, the at least one feed flow guide and the at least one sweep flow guide functioning as frames for the plurality of membranes;
- each membrane having a first face with an active layer and a second face with an inert support layer opposite the first face, the first face being exposed to a feed flow channel, and the second face being exposed to a sweep flow channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.