Patent ID: 8974668
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: B01D,C02F,Y02E,Y02W,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A membrane element consisting of: a hollow fiber stack (HF stack) comprising a plurality of substantially equally spaced hollow fibers (HFs) comprising multiple alternate rows of HFs comprising first ends extending through and beyond one contact structure comprising solid thermoset material and opposed ends extending through and beyond an opposed contact structure comprising solid thermoset material, each HF consisting of a hydrophilic semipermeable membrane defining an elongated lumen, each HF comprising a portion that extends from the one contact structure to the opposed contact structure, wherein the HFs in alternate rows are aligned with the spaces in adjacent rows, forming a hexagonal pattern comprising repeating adjacent and/overlapping hexagons, wherein each hexagon comprises a central hollow fiber (central HF) surrounded by six immediately adjacent HFs defining a hexagonal perimeter comprising six sides, the six immediately adjacent HFs being substantially equally spaced from one another and substantially equally spaced from the central hollow fiber, wherein the spacing is adapted to maintain a Reynolds' number of about 3000 or more, and wherein the hydrophilic semipermeable membrane is adapted to achieve salt rejection of 98.5% or more and exhibits a surface tension of 35 dynes/cm or more; the membrane element being adapted to be mounted in a separate frame comprising a header comprising a first fluid conduit therethrough into which the first ends empty and an opposed header comprising an opposed conduit into which the opposed ends empty, the membrane element mounted in the frame being adapted to be submersed in a first fluid comprising a feed flowing crosswise through the HF stack substantially perpendicular to the portion of the HFs and for induced symbiotic osmosis between lumens of the plurality of substantially equally spaced HFs and the first fluid, the membrane element having sufficient mechanical integrity when mounted in the frame and submersed in the first fluid to sustain turbulence flow at the Reynolds' Number of about 3,000 or more and to maintain said mechanical integrity at feed pumping pressures of 30 bars or higher.