Abstract: A concentric radial flow hollow fiber module includes internal and external annular-shaped spaced apart bodies disposed in a concentric arrangement and hollow fibers extending across an annular interspace extending through the module between the bodies and connected with the bodies. The internal body surrounds an inner space while the external body is surrounded by an outer space. Each body includes an annular wall made of a non-permeable plastic material having adhesive properties and an elongated strengthening element contained within and extending circumferentially about the annular wall. Each hollow fiber includes an tubular wall having spaced opposite inner and outer end portions encapsulated respectively in the internal and external bodies and open respectively to at least one of the inner and outer spaces.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane carpet includes the steps of laying out a multiplicity of hollow fibers, forming a pair of strips of non-permeable adhesive material on the hollow fibers in a transverse relationship thereto and in a spaced relationship from one another such that main portions of the hollow fibers extend between the spaced strips, cutting selected portions of the hollow fibers adjacent to the spaced strips so as to open the hollow fibers to communication at least at one of a pair of opposite end portions of the hollow fibers, and assembling the hollow fibers and spaced strips into a plurality of elementary carpet members and thereafter into a hollow fiber membrane carpet.

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 self-supported low pressure drop hollow fiber membrane panel includes a pair of layers of non-permeable material having opposite external and internal sides, and a multiplicity of hollow fibers of permeable material extending between and in generally transverse relationship to the layers of non-permeable material. Opposite end portions of the hollow fibers are encapsulated by the respective layers of non-permeable material and are open at the external sides thereof. Elongated portions of the hollow fibers have elongated internal bores providing flow communication between the open opposite end portions of the hollow fibers. The elongated portions of the hollow fibers extend between the internal sides of the respective layers of non-permeable material. The lengths of the elongated portions of the hollow fibers are substantially less than each of the length and width dimensions of the layers of non-permeable material.

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).