Patent ID: 7758754
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A pervaporation process, comprising the following steps: (a) passing a feed solution to be treated through a series of multiple membrane modules, each membrane module having an outer longitudinal surface, a feed end and a residue end, the membrane modules being housed in a single tube having an inside and an outside surface, to separate the feed solution under pervaporation conditions into a residue stream and a permeate stream; and (b) achieving an inter-module reheating of the feed solution as it passes along the series by: (i) flowing the feed solution exiting the residue end of a membrane module in the series at least partially back toward the feed end of that membrane module in a reheating zone defined by the outer longitudinal surface of that membrane module and the inside surface of the tube before the feed solution is permitted to enter the feed end of the next membrane module in the series; and (ii) heating the outside surface of the tube.