Sheet membrane device

Abstract

In one embodiment, the sheet membrane apparatus includes a first sheet membrane and a second sheet membrane, which are in contact with a first fluid. The sheet membrane apparatus has an interior between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane for receiving the second fluid. The first and second sheet membranes are configured to allow mass transfer between the first fluid and the second fluid through the first and second sheet membranes. The sheet membrane apparatus includes a sealing member between the first and second sheet membranes and a clamp configured to compress the first and second sheet membranes together to engage them with the sealing member.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , ,

[0005]

[0001] (Cross - reference to related applications)

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 464,445, filed May 5, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002]

[0002] The present disclosure relates to heat exchangers and / or mass exchangers, and more particularly to heat exchangers and / or mass exchangers having sheet membranes.

Background Art

[0003]

[0003] Heat exchangers have a wide variety of configurations and are used in a wide variety of industries. Some heat exchangers include membranes to facilitate heat transfer. One example is a sheet membrane heat exchanger having a pair of membrane sheets arranged in a pair. The pair of sheet membranes has inner surfaces spaced apart to receive a first fluid such as water therebetween. The pair of sheet membranes has outer surfaces over which a second fluid such as air is induced. Heat and / or mass moves through the sheet membranes between the first fluid and the second fluid.

[0004]

[0004] Sheet membranes are used, for example, for heat transfer, desiccant dehumidification, alcohol dehydration, and filtration. Some of these sheet membranes include rigid porous membranes, which may not be suitable for some applications. Other sheet membranes have a low burst pressure and are prone to leakage. These drawbacks of existing membrane systems have limited the use of sheet membranes in some fields.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] <0000

[0005] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a sheet membrane apparatus is provided, comprising a first sheet membrane and a second sheet membrane in contact with a first fluid, and an interior between the first and second sheet membranes for receiving the second fluid. The first and second sheet membranes are configured to allow mass transfer between the first and second fluids through the first and second sheet membranes. The sheet membrane apparatus further comprises a sealing member between the first and second sheet membranes, and a clamp configured to compress the first and second sheet membranes together to engage the first and second sheet membranes with the sealing member. The first and second sheet membranes may be slippery and flexible, and the clamp engages the sealing member with the first and second sheet membranes to form a seal between the first and second sheet membranes and the sealing member. Furthermore, the second fluid in the interior may be pressurized, such as more than 10 psi, and the clamp prevents the pressurized second fluid from seeping between the sheet membranes and the sealing member.

[0006]

[0006] The disclosure also provides a sheet membrane system comprising an airflow generator such as a fan, an inlet header, an outlet header, and a plurality of sheet membrane cassettes configured to receive fluid from the inlet header and direct the fluid toward the outlet header. Each sheet membrane cassette comprises a first sheet membrane and a second sheet membrane, which are in contact with air moved by the airflow generator. Each sheet membrane cassette has an interior defined at least partially by the first and second sheet membranes for receiving fluid, and a sealing member located between the first and second sheet membranes and engaged with them. Furthermore, the sheet membrane cassette has supports on both sides of the first and second sheet membranes, the supports holding the first and second sheet membranes engaged with the sealing member. When the sheet membranes are in contact with the fluid inside the sheet membrane cassette, they may stretch, expand, or otherwise change shape. The support can reliably maintain the sheet membrane engaged with the sealing member, even when the sheet membrane changes shape as it is wetted by the fluid inside the sheet membrane cassette.

[0007]

[0007] The Disclosure also provides a method for assembling a sheet membrane cassette. This method includes positioning a sealing member between a first sheet membrane and a second sheet membrane, the sealing member and the first and second sheet membranes forming at least a portion of the interior of the sheet membrane cassette. This method includes providing a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for the sheet membrane cassette. Furthermore, this method includes clamping the sealing member between the first and second sheet membranes to engage the sealing member with the first and second membranes, thereby forming a fluid-resistant connection between them. This method facilitates the assembly of a sheet membrane cassette having a fluid-resistant connection between sheet membranes that may be slippery and / or fragile and difficult to secure together using conventional approaches. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1]

[0008] This is a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger system having multiple sheet membrane cassette assemblies. [Figure 2A]

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sheet membrane cassette assembly, including the membrane cassette. [Figure 2B]

[0010] Figure 2A is a front view of the sheet membrane cassette assembly. [Figure 2C]

[0011] Figure 2A is a side view of the sheet membrane cassette assembly. [Figure 3]

[0012] Figure 2A is a partially exploded perspective view of the sheet membrane cassette assembly. [Figure 4A]

[0013] Figure 2A is a perspective view of one of the sheet membrane cassettes in the sheet membrane cassette assembly. [Figure 4B]

[0014] Figure 4A is an exploded view of the sheet membrane cassette. [Figure 5]

[0015] This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the sheet film cassette in Figure 4A, along line 5-5 in Figure 4A. [Figure 6]

[0016] Figure 4A is a perspective view of the outer frame of the sheet membrane cassette. [Figure 7]

[0017] Figure 4A is a perspective view of the inlet and outlet ports that communicate with the interior, formed between the sheet membranes of the membrane cassette. [Figure 8A]

[0018] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of a sheet film cassette according to another embodiment, including a central frame. [Figure 8B]

[0019] This is a schematic elevation view of the central frame of Figure 8A, including the inlet and outlet ports. [Figure 9A]

[0020] This is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a sheet membrane cassette according to another embodiment, which includes one or more spacers between the sheet membranes of the membrane cassette. [Figure 9B]

[0021] This is a schematic front cross-sectional view of the spacer shown in Figure 9A according to one embodiment. [Figure 10A]

[0022] This is a schematic side view of the sheet membranes of adjacent sheet membrane cassettes, with increased spacing between sheet membrane cassettes to limit contact between the sheet membranes of adjacent sheet membrane cassettes. [Figure 10B]

[0023] This is a schematic side view of the sheet membranes of adjacent sheet membrane cassettes, which have an alternating bulge arrangement that facilitates positioning the sheet membrane cassettes closer to each other. [Figure 10C]

[0024] This is a schematic side view of the sheet membranes of adjacent sheet membrane cassettes, where the density of the support along the frame of the sheet membrane cassette has been increased to limit contact between the sheet membranes of adjacent sheet membrane cassettes. [Figure 10D]

[0025] This is a schematic side view of the sheet membranes of adjacent sheet membrane cassettes, which have a more rigid membrane material to limit contact between the sheet membranes of adjacent sheet membrane cassettes. [Figure 11A]

[0026] This is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the periphery of a sheet membrane cassette according to another embodiment, which includes baffle plates between the sheet membranes of the sheet membrane cassette. [Figure 11B]

