Abstract: The present invention relates to providing an apparatus and a process for dispensing a beverage from a tap, sometimes as often as about every 8 to 10 seconds, while maintaining a predetermined quantity of dissolved nitrogen and/or dissolved carbon dioxide or other gas utilizing a contactor module containing hollow fiber membranes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid separation module and a process for utilizing the module containing a bundle of hollow fiber membranes and randomly dispersed within the bundle of fibers are filaments having an outer diameter from about 60 to about 3000 microns. The hollow fibers have an outer diameter from about 100 to about 1000 microns. The filaments are present in number from 0.5 to 5 filaments per fiber. Preferably, the filaments are placed among the fibers during manufacturing of the fibers and/or bundle. The presence of the filaments enhances the performance of the fluid separation module.

Abstract: The present invention provides a condensate drain device suitable for use in high pressure systems where liquid condensate is removed. The device, through use of a wicking disk, allows removal of the condensate from the system without significant reduction in pressure or interruption of the system. There are no moving parts in the device thereby allowing continuous operation of the condensate drain without interruption.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the dehydration of a gas, particularly of a gas where the gas values should all be substantially recovered as dehydrated gas. The process uses membrane dryers and provides a sweep gas for each of the dryers. The sweep gas is substantially recovered and used again as a sweep gas. The process is economical and can process large quantities of gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gas/liquid contactor module having hollow fiber membranes and a process for controlling dissolved gases in liquids such as water, beer and the like, by passing the liquid through the shell side of the contactor module to allow addition or removal of dissolved gases by the diffusion of the gases through the membranes into or from the hollow fiber bores. The process permits control of the quantity of such dissolved gases as carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Abstract: A process is set forth for the separation of one or more, more permeable components from one or more, less permeable components in a feed stream. The process suggests two membrane separation stages in series wherein the feed is introduced into the low pressure side of the first stage, the permeate stream from the first stage is compressed and introduced into the high pressure side of the second stage and wherein the non-permeate stream from the second stage is recycled to the high pressure side of the first stage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for utilizing one stream from a gas separation unit in an evaporation cooler to provide cool water which is used to cool the feed gas mixture by direct or indirect contact prior to entering the gas separation unit.

Abstract: A process is set forth for the separation of one or more, more permeable components from one or more, less permeable components in a feed stream. The process suggests three membrane separation stages in series and is suitable for high pressure feed applications.

Abstract: Valuable process gas is dried to a low water content, for example a dew point of less than -20.degree. F., using membrane separation in which compression of the permeate gases and condensation and separation of liquid water from the permeate stream is combined with a total recycle of uncondensable permeate gases so that no process gas is lost as a result of the drying operation. Feed gas is combined with the recycled gas either prior to compressing, cooling and separating the liquid water from the process gas or subsequent to these steps, depending upon the pressure of the available feed stream to be dried. Membrane separation efficiency is improved by sweeping the downstream surfaces of the membrane with dried product gas. All of the sweep gas is recaptured with the permeate gases and returned to the separation unit, thereby enabling 100%, recovery of the fresh feed gas from the drying operation. Only liquid water and dissolved gases are purged from the system.

Abstract: A process is set forth for the separation of one or more, more permeable components from one or more, less permeable components in a feed stream. The process suggests two membrane separation stages in series wherein the feed is introduced into the high pressure side of the first stage, the non-permeate stream from the first stage is introduced into the high pressure side of the second stage and wherein the permeate stream from the second stage is compressed and recycled to the low pressure side of the first stage.

Abstract: Glassy polymeric gas separation membranes are chemically modified throughout the thickness thereof. Such membranes manifest selectivity for a pair of gases which is greater than the intrinsic selectivity of the glassy polymeric material and which is greater than the equilibrium intrinsic selectivity of the chemically modified glassy polymeric material.

Abstract: An improved shellside feed, countercurrent flow, hollow fiber membrane separation module is provided wherein one or more flow tubes are incorporated into the conventional design. The flow tubes increase the efficiency of the membrane separation module by reducing undesirable flow patterns that are present in the conventional module.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for dehumidification of a compressed gas using a membrane cartridge dryer wherein substantially dry gas is provided upon process startup without requiring purging of the membrane cartridge. In the apparatus, a back pressure regulator valve controls the release of compressed gas to the dryer and a check valve controls the release of the dry gas from the dryer.

