Patent ID: 6790350
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
An apparatus for the separation of fluid mixtures comprising:a tubular membrane having an inner lumen, and having a direction of a permeate flow from an outside surface to the inner lumen, said tubular membrane being surrounded by a larger diameter feed tube forming an annular gap between the outside surface of the tubular membrane and an inside surface of the feed tube, said annular gap providing a feed flow channel for the fluid mixture along the outer surface of the tubular membrane, said annular gap having a first end and a second end, each said first and said second end connected with means for entrance and discharge of the feed flow and with means to direct the feed flow through said channel, the inner lumen of the tubular membrane being sealed from the annular gap and provided with a connection for the discharge of the permeate flow, wherein at least two of said tubular membranes are arranged adjacent and in parallel to each other, each of said membranes being surrounded by a separate larger diameter feed tube, and the feed flow channel of one of said two membranes is in fluid communication with the feed flow channel of the other of said two membranes.