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US 8,944,416 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.
Claims18
An apparatus for mass and heat transfer comprising:
- a container defining a general chamber;
- a plate and frame configuration secured in the general chamber and comprising a plurality of membrane layers wherein each membrane layer has a hydrophilic side and an opposing hydrophobic side, wherein each membrane layer is positioned relative to adjacent membrane layers so that membrane sides having substantially the same surface properties are adjacent to form hydrophilic channels and hydrophobic channels;
- at least one spacer positioned between each pair of adjacent membrane layers;
- a first inlet connected to, or integral with, the general container, wherein the first inlet is in fluid communication with the hydrophilic channels;
- a first outlet connected to, or integral with, the general container, wherein the first outlet is in fluid communication with the hydrophilic channels;
- a second inlet connected to, or integral with, the general container, wherein the second inlet is in fluid communication with the hydrophobic channels;
- and,
- a second outlet connected to, or integral with, the general container, wherein the second outlet is in fluid communication with the hydrophobic channels.
5 more elements
An apparatus for mass and heat transfer comprising:
- a container defining a general chamber;
- a plate and frame configuration secured in the general chamber and comprising a plurality of membrane layers wherein each membrane layer has a hydrophilic side and an opposing hydrophobic side, wherein each membrane layer is positioned relative to adjacent membrane layers so that membrane sides having substantially the same surface properties are adjacent to form hydrophilic channels and hydrophobic channels;
- and,
- at least one spacer positioned between each pair of adjacent membrane layers.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.