Flat Panel Hollow Fiber Membrane Contactor for Gas-Liquid Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing membrane contactors are less than fully satisfactory for certain applications, particularly requiring operation at elevated pressures, and there is a need for improved porous materials that can selectively pass gases while blocking liquids in a wider range of applications.
Innovation Solution
The development of flat panel porous membrane contactors with a rectangular frame housing a wound or pleated hollow fiber array, where the hollow fibers are potted at both ends, allowing a first fluid to communicate with the open ends and a second fluid to communicate with the exterior surfaces, enabling efficient gas and liquid separation and transfer without convective flow across the membrane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional membrane contactors are used, then gas/liquid separation and transfer can be achieved, but operation at elevated pressures is required which increases energy consumption and system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs microporous hollow fiber membranes with controlled pore sizes and hydrophobic properties that enable gas permeation while blocking liquid. The porous structure allows mass transfer driven by concentration gradients rather than pressure differentials, eliminating the need for elevated operating pressures while maintaining reliable separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow fiber membranes utilize composite material structures combining hydrophobic polymer matrices with microporous architectures. This composite design enables selective gas transport through the membrane walls while preventing liquid passage, achieving effective gas/liquid separation at atmospheric pressure conditions.
2Productivity
If flat panel hollow fiber array contactors are used, then mass transfer efficiency is improved and pressure drop is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to wound or pleated configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional cylindrical shell-and-tube contactor geometry to flat panel configurations with wound or pleated hollow fiber arrays. This dimensional change increases the membrane surface area per unit volume, enhancing mass transfer efficiency while the planar structure simplifies integration into HVAC ductwork and other applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow fiber array is segmented into multiple wound or pleated layers within the flat panel structure. This segmentation increases the effective membrane area available for mass transfer while maintaining a compact form factor. The segmented layers are potted at both ends to create flow distribution manifolds, organizing the complex structure into manageable functional units.
3Reliability
If hollow fibers are potted at both ends to form polymeric tube sheets, then fluid distribution is improved, but manufacturing complexity and production time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow fibers are pre-assembled into wound or pleated array configurations before being inserted into the flat panel housing. This preliminary organization ensures proper alignment and spacing of fibers, facilitating uniform fluid distribution when the arrays are potted at both ends. The pre-assembly step simplifies the subsequent potting operation and ensures consistent performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Polymeric potting material serves as an intermediary substance that secures the hollow fiber arrays at both ends while creating flow distribution manifolds. The potting material fills the spaces between fibers and forms sealed channels that evenly distribute fluids across the membrane surface, simplifying the overall manufacturing process compared to creating complex internal manifolds.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design allows for improved mass transfer and separation efficiency, is adaptable for various applications, including HVAC and ERV systems, with reduced pressure drop and the ability to handle high air flow rates, making it suitable for commercial production and use in standard ductwork.
Implementation Method 1
a first fluid in communication with the open ends of the hollow fibers and a second fluid in communication with the shells of the hollow fibers
Implementation Method 2
bring two immiscible fluid phases—for example, a first liquid and a second liquid, or a gas and a liquid—into contact with one another to effect separation and/or transfer of one or more components from one fluid to the other
Implementation Method 3
flat panel microporous membrane contactors
Data Source
AI summary
Porous membrane contactors and/or their methods of manufacture and/or use are provided. In at least selected embodiments, the present invention is directed to flat panel hollow fiber or flat sheet membrane contactors and/or their methods of manufacture and/or use. In at least certain particular embodiments, the present invention is directed to hollow fiber array flat panel contactors, contactor systems, and/or their methods of manufacture and/or use. In at least particular possibly preferred embodiments, the contactor is adapted for placement in an air duct (such as an HVAC ductwork) and has a rectangular frame or housing enclosing at least one wound hollow fiber array or membrane bundle.