Patent ID: 7803274

Claim:
A contained liquid membrane contactor comprising: a perforated center tube; a baffle; a first membrane mat comprising a plurality of first hollow fiber membranes having a first lumen with a first end and a second end both being open; a second membrane mat comprising a plurality of second hollow fiber membranes each having a second lumen with a first end and a second end both being open; said first mat and said second mat being wrapped alternately around said center tube where said first end of said first hollow fiber membranes extending a first distance beyond said second end of said second hollow fiber membranes and said first end of said second hollow fiber membranes extending a second distance beyond said second end of said first hollow fiber membranes; a first tube sheet and a second tube sheet affixing said first and second membrane mats to said perforated center tube, said first end of said first hollow fiber membranes being open at said first tube sheet while said first end of said second hollow fiber membranes being open at said second tube sheet; a third tube sheet and a fourth tube sheet affixing said first and second membrane mats to said perforated center tube, said second end of said second hollow fiber membranes being between said first and third tube sheet, while said second end of said first hollow fiber membranes being between said second and fourth tube sheets; said first hollow fiber membranes being non-porous between said first and third tube sheets, and said second hollow fiber membranes being non-porous between said second and fourth tube sheets; said perforated center tube having a plurality of perforations between said third and fourth tube sheets; a shell surrounding said first and second mats and being sealed to all of said tube sheets; said shell having a first port between said first and fourth tube sheets communicating with said second end of said second hollow fiber membranes; said shell having a second port between said second and third tube sheets communicating with said second end of said first hollow fiber membranes; a first end cap having a third port communicating with said perforated center tube and a fourth port communicating with said first ends of said first hollow fiber membranes; said first tube sheet and said first end cap defining a first headspace; and a second end cap having a fifth port communicating with said perforated center tube and a sixth port communicating with said first ends of said second hollow fiber membranes; said second tube sheet and said second end cap defining a second headspace; at least one of said third port and said fifth port being pressurized.