[0027] It is a perspective view of the baffle plate of FIG. 11A. [Figure 11C]

[0028] It is a side view of the baffle plate of FIG. 11A.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009]

[0029] In one aspect, a sheet film cassette assembly is provided that includes a plurality of sheet film cassettes and a passage between the sheet film cassettes. The sheet film cassette receives a first fluid, and the passage receives a second fluid. Each sheet film cassette has a sheet film with an interior for receiving the first fluid therebetween. The sheet film is configured to facilitate mass transfer and / or heat transfer between the first fluid and the second fluid. Further, each sheet film cassette includes a seal layer extending around the first and second sheet films. Each sheet film cassette further includes first and second frame members that engage the seal layer around the first and second sheet films. The engaged seal layer and sheet film form a fluid-tight seal between the sheet films. The sheet film device may include a fixing layer that provides a secure connection between the first sheet film and the first frame member and between the second sheet film and the second frame member. In one embodiment, the seal layer includes a first seal layer intermediate the first frame member and one of the sheet films and a second seal layer intermediate the second frame member and the other sheet film. The sheet film cassette assembly can be configured for use in various fields such as heat transfer, liquid desiccant dehumidification, carbon recovery, membrane vacuum dehumidification, and pervaporation (e.g., alcohol dehydration or distillation).

[0010]

[0030] With respect to Figure 1, a heat exchanger system 100 is provided, which includes a first heat exchanger 102 and a second heat exchanger 108. Heat exchanger 102 may include one or more sheet membrane cassette assemblies 104. Each sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 comprises multiple heat exchanger cassettes, such as sheet membrane cassette 106 (see Figure 2A). Heat exchanger 108 receives heat, such as heat from an industrial process or building cooling, and transfers that heat to a working fluid, such as water or a water / glycol mixture, in the heat exchanger system 100. The fluid may include liquids and gases, and the proportions thereof may vary as the working fluid moves through the heat exchanger system 100. The heat exchanger system 100 includes one or more pumps, such as pump 110, which are capable of pumping the fluid from heat exchanger 108 to heat exchanger 102 and from heat exchanger 102 to heat exchanger 108. The fluid is pumped from heat exchanger 108 to the inlet header 111 of heat exchanger 102, and then through the membrane cassette 106 to the outlet header 115 of heat exchanger 102. Heat exchanger 102 includes an airflow generator, such as one or more fan assemblies 116, which are capable of drawing air through the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 to remove heat from the fluid flowing through the membrane cassette 106, as will be described in more detail below. The cooled fluid is pumped by a pump 110 from the outlet header 115 of the membrane cassette 106 back to heat exchanger 108. The heat exchanger system 100 may further include a fluid supply unit 113 to add fluid, such as a liquid, gas, or liquid / gas mixture, to the system 100 to compensate for fluid seeping out of the membrane cassette 106, as will be described below.

[0011]

[0031] The sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 may be located in the outer structure of the heat exchanger 102 or within the housing 107. The heat exchanger 102 may include multiple sheet membrane cassette assemblies 104 to provide the desired cooling capacity of the heat exchanger 102. As shown in Figure 1, the sheet membrane cassette assemblies 104 may be stacked on top of each other. Two sheet membrane cassette assemblies 104 are shown in one stack, but in other embodiments, three or more sheet membrane cassette assemblies 104 may be stacked on top of each other. The heat exchanger 102 includes two or more stacks of sheet membrane cassette assemblies 104 separated by an air passage 124. The fan assembly 116 may include a motor 116A connected to a fan 116B. Motor 116A may operate to rotate fan 116B, moving air into housing 107 via inlet 117, generally along path 126, through sheet membrane cassette assembly 104, upward through air passage 124, and out of heat exchanger 102 via outlet 119. The movement of air through sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 removes heat from the fluid within sheet membrane cassette assembly 104.

[0012]

[0032] Figures 2A to 3 show one of the sheet membrane cassette assemblies 104. The sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 includes multiple sheet membrane devices, such as membrane cassettes 106. The membrane cassettes 106 may be arranged adjacent to each other and connected to form an array of membrane cassettes 106. For example, a connector rod 118 (see Figure 3) extends through a mounting opening 120 of the membrane cassette 106 to connect the stacked membrane cassettes 106 to each other. Each connector rod 118 may include a threaded end 121 to which a nut 122 (see Figure 2A) can be screwed to secure the membrane cassettes 106 to each other.

[0013]

[0033] The sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 includes a plurality of air passages 128 (see Figure 2C) between the membrane cassettes 106. The fan assembly 116 operates to cool the fluid flowing through the membrane cassettes 106 by moving air through the air passages 128 and along the sheet membranes 140, 142 of the membrane cassettes 106, as described below.

[0014]

[0034] The sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 includes an air inlet frame 132 and an air outlet frame 134. The air inlet frame 132 has a sleeve portion 136 for directing air toward the stacked membrane cassettes 106. The air inlet frame 132 has a flange 136A with one or more openings for receiving fasteners for mounting the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 within the first heat exchanger 102. The air inlet frame 132 has an air inlet opening 136B through which air flows before entering the air passage 128 between the membrane cassettes 106.

[0015]

[0035] The air outlet frame 134 is similar to the air inlet frame 132 and includes a sleeve portion 138, a flange 138A, and an air outlet opening 138B. The sleeve portion 138 collects the air flowing out of the air passage 128 and guides the collected air toward the air passage 124. In this way, the airflow is guided into the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 in direction 131 and out of the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 in direction 133. The air inlet frame 132 and the air outlet frame 134 can be connected to the stacked membrane cassette 106 by, for example, a bracket 123 and fasteners. In one embodiment, the sheet membrane cassette assemblies 104 are arranged in series such that air exits the air outlet opening 138B of the first sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 and enters the air inlet opening 136B of the second sheet membrane cassette assembly 104.

[0016]

[0036] In Figures 4A to 4B, one of the membrane cassettes 106 is shown in detail. The membrane cassette 106 includes two sheet membranes 140, 142 connected to each other to form a compartment or interior 141 (see Figure 5) of the membrane cassette 106 for receiving the fluid of the heat exchanger system 100. The fluid can flow into the interior 141 formed between the sheet membranes 140, 142 via an inlet 112 and out of the interior 141 via an outlet 114. The fluid supplied to the inlet 112 may be pressurized in the range of approximately 10 psi to approximately 25 psi, and so the pressure inside the interior 141 is greater than the pressure outside the sheet membranes 140, 142.

