Gas separation apparatus

Apparatus for separating one gas from a mixture of gases, comprising

• a. a cylindrical shell having an enlarged end portion, said end portion having therein an inlet for admitting the gas mixture into the shell,
• b. a bundle of hollow fiber membranes positioned in the shell, said membranes being more permeable to one of the gases of the mixture than the other,
• c. a tube sheet positioned in said enlarged end portion, said fibers extending through said tube sheet, the opposite ends of said fibers being sealed,
• d. a first cover plate secured to the enlarged end portion for closing said end portion, said cover plate having therein an outlet opening for permeated gas,
• e. an annular element secured to the tube sheet at the end of the shell and having a flange positioned between the cover plate and the enlarged end portion for holding the tube sheet,
• f. a ring secured to the tube sheet inside said enlarged end portion,
• g. a tube secured to the ring in a position surrounding the tube sheet,
• h. a tubular distribution element secured to the ring and extending into said enlarged end portion, said distribution element having therein a port for admitting the gas mixture from the shell into the bundle of fibers,
• i. a resilient sheet having the form of a slit tube positioned in the shell in a position surrounding the bundle of fibers, the end of the slit tube surrounding the end of the tubular distribution element,
• j. a clamp for holding the end of the slit tube on the end of the distribution element, the remainder of the slit tube being free and expanded into contact with the inner surface of the shell, and
• k. a second cover plate secured to the cylindrical shell adjacent to the sealed ends of the fibers and having therein an outlet for discharging unpermeated gases from the shell.