Patent ID: 8318022

Claim:
A method of treating a fluid stream comprising the steps of: providing at least one wafer-shaped hollow fiber module comprising: a cylindrical housing having an open end and a closed end; said closed end having a first sealing surface and an inlet port; at least one side port through said cylindrical housing; an end cap united to said open end; said end cap having a second sealing surface and an outlet port; a stack of membrane mats within said cylindrical housing comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membranes; a potting material bonding said membrane mats to each other and simultaneously bonding one end of said stack to said closed end of said cylindrical housing and bonding the other end of said stack to said end cap, thereby defining an internal chamber and at least one external chamber within said housing; and said inlet port and said outlet port being in communication with said internal chamber; installing said wafer-shaped hollow fiber module into a new or existing piping system between two standard bolted flange connections, wherein said two standard bolted flange connections being connected to each other by a plurality of bolts where said wafer-shaped hollow fiber module being positioned between said two standard bolted flange connections and in between said plurality of bolts; attaching a first fluid line to the side ports of said wafer-shaped hollow fiber module; attaching a second fluid line to said new or existing piping system where said second fluid line communicating with said internal chamber of said wafer-shaped hollow fiber module via a conduit connected said standard bolted flange connections; and moving a fluid stream through said wafer-shaped hollow fiber module thereby treating said fluid stream.