[0017]

[0037] In another embodiment, the fluid supplied to the inlet 112 is under vacuum, and therefore the pressure inside the interior 141 is less than the pressure outside the sheet membranes 140, 142. In embodiments where the interior 141 is under vacuum, the sheet membrane cassette 106 may include a support inside the interior 141 that prevents the sheet membranes 140, 142 from bulging inward and coming into contact with each other. The support inside the interior 141 may be similar to the membrane support 170 described below with respect to Figure 6.

[0018]

[0038] In one embodiment, the sheet films 140 and 142 are high-density films, such as the Ionix Rex II film manufactured by Fortescue Future Industries. A high-density sheet film can be described as a sheet film that does not contain pores larger than 2 nm in diameter. Sheet films, including high-density sheet films, can be brittle and slippery. From the standpoint of human handling, these sheet films have brittleness and slipperiness similar to wet noodles. The brittleness of these sheet films is due to several factors that act together to allow the sheet film to bulge and / or deform. These factors include the Young's modulus of the film material, the flexural modulus of the film material, and the second moment of area of ​​the film cross-section. The second moment of area is largely determined by the thickness of the sheet film. The slipperiness of the sheet film is caused by the low coefficient of friction between the sheet film and many materials such as ABS plastics and galvanized steel.

[0019]

[0039] With respect to Figure 4B, the inlet 112 includes a pipe 112A extending into the interior 141 through which fluid can flow into the interior 141. The pipe 112A has an end 112B which can be connected to the inlet header 111 or to a conduit for carrying fluid from another part of the heat exchanger system 100 (e.g., the inlet header 111). For example, the end 112B of the pipe 112A may have a barbed fitting for attachment to the pipe. The outlet 114 includes a pipe 114A extending into the interior 141 of the sheet membrane 140, 142 through which fluid can flow out from the interior 141. The pipe 114A has an end 114B which can be connected to the outlet header 115 or to a conduit for carrying fluid to another part of the heat exchanger system 100 (e.g., the outlet header 115). For example, the end 114B of the pipe 114A may have a barbed fitting for attachment to the pipe. In some embodiments, the membrane cassette 106 may include a plurality of inlets 112 and / or a plurality of outlets 114. The plurality of inlets 112 and / or outlets 114 can be used to distribute the fluid flowing through the interior 141, ensuring, for example, that a large portion of the surface area of ​​the membranes 140, 142 is used for heat exchange.

[0020]

[0040] Referring to Figure 5, the sheet films 140, 142 facilitate heat transfer and / or mass transfer between a first fluid flowing through the interior 141 between the inner surfaces 143A, 145A of the sheet films 140, 142 and a second fluid flowing along the outer surfaces 143B, 145B of the sheet films 140, 142. The sheet films 140, 142 enable selective mass transfer through the sheet films 140, 142. In one embodiment, the sheet films 140, 142 are gas permeable and liquid impermeable. For example, the sheet films 140, 142 may be water vapor permeable and liquid water impermeable. Each of the sheet films 140, 142 may have two or more layers, such as a backing or substrate layer and a selective layer. The substrate layer may contain foam and / or nonwoven fibers and may have pores having dimensions from 10 micrometers to 50 micrometers. The substrate layer facilitates handling of the sheet films 140 and 142 during manufacturing and also strengthens the sheet films 140 and 142. The selective layer does not need to have holes or pores at a microscopic level in order to limit the permeability of the sheet films 140 and 142 to specific fluids and / or molecules. The selective layer can be made from one or more materials such as polyetherblock amines (PEBA), two-dimensional nanomaterials such as graphene oxide, siloxane polymers, zeolites, aromatic polyamides, polysulfones, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), sulfonated PTFE, ethylcellulose, polyethylene oxide / polybutylene terephthalate (PEO-PBT), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), sulfonated polyetheretherketone (SPEEK), sulfonated poly(ethersulfone) (SPES), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and polyethersulfone (PES).

[0021]

[0041] The membrane cassette 106 receives a fluid, such as a fluid containing a mixture of liquid and gas heated by the heat exchanger 108. For example, the fluid entering the interior 141 may be a mixture of water and gaseous water vapor. The sheet membranes 140 and 142 allow water, such as water vapor heated by the heat exchanger 108, to permeate the sheet membranes 140 and 142 and evaporate into the air induced over the entire outer surfaces 143B and 145B of the sheet membranes 140 and 142. The liquid in the interior 141 between the sheet membranes 140 and 142 is thereby cooled by indirect cooling from the airflow over the outer surfaces of the sheet membranes 140 and 142 and by the release of higher-energy water vapor through the sheet membranes 140 and 142. The evaporation of water through the sheet membranes 140 and 142 can increase the chemical concentration of the fluid in the heat exchanger system 100 and / or the density of solids in the fluid; therefore, the fluid supply unit 113 may be used to add fluid to the system 100 to maintain the desired chemical composition of the fluid. For example, if the fluid is propylene glycol brine, the evaporation of water through the sheet membrane increases the concentration of the fluid; therefore, water may be added using the fluid supply unit 113 to maintain the desired concentration. Chemicals may be added to the fluid in the heat exchanger system 100 by the fluid supply unit 113 to treat the fluid. For example, a scale inhibitor may be added to the fluid to prevent deposits within the heat exchanger system 100.

[0022]

[0042] Referring to Figure 5, the sheet membranes 140 and 142 can be connected to each other by a sealing member such as a sealing layer 144 to form an interior 141. The sealing layer 144 is positioned around the sheet membranes 140 and 142 to connect them to each other around the sheet membranes 140 and 142. The sealing layer 144 may also be an adhesive, which joins the sheet membranes 140 and 142 to each other and forms a fluid-seal seal between the sheet membranes 140 and 142 to prevent fluid from passing between them. As described below, the sealing layer 144 is tightly sandwiched between the sheet membranes 140 and 142 during the assembly of the cassette 106. Thus, the sealing layer 144 is fixed to the sheet membranes 140 and 142 by both adhesion of the sealing layer 144 to the sheet membranes 140 and 142 and mechanical pressure that sandwiches the sealing layer 144 between the sheet membranes 140 and 142.

[0023]

[0043] In one embodiment, the seal layer 144 contains butyl, such as a butyl tape or butyl extruded product. The butyl tape or butyl extruded product may contain one or more materials, such as isobutylene-isoprene copolymer (IIR) and isobutylene tripolymer. Butyl has high surface tackiness, is highly elastic, and will not harden or melt at temperatures to which the seal layer 144 is expected to be exposed (e.g., -60°F to 180°F). For example, the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 may be exposed to non-operating ambient temperatures in the range of about -40°F to 176°F. The operating ambient temperature of the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 may be in the range of about -20°F to 140°F, and may sometimes rise even to 150°F. The operating water temperature of the water flowing through the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 may be in the range of about 36°F to 130°F.

