Method of potting hollow fiber membranes

• US 6,685,832 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zenon Technology Partnership
• Original Assignee: Zenon Environmental Incorporated
• Inventors: Mahendran, Mailvaganam, Pedersen, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Fortuna, Ana
• Application Number:
  US10/167,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20020153299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 210/636, 210/321.8, 210/321.78, 210/321.69, 156/242, 156/245, 156/246, 264/DIG.48
• US Class Current: 210/321.8
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/04 Backflushing
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2321/185 Aeration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/18 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/20 Accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/02 Hollow fibre modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/021 Manufacturing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/022 Encapsulating hollow fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/0223 by fixing the hollow fibres prior to encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/023 Encapsulating materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/0233 forming the bundle
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/026 Wafer type modules or flat-surface type modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/043 with separate tube sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/02 Membrane cleaning or sterilisation ; Membrane regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/08 Prevention of membrane fouling or of concentration polarisation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/444 by ultrafiltration or microfiltration

Abstract

A method of potting a plurality of hollow fiber membranes into a mass of solidified potting liquid is described. Open ends of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes are enclosed in a first material held in a container which may be a part of a permeate collection means, for example, a permeate pan or header enclosure. A potting liquid is flowed into the container over the first material. The potting liquid surrounds each hollow fiber membrane and then becomes a solid mass that provides a fluid-tight seal to the outside of the hollow fiber membranes. The first material prevents the potting liquid or solid mass from closing the ends of the membranes. The first material is later removed from the ends of the hollow fiber membranes.

Claims

1. A process of potting a plurality of hollow fiber membranes into a mass of solidified potting liquid comprising the steps of,

a) providing a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, the membranes having terminal portions adjacent open ends;

b) enclosing the open ends and terminal portions of the hollow fiber membranes in a first material held in a container;

c) flowing a potting liquid in the container over the first material, which potting liquid surrounds each hollow membrane and then becomes a solid mass which provides a fluid-tight seal to the outside of the hollow fiber membranes, the first material preventing the potting liquid or solid mass from closing said ends of the membranes; and

,

d) removing the first material from said ends and terminal portions of the hollow fiber membranes.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the container is at least part of a permeate collection means.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the container is a permeate pan or header enclosure.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the potting liquid sealingly attaches to the container as it solidifies.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the plurality of hollow fiber membranes are glued in a fixed relationship relative to each other at a portion of their lengths which will become fixed in the solid mass of potting material prior to step (b) of claim 1.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein terminal portions of the hollow fiber membranes protrude from a face of the solidified potting liquid.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the first material is removed by dissolving it.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the first material is a liquid when the membranes are inserted into the first material but is solidified before the potting liquid is placed over it.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the first material is removed by flowing it away from the membranes.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the first material is soluble in a solvent and the potting liquid upon solidification is insoluble in the solvent.

17. A header incorporating potted hollow fiber membranes, the header having,

a) a solid mass of a potting material having a first face; and,

b) a plurality of hollow fiber membranes sealed in the potting material, characterized by,

c) parts (a) and (b) being obtainable by the process of any previous claim; and

,

d) terminal portions of the hollow fiber membranes adjacent open ends of the membranes protruding from the first face of the solid mass of potting material.

18. A header and permeate collection means incorporating potted hollow fiber membranes, the header and permeate collection means having,

a) a solid mass of a potting material having a first face;

b) a hollow body sealed to the potting material to provide a plenum between the first face and the body; and

,

c) a plurality of hollow fiber membranes sealed in the potting material so as to be open to the plenum, characterized by,

d) parts (a), (b) and (c) being obtainable by the process of any previous claim; and

,

e) terminal portions of the hollow fiber membranes adjacent open ends of the membranes protruding from the first face into the plenum.

11. A process of potting a plurality of hollow fiber membranes into a mass of solidified potting liquid fixed to a permeate pan or other header enclosure of a filtration module comprising the steps of,

a) providing a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, the membranes having terminal portions adjacent open ends;

b) enclosing the open ends and terminal portions of the hollow fiber membranes in a first material held in the permeate pan or other header enclosure;

c) flowing a potting liquid into the permeate pan or other header enclosure over the first material, which potting liquid surrounds each hollow membrane and then solidifies becoming a solid mass which provides a fluid-tight seal to the outside of the hollow fiber membranes and which attaches and seals to the permeate pan or other header enclosure, the first material preventing the potting liquid or solid mass from closing said ends of the membranes; and

,

d) removing the first material from said ends and terminal portions of the hollow fiber membranes and the permeate pan or other header enclosure.

12. The process of claim 11 wherein terminal portions of the hollow fiber membranes protrude from a face of the solidified potting liquid.

13. The process of claim 11 wherein the first material is removed by dissolving it.

14. The process of claim 11 wherein the first material is a liquid when the membranes are inserted into the first material but is solidified before the potting liquid is placed over it.

15. The process of claim 11 wherein the first material is removed by flowing it away from the membranes.

16. The process of claim 11 wherein the first material is soluble in a solvent and the potting liquid upon solidification is insoluble in the solvent.