Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane gas separation module includes an elongated pressure vessel defining an interior cavity and having at least one end with a permeate exit flow region, a core of short hollow fiber membranes extending in the interior cavity, having lengths falling within a range of from 3 to 60 centimeters and being of the type for separation of gases, and external feed and retentate gas manifolds defining flow chambers and being attached to and overlying spaced side portions of the pressure vessel. The external feed and retentate manifolds permit tailoring of the transverse gas flow through the hollow fiber membranes of the core so as to improve gas separation performance of the hollow fibers.

Abstract: An integrated hollow fiber membrane permeator includes a plurality of groups of hollow fibers of permeable membrane material having internal flow channels extending therethrough with opposite first and second ends thereof open at opposite first and second end portions of the hollow fibers. The integrated permeator also include at least one elongated solid non-permeable support body encapsulating and supporting interiorly at least one of the respective opposite end portions of the hollow fibers. The solid non-permeable support body contains interiorly a plurality of flow disbribution passages which intersect and communicate with the open ends of the one of the respective opposite end portions of the hollow fibers. The solid non-permeable support body also has at least one external port opening to the exterior thereof and contains at least one flow feed passage communicating the plurality of flow distribution passages to the one external port.

Abstract: A fluid mixture separation membrane element (10) includes elongated hollow pressure-resistant nonpermeable transport arteries (12) and a plurality of flexible hollow fibers (14) of semipermeable material having internal flow channels (20). The hollow tubular transport arteries (12) have exteriors (18) and interior flow passages (16). Each hollow fiber (14) has spaced opposite end portions (22, 24) and an elongated tubular portion (26) extending between and interconnecting the opposite end portions (22, 24). The opposite end portions (22, 24) of each hollow fiber (14) are attached by either an adhesive (28) or another suitable mechanism to the tubular transport artery or arteries (12) so as to provide flow communication between the internal flow channels (20) of the hollow fibers (14) and one of the interior flow passages (16) or the exteriors (18) of the hollow transport arteries (12).

Abstract: A fluid mixture separation membrane element (10) includes elongated hollow pressure-resistant non-permeable transport arteries (12) and a plurality of flexible hollow fibers (14) of semipermeable material having internal flow channels (20). The hollow tubular transport arteries (12) have exteriors (18) and interior flow passages (16). Each hollow fiber (14) has spaced opposite end portions (22, 24) and an elongated tubular portion (26) extending between and interconnecting the opposite end portions (22, 24). The opposite end portions (22, 24) of each hollow fiber (14) are attached by either an adhesive (28) or another suitable mechanism to the tubular transport artery or arteries (12) so as to provide flow communication between the internal flow channels (20) of the hollow fibers (14) and one of the interior flow passages (16) or the exteriors (18) of the hollow transport arteries (12).