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US 8,079,574 B2Granted
Membrane based contactor module for mass and heat transfer
AssigneeZenPure Corporation
InventorZhenwu Lin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for the transfer of mass and heat including a membrane having a hydrophilic surface and an opposing hydrophobic surface. The construction prevents transmission or leakage of fluids from one side of the membrane to the other regardless of pressure gradients within the membrane bubble point or water intrusion pressure range, but allows the transfer of vaporized fluid from one side of the membrane to the other.
Claims19
An apparatus for mass and heat transfer comprising:
- a container defining a general chamber;
- a porous membrane secured in the general chamber, wherein the membrane has a first surface having a first thickness wherein the first surface is at least partially hydrophilic and a second surface having a second thickness wherein the second surface is at least partially hydrophobic, wherein the membrane is positioned in the container to separate the general chamber into a first chamber configured to receive a hydrophilic fluid or gas and a second chamber configured to receive a hydrophobic fluid or gas, wherein the first chamber is defined by portions of the container in combination with the first surface and wherein the second chamber is defined by different portions of the container in combination with the second surface;
- a first entry port connected to, and in fluid communication with, the first chamber;
- a first exit port connected to, and in fluid communication with, the first chamber;
- a second entry port connected to, and in fluid communication with, the second chamber;
- a second entry port connected to, and in fluid communication with, the second chamber;
- and,
- the membrane having pore sizes from about 0.01 microns to about 50 microns.
5 more elements
An apparatus for mass and heat transfer comprising:
- a container having a general chamber;
- a hydrophilic membrane positioned in the container;
- a hydrophobic membrane positioned in the container adjacent to the hydrophilic membrane, wherein the hydrophilic and hydrophobic membranes combine to separate the general chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber is defined by portions of the container in combination with the hydrophilic membrane and the second chamber is defined by different portions of the container in combination with the hydrophobic membrane, wherein the first chamber is configured to receive a hydrophilic fluid or gas and the second chamber is configured to receive a hydrophobic fluid or gas;
- a first entry port connected to, and in fluid communication with, the first chamber;
- a first exit port connected to, and in fluid communication with, the first chamber;
- a second entry port connected to, and in fluid communication with, the second chamber;
- a second entry port connected to, and in fluid communication with, the second chamber;
- and,
- the membrane having pore sizes from about 0.01 microns to about 50 microns.
6 more elements
An apparatus for air humidification or gas phase therapy formulation comprising:
- a container;
- a hydrophilic membrane positioned in the container;
- a hydrophobic membrane adjacent to the hydrophilic membrane, wherein the membranes are formed in a pleated configuration and, and wherein portions of the container and the hydrophilic membrane define a first chamber and different portions of the container and the hydrophobic membrane define a second chamber sealed from the first chamber;
- a first entry port connected to, and in fluid communication with, the first chamber;
- a first exit port connected to, and in fluid communication with, the first chamber;
- a second entry port connected to, and in fluid communication with, the second chamber;
- and,
- a second entry port connected to, and in fluid communication with, the second chamber.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.