Gas separation apparatus

Apparatus for separating one fluid from a mixture of fluids, comprising

• (a) a cylindrical shell having an enlarged end portion,
• (b) a tube sheet positioned in the enlarged end portion of the shell, said end portion having a fluid mixture inlet,
• (c) a bundle of hollow fiber membranes positioned in the shell and extending through the tube sheet,
• (d) a ring secured to the tube sheet,
• (e) a tubular distribution element secured to the ring in a position surrounding the bundle of fibers, said distribution element extending into the cylindrical shell, said distribution element cooperating with the tube sheet and the enlarged end portion of the shell to form an annular chamber surrounding the distribution element, and
• (f) a seal mounted on the distribution element in contact with the shell for preventing leakage of the fluid mixture between the distribution element and the shell,
• (g) said distribution element having a plurality of inlet ports arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the distribution element, said plane being positioned such that
• 0.4.ltoreq.l/D.ltoreq.1.3
• 0.2.ltoreq.d/D.ltoreq.0.6
• where d is the distance of the tube sheet to said plane, l is the distance from the tube sheet to the fluid mixture inlet and D is the diameter of the bundle of fibers.