Patent ID: 6926829
Filing Date: 2005-08-09
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. Membrane contactor apparatus comprising a bundle of axially extending membrane tubes arranged for a first fluid to flow outside of said tubes and for a second fluid to flow axially inside said tubes from an axial end of the bundle to an opposite axial end thereof, such that one or more components of one of the fluids passes through walls of the membrane tubes into the other fluid, the apparatus further comprising inlet means disposed axially inwardly of one of said axial ends of the bundle for introducing said first fluid into the bundle, wherein the inlet means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced inlet openings in the periphery of the bundle and is arranged to permit flow of said first fluid laterally into the bundle substantially around its entire periphery, wherein the membrane tubes are arranged in a plurality of layers extending laterally across the bundle, and wherein each membrane layer is exposed to at least one of said inlet openings.