Abstract: A membrane cartridge has a feed inlet at one end and a retentate outlet at the other. Membrane structure of geometry defines a feed flow path and a permeate flow path between the feed inlet and retentate outlet. The cartridge has flow restrictions along the permeate flow path.

Abstract: Membrane-based gas separation apparatus including a membrane separation device having a feed inlet and outlet and a permeant outlet, a motor, and at least two pump heads driven by the motor, one pump head being connected to supply a feed gas to the feed inlet and another pump head being connected to pull a vacuum at the permeant outlet.

Abstract: Membrane fibers extend into a potting compound that seals an end of the housing formed with openings in which the potting compound is seated, or through which a reinforcing pin passes. The end of the housing may be overlapped by a stepped portion of the potting compound.

Abstract: Feed gas is directed tangentially along the non-skin surface of gas separation membrane modules comprising a cylindrical bundle of parallel contiguous hollow fibers supported to allow feed gas to flow from an inlet at one end of a cylindrical housing through the bores of the bundled fibers to an outlet at the other end while a component of the feed gas permeates through the fibers, each having the skin side on the outside, through a permeate outlet in the cylindrical casing.

Abstract: A gas separation membrane has a dense separating layer about 10,000 Angstroms or less thick and a porous support layer 10 to 400 microns thick that is an integral unit with gradually and continuously decreasing pore size from the base of the support layer to the surface of the thin separating layer and is made from a casting solution comprising ethyl cellulose and ethyl cellulose-based blends, typically greater than 47.5 ethoxyl content ethyl cellulose blended with compatible second polymers, such as nitrocellulose. The polymer content of the casting solution is from about 10% to about 35% by weight of the total solution with up to about 50% of this polymer weight a compatible second polymer to the ethyl cellulose in a volatile solvent such as isopropanol, methylacetate, methanol, ethanol, and acetone. Typical nonsolvents for the casting solutions include water and formamide.

Abstract: Feed gas is directed tangentially along the non-skin surface of gas separation membrane modules comprising a cylindrical bundle of parallel contiguous hollow fibers supported to allow feed gas to flow from an inlet at one end of a cylindrical housing through the bores of the bundled fibers to an outlet at the other end while a component of the feed gas permeates through the fibers, each having the skin side on the outside, through a permeate outlet in the cylindrical casing.