Patent ID: 6153097
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A hollow fiber membrane fluid separation device comprising:(a) a first set of plurality of elongate hollow fiber membranes adapted for separation of one or more fluids from a fluid mixture, wherein said membranes are arranged in a first set of hollow fiber membranes having a first end and a second end, and further wherein said first set of hollow fiber membranes is adapted for boreside feed;(b) a first tubesheet having an inner face and an outer face and arranged at the first end of the first set of hollow fiber membranes, wherein said first set of hollow fiber membranes extend through said first tubesheet and are open at the outer face thereof;(c) a second tubesheet having an inner face and an outer face and arranged at the second end of the first set of hollow fiber membranes, wherein said first set of hollow fiber membranes extend through said second tubesheet and are open at the outer face thereof;(d) a second set of a plurality of elongate hollow fiber membranes adapted for separation of one or more fluids from a fluid mixture, wherein said membranes are arranged in a second set of hollow fiber membranes having a first end and a second end, and further wherein said second set of hollow fiber membranes is adapted for shellside feed;(e) a third tubesheet having an inner face and an outer face and arranged at the first end of the second set of hollow fiber membranes, wherein said second set of hollow fiber membranes extend through said third tubesheet and are open at the outer face thereof;(f) a fourth tubesheet having an inner face and an outer face and arranged at the second end of the second set of hollow fiber membranes, wherein said second set of hollow fiber membranes extend through said fourth tubesheet and are open at the outer face thereof;(g) a shell having first, second, third and fourth open ends, wherein the first set of fiber membranes, the first and second tubesheets, and the second set of hollow fiber membranes, the third and fourth tubesheets are encased within said shell, and the first set of hollow fiber membranes and the second set of hollow fiber membranes are arranged in spaced-apart relation to each other within the shell;(h) a first sealing endcap which is attached to the first open end of the shell, wherein a first feed inlet region is established between said first endcap and the outer face of the first tubesheet;(i) a first feed inlet for introducing into the first feed inlet region a fluid mixture to be separated into the bores of the first set of hollow fiber membranes;(j) a second sealing endcap which is attached to the second open end of the shell, wherein a first non-permeate outlet region is established between said second endcap and the outer face of the second tubesheet;(k) a first retentate outlet for removing from the non-permeate outlet region fluid from the mixture which does not permeate from the first set of hollow fiber membranes;(l) a third sealing endcap which is attached to the third open end of the shell, wherein a second permeate outlet region is established between said third endcap and the outer face of the third tubesheet;(m) a second permeate outlet for removing from the second permeate outlet region fluid from the mixture which permeates from the boreside of the second set of hollow membranes;(n) a fourth sealing endcap which is attached to the fourth open end of the shell, wherein a third permeate outlet region established between said fourth endcap and the outer face of the fourth tubesheet;(o) a third permeate outlet for removing from the third permeate outlet region fluid from the mixture which permeates from the boreside of the second set of hollow fiber membranes;(p) first and second sealing mechanism which respectively seal the first and second tubesheets against the shell, thereby defining first permeate outlet region between said shell and the outside of said first set of hollow fiber membranes, wherein said region comprises a second feed inlet region for introducing fluid from the mixture which permeates from the first set of hollow fiber membranes into the shellside of said second set of hollow fiber membranes; and(q) a fourth permeate outlet for removing from the first permeate outlet region fluid from the mixture which permeates from the shellside of the set of hollow fiber membranes.