Port for membrane module

A membrane module comprising:

• a shell assembly including a tubular shell having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, a feed end tubesheet connected to the first end of the shell, and a product end tubesheet connected to the second end of the shell;
• a fiber bundle disposed within the shell, the fiber bundle comprising a plurality of hollow fibers extending through the feed end tubesheet and the product end tubesheet;
• a feed inlet in fluid flow communication with the plurality of hollow fibers through the feed end tubesheet, the feed inlet and the feed end tubesheet being adapted to force a fluid entering the feed inlet through the plurality of hollow fibers to separate the fluid into a slow gas-rich non-permeate fluid and a fast gas-rich permeate fluid;
• a product outlet in fluid flow communication with the plurality of hollow fibers through the product end tubesheet, the product outlet adapted to receive the slow gas-rich non-permeate fluid that flows through the plurality of hollow fibers;
• a shell space located internal to the shell and external to the plurality of hollow fibers, the shell space extending between the feed end tubesheet and the product end tubesheet, the shell space adapted to receive the fast gas-rich permeate fluid that permeates through a plurality of fiber walls of the plurality of hollow fibers;
• at least one shell-side port assembly disposed on an outer wall of the shell between the feed end tubesheet and the product end tubesheet, the at least one shell-side port assembly being in fluid flow communication with the shell space;
• each of the at least one shell-side port assembly comprising a port aperture extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and comprising a lower port aperture portion and an upper port aperture portion, the port aperture extending through the upper port aperture portion and the lower port aperture portion;
• the lower port aperture portion comprising a lower face oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and surrounding the port aperture;
• the upper port aperture portion comprising an upper face extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and co-planar to the lower face;
• an o-ring recess disposed in one of the lower face or the upper face, the o-ring recess being located radially outwardly from the port aperture and surrounding the port aperture;
• an o-ring disposed in and protruding from the o-ring recess;
• and
• at least one fastener that is adapted to draw the upper face toward the lower face and secure the upper face to the lower face, thereby causing the o-ring to be pressed against the other of the upper face and the lower face around an entire perimeter of the o-ring recess.