[0024]

[0044] Butyl also has low permeability to gases, water vapor, and moisture. The high surface tackiness of the seal layer 144 ensures that the seal layer 144 remains fixed to the sheet membranes 140, 142, which often have smooth, non-stick inner surfaces 143A, 145A. The high elasticity of the seal layer 144 is advantageous because it allows the seal layer 144 to remain fixed to the sheet membranes 140, 142 as they expand, and also allows the seal layer 144 to be flexible over time to avoid cracking and leakage. It is advantageous for the seal layer 144 to remain soft or flexible at low operating temperatures because the heat exchanger 102 may be exposed to a wide range of temperatures, such as -60°F to 180°F, during storage, operation, and / or standby (e.g., during winter), while fixed to the sheet membranes 140, 142 and forming a fluid-sealed seal between them. The seal layer 144, which has low permeability to gases, water vapor, and moisture, ensures that the fluid seal is maintained and prevents gas or fluid from leaking from the interior 141 through the seal layer 144.

[0025]

[0045] In one embodiment, the sealing layer 144 is butyl, and the butyl can be heated and then extruded when it is applied to the sheet films 140 and 142 before the sheet films 140 and 142 are joined together. In another embodiment, the sealing layer 144 is a butyl tape positioned between the sheet films 140 and 142.

[0026]

[0046] The seal layer 144 may contain one or more materials to limit the extent to which the seal layer 144 can be compressed when the sheet membranes 140 and 142 are pressed together with the seal layer 144 in between. For example, the seal layer 144 may include one or more shims, such as plastic or rubber members, that are included in the seal layer 144 or embedded in the binder material of the seal layer 144. The shims limit the compression of the binder material and prevent it from being squeezed out between the sheet membranes 140 and 142. The shims may be, for example, beads or strips of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) that extend the length of the seal layer 144. For example, the seal layer 144 may include one or more shim strips that form one or more O-rings. The O-rings of the seal layer 144 are compressed between the sheet membranes 140 and 142 to resist fluid leakage from the interior 141.

[0027]

[0047] The shim strip engages with the sheet films 140 and 142 to provide a stopper that resists the movement of the sealing layer 144 relative to the sheet films 140 and 142. Furthermore, the shim material in butyl provides a solid object against which the sheet films 140 and 142 press, which facilitates a uniform seal between the sheet films 140 and 142 and the sealing layer 144.

[0028]

[0048] Other materials that are highly tacky, fluid-resistant, and can withstand operating temperatures may also be used for the seal layer 144. For example, the seal layer 144 may include EPDM, EPDM rubber, ethylene propylene copolymer (EPM), EPM rubber, IIR, and / or isobutylene tripolymer. Suitable materials for the seal layer 144 may include one or more rubber polymers and / or thermoplastic materials. Some seal layers 144 may include, for example, a tackifier (e.g., rosin), a pigment (e.g., carbon black), a filler (e.g., calcium carbonate), and / or a vulcanizing agent (e.g., sulfur). Exemplary seal layers 144 may include silicone sealants, urethane sealants, and hot melts.

[0029]

[0049] With respect to Figure 7, the inlet pipe 112A and outlet pipe 114A may be embedded in the seal layer 144 between the sheet membranes 140 and 142 in order to fix the inlet pipe 112A and outlet pipe 114A to the sheet membranes 140 and 142 and to form a fluid-sealing seal around the pipes 112A and 114A.

[0030]

[0050] Referring to Figures 4B and 45, the membrane cassette 106 includes clamps such as a support frame 146, which compress the sheet membranes 140 and 142 together around the sealing layer 144, thereby firmly engaging the sheet membranes 140 and 142 with the sealing layer 144. The support frame 146 supports the sheet membranes 140 and 142 so that they do not twist, fold, or otherwise collapse, for example. The support frame 146 is formed from two or more parts joined together, such as a first support and a second support. Examples of the first and second supports are first and second frame members 148 and 150, as shown in Figure 4B. The membrane cassette 106 further includes one or more fixing members, such as a fixing layer 156 between the first frame member 148 and the sheet membrane 140, and a fixing layer 158 between the second frame member 150 and the sheet membrane 142. The fixing layers 156 and 158 may be similar to the embodiments of the seal layer 144 described above. For example, in some embodiments, the fixing layers 156 and 158 are made of the same material as the seal layer 144. In other embodiments, the fixing layers 156 and 158 are made of a different material than the seal layer 144. The fixing layers 156 and 158 are positioned between the frame members 148 and 150 and the sheet membranes 140 and 142 to help fix the periphery of the sheet membranes 140 and 142 to the frame members 148 and 150. When the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 is assembled, the first and second frame members 148 and 150 are clamped together, which compresses the seal layer 144 between the sheet membranes 140 and 142, the fixing layer 156 between the frame member 148 and the sheet membrane 140, and the fixing layer 158 between the sheet membrane 142 and the frame member 150. Tightly clamping the first and second frame members 148, 150, the sealing layer 144, the fixing layers 156, 158, and the sheet membranes 140, 142 together secures the sheet membranes 140, 142 inside the cassette 106 and seals the sheet membranes 140, 142 around them.

[0031]

[0051] The frame members 148 and 150 may be similar to each other, and therefore the following description of the first frame member 148 also applies to the second frame member 150. Referring to Figure 6, the first frame member 148 includes an outer frame portion 152 extending around a window or through-opening 154 of the first frame member 148. In Figure 6, the first frame member 148 has 16 through-openings 154. The support frame 146 supports the sheet membranes 140 and 142 such that their central portions extend across and / or cover the through-openings 154 of the frame member 148.

[0032]

[0052] Referring to Figure 6, the first frame member 148 has a pocket 160 partially formed by a raised portion such as a flange 162 and a concave surface 164. The concave surface 164 extends around a through-opening 154 of the first frame member 148 and is sized to abut the fixed layer 156. The second frame member 150 similarly includes a flange 162 and a concave surface 164. When the first frame member 148 and the second frame member 150 are connected to each other, the flanges 162 contact each other and provide a stopper to restrict the movement of the first and second frame members 148, 150 together when the membrane cassette 106 is stacked in the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104. Restricting the movement of the first and second frame members 148, 150 toward each other limits the compression of the seal layer 144 and the fixed layers 156, 158, ensuring that the seal layer and the fixed layers are not overcompressed. For example, excessive compression of the seal layer 144 between the sheet membranes 140 and 142 can force a portion of the seal layer 144 out of between the sheet membranes 140 and 142, weakening the seal between the sheet membranes. To avoid excessive compression of the seal layer 144 and the fixed layers 156 and 158, the seal layer and the fixed layers can be compressed to about 40% to about 70%, for example, 50%, of their original uncompressed thickness. In a specific example, referring to Figure 5, when the flanges 162 (see Figure 6) of the first and second frame members 148 and 150 are in contact with each other, the distance 161 between the opposing concave surfaces 164 of the first and second frame members 148 and 150 is about 0.25 inches. When uncompressed, the thicknesses 163, 165, and 167 of the seal layer 144 and the fixed layers 156 and 158, respectively, may be about 0.125 inches. Each uncompressed seal layer and fixed layer may have one or more shim members, each having a thickness of about 0.0625 inches. When compressed by the first and second frame members 148, 150 as shown in Figure 5, the seal layer 144 and fixed layers 156, 158 can be compressed to a thickness of about 0.0825 inches, or about 66% of their original thickness, 163, 165, 167, respectively.

