Spiral wound hollow fiber potting

Abstract

The present invention involves a process that includes injecting a potting compound such as an epoxy through a hollow portion of the central mandrel and onto the inner layer(s) of a multi-layered fiber bundle and through the outside of the bundle and onto the outer layer(s) of the bundle. By potting through the central mandrel, the potting compound distributes evenly throughout the inner fibers of the bundle. The steps may be sequentially or simultaneously. Preferably it is done as a two-step process, with the first step being to apply the potting compound through the central mandrel and onto the inner fibers first. The second step is to pot around the outer layer of the fiber bundle to finish the process. The resultant product is also disclosed.

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       26 . A hollow fiber device comprising a housing; a mandrel; one or more layers of hollow fibers wrapped around the mandrel; and a preformed block comprising an outer layer potting fill hole and a center rod potting fill hole.  
   
   
       27 . A spirally wound hollow fiber membrane device comprising a hollow fiber membrane, a hollow tube, potting compound and a housing, wherein: 
 (a) the hollow fiber membrane having pores and a lumen, the hollow fiber membrane being spirally wound around said hollow tube to form two or more layers with each successively outward layer overlapping the previous layer;    (b) the hollow tube having a hole providing fluid communication between the hollow portion of the tube and said two or more layers of hollow fiber membrane;    (c) the housing having a first port and a permeate port, said first port allowing flow of fluid into said lumen of said hollow fiber membrane, said permeate port allowing flow out of said device of fluid passed through said hollow fiber membrane; and    (d) said potting compound, at each end of hollow tube, filling the center of said tube and the space around said hollow fiber membrane between said hollow tube and said housing, such that fluid passed through said first port must enter said device through said lumen of said hollow fiber membrane.    
   
   
       28 . The spirally wound hollow fiber membrane device of  claim 27 , wherein the potting compound is chosen from epoxy, urethane, acrylics, methacrylics and cyanoacrylics.  
   
   
       29 . The spirally wound hollow fiber membrane device of  claim 27 , wherein the hollow tube is a mandrel.  
   
   
       30 . The spirally wound hollow fiber membrane device of  claim 29 , wherein the mandrel is comprised of through holes in fluid communication with the inner layers of the hollow fibers.  
   
   
       31 . The spirally wound hollow fiber membrane device of  claim 27 , further comprising a cap covering an end of the hollow tube, and wherein the cap engages the housing.  
   
   
       32 . The spirally wound hollow fiber membrane device of  claim 27 , comprising a first cap and a second cap, each cap covering an end of the hollow tube, and wherein each cap engages the housing  
   
   
       33 . The spirally wound hollow fiber membrane device of  claim 32 , comprising a second port.  
   
   
       34 . The spirally wound hollow fiber membrane device of  claim 33 , wherein the first and second ports are integral with the first and second caps.