Patent ID: 7063788

Claim:
An apparatus for withdrawing permeate from a substrate, comprising a reservoir for containing the substrate at ambient pressure during permeation; a plurality of hollow fiber membranes immersed in the substrate; a solid body having a first face and a second face, the membranes sealingly secured therein, the membranes extending upwards from the first face of the solid body and having ends open to the second face of the solid body; a permeate collection system having a permeate collector in fluid communication with the second face of the solid body and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes, the permeate collector connected to a source of suction to withdraw permeate from the lumens of the membranes; and, an aeration system for discharging bubbles from within the plurality of membranes, the aeration system having a tube, the tube being oriented generally vertically and having a port for allowing air to exit from the tube, the port located above the first face of the solid body and within the plurality of membranes, wherein the tube is embedded in the solid body and the membranes are secured in the solid body around the tube and wherein the tube is connected to a source of pressurized gas in a manner that prevents the substrate from entering the aeration system other than through the port.