[0033]

[0053] The connector rods 118, extending through the mounting openings 120 of the frame members 148 and 150 of the membrane cassette 106, resist relative movement of the frame members 148 and 150, keeping them aligned with one another. Referring to Figure 3, the connector rods 118 extend through the mounting openings 120 of the membrane cassette 106 and are sized to secure the membrane cassettes 106 to each other in the stacked or adjacent arrangement shown in Figure 2C. Each connector rod 118 has an enlarged head 118A and a shaft portion hanging therefrom, which has a threaded end 121. The membrane cassette 106 is captured along the connector rods 118 between the head portion 118A of the connector rods 118 and a nut 122 that engages with the threaded end 121. The sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 may include bolts, screws, washers, engagements, and / or retainers, as desired in a particular embodiment, to keep the membrane cassettes 106 assembled and in adjacent positions.

[0034]

[0054] During the assembly of the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104, the nut 122 is tightened, thereby clamping the membrane cassette 106 between the head portion 118A of the connector rod 118 and the nut 122 (and any washers that may be used). By tightening the nut 122, the frame members 148, 150 of each membrane cassette 106 are compressed together, compressing the assembly of the sheet membranes 140, 142, the sealing layer 144, and the fixing layers 156, 158 of the membrane cassette 106.

[0035]

[0055] Referring to Figure 4A, each of the first and second frame members 148, 150 includes one or more membrane supports 170. The membrane supports 170 are positioned to contact the membranes 140, 142 and restrict the sheet membranes 140, 142 from expanding or bulging outward through the openings 154 of the first and second frame members 148, 150 when the interior 141 is filled with fluid. Because the membrane supports 170 restrict the outward expansion of the sheet membranes 140, 142, the membrane supports 170 keep the air passages 128 open and maintain the efficiency of the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104. Furthermore, the membrane supports 170 restrict deformation of the sheet membranes 140, 142, which improves the durability of the sheet membranes 140, 142.

[0036]

[0056] For example, membranes 140 and 142 may be formed of a material that expands when wetted by a fluid, for example, when the fluid flows through the interior 141 of the membrane cassette 106. The pressure of the fluid inside 141 may also cause membranes 140 and 142 to bulge outward relative to the membrane support 170 or to expand. The membrane support 170 prevents the sheet membranes 140 and 142 from bulging outward and coming into contact with the sheet membranes 140 and 142 of adjacent membrane cassettes 106. Contact between the sheet membranes 140 and 142 of adjacent membrane cassettes 106 may be undesirable because it reduces the surface area of ​​the sheet membranes 140 and 142 of the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 that are exposed to the airflow through the air passage 128 and restricts the airflow through the air passage 128.

[0037]

[0057] The membrane support 170 may include columns 172 connected to the outer frame portion 152, which intersect and extend around the through-opening 154. The intersecting columns 172 form a grid of rigid members to resist excessive deformation of the sheet membranes 140, 142 facing the columns 172. The grid of columns 172 includes columns 172A extending in the longitudinal direction and columns 172B extending in the transverse direction. The density of the grid of columns 172, as well as the number of longitudinal and transverse columns 172A, 172B, may be selected based on the material of the membranes 140, 142, and / or the degree to which the membranes 140, 142 can deform when wetted. The support column 172 may include openings formed in the support column to reduce the surface area of ​​the sheet membranes 140, 142 covered by the support column 172 and to provide a larger surface area for heat exchange through the sheet membranes 140, 142.

[0038]

[0058] The struts 172B extending in the short direction extend outward from the outer frame portion 152, allowing the membrane cassettes 106 to be separated from adjacent membrane cassettes 106. The struts 172 can separate the outer frame portions 152 of the first and second frame members 148, 150 of adjacent membrane cassettes 106, forming the air passages 128 of the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104. The struts 172B can also provide gaps for the sheet membranes 140, 142 to expand. See, for example, also in Figure 2C, the struts 172B extending in the short direction of adjacent membrane cassettes 106 come into contact with each other when the membrane cassettes 106 are stacked next to each other, maintaining the minimum width of the air passages 128.

[0039]

[0059] Referring to Figure 4A, the struts 172B extending in the short direction may include ends 176 shaped to guide airflow in and out of the airflow passage 128 to minimize turbulence. For example, the ends 176 may be tapered toward the tip. Air flowing into the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 may flow along the tapered surface of the ends 176 and be guided above or below the struts 172B extending in the short direction. Air flowing out of the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104 may flow along the tapered surface of the ends 176 and smoothly rejoin the air flowing above or below the struts 172B, thereby reducing turbulence. The membrane support 170 may further include projections 178 positioned between the struts 172B extending in the short direction and within the airflow passage 128 of the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104. The projections 178 may help guide the airflow through the airflow passage 128. The projections 178 may also contact projections 178 of adjacent membrane cassettes 106 to restrict the outward movement of the support column 172, for example, when the sheet membranes 140 and 142 expand.

[0040]

[0060] Referring again to Figure 4A, the membrane cassette 106 has an orthogonal counterflow configuration that allows air to flow obliquely to the fluid flow through the interior 141. For example, in the illustrated orientation, the membrane cassette 106 includes an inlet 112 at the upper corner of the membrane cassette 106 and an outlet 114 at the opposite lower corner of the membrane cassette 106, so that the fluid flows obliquely (e.g., downward and in the short direction) within the interior 141. The air flows across the fluid flow within the interior 141 in the direction of the struts 172B that extend in the short direction across the entire area of ​​the sheet membranes 140, 142. In other embodiments, the outlet 114 may be at the upper end of the membrane cassette 106 and the inlet 112 at the lower end so that the fluid flows generally upward within the interior 141.

