Hollow fiber cartridge

A hollow fiber membrane separation apparatus comprising a pressure vessel having one or more slide-in, replaceable hollow fiber membrane cartridges disposed longitudinally therein,

• (A) each said cartridge comprising a bundle of hollow fibers longitudinally aligned with said cartridge having at least one end of said bundle mounted in a tubesheet, said hollow fibers having selective permeability to fluid;
• an elongated feed member through which fluid to be treated can flow radially into and through the hollow fiber bundle;
• an elongated discharge member concentrically housed inside said elongated feed member;
• end caps mounted to the ends of said bundle wherein the facing ends of the tubesheet(s) and the adjacent end cap define a permeate collection space which is in fluid communication with (i) the open ends of the hollow fibers and (ii) said elongated discharge member;
• one or more of said end caps having a feed fluid port;
• wherein the feed member has a lip seal at said end cap;
• wherein the end caps are mounted over the ends of the bundle with epoxy;
• and
• (B) wherein the cartridges are disposed within the pressure vessel so as to form a first space between the outside of each bundle and the inner wall of the pressure vessel;
• a first opening at an end of the pressure vessel and offset from its center, which is in communication with the elongated feed member through which the fluid to be treated is fed;
• a second opening or openings at an end of the pressure container and concentric therewith, in fluid communication with the open end of hollow fibers through which the permeate is discharged;
• and a third opening at an end of the pressure vessel, opposite said end through which fluid to be treated is fed, and offset from the center, through which the residue fluid is discharged.