Membrane cartridge system
First Claim
1. A cartridge element comprising a bundle of hollow fiber type membranes aligned in a cylindrical cartridge tube, tube sheets at each end of the membrane bundle, and end caps at each end of the cartridge tube, whereinthe cartridge tube has a wall thickness of 0.5 to 10 mm and comprises at least one fluid inlet or fluid outlet opening arranged between the end caps,the end caps are made of a polymeric materialthe end caps are permanently fixed to the cartridge element,the tube sheets comprise a potting resin and are permanently fixed to the cartridge element, andat least one end cap is partially slid onto or into the cartridge tube, said end cap comprises a cylindrical section with an inner diameter which is wider than an outer diameter of the cartridge tube or a cylindrical section with an outer diameter which is narrower than an inner diameter of the cartridge tube, and said cylindrical section of the end cap comprises spacers that center the cap onto or into the cartridge tube and leave space between the cartridge tube and the cylindrical section of the end cap which can be filled with said potting resin.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is related to a new membrane cartridge system comprising hollow fiber membranes, a special new end cap for the production of the new cartridge, membrane separation devices comprising the new membrane cartridges and a process for manufacture of the new cartridges.
37 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A cartridge element comprising a bundle of hollow fiber type membranes aligned in a cylindrical cartridge tube, tube sheets at each end of the membrane bundle, and end caps at each end of the cartridge tube, wherein
the cartridge tube has a wall thickness of 0.5 to 10 mm and comprises at least one fluid inlet or fluid outlet opening arranged between the end caps, the end caps are made of a polymeric material the end caps are permanently fixed to the cartridge element, the tube sheets comprise a potting resin and are permanently fixed to the cartridge element, and at least one end cap is partially slid onto or into the cartridge tube, said end cap comprises a cylindrical section with an inner diameter which is wider than an outer diameter of the cartridge tube or a cylindrical section with an outer diameter which is narrower than an inner diameter of the cartridge tube, and said cylindrical section of the end cap comprises spacers that center the cap onto or into the cartridge tube and leave space between the cartridge tube and the cylindrical section of the end cap which can be filled with said potting resin.
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11. A process for manufacture of hollow fiber cartridge elements comprising the steps
a) providing a bundle of hollow fiber membranes and a cylindrical cartridge tube with at least one fluid inlet or fluid outlet opening b) sliding the membrane bundle into the cartridge tube c) mounting plastic end caps on both sides of the assembly of step b), partially sliding at least one end cap onto or into the cartridge tube; - said end cap comprising a cylindrical section with an inner diameter which is wider than an outer diameter of the cartridge tube or a cylindrical section with an outer diameter which is narrower than an inner diameter of the cartridge tube, and said cylindrical section of the end cap comprising spacers that center the cap onto or into the cartridge tube and leave space between the cartridge tube and the cylindrical section of the end cap,
d) placing the assembly obtained in step c) into a centrifuge in a manner that ensures that the assembly is held together e) filling a potting resin into both end caps and curing during centrifugation f) cutting off the end parts of both end caps to open the bores of the hollow fiber membranes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
- said end cap comprising a cylindrical section with an inner diameter which is wider than an outer diameter of the cartridge tube or a cylindrical section with an outer diameter which is narrower than an inner diameter of the cartridge tube, and said cylindrical section of the end cap comprising spacers that center the cap onto or into the cartridge tube and leave space between the cartridge tube and the cylindrical section of the end cap,
Specification