[0041]

[0061] In another embodiment, the membrane cassette 106 has a direct-to-interface configuration that allows air to flow perpendicular to the fluid flow through the interior 141. For example, the inlet 112 may be located at the upper central position 135 (see Figure 4A) of the membrane cassette 106, and the outlet 114 may be located at the lower central position 137 of the membrane cassette 106, so that the fluid flows generally downward within the interior 141. The air flows perpendicular to the fluid flow within the interior 141, in the direction of the struts 172B that extend in the short direction across the entire length of the sheet membranes 140, 142. In other embodiments, the outlet 114 may be at the upper end of the membrane cassette 106 and the inlet 112 at the lower end, so that the fluid flows generally upward within the interior 141.

[0042]

[0062] In another embodiment, the membrane cassette 106 has a parallel flow configuration with an inlet 112 and an outlet 114 on opposing sides of the membrane cassette 106. Air flows in a first direction in the short direction across the entire surface of the sheet membranes 140, 142, from the side of the membrane cassette 106 with the inlet 112 to the side with the outlet 114. Similarly, fluid in the interior 141 flows from the inlet 112 to the outlet 114, generally in the first direction. In yet another embodiment, the inlet 112 and outlet 114 are reversed, and therefore the fluid flows through the interior 141 in the opposite direction to the direction of airflow across the entire surface of the membrane cassette 106.

[0043]

[0063] In Figures 8A and 8B, the membrane cassette 106 may include spacers such as a central frame member 180. Figure 8A shows a schematic diagram of the layers of the membrane cassette 106 around the membrane cassette 106 (taken similarly to, for example, Figure 5), and includes a central frame member 180 between the sheet membranes 140, 142 and two sealing layers 144A, 144B. Sealing layer 144A is positioned between the sheet membrane 140 and the central frame member 180, and sealing layer 144B is positioned between the sheet membrane 142 and the central frame member 180. The sealing layers 144A, 144B fix the sheet membranes 140, 142 to the central frame member 180 and form a fluid seal between them, as described in relation to the above embodiment. The central frame 180 helps support the sheet membranes 140 and 142, for example, by keeping the area around the connected sheet membranes 140 and 142 generally flat and maintaining the minimum distance between the sheet membranes 140 and 142.

[0044]

[0064] Figure 8B shows a schematic side view of the central frame member 180. The central frame member 180 includes a rectangular outer frame 183 extending around the opening 184. The outer frame 183 may be connected to the sheet membranes 140, 142 by sealing layers 144A, 144B around the sheet membranes 140, 142. The opening 184 may also form part of the interior 141 between the sheet membranes 140, 142, through which the fluid of the heat exchanger system 100 flows and exchanges heat with the air flowing over the membrane cassette 106. The central frame member 180 may also include an inlet 186 and an outlet 188 through which the fluid can flow into and out of the interior 141. The inlet 186 and outlet 188 may also include ports or tubes of the central frame member 180, which allow the fluid to flow into the opening 184 through the outer frame 183 of the central frame member 180. The inlet 186 and outlet 188 may be ports or pipes attached to the central frame member 180, or they may have a single, integrated structure with the central frame member 180.

[0045]

[0065] In Figures 9A and 9B, the membrane cassette 106 may contain one or more spacers 181 in its interior 141. Figure 9A shows a schematic diagram of the layers of the membrane cassette 106. The membrane cassette 106 contains spacers 181 in its interior 141 between the sheet membranes 140 and 142. The spacers 181 can help keep the sheet membranes 140 and 142 apart and prevent them from sticking together. In this way, the spacers 181 maintain the volume of the interior 141 and preserve the flow path of fluid through the interior 141.

[0046]

[0066] With respect to Figure 9B, the spacer 181 may include vanes or baffles 182 that control the flow of fluid through the interior 141. For example, the spacer 181 may include baffles 182 to guide at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the interior 141 to move along an indirect path from the inlet 112 to the outlet 114. Guiding the fluid along an indirect path from the inlet 112 to the outlet 114 can increase the time the fluid is inside the interior 141, which can increase the amount of heat exchanged between the fluid and the air flowing along the outer surfaces of the sheet membranes 140, 142 (e.g., outer surfaces 143B, 145B in Figure 5). Guiding the fluid along an indirect path from the inlet 112 to the outlet 114 can also ensure that the entire surface area of ​​the sheet membranes 140, 142, such as the corners of the interior 141, is used for heat exchange. The baffles 182 can also disrupt the fluid flow to mix the fluid as it flows through the sheet membranes and help distribute heat evenly throughout the fluid in the interior 141. The spacer 181 can be held in place between the sheet membranes 140 and 142 by interference. For example, the baffle 182 may be slightly thicker than the distance between the membranes 140 and 142 so that it frictionally engages with the inner surfaces 143A and 145B (see Figure 5) of the membranes 140 and 142. Alternatively or additionally, frame members 148 and 150 may clamp the spacer 181 between them to hold the spacer 181 in place within the interior 141. In some embodiments, the baffle 182 is fixed to the membranes 140 and 142 by adhesive and / or heat welding.

[0047]

[0067] Contact between sheet membranes 140, 142 of adjacent membrane cassettes 106 can reduce the heat transfer capacity of the sheet membrane cassette assembly 104. To prevent the sheet membranes 140, 142 from contacting each other, the supports 172 of the first and second frame members 148, 150 prevent the sheet membranes 140, 142 from penetrating too deeply into the air passages 128 between the membrane cassettes 106. With respect to Figure 10A, in another embodiment, the membrane cassettes 106 may be further spaced apart from each other when stacked adjacent to each other, increasing the distance 185 between opposing sheet membranes 140, 142. Further spacing of the opposing sheet membranes 140, 142 provides additional space for the sheet membranes 140, 142 to expand before contacting each other.

[0048]

[0068] Referring to Figure 10B, another approach to prevent the sheet membranes 140 and 142 from contacting each other is to offset the struts 172 of adjacent membrane cassettes 106 perpendicularly to each other. For example, struts 172A extending in the longitudinal direction and / or struts 172B extending in the transverse direction of one membrane cassette 106 are offset from the corresponding longitudinal struts 172A and / or transverse struts 172B of the adjacent membrane 106. By offsetting the struts 172 of adjacent membrane cassettes 106, the region of the sheet membranes 140 and 142 that expands outward toward the opposing sheet membranes 140 and 142 is controlled. For example, the portion 187 of the sheet membranes 140 and 142 between the support columns 172 can bulge or expand outward, while the portion 189 of the sheet membranes 140 and 142 near the support columns 172 is more suppressed from moving outward by the columns 172. The expanding portion 187 of the sheet membranes 140 and 142 is aligned with the support columns 172 of the opposing membranes 140 and 142, positioning the expanding portion 187 adjacent to the portion 189 of the opposing membranes 140 and 142 that does not expand outward. In other words, when the sheet membranes 140 and 142 are wetted and expand, the expanding portion 187 of the sheet membrane 142 can extend into the recess 191 of the opposing sheet membrane 140, and vice versa. By staggering the positions of the expanding portions 187, the expanding portions 187 can expand without contacting the opposing sheet membranes 140 and 142. In addition, since the expansion portion 187 extends into the recesses 191 of the opposing sheet membranes 140 and 142, the membrane cassettes 106 can be positioned closer to each other, which allows the distance between the stacked membrane cassettes 106 to be shortened.

