System for manufacturing reinforced three-zone microporous membrane

A system for manufacturing three-zone microporous membrane, the system comprising:

• at least one vessel for containing a ternary phase inversion polymer mother dope;
• a dope processing site, operatively connected to the at least one vessel containing the ternary phase inversion polymer mother dope;
• a dope transportation system, operatively connected to the at least one vessel and to the dope processing site, for transporting the dope from the vessel to the dope processing site;
• means, operatively connected to the at least one vessel, for moving the dope through the dope transportation system from the at least one vessel to the dope processing site;
• at least two thermal manipulation means, operatively connected to the at least one vessel, the dope transportation system and the dope processing site, for transforming the dope into any one of a plurality of different pore size producing dopes;
• and
• at least three dope application means, two operatively connected to a respective one of the two thermal manipulation means for application of the dope delivered to the dope processing site to form three-zone microporous membrane.

A system for manufacturing three-zone microporous membrane, the system comprising:

• at least one vessel for containing a ternary phase inversion polymer mother dope;
• a dope processing site, operatively connected to the at least one vessel containing the ternary phase inversion polymer mother dope;
• a dope transportation system, operatively connected to the at least one vessel and to the dope processing site, for transporting the dope from the vessel to the dope processing site;
• means, operatively connected to the at least one vessel, for moving the dope through the dope transportation system from the at least one vessel to the dope processing site;
• at least three thermal manipulation means, operatively connected to the at least one vessel, the dope transportation system and the dope processing site, for transforming the dope into any one of a plurality of different possible pore size producing dopes;
• and
• at least three dope application means, each operatively connected to a respective one of the three thermal manipulation means for application of the dope delivered to the dope processing site to form three-zone microporous membrane.

A system for manufacturing three-zone microporous membrane, the system comprising:

• at least one vessel for containing a ternary phase inversion polymer mother dope;
• a dope processing site;
• a dope transportation system, operatively connected to the at least one vessel and the dope processing site, for transfer of dope from the vessel to the dope processing site;
• pressure means, operatively connected to the at least one vessel, being capable of producing sufficient pressure for moving the dope in the dope transportation system from the at least one vessel to the dope processing site;
• at least one thermal manipulation mechanism, operatively connected to the at least one vessel and the dope processing site, for transforming the dope into any one of a plurality of different possible pore size producing dopes;
• and
• at least three dope application mechanisms operative at the dope processing site and operatively connected to the at least one thermal manipulation mechanism, for applying the thermally manipulated dope at the dope processing site to form three-zone microporous membrane.

A system for manufacturing three-zone microporous membrane, the system comprising:

• at least one vessel for containing a ternary phase inversion polymer mother dope, the dope having been exposed to a mixing temperature sufficient to effect dissolution and equilibrium mixing of the polymer, solvent and nonsolvent, the vessel and the dope contained therein being maintained at a temperature sufficient to stabilize and maintain the mixture after cooling from the mixing temperature;
• a dope transportation system, operatively connected to the at least one vessel and to a dope processing site, for transporting the dope from the vessel to the dope processing site;
• at least one pump, operatively connected to the at least one vessel, for moving the dope in the dope transportation system from the at least one vessel to the dope processing site;
• at least three thermal manipulation mechanisms, operatively connected to the at least one vessel, the dope transportation system and the dope processing site, for transforming the dope from the at least one vessel into any one of a plurality of different possible pore size producing dopes;
• and
• at least three dope application mechanisms, operatively connected to each of the three thermal manipulation mechanisms for application of the dope delivered to the dope processing site to form three-zone microporous membrane.

A system for manufacturing three-zone microporous membrane, the system comprising:

• at least one vessel for containing a ternary phase inversion polymer mother dope;
• a dope processing site;
• at least one pressure means, operatively connected to the at least one vessel, and the dope processing site for moving the dope from the at least one vessel to the dope processing site;
• a dope transportation system, operatively connected to the at least one vessel and the dope processing site, for transfer of the dope from the vessel to the dope processing site;
• at least one thermal manipulation means, operatively connected to the at least one vessel and the dope processing site, for transforming the dope from the at least one vessel into any one of a plurality of different possible pore size producing dopes;
• bypass means, operatively connected to the at least one thermal manipulation means, for diverting dope being transported from the at least one vessel to the dope processing site such that the dope is not processed by the at least one thermal manipulation means prior to delivery to the dope processing site;
• and
• at least three dope application means, operative at the dope processing site and operatively connected to the at least one thermal manipulation means, for applying the transformed dope at the dope processing site.

A system for manufacturing three-zone microporous membrane, the system comprising:

• at least one vessel for containing a ternary phase inversion polymer mother dope;
• a dope processing site;
• pressure means, operatively connected to the at least one vessel, for moving the dope from the at least one vessel to the dope processing site;
• a dope transportation system, operatively connected to the at least one vessel and the dope processing site, for transfer of dope from the vessel to the dope processing site;
• at least one thermal manipulation mechanism, operatively connected to the at least one vessel and the dope processing site, for transforming the dope into any one of a plurality of different possible pore size producing dopes;
• bypass means, operatively connected to the at least one thermal manipulation means, for diverting dope being transported from the at least one vessel to the dope processing site such that the dope is not processed by the at least one thermal manipulation means prior to delivery to the dope processing site;
• and
• at least three dope application mechanisms operative at the dope processing site and operatively connected to the at least one thermal manipulation mechanism, for applying the thermally manipulated dope at the dope processing site.