Abstract: Tubesheet materials for hollow fiber membrane module are disclosed using materials to provide for improved performance at high temperatures. The tubesheets are cast from a mixture of solidifiable resinous components that are designed to provide desirable processing characteristics to the mixture in its initial liquid state, as well as improved thermal properties its final cured casting state.

Abstract: Tubesheet materials for hollow fiber membrane module are disclosed. Said materials provide for improved performance at high temperatures. The tubesheets are cast from a blend of solidifiable resinous components that are designed to provide desirable processing characteristics to the mixture in its liquid state, as well as improved thermal properties of the cured casting.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hollow fiber membrane gas separation assembly having an integral purge control aperture or purge reflux system which is internal to the hollow fiber apparatus. The assembly is particularly useful for separating water vapor from a gas stream.

Abstract: An integral hollow fiber membrane gas purification apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises one or more filtration elements and a hollow fiber membrane cartridge placed coaxially in a common housing. In some embodiments, the filtration elements are omitted and the hollow fiber membrane cartridge is employed as a combined gas separation/filtration device. The apparatus of this invention is particularly useful for conditioning compressed air that includes the removal of both suspended matter and water vapor.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane gas separation apparatus of a compact design suitable for separation and purification of gases is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an outer housing that consists of a detachable bowl and a head closure, and a removable hollow fiber membrane cartridge positioned therein. The cartridge contains a concentric tubular inner core member and is surrounded by a shell and at least one end closure. The cartridge is attached by its first axial end in a sealed and removable manner to a gas flow conduit positioned coaxially in the housing closure wherein said conduit being in fluid communication with a gas inlet or product gas outlet port formed in the housing head closure and by its second axial end to a waste gas exit port in the bowl.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane gas separation apparatus of a compact design suitable for separation and purification of gases is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an outer housing that consists of a detachable bowl and a head closure, and a removable hollow fiber membrane cartridge positioned therein. The cartridge contains several concentric separation zones and provides for efficient countercurrent flow configuration between the feed gas on the shell side and the permeate sweep gas on the lumen side of the hollow fiber membranes.

Abstract: The invention involves annular hollow fiber membrane bundle comprising a plurality of helically wound layers of semi-permeable hollow fibers helically wound thereon and at least one reinforcement filament which has been helically wound concurrently with said hollow fibers into the hollow fiber membrane bundle. A preferred embodiment provides that the reinforcement filament is uniformly distributed throughout the diameter of the bundle and/or across the axial length of the bundle. Though, other embodiments provide a non-uniform distribution throughout the diameter of the bundle and/or across the axial length of the bundle.

Abstract: The invention comprises an annular hollow fiber membrane module comprising a plurality of helically wound layers of semi-permeable hollow fibers, wherein the fiber wind angle varies across the axial length of the module in one or more layers. In a preferred embodiment, the module has at least one tubesheet region and an active region, and the wind angle in the tubesheet region of the module differs from the wind angle in the active region of the module. A method of making the module, and a separation module which includes the module described above is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention involves annular hollow fiber membrane bundle comprising a plurality of helically wound layers of semi-permeable hollow fibers helically wound thereon and at least one reinforcement filament which has been helically wound concurrently with said hollow fibers into the hollow fiber membrane bundle. A preferred embodiment provides that the reinforcement filament is uniformly distributed throughout the diameter of the bundle and/or across the axial length of the bundle. Though, other embodiments provide a non-uniform distribution throughout the diameter of the bundle and/or across the axial length of the bundle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane fluid separation assembly having an integral purge control valve or a purge fluid reflux system, which provides a sweep fluid port internal to the assembly. This assembly is useful for, among other things, separating water vapor from a gas stream.

Abstract: A process and system for pressurizing a vessel for integrity testing with gas comprising helium, recovering the gas comprising helium, and purifying the gas comprising helium for reuse. The process for purifying the gas stream comprising helium comprises drying the gas stream; separating the dried gas stream in a membrane separator stage into a helium-enriched permeate product stream and a helium-depleted raffinate stream; recovering helium in the raffinate stream in a membrane stripper stage thereby producing a purge stream; and purging water from the dryer with the purge stream.