[0049]

[0069] With respect to Figure 10C, another approach to prevent the sheet membranes 140 and 142 from coming into contact with each other is to increase the density of the struts 172 of the membrane support 170. For example, the distance between struts 172A extending in the longitudinal direction and / or the distance between struts 172B extending in the transverse direction is reduced. By increasing the density of the strut grid 172, the openings between struts 172 through which the sheet membranes 140 and 142 can expand are made smaller, and thus the outward expansion of the sheet membranes 140 and 142 toward each other is restricted.

[0050]

[0070] With respect to Figure 10D, another approach to prevent the sheet films 140, 142 from contacting each other is to increase the stiffness of the sheet films 140, 142 to limit their outward expansion. For example, the sheet films 140, 142 may be formed from a stiffer material, such as nickel, siloxane polymers, ceramics, polymers with cured compounds, and / or zeolites, to increase the stiffness of the sheet films 140, 142. In some embodiments, additional layers may be added to the sheet films 140, 142 to support a selective layer and increase stiffness. For example, a highly porous nonwoven backing may be used to provide increased strength to the sheet films 140, 142. Increasing the stiffness of the sheet film 140 may also allow for a reduction in the density of the supports of the film support 170. In some configurations, the rigidity of the sheet membranes 140 and 142 is sufficient to prevent the opposing sheet membranes 140 and 142 from coming into contact with each other, so the membrane cassette 106 does not include the membrane support 170.

[0051]

[0071] With respect to Figures 10A to 10D, the sheet membranes 140 and 142 of the first sheet membrane cassette 106 have been described in reference to the sheet membranes 140 and 142 of the first sheet membrane cassette 106 which expand or bulge outward toward the sheet membranes 140 and 142 of the second sheet membrane cassette 106 due to the higher pressure within the first sheet membrane cassette 106. However, the embodiments described with respect to Figures 10A to 10D are applicable to a support within the interior 141 of the sheet membrane cassette 106 which resists the sheet membranes 140 and 142 of the sheet membrane cassette 106 expanding or bulging together.

[0052]

[0072] With respect to Figures 11A to 11C, the membrane cassette 106 may include spacers such as a baffle plate 190. Figure 11A shows a schematic diagram of the layers of the membrane cassette 106 around the membrane cassette 106 (taken similarly to, for example, Figure 5), and includes a baffle plate 190 between sheet membranes 140, 142 and two sealing layers 144A, 144B. Sealing layer 144A is positioned between sheet membrane 140 and baffle plate 190, and sealing layer 144B is positioned between sheet membrane 142 and baffle plate 190. Sealing layers 144A, 144B fix the sheet membranes 140, 142 to the baffle plate 190 and form a fluid-sealing seal between them, as described in relation to the above embodiments. The baffle plate 190 helps support the sheet membranes 140 and 142, for example, by keeping the area around the connected sheet membranes 140 and 142 generally flat and maintaining the minimum distance between the sheet membranes 140 and 142.

[0053]

[0073] Figures 11A and 11B show an example of a baffle plate 190. The baffle plate 190 includes a plate portion 192, from which one or more baffles 194 rise. The plate portion 192 may include a peripheral portion 196, to which seal layers 144A and 144B engage to connect the periphery of the sheet membranes 140 and 142 to the plate portion 192 by a fluid-seal connection. The peripheral portion 196 of the plate portion 192 may be aligned with the outer frame portions 152 of the first and second frame members 148 and 150, thereby compressing the first and second side frame members 148 and 150 together, compressing the seal layers 144A and 144B against the peripheral portion 196 to form a fluid-seal connection. The baffles 194 may be fixed to one or both sides of the plate portion 192 by fasteners and / or adhesives, or they may be formed as a single component with the plate portion 192. The baffle 194 can function, for example, similarly to the baffle described above, guiding at least a portion of the fluid flowing through the interior 141 of the membrane cassette 106 to move along a nonlinear path from the inlet 112 to the outlet 114.

[0054]

[0074] The use of singular terms such as "a" and "an" is intended to encompass both singular and plural forms unless otherwise indicated herein or explicitly denied by the context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" should be interpreted as open-ended terms. The phrase "at least one of" as used herein is intended to be interpreted disjunctively. For example, the phrase "at least one of A, B, and C" is intended to encompass A, B, AB, BC, AC, or ABC.

[0055]

[0075] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that numerous changes and modifications can be conceived, and that the present invention is intended to encompass all such changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A first sheet membrane and a second sheet membrane that are in contact with a first fluid, An interior space between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane for receiving a second fluid, A sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane, The device comprises a clamp configured to compress the first and second sheet membranes together and engage the first and second sheet membranes with the sealing member, The first and second sheet membranes are configured to allow mass transfer between the first fluid and the second fluid through the first and second sheet membranes. Sheet membrane device.

2. The sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamp is configured to compress the sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane.

3. The sealing member engages with a portion of the first and second sheet membranes, The sealing member has its original uncompressed thickness, The sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamp is configured to keep the portion of the first sheet membrane and the portion of the second sheet membrane separated by a predetermined distance less than the uncompressed thickness of the sealing member, so that the sealing member is compressed between the portion of the first sheet membrane and the portion of the second sheet membrane.

4. The sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member comprises a butyl tape, a butyl extruded product, or a combination thereof.

5. The first and second sheet membranes have outer surfaces that are in contact with the first fluid, The first and second sheet membranes have inner surfaces opposite to the outer surfaces that are in contact with the second fluid, The sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member engages with the inner surfaces of the first and second sheet membranes.

6. The clamp comprises the first support and the second support located on both sides of the first and second sheet membranes, A first fixing member that engages with the first support and the first sheet membrane and extends around the interior, A second fixing member that engages with the second support and the second sheet membrane and extends around the interior, A sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

7. The spacer further comprises the aforementioned spacer configured to guide the flow of the second fluid inside, The spacer is located between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane. The sealing member is The first sheet membrane and the first sealing member engaged with the spacer, The second sheet membrane and the second sealing member engaged with the spacer, A sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 6, comprising:

8. The sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first fixing member and the second fixing member each comprise a butyl tape, a butyl extruded product, or a combination thereof.

