Method of potting hollow fiber membranes

Abstract

An immersible permeate collection assembly has an enclosure with walls and a port adapted to be connected to a source of suction. A solid body having a first face and a second face is attached to the enclosure and forms a permeate collection zone with the enclosure. A plurality of hollow fibre membranes are potted in the solid body with open ends in fluid communication with the permeate collection zone. A gas tube passes through the solid body from the first face to the second face. A first end of the gas tube allows a gas flowing through the gas tube to exit the gas tube. A second end of the gas tube communicates with a structure defining a pathway between the air tube and an air port adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized gas.

1 . A permeate collection assembly having, 
 a) an enclosure having walls and a port, the port adapted to be connected to a source of suction;    b) a solid body having a first face and a second face, the solid body attached to the walls of the enclosure, the second face of the solid body forming a permeate collection zone with the enclosure, the enclosure and solid body adapted to be immersed in a non-pressurized liquid substrate, the solid body sealed to the enclosure in a manner adapted to prevent the substrate from entering the permeate collection zone;    c) a plurality of hollow fibre membranes potted in the solid body, the membranes having open ends in fluid communication with the permeate collection zone; and,    d) a gas tube passing through the solid body, the gas tube having a first end protruding from the first face of the solid body and a second end protruding from the second face of the solid body, the first end of the gas tube having an opening adapted to allow a gas flowing through the gas tube to exit the gas tube, the second end in communication with a structure defining a pathway between the air tube and an air port, the air port adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized gas, the structure adapted to be immersible in the substrate and to prevent substrate from entering the pathway other than through the air tube.    
   
   
       2 . The permeate collection assembly of  claim 1  wherein the solid body is adhesively secured to the enclosure.  
   
   
       3 . The permeate collection assembly of  claim 1  wherein the air tube is adhesively secured to the solid body.  
   
   
       4 . The permeate collection assembly of  claim 2  wherein the air tube is adhesively secured to the solid body.