Patent ID: 7686868

Claim:
A module for separating a multi-component fluid comprising: a hollow shell having a hermetic enclosure; a plurality of separation assemblies in side by side relationship disposed in the shell; each separation assembly comprising a plurality of elongated membrane elements, at least a portion of each membrane element comprising a semipermeable surface to permit selective permeation of one or more components of the multi-component fluid into the membrane element; one end of the membrane elements in a separation assembly being attached to and hermetically sealed to an inlet manifold and the opposing end being attached to and hermetically sealed to an outlet manifold, at least one of the manifolds being unrestrained, thereby permitting axial movement of each membrane element in response to temperature changes; the shell having at least one inlet conduit for introducing the multi-component fluid into the shell for treatment at a first pressure and at least one exit conduit for passage of treated multi-component fluid out of the shell; at least one manifold from each separation assembly being in fluid communication with a manifold from one other separation assembly, the plurality of separation assemblies being in fluid communication with each other; at least one elbow conduit configured to provide the fluid communication between the at least one manifold and the manifold from one other separation assembly, wherein the elbow conduits are further configured to provide a spring-like overall structure sufficient to withstand strain due to thermal expansion; and at least one exit conduit for passage of permeate at a second pressure being lower than the first pressure from one of the manifolds out of the shell.