Shell-less hollow fiber membrane fluid contactor
AssigneeCelgard, LLC
InventorsPaul A. Peterson, Charles James Runkle, Amitava Sengupta, Frederick E. Wiesler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shell-less fluid contactor and a process for transferring a fluid component between a shell-side fluid and a lumen-side fluid. The shell-side fluid is introduced through a fluid distribution tube and discharged from the tube into contact with a surrounding bundle of microporous hollow fiber membranes. A fluid component is transferred by diffusion, through the walls of the hollow fiber membranes, from the shell-side fluid to the lumen-side fluid. Multiple contactors can be combined into an assembly for multi-stage processing of fluids.
Claims20
A process for transferring a fluid component between a shell-side fluid and a lumen-side fluid, said process comprising:
- (a) introducing a shell-side fluid into a fluid distribution element of a shell-less fluid contactor;
- (b) introducing a lumen-side fluid into a lumen of at least one hollow fiber membrane external of the fluid distribution element;
- and
- (c) discharging the shell-side fluid from the fluid distribution element into contact with the at least one hollow fiber membrane to effect diffusion of a fluid component between the shell-side fluid and the lumen-side fluid.
A shell-less fluid contactor comprising:
- (a) a fluid distribution element comprising at least one inlet for receiving a shell-side fluid, and at least one outlet for discharging the shell-side fluid;
- (b) at least one hollow fiber membrane being adapted for diffusion, said membrane having an internal surface defining a lumen and an external surface exposed to contact with the shell-side fluid, each said at least one hollow fiber membrane further comprising a first port in fluid communication with said lumen;
- and
- (c) a barrier for separating the first port of each said at least one hollow fiber membrane from the shell-side fluid.
An assembly for fluid processing, said assembly comprising:
- (a) a first stage means comprising at least one shell-less fluid contactor being adapted for diffusion;
- (b) a second stage means comprising at least one fluid contactor being adapted for diffusion;
- and
- (c) collection and transfer means for collecting shell-side fluid discharged from one of the first stage or the second stage, and transferring the collected shell-side fluid to the other of the first or second stage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.