Apparatus and method for separating fluids through a membrane

Abstract

Apparatus for contacting first and second fluids at elevated pressures with a membrane such that one or more components of one of the fluids passes through the membrane into the other fluid, comprising a housing e.g. a pressure vessel ( 4 ), and a membrane module ( 20 ) housed in the pressure vessel and having a first fluid inlet ( 8 a ) and a first fluid outlet ( 8 b ) and a second fluid inlet ( 9 a ) and a second fluid outlet ( 9 b ), wherein a seal ( 61 ) extends round the membrane module and seals between an outside wall of the membrane module and an inside wall of the pressure vessel so as to separate the first fluid inlet from the first fluid outlet.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for contacting first and second fluids at elevated pressures with a membrane such that one or more components of one of the fluids passes through the membrane into the other fluid, the apparatus being assembled from a housing and a membrane module, the membrane module comprising a plurality of membrane tubes with opposite axial ends which are potted to separate the shell sides of the tubes from the tube sides of the tubes at the axial ends thereof, and the membrane module being housed in the housing and having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet for fluid flow on the shell side of the membrane tubes and, at the opposite axial ends of the membrane tubes, a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet for fluid flow on the tube side of the membrane tubes, wherein the apparatus further comprises a first seal extending round the membrane module and sealing between an outside wall of the membrane module and an inside wall of the housing so as to separate the first fluid inlet from the first fluid outlet, and a pair of second seals each extending round the membrane module and sealing between the outside wall of the membrane module and the inside wall of the housing, the second seals being axially spaced form the first seal and on opposite axial sides thereof, so as to define a first fluid inlet region between the first seal and one of the second seals and a first fluid outlet region between the first seal and the other of the second seals, and said first seal and said pair of second seals all permitting assembly into the housing, in the axial direction, of said membrane module with its potted membrane tubes.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the membrane module has at least one lateral opening in its outside wall to form the first fluid inlet and at least one lateral opening in its outside wall to form the first fluid outlet.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein first fluid inlet and outlet are disposed axially inwardly of said opposite axial ends.  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the membrane module has a cross-sectional shape corresponding substantially to that of the housing so as to fit closely therein.  
     
     
         22 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the housing has at least one full diameter flanged opening for insertion of the membrane module.  
     
     
         23 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the first seal is received in a groove in the housing.  
     
     
         24 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the groove is provided in a separate member secured to two body portions of the housing to form a connection therebetween.  
     
     
         25 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the second seals separate the first fluid from the second fluid.  
     
     
         26 . Apparatus for contacting first and second fluids at elevated pressures with a membrane such that one or more components of one of the fluids passes through the membrane into the other fluid, the apparatus being assembled from a housing and a membrane module, the membrane module comprising a plurality of membrane tubes with opposite axial ends which are potted to separate the shell sides of the tubes form the tube sides of the tubes at the axial ends thereof, and the membrane module being housed in the housing and having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet for fluid flow on the shell side of the membrane tubes and, at the opposite axial ends of the membrane tubes, a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet for fluid flow on the tube side of the membrane tubes, wherein the apparatus further comprises a first seal extending round the membrane module and sealing between an outside wall of the membrane module and an inside wall of the housing so as to separate the first fluid inlet from the first fluid outlet and obstruct the flow of the fluid, and a pair of second seals each extending round the membrane module and sealing between the outside wall of the membrane module and the inside wall of the housing, the second seals being axially spaced from the first seal and on opposite axial sides thereof, so as to define a first fluid inlet region between the first seal and one of the second seals and a first fluid outlet region between the first seal and the other of the second seals, and said first seal and said pair of second seals all assembled into the housing, in the axial direction, of said membrane module with its potted membrane tubes.  
     
     
         27 . Apparatus for contacting first and second fluids at elevated pressures with a membrane such that one or more components of one of the fluids passes through the membrane into the other fluid, the apparatus being assembled from a housing and a membrane module, the membrane module comprising a plurality of membrane tubes with opposite axial ends which are potted to separate the shell sides of the tubes from the tube sides of the tubes at the axial ends thereof, and the membrane module being housed in the housing and having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet for fluid flow on the shell side of the membrane tubes and, at the opposite axial ends of the membrane tubes, a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet for fluid flow on the tube side of the membrane tubes, wherein the apparatus further comprises a first seal extending round the membrane module and sealing between an outside wall of the membrane module and an inside wall of the housing so as to separate the first fluid inlet from the first fluid outlet and obstruct the flow of the fluid, and a pair of second seals each extending round the membrane module and sealing between the outside wall of the membrane module and the inside wall of the housing, the second seals being axially spaced from the first seal and on opposite axial sides thereof, so as to define a first fluid inlet region between the first seal and one of the second seals and first fluid outlet region between the first seal and the other of the second seals, and said first seal and said pair of second seals being arranged so as to permit assembly into the housing, in the axial direction, of said membrane module with its potted membrane tubes.