Abstract: A process and system for pressurizing a vessel for integrity testing with gas comprising helium, recovering the gas comprising helium, and purifying the gas comprising helium for reuse. The process for purifying the gas stream comprising helium comprises drying the gas stream; separating the dried gas stream in a membrane separator stage into a helium-enriched permeate product stream and a helium-depleted raffinate stream; recovering helium in the raffinate stream in a membrane stripper stage thereby producing a purge stream; and purging water from the dryer with the purge stream.

Abstract: An annular double ended hollow fiber bundle, a fluid separation apparatus comprising the annular double ended hollow fiber bundle having bores open at both ends of the hollow fibers embedded in the two tubesheets enclosed in a shell having multiple ports, a fluid entrance port, a non-permeate exit port and at least one permeate exit port, wherein said double ended hollow fiber bundle is encased in an essentially impermeable film barrier except for entrance regions situated in selected areas between the tubesheets and to processes for separating fluids mixtures.

Abstract: Multiple bundle fluid separation apparatus having at least two hollow fiber membrane bundles arranged in end-to-end linear series encased in a shell or casing. The bundles are in communication with a core tube and are connected serially in such fashion that one end of one bundle is connected to one end of its adjacent bundle. There is also present an auxiliary permeate tube to convey permeate to a permeate exit port. The casing has appropriate ports for feed inlet, and retentate and permeate outlets.

Abstract: Process for the dehydration of gases using composite permeable membranes, preferably hollow fiber composite membranes comprised of a porous support coated with an ultrathin layer of a defined sulfonated polysulfone or sulfonated polyether ketone. The processes also contemplate the use of a sweep or purge gas on the water-enriched permeate side of the composite membrane to increase the efficiency of the dehydration process.

Abstract: A fluid separation device comprising an annular hollow fibers bundle in a shell having four ports, a fluid entrance port, a sweep fluid entrance port, a nonpermeate exit port and a sweep fluid-permeate exit port, wherein said bundle is encased in an essentially nonpermeable film barrier.

Abstract: Process for the dehydration of gases using composite permeable membranes, preferably hollow fiber composite membranes comprised of a porous support coated with an ultrathin layer of a defined sulfonated polysulfone or sulfonated polyether ketone. The processes also contemplate the use of a sweep or purge gas on the water-enriched permeate side of the composite membrane to increase the efficiency of the dehydration process.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the long term performance of gas separation membranes. The permeable membranes are heated at a moderate temperature of from about 50.degree. C. to 140.degree. C. Use of this method enables restoration and reclamation of permeable membranes that have suffered degradation in performance in gas separation processes.

Abstract: A hollow fiber separatory module for separating fluids includes an annular hollow fiber separatory bundle encased in a pressure resistant shell. A region of the bundle is constricted so that the walls of the fiber are densified. Consequently, compaction of these fibers during operation is reduced. The constricted region is encapsulated by a potting material. Minimization of compaction aids in maintaining a sealing contact between the fibers and the potting material. "O" rings extending from the pressure resistant shell may seal the space between the pressure shell and the fiber bundle. The constricted portion may accommodate the "O" rings so that a pressure resistant shell of uniform outside diameter can be used. The fiber bundle may be constricted by heating, chemical treatment, applying pressure or application of tension during winding.

Abstract: A method of upgrading the .[.selectively.]. .Iadd.selectivity .Iaddend.of a dry asymmetric permselective membrane comprising a porous barrier layer adjacent to a porous main body, where the barrier layer has an external .[.obverse.]. surface .Iadd.and the main body has an external obverse surface.Iaddend.. The method comprises maintaining the barrier layer surface in a drying atmosphere while applying a wetting liquid which is not a solvent for the bulk of the membrane to the obverse surface to wet interstices of the bulk of the membrane, and drying the membrane by continuing the exposure of the external surface of the barrier layer to the drying atmosphere as the wetting liquid moves from the obverse surface through the membrane main body and the barrier layer.