Hollow fiber membrane contactor

A fluid-fluid phase contactor made from perfluorinated thermoplastic polymers for contacting a first fluid with a second fluid comprising;

• a) a bundle having a first end and a second end of a plurality of microporous perfluorinated thermoplastic hollow fiber membranes, said membranes having an inner surface and an outer surface,
• b) each end of said bundle potted with a liquid tight perfluorinated thermoplastic seal forming a unitary end structure with a surrounding perfluorinated thermoplastic housing wherein the fiber ends are open to fluid flow,
• c) said housing having an inner wall and an outer wall wherein the inner wall defines a fluid flow volume between the inner wall and the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes,
• d) said housing having a first fluid inlet to supply a first fluid to said first end of the bundle to be contacted with a second fluid and a first fluid outlet connection to remove said contacted first fluid from said second end,
• e) said housing having a second fluid inlet connection to supply a second fluid to be contacted with said first fluid to said volume formed between the inner wall of the housing and of the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes, and a second outlet connection to remove said contacted second fluid.

A method of making a fluid-fluid phase contactor substantially made from perfluorinated thermoplastic polymers for contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, comprising;

• a) forming a bundle of a plurality of perfluorinated thermoplastic hollow fiber membranes having a first end and a second end, said membranes having an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface comprising a lumen, said membranes selected from the group consisting of
• hollow fiber membranes having a porous skinned inner surface, a porous outer surface, and a porous support-structure between,
• hollow fiber membranes having a non-porous skinned inner surface, a porous outer surface, and a porous support structure between,
• hollow fiber membranes having a porous skinned outer surface, a porous inner surface, and a porous support structure between,
• and hollow fiber membranes having a non-porous skinned outer surface, a porous inner surface, and a porous support structure between,
• b) positioning said fiber bundle in a surrounding perfluorinated thermoplastic housing having an inner wall and an outer wall to form a fluid flow volume between the inner wall and the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes,
• c) potting each end of said bundle positioned in said housing with a liquid tight perfluorinated thermoplastic seal to form a unitary end structure with said surrounding perfluorinated thermoplastic housing,
• d) opening the fiber ends of both unitary end structures to provide fluid flow through the hollow fiber lumens,
• e) providing said housing with a first fluid inlet to supply a first fluid to said first end of the bundle to be contacted with a second fluid and a first fluid outlet connection to remove said contacted first fluid from said second end,
• f) providing said housing with a second fluid inlet connection to supply a second fluid to be contacted with said first fluid to said volume formed between the inner wall of the housing and the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes, and an second outlet connection to remove said contacted second fluid.

A method of making a fluid-fluid phase contactor made from perfluorinated thermoplastic polymers for contacting a first fluid with a second fluid, comprising;

• a) forming a bundle of a plurality of perfluorinated thermoplastic microporous hollow fiber membranes, said membranes having an inner surface and an outer surface, said bundle having a first and a second end and being in a substantially cylindrical form,
• b) positioning said fiber bundle in a surrounding perfluorinated thermoplastic housing having an inner wall and an outer wall to form a fluid flow volume between said inner wall and the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes,
• c) potting each end of said bundle positioned in said housing with a liquid tight perfluorinated thermoplastic seal to form a unitary end structure with said surrounding perfluorinated thermoplastic housing, opening the fiber ends of both unitary end structures to provide fluid flow through the hollow fiber lumens,
• d) providing said housing with a first fluid inlet to supply a first fluid to said first end of the bundle to be contacted with a second fluid and a first fluid outlet connection to remove said contacted first fluid from said second end,
• e) providing said housing with a second fluid inlet connection to supply a second fluid to be contacted with said first fluid to said volume formed between the inner wall of the housing and the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes, and a second outlet connection to remove said contacted second fluid.