Patent ID: 6740140
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
A gas separation process comprising passing a feed gas containing components that are permeable through a hollow fiber membrane, and components that are not permeable through said hollow fiber membrane, through a gas separation assembly and recovering a non-permeate product gas, wherein said assembly comprises:(a) a casing having an inlet for said feed gas, an outlet for said non-permeate product gas and an outlet for said permeate gas; (b) a multiplicity of said hollow fiber membranes having permeate and non-permeate sides arranged longitudinally in said casing, the lumens of said hollow fiber membranes being in fluid communication with the permeate gas outlet and the nonpermeate product gas outlet, and the outside of said hollow fiber membranes being in fluid communication with said feed gas inlet, said hollow fibers being positioned in the casing extending from a first tubesheet near the product gas outlet to a second tubesheet at the opposite end of said casing; (c) an inner core member surrounded by said hollow fiber membranes and extending between and opening through said first and second tubesheets, said inner core member being in fluid communication with said feed gas inlet through the outside of said hollow fiber membranes, and being in fluid communication with the non-permeate product gas outlet through an opening in said first tubesheet and with said hollow fiber lumens through the opening in said second tubesheet; (d) a means for securing and sealing said tubesheets to said casing in fluid tight relationship; and (e) a fixed orifice positioned in said inner core member to allow a portion of said non-permeate product gas to pass to said permeate side of said hollow fiber membranes.