Abstract: In apparatus containing a bundle of tubes such as permeators, a tubular spacer substantially surrounds a tube sheet in which tubes are embedded for at least a portion of the lateral surface of the tube sheet. The tubular spacer serves to position the tube sheet within the apparatus. The tube sheet has at least one rise region intermediate a face and an expanded zone having larger cross-sectional dimensions than the corresponding dimensions of the face, and the rise region is adapted to abut the tubular spacer. The tube sheet can have sufficient length along the orientation of the tubes in order to ensure a fluid tight relationship between tubes and the tube sheet, and the amount of material to form the tube sheet can be reduced, thereby minimizing the effect of differential expansions.

Abstract: In apparatus containing a bundle of tubes such as permeators, a tubular spacer substantially surrounds a tube sheet in which tubes are embedded for at least a portion of the lateral surface of the tube sheet. The tubular spacer serves to position the tube sheet within the apparatus. The tube sheet has at least one rise region intermediate a face and an expanded zone having larger cross-sectional dimensions than the corresponding dimensions of the face, and the rise region is adapted to abut the tubular spacer. The tube sheet can have sufficient length along the orientation of the tubes in order to ensure a fluid tight relationship between tubes and the tube sheet, and the amount of material to form the tube sheet can be reduced, thereby minimizing the effect of differential expansions.

Abstract: Hollow filaments, which are suitable for use in separating one or more components from a fluid mixture by selective permeation, are embedded, or potted, in a curable resinous mass, and the resinous mass is severed to expose fluid communication openings of the hollow filaments. In accordance with the invention the curable resinous mass is sufficiently partially-cured to provide a solid mass which can be severed but does not tend to smear when severed so as to obstruct fluid communication openings of the hollow filaments; however, the partial curing is insufficient to render the severings of the resinous mass unduly difficult. The resinous mass is then severed, e.g., by cutting, to provide the fluid communication openings in the hollow filaments embedded in the resinous mass.