Tubesheet for semipermeable membrane devices

• US 4,800,019 A
• Filed: 04/22/1988
• Issued: 01/24/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L'Air Liquide SA
• Original Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bikson, Benjamin, Giglia, Salvatore
• Primary Examiner(s): Spear, Frank
• Application Number:
  US07/184,799
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 55/16, 55/158, 210/450, 210/456, 210/500.23, 210/321.8, 210/321.89, 264/45.8, 264/342 R, 264/345
• US Class Current: 210/321.8
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/02 Hollow fibre modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/022 Encapsulating hollow fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/0221 using a mould
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/031 Two or more types of hollow fibres within one bundle or within one potting or tube-sheet

Abstract

A method for producing hollow fiber permeable devices having an essentially leak-free seal between the hollow fibers and the tubesheet that consists of heating the tubesheet containing the hollow fibers potted therein at a temperature essentially equal to or greater than the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material or the softening point of the thermoset material of the hollow fiber for a period of time sufficient to essentially densify the hollow fibers in the potted portion of the tubesheet and whereby a major portion of the interior diameter of the bores of the hollow fibers embedded in the tubesheet is enlarged; and the fiber permeable devices themselves.

Claims

1. A fluid separation device comprising:

a bundle of selectively permeable hollow fibers;

a resinous potting agent forming a tubesheet for the end portions of said permeable hollow fibers;

said permeable hollow fibers having the ends of the inner bores thereof open;

wherein the major portion of the bores of said permeable hollow fibers along a portion of their length embedded in said tubesheet has a larger inside bore diameter than the inside bore diameter of the section of said permeable hollow fibers not embedded in said tubesheet.

2. A fluid separation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the walls of a portion of the section of permeable hollow fibers embedded in the tubesheet are essentially densified.

3. A fluid separation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the permeable hollow fibers are a thermoplastic polymer.

4. A fluid separation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the permeable hollow fibers are polysulfone hollow fibers.

5. A fluid separation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubesheet is an epoxy resin.

6. A fluid separation device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tubesheet is an epoxy resin.

7. A fluid separation module comprising a fluid separation device as claimed in claim 1 in a casing.

8. A fluid separation module comprising a fluid separation device as claimed in claim 6 in a casing.

9. A method for forming a fluid separation device comprising the steps of:

forming a bundle of selectively permeable hollow fibers;

potting the end portions of said bundle in a resinous potting agent to form a tubesheet;

heating the tubesheet portion of said bundle at a temperature essentially equal to or greater than the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic polymer or the softening point of the thermoset polymer of said selectively permeable hollow fibers for a period of time sufficient to essentially densify the hollow fibers in the tubesheet section; and

severing the tubesheet to open the ends of the inner bores thereof.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the tubesheet is sliced before said tubesheet is heated at a temperature essentially equal to or greater than the glass transition temperature or the softening point of said selectively permeable hollow fibers.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said selectively permeable hollow fibers are a thermoplastic polymer.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said selectively permeable hollow fibers are polysulfone.

13. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said tubesheet is an epoxy resin.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tubesheet is an epoxy resin.

15. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said selectively permeable hollow fibers are polysulfone hollow fibers.

16. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said tubesheet is an epoxy resin.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tubesheet is an epoxy resin.