Abstract: An improved system for producing dry, high pressure air uses a semipermeable membrane dehydrator to remove water vapor from compressed air between two stages of compression in a multistage air compressor.

Abstract: A system for generating oxygen enriched air includes a compressed air supply for supplying compressed air and a permeable membrane gas separation system for separating a nitrogen gas component and an oxygen enriched air component from the compressed air. An oxygen analyzer is provided to detect an oxygen concentration in the oxygen enriched air component. The nitrogen gas component is divided, by a vortex tube, into a cold gas stream and a hot gas stream, and solenoid valves are actuated to modify a flow path of the compressed air through the cold gas stream and the hot gas stream in order to selectively heat and cool the compressed air. The oxygen enriched air is then selectively distributed for further use.

Abstract: A capillary membrane gas dehydrator. A gaseous stream having water vapor therein flows into the tube side of the capillaries. Water vapor permeates through the fibers to the shell side. A portion of the dehydrated stream is used as a purge stream for the shell side of the dehydrator. A pressure valve meter combination is used in the bypass stream to ensure that the pressure of the purge stream is maintained at a constant level independent of any variation in the pressure of the feed stream. This ensures that if there is an increase in pressure in the feed stream there is no increase in the purge rate and no corresponding increase in purge losses.

Abstract: Tubular solid-state membrane modules for separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing gaseous mixture which provide improved pneumatic and structural integrity and ease of manifolding. The modules are formed from a plurality of tubular membrane units, each membrane unit which comprises a channel-free porous support having connected through porosity which is in contact with a contiguous dense mixed conducting oxide layer having no connected through porosity. The dense mixed conducting oxide layer is placed in flow communication with the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture to be separated and the channel-free porous support of each membrane unit is placed in flow communication with one or more manifolds or conduits for discharging oxygen which has been separated from the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture by permeation through the dense mixed conducting oxide layer of each membrane unit and passage into the manifolds or conduits via the channel-free porous support of each membrane unit.

Abstract: Tube units useful for a variety of application are provided. Preferably, individual laminated tubes are joined to each other by intermediate pieces to produce a wide ribbon of parallel tubes. The tubes are porous to certain substances, allowing them to serve as an apparatus to exchange material between two or more fluid streams. The tubes are particularly useful as membrane modules for exchange of material between two fluids. Continuous and discontinuous methods for constructing such tube units are also taught.

Abstract: A unique hollow fiber filter cartridge that allows repeated autoclaving without any deleterious breaks in sealing integrity between the potted fiber bundle and the filter module is disclosed. The unique filter cartridge braodly includes a casing that has at least one open end with an inner lip in the casing proximal to the open end; and a porous collar that has first and second peripheral edges, at least one of which is coupled to the casing along the inner ledge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the dehydration of gases utilizing hollow fiber membranes. The invention provides an internal sweep of the permeate side of the membranes utilizing an aperture in the tubesheet at the product end of the module thereby sweeping the permeate side of the membrane with product gas.

Abstract: A membrane cartridge has a feed inlet at one end and a retentate outlet at the other. Membrane structure of geometry defines a feed flow path and a permeate flow path between the feed inlet and retentate outlet. The cartridge has flow restrictions along the permeate flow path.

Abstract: A dehumidifying device for use in a ventilator for reducing the relative humidity of the expired air of a patient has a plurality of tubes, permeable to moisture, arrayed in a bundle and encircled by a loosely wound spiral harness between a first connection section and a second connection section in the dehumidifying device. When gas expired by the patient reaches the dehumidifying device, the water vapor therein diffuses into the tubes, and the relative humidity of expired gas is decreased.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for providing an enriched oxygen gas stream. A countercurrent sweep gas stream is provided to the permeate side of the hollow fiber membranes internally of a gas separation module.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and system for extracting a solute from a fluid or a dense gas using a porous membrane. The invention includes providing a porous membrane having opposite sides in a module under pressure, with the membrane serving as a barrier interface between a fluid and a dense gas. The dense gas is introduced into the module on one side of the membrane and the fluid is introduced on the opposite side of the membrane. At least one of the fluid and dense gas contains a solute to be extracted, and the other one of the fluid and dense gas serves as an extracting medium. The dense gas has a density of at least about 0.5 g/cc and is essentially immiscible in the fluid so as to provide two phases. The process is conducted with the pressure on both sides of the membrane in the module being essentially the same, and the solute is extracted across the membrane as driven by the concentration gradient of the solute across the membrane.

Abstract: The device for feeding gaseous substances into liquid media comprises a number of hollow membrane bodies which are permeable to gas and contain the liquid media. These membranes are arranged with a distance between them in such a way that they can be reached by the gaseous substances. Such a device lends itself particularly to air purification. Gaseous substances such as nitrogen oxides can be converted with the aid of this device. According to the invention the device can also be used for pure or mixed cultures of various microorganisms whereby, above all, information about the toxicity of individual substances can be obtained.

