Patent ID: 7537701
Filing Date: 2009-05-26
Classification: B01D,C02F,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A process for maintaining a desired length of membranes relative to a displacement between the first and second solid bodies of an apparatus comprising a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes; a first solid body and a second solid body, the first and second solid bodies having a displacement between them and the first and second solid bodies having respective opposite ends of the membranes sealingly secured therein, the insides of the membranes are open to permeate collection means connected to the solid bodies; and, a spacer connected to the solid bodies for fixing the displacement between the first and second solid bodies, wherein the displacement between the solid bodies may be selectively fixed in either of at least a first displacement setting and a second displacement setting, the first displacement setting providing a membrane length in excess of the first displacement setting within a desired range with membranes that have not been placed in service, and the second displacement setting providing a length in excess of the second displacement setting within the desired range after the length of the membranes has changed in service; and wherein the desired range is a range of between of between 0.1% and 5% greater than the displacement between the solid bodies; the process comprising: spacing the first and second solid bodies at the first displacement setting; and after the apparatus has been in service and the length of the membranes has changed, changing the displacement between the first and second solid bodies to the second displacement setting.