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US 5,089,122 AGranted
Device for the separation of fluid mixtures
AssigneeFraunhofer-Gesellschaft
InventorHorst Chmiel
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AssigneeFraunhofer-Gesellschaft
InventorHorst Chmiel
Estimating the term…
The invention defines a device for the separation of fluid mixtures, comprising one or several membranes, in which the fluid mixture passes along one side of the membranes while, on the other side, a partial pressure of the constituent to be separated is maintained which is lower than the pressure in the fluid mixture. The inventive device is characterized by the fact that at least one heatable membrane is provided. The selective (separating) portion of the membrane may be a porous or a pervaporation membrane. The membrane may also comprise a supporting structure in addition to the selective portion, which may be made of a porous material in a preferred embodiment. Another preferred embodiment comprises a membrane coated with a material which is preferably wetted by the constituent to be separated by the respective membrane.
Device providing means for separating a fluid mixture comprising at least one membrane having a fluid mixture side along which the mixture passes for separation and having an opposite, permeate side providing a separated constituent of the fluid at which side partial pressure is maintained on the separated constituent, each said membrane comprises at least one selective porous portion consisting of current conducting material which is itself a heatable element providing means for heating the membrane selective portion either by direct passage of current through the current conducting material or inductively, said membrane and means for heating being constructed and arranged to heat only the membrane and a fluid layer surrounding the membrane without heating of the complete mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.