Abstract: A cartridge containing a plurality of hollow fiber membranes is disclosed. The cartridge comprises a plurality of fibers arranged in a bundle and at least one end of the bundle embedded in a tubesheet. The tubesheets are fitted with end caps to provide a chamber for the permeate. A feed tube extends longitudinally through the bundle and a permeate discharge tube is housed, preferably concentrically, within a feed tube. The cartridge does not require a high pressure seal, such as an O-ring seal, against the inner wall of the pressure vessel. The cartridge is configured as a single unit adapted for simple drop-in installation into a pressure vessel. Multiple cartridges may readily be inserted into a pressure vessel, and arranged so as to operate in series or in parallel. The hollow fiber membrane cartridge is adapted for industrial performance with high volumetric efficiency and high solute rejection.

Abstract: Air is separated in a vessel housing gas separation membranes. A flow control valve controls the passage of air to an inlet header of the vessel. The setting of the valve is adjusted in accordance with the level of oxygen impurity in product nitrogen leaving the vessel for an outlet header. A second flow control valve is provided and is of a kind whereby product nitrogen is able to be delivered at a constant flow rate over a range of different pressures upstream thereof. Accordingly, the apparatus is able to deliver nitrogen at a desired purity and flow rate.

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: A hydrogen-selective membrane comprises a tubular porous ceramic support having a palladium metal layer deposited on an inside surface of the ceramic support. The thickness of the palladium layer is greater than about 10 .mu.m but typically less than about 20 .mu.m. The hydrogen permeation rate of the membrane is greater than about 1.0 moles/m.sup.2.s at a temperature of greater than about 500.degree. C. and a transmembrane pressure difference of about 1,500 kPa. Moreover, the hydrogen-to-nitrogen selectivity is greater than about 600 at a temperature of greater than about 500.degree. C. and a transmembrane pressure of about 700 kPa. Hydrogen can be separated from a mixture of gases using the membrane. The method may include the step of heating the mixture of gases to a temperature of greater than about 400.degree. C. and less than about 1000.degree. C. before the step of flowing the mixture of gases past the membrane. The mixture of gases may include ammonia.

Abstract: A membrane nitrogen generator exhibiting increased flexibility and productivity in response to changes in customer demand which entails a membrane generator capable of generating nitrogen of variable flow rate and purity, bulk storage capacity for storing nitrogen of a purity which is higher than that required by a customer and flow and purity controllers for delivery to a customer plant.

Abstract: Oxygen-separating porous membranes comprise a complex of (a) a transition metal (II) ion, (b) a ligand, and (c) an aromatic amine, retained in the pores of a substrate.

Abstract: A gas separation apparatus employing a membrane gas separation unit and containing a regenerative desiccant for preventing any free water contacting the membranes within the membrane separation unit.

Abstract: The invention is a process for obtaining membranes having improved selectivity and recovery using a combination of heat treating and UV irradiation.

Abstract: An apparatus for exchanging substances, such as artificial lung, in which, for raising exchange efficiency by feeding liquid to the outer wall of hollow fiber membranes efficiently without channeling and for reducing the size of the apparatus, an exchanging part comprising a multitude of hollow fiber membrane (3) disposed cylindrically or annularly to permit liquid to flow through the hollow parts is provided, and a pump (P) is disposed on the inner periphery of said exchanging part so that liquid may continuously be fed to the hollow membrane vertically with respect to the axial direction of said hollow fiber membrane (3).

Abstract: A device and method for removing, concentrating and analyzing airborne organic compounds. The device includes a nonporous membrane which contains a collection media. The liquid collection media typically includes a component which has a molecular weight that is too large to pass through transport corridors in the nonporous membrane and a component which has a molecular weight which is sufficiently small enough to pass through the transport corridors in the nonporous membrane and thereby forming a thin film on the exterior surface of the device. The collection media can consist of only components too large to pass through the membrane transport corridors. Organic contaminants are trapped in the thin film on the exterior surface of the device or the membrane and transported by concentration gradient diffusion forces into the bulk of the collection media within the nonporous membrane.