9. The clamp comprises a first frame and a second frame, The sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sheet membranes and the sealing member are located between the first frame and the second frame of the support.

10. The first frame has a first opening to allow the first fluid to come into contact with the outer surface of the first sheet membrane. The sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second frame has a second opening for allowing the second fluid to come into contact with the outer surface of the second sheet membrane.

11. The clamp comprises an interconnected first frame and a second frame, The first frame includes a first opening that allows the first fluid to come into contact with the outer surface of the first sheet membrane, and a plurality of supports that extend across the entire area of ​​the first opening and are configured to restrict the outward movement of the first sheet membrane into the first opening, The sheet membrane apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second frame includes a second opening that allows the first fluid to come into contact with the second sheet membrane, and a plurality of supports that extend over the entire area of ​​the second opening and are configured to restrict the outward movement of the second sheet membrane into the second opening.

12. The clamp mentioned above is A pair of supports on both sides of the first and second sheet membranes, A stopping surface of the support, configured to contact the support and restrict the mutual movement of the support, A sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, having the following features.

13. The sealing member is Inlet opening and outlet opening, An inlet for the second fluid extending into the inlet opening of the sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane, An outlet for the second fluid extending into the outlet opening of the sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane, A sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, including the following:

14. A spacer is further provided inside the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane. The sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spacer cooperates with the first and second sheet membranes to guide the flow of the second fluid inside.

15. The clamp is configured to compress the sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane. The sealing member comprises a binder material and a shim within the binder material. The sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shim is configured to limit the compression of the sealing member.

16. The sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sheet membranes are permeable to gas and impermeable to liquid.

17. The first and second sheet films are, each, A selective permeable layer, Supporting layer and A sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

18. The sealing member is Isobutylene-isoprene copolymer and Isobutylene trippolymer and Ethylene propylene diene monomer and Ethylene propylene copolymer and A sheet membrane apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the following.

19. Airflow generator and Entrance header and Exit header and The system comprises a plurality of sheet membrane cassettes configured to receive fluid from the inlet header and guide the fluid toward the outlet header, Each sheet membrane cassette is A first sheet membrane and a second sheet membrane are brought into contact by the air moved by the airflow generator, To receive the fluid, the interior is defined at least partially by the first and second sheet membranes, A sealing member located between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane and engaged with them, Supports located on both sides of the first and second sheet membranes, which maintain the first and second sheet membranes in a state of engagement with the sealing member, A sheet membrane system equipped with this feature.

20. The sheet membrane system according to claim 19, wherein the sealing member of the sheet membrane cassette is compressed between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane.

21. The sealing member engages with the portion of the first and second sheet membranes that extends around the interior, Each of the sealing members has its original uncompressed thickness. The sheet membrane system of claim 19, wherein the support holds the portions of the sheet membrane separated by a predetermined distance less than the uncompressed thickness of the sealing member, so that the sealing member is compressed between the portions of the first and second sheet membranes.

22. The support includes a first support and a second support. Each sheet membrane cassette is A first fixing member that engages with the first support and the first sheet membrane and extends around the interior, A second fixing member that engages with the second support and the second sheet membrane and extends around the interior, A sheet membrane system according to claim 19, comprising:

23. The sheet membrane cassette includes a pair of sheet membrane cassettes and an air passage at least partially formed by the pair of sheet membrane cassettes, The sheet membrane system according to claim 19, wherein the support of the pair of sheet membrane cassettes has an opening that opens into the air passage and allows air moving along the air passage to come into contact with the first and second sheet membranes of the pair of sheet membrane cassettes.

24. The support of each sheet film cassette comprises a first support and a second support. Each sheet membrane cassette is A first fixing member that engages with the first support and the first sheet membrane and extends around the interior, A second fixing member that engages with the second support and the second sheet membrane and extends around the interior, A sheet membrane system according to claim 19, comprising:

25. Each sheet membrane cassette is provided with a spacer inside between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane. The spacer is configured to guide the flow of the fluid inside, The sealing member is The first sheet membrane and the first sealing member engaged with the spacer, The second sheet membrane and the second sealing member engaged with the spacer, A sheet membrane system according to claim 23, comprising:

26. The sheet film cassette has an opening, The sheet membrane system according to claim 19, wherein an elongated support member extends through the opening of the sheet membrane cassette to support the sheet membrane cassettes in an adjacent arrangement.

27. The sheet membrane system according to claim 19, wherein the first and second sheet membranes are configured to move matter between the air and the fluid.

28. A method for assembling a sheet membrane cassette, The sealing member is positioned between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane, wherein the sealing member and the first and second sheet membranes form at least a portion of the interior of the sheet membrane cassette. To provide a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for the aforementioned sheet membrane cassette, The sealing member is clamped between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane, engaging the sealing member with the first and second sheet membranes, and forming a fluid-resistant connection between them. A method that includes [a certain feature].

29. Positioning the sealing member involves positioning the sealing member between the periphery of the first sheet membrane and the periphery of the second sheet membrane. The method of claim 28, wherein clamping the sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane comprises clamping the sealing member between the periphery of the first sheet membrane and the periphery of the second sheet membrane.

30. The sealing member comprises a first sealing member and a second sealing member. The method further comprises positioning a spacer between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane, Positioning the sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane is Positioning the first sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the spacer, The second sealing member is positioned between the second sheet membrane and the spacer, Clamping the sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane is The first sealing member is clamped between the first sheet membrane and the spacer, The method of claim 28, further comprising clamping the second sealing member between the second sheet membrane and the spacer.

31. The invention further comprises positioning the first and second supports on both sides of the first and second sheet membranes, The method of claim 28, wherein clamping the sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane comprises the first and second supports compressing the first and second sheet membranes together and thereby compressing the sealing member.

32. The invention further comprises positioning flexible first and second fixing members between the first and second sheet membranes and the first and second supports, Clamping the sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane is The flexible first fixing member is engaged with the first support and the first sheet membrane, The method of claim 31, further comprising engaging the flexible second fixing member with the second support and the second sheet membrane.

33. Providing the aforementioned fluid inlet and fluid outlet means The sealing member is provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, Positioning the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet within the inlet opening and the outlet opening of the sealing member, The method of claim 28, comprising:

34. The method of claim 28, wherein positioning the sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane comprises positioning the tape or extruded product of the sealing member between the first sheet membrane and the second sheet membrane.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein the first and second sheet films are permeable to gas and impermeable to liquid.

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