Methods for preparing tube sheets for permeators having hollow fiber membranes
First Claim
1. A method for opening the entrance to bores of hollow fiber membranes embedded in a solid potting material to form a tube sheet wherein the hollow fiber membranes terminate at at least one face of the tube sheet comprising externally blasting the surface of said at least one face of the tube sheet with a particulate abrasive having an average maximum cross-sectional dimension of less than about 70 percent of the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the bores of the hollow fiber membranes at a velocity sufficient to erode the surface of the hollow fiber membranes.
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Abstract
A high degree of openness to the bores of hollow fiber membranes in a tube sheet can be achieved by impacting the region of the tube sheet at which hollow fiber membranes terminate with a particulate abrasive having an average maximum dimension of less than about 70 percent of the minimum dimension of the bores of the hollow fiber membranes. The particulate abrasive is impacted on the tube sheet at a velocity sufficient to erode the surface of the hollow fiber membranes.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A method for opening the entrance to bores of hollow fiber membranes embedded in a solid potting material to form a tube sheet wherein the hollow fiber membranes terminate at at least one face of the tube sheet comprising externally blasting the surface of said at least one face of the tube sheet with a particulate abrasive having an average maximum cross-sectional dimension of less than about 70 percent of the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the bores of the hollow fiber membranes at a velocity sufficient to erode the surface of the hollow fiber membranes.
Specification