Hollow fiber membrane contactor

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a contactor for degassing a liquid. The contactor includes a perforated core and a microporous membrane fabric wrapped around the core. The fabric includes a polymethyl pentene hollow fiber as a weft fiber and a warp yarn. A tube sheet secures the ends of the wound fiber and a shell encases the tube sheet and fabric. The shell has at least one opening to permit fluid flow through the shell and an end cap. In a further embodiment the invention is directed to a contactor for degassing a liquid wherein the contactor is adapted to withstand pressures greater than 0.4 MPa and temperatures greater than 50° C.

That which is claimed:  
     
         1 . A contactor for degassing a liquid comprising: 
 a perforated core;    a pre-shrunk microporous membrane fabric wrapped around said core, said fabric comprising a polymethyl pentene hollow fiber weft and a polyolefin warp yarn wherein the weft count is between 50 and 70 fibers per inch, the warp count is between 3 and 12 yarns per inch, and the warp yarn is finer than an 80 denier 40 filament yarn;    a tube sheet securing the ends of said fiber;    a shell encasing said tube sheet and fabric;    at least one opening in said shell to permit fluid flow through said shell; and    an end cap affixed to the shell.    
     
     
         2 . A contactor according to  claim 1  wherein said polyolefin yarn is a 40 denier/20 filament polypropylene yarn.  
     
     
         3 . A contactor according to  claim 1  wherein said fabric is pre-shrunk by heating said fabric to a temperature between about 55° C. and about 65° C. for about 2 to 8 hours.  
     
     
         4 . A contactor according to  claim 1  wherein said polymethyl pentene hollow fiber is a skinned fiber.  
     
     
         5 . A contactor according to  claim 1  wherein said weft fiber count is between 60 and 65 fibers per inch.  
     
     
         6 . A contactor according to  claim 1  wherein the aspect ratio of said fabric is between 0.10 to 6.0 inches −1 .  
     
     
         7 . A contactor according to  claim 1  wherein a liquid passes through the shell side of the contactor.  
     
     
         8 . A contactor according to  claim 1  wherein said polymethyl pentene hollow fiber fabric equates to an active membrane area greater than 0.05 m 2 .  
     
     
         9 . A contactor according to  claim 1  wherein the packing fraction of the wound fabric is between about 35% and 45%.  
     
     
         10 . A contactor according to  claim 1  wherein the said warp fiber count is between 6 and 7 fibers per inch.  
     
     
         11 . A contactor for degassing a liquid: 
 wherein said contactor is adapted to withstand pressures greater than 0.4 MPa and temperatures greater than 50° C. and further comprises; 
 a shell;  
 a pre-shrunk microporous membrane fabric comprising a polymethyl pentene hollow fiber weft and a warp yarn wherein said weft count is between 50 and 70 fibers per inch and said warp count is between 3 and 12 yarns per inch; and  
 at least one opening in said shell to permit the fluid flow through said shell.  
   
     
     
         12 . A contactor according to  claim 11  wherein said warp yarn is a polyolefin yarn finer than an 80 denier 40 filament yarn.  
     
     
         13 . A contactor according to  claim 12  wherein said polyolefin yarn is a 40 denier/20 filament polypropylene yarn.  
     
     
         14 . A contactor according to  claim 11  wherein said polymethyl pentene hollow fiber is a skinned fiber.  
     
     
         15 . A contactor according to  claim 11  wherein said fabric has a weft fiber count of between 60 and 65 fibers per inch.  
     
     
         16 . A contactor according to  claim 11  wherein the aspect ratio of said fabric is between 0.10 to 6.0 inches −1 .  
     
     
         17 . A contactor according to  claim 11  wherein a liquid passes through the shell side of the contactor.  
     
     
         18 . A contactor according to  claim 11  wherein said polymethyl pentene hollow fiber fabric equates to an active membrane area greater than 0.05 m 2 .  
     
     
         19 . A contactor according to  claim 11  wherein packing fraction of the wound fabric is between about 35% and 45%.  
     
     
         20 . A contactor according to  claim 11  wherein said warp yarn count is between 6 and 7 yarns per inch.