Abstract: A system for separating a portion of a first gas from a gaseous feed comprising a mixture of gases that is intermittently supplied to the system. The system comprises a membrane gas separator having at least one membrane through which the first gas permeates preferentially in comparison to other gases contained in the mixture. The separator is adpated to produce a nonpermeate gaseous product which is discharged from a nonpermeate gas side of the separator and in which the concentration of the first gas is lower than in the feed mixture. The system also includes a mechanism for supplying a gaseous purge stream to the separator when the feed mixture is not being supplied to the system. The concentration of the first gas is lower in the gaseous purge stream than in the feed mixture to purge residual amounts of the first gas contained in the membrane of the separator. The method of separating gases from an intermittently supplied feed is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dope for forming membranes and the resulting asymmetric gas separation membranes are disclosed, the membranes having graded density skins which exhibit improved permeability characteristics and increased failure pressure strength. The membranes are produced from a process utilizing membrane forming dopes of complexing solvent systems formulated from two non-solvents and one or more solvents. The non-solvents are chosen one each, from non-solvents grouped according to non-solvent strength, i.e., one strong non-solvent and one weak non-solvent which are combined with one or more solvents in an acid:base complex solvent system for dissolving high weight percent total solids of membrane forming polymers. The process for forming the membranes is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dope for forming membranes and the resulting asymmetric gas separation membranes are disclosed, the membranes having graded density skins which exhibit improved permeability characteristics and increased failure pressure strength. The membranes are produced from a process utilizing membrane forming dopes of complexing solvent systems formulated from two non-solvents and one or more solvents. The non-solvents are chosen one each, from non-solvents grouped according to non-solvent strength, i.e., one strong non-solvent and one weak non-solvent which are combined with one or more solvents in an acid:base complex solvent system for dissolving high weight percent total solids of membrane forming polymers. The process for forming the membranes is also disclosed.

Abstract: Nitrogen gas of high purity is produced from compressed air by contacting the air with a first gas membrane separator permitting oxygen to permeate therethrough selectively while restraining the passage of nitrogen. The nonpermeant gas is then brought into contact with a second gas membrane separator of similar construction. The use of the serially arranged separators provides nitrogen gas with very low levels of oxygen.

Abstract: Asymmetric gas separation membranes having graded density skins and macrovoid-free morphology comprised of glassy, hydrophobic polymers are disclosed which are effective for separation gases with significante increases in permeation while maintaining equal or greater separation electivity. The membranes have increased free volume and the graded density skin exhibits a density gradient which becomes more dense with increasing proximity to the surface, the membrane effectively decouples the interdependency between permeability and separation selectivity.

Abstract: A process for forming high free volume, asymmetric gas separation membranes having graded density skins and macrovoid-free morphology from a solvent system comprising a Lewis acid, Lewis base, and a Lewis acid:base complex which dissolve hydrophobic polymers. The dopes have high total solids, high viscosity and low coagulation (g) values which enhance rapid gelation without the formation of macrovoids and which minimize densification. The dope solvent system complexes are readily disassociated by the coagulation medium and the component molecules are miscible in the medium which provides for rapid desolvation of the formed membrane thus providing a membrane having low residual solvent retention.

Abstract: Asymmetric gas separation membranes having graded density skins and macrovoid-free morphology comprised of glassy, hydrophobic polymers which when contacted on the graded density skin surface with an effective amount of permeation modifier and a coating in occluding contact, exhibit permeation selectivities greater than the intrinsic permeation selectivities for at least one gas of a gaseous mixture than a bulk sample of the polymers. The permeation modified membranes have increased free volume as evidenced by the membrane first heat T.sub.g which is greater than the T.sub.g of the bulk sample of the glassy, hydrophobic polymers; however the permeation modified membranes having an effective amount of permeation modifier added in non-uniform mode are achieved without significant loss in the physical properties of the membrane, including T.sub.g.