Abstract: A nitrogen generator for producing nitrogen gas from air having a plurality of stages of membrane units each containing a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a feed input at least one of the plurality of membrane units containing a sweep input to inject a sweep gas longitudinally on the external surface of the hollow fiber membranes, the generator further containing:a) a conduit for collecting a non-permeate stream of a membrane stage N and using the same as a feed stream for a membrane stage N+1;b) a conduit for collecting only a permeate stream from at least the membrane stage N, and feeding all of the permeate stream from the membrane stage N to a sweep input of at least one previous membrane stage, such that the sweep gas is injected longitudinally and counter-current to the non-permeate gas on the external surface of the hollow fiber membranes, and that the sweep gas is mixed with the gas permeating through the hollow fiber membranes to make the permeate stream; andc) a conduit for collecting a pe

Abstract: The present invention is a hollow fiber separation assembly having one or more bundles of hollow fiber membranes with a tubesheet at each end enclosed by an end cap. An impermeable housing, preferably made from a flexible polymeric material, most preferably a shrinkable tubing, contacts and encloses the bundle, extending between the end caps. The polymeric, impermeable housing contacts and compacts the array of fibers in the bundle to enhance axial flow along the outside of individual fibers, protects the fiber bundle between the end caps, and contains the permeated fluid and diverts it to a port or ports at the end(s) of the bundle. This hollow fiber separation device provides a large capacity, and is also low cost, lightweight, may be used as a stand-alone separation device, and does not have a high-pressure section which requires testing.

Abstract: A device for separating hydrogen from gaseous mixtures containing it or for purifying gaseous hydrogen, comprising an outer casing (2) fiIled with a plurality of tubes (3) made of a suitable palladium based alloy, which tubes are closed at one end (4). The tubes are fixed in substantially seal-tight manner, at the open end side (5), to a part at least of a base (6) made of a metal alloy, the composition of which is such that its expansion coefficient in hydrogen is substantially equal to that of the alloy of the tubes. The base can be integrally formed and made of the above-mentioned alloy, or it can comprise a ring of substantially the same composition as that of the tubes adhering thereto by way of an autogenous soldering.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fluid separation composite membranes prepared from sulfonated aromatic polymers in lithium salt form with sulfonic acid groups attached to aromatic rings that are incorporated into the main polymeric backbone.

Abstract: Gas mixtures such as H.sub.2 /CO.sub.2 may be separated by passage through a filter bed of nanocrystalline ceramic particles on a bed of alumina particles.

Abstract: A membrane type oxygenator for effecting exchange of gases with a porous gas-exchange membrane possessing minute through pores forming a path for gas, which membrane type oxygenator is characterized by the fact that minute particles are retained in the minute pores of the porous gas-exchange membrane to permit a decrease in the cross-sectional area of the path for gas and as blood anticoagulant is retained in the minute particles or between the minute particles, and it is manufactured assembling a membrane type oxygenator containing a porous gas-exchange membrane possessing minute through pores forming a path for gas, then causing a dispersion of minute particles to flow through the interior of the membrane type oxygenator thereby allowing the minute pores to retain the minute particles and permitting a decrease in the cross-sectional area of the path for gas, removing the dispersion remaining within the membrane type oxygenator, and further causing a liquid containing a blood anticoagulant to flow through th

Abstract: A hollow fiber separation module is provided having a single, elongated pressurizable shell and containing multiple separation stages by multiple sections of hollow fiber bundles contained within the shell, with the ends of each bundle section potted within a single tubesheet at each end of the elongated shell. The fibers within each section are aligned so that the permeate within the fiber bores passes along paths traveling generally from one tubesheet to the other and one or more impermeable barriers are provided within the shell to isolate each section and control the passage of feed gas along the shell side of each fiber bundle section in a flow path countercurrent to the passage of permeate in the bores of the fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus for effective vacuum degassing of a liquid is provided for liquid chromatography applications. The liquid to be degassed is heated in the vacuum chamber by a radiator of electromagnetic energy, in one embodiment, or is heated before it enters the vacuum chamber. The liquid may also be agitated while in the vacuum chamber. In a preferred form, the vacuum degassing unit includes a vacuum chamber including a vacuum pump for creating a vacuum therein, a source of liquid, and gas permeable tubing for conducting the liquid through said vacuum chamber. The tubing includes first and second larger diameter blocks having at least one hole therein interconnected by at least one length of small diameter tube to form a leak-tight seal therewith.

Abstract: A membrane nitrogen generator adapted to deliver a flow rate of nitrogen gas having a purity at least equal to P.sub.0, which contains:a) a source of compressed nitrogen containing gas having a purity lower than P.sub.0, the source having a maximum flow rate Fm.sub.1 ;b) a varyer connected to the source, which is adapted to vary the flow rate of the source between Fm.sub.1 and 0;c) a nitrogen membrane fed by the source which is capable of delivering a low purity nitrogen gas having a purity P.sub.1, which purity is lower than P.sub.0 at the maximum flow rate Fm.sub.1 ;d) a source of high purity compressed nitrogen gas having a purity which is greater than P.sub.0 which has a controllable flow rate of from 0 to a maximum flow rate value of Fm.sub.2 ;e) a mixer; andf) a purity controller.

Abstract: A color photographic material having three light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layers separately sensitized to different regions of the spectrum and containing an each colorless coupler for the production of partial color images, is partly fogged in one of said layers to produce on color development in unexposed areas a color fog with a density of between 0.25 and 0.75 suited to compensate for undesired side densities of the image dye in one or more of the other of said layers.