Patent ID: 7638049

Claim:
A hollow fiber membrane contactor comprising: a cartridge; said cartridge comprising: a perforated center tube having a first end and a second end; a hollow fiber fabric comprising hollow fiber membranes, each said hollow fiber membrane having a lumen, said hollow fiber fabric surrounding said center tube; a first tube sheet and a second tube sheet affixing said fabric to said center tube at each of said center tube ends; a plug located at said first tube sheet; and said fiber lumens being open at said first tube sheet and said fiber lumens being closed at said second tube sheet; a shell having two ends and an opening, said shell being adapted to enclose said cartridge; said tube sheets being sealed to said shell; a first end cap having an opening therethrough; said first end cap being adjoined to said first end of said shell where said first end cap and said first tube sheet defining a first head space therebetween; said first end cap opening being in communication with said hollow fiber lumens via said first head space; a second end cap having an opening therethrough; said second end cap being adjoined to said second end of said shell where said second end cap and said second tube sheet defining a second head space therebetween; said second end cap opening being in communication with said center tube via said second head space; wherein fluid being introduced into said contactor via said second end cap opening, said fluid being distributed across said hollow fiber fabric, said fluid then exiting said contactor via said shell opening, and a vacuum being applied via said first end cap opening; wherein said shell, said first end cap, said second end cap, said center tube, said first tube sheet, said second tube sheet, and said plug are made from a same material.