Fluid separation assembly and method

Abstract

In an embodiment there is provided a fluid separation assembly. The assembly has a hollow fiber bundle with a plurality of hollow fiber membranes. The assembly further has a first tubesheet and a second tubesheet encapsulating respective ends of the hollow fiber bundle, wherein one of the tubesheets has a plurality of radial through openings formed in the tubesheet. The assembly further has a housing surrounding the hollow fiber bundle and the first and second tubesheets, the housing having a feed inlet port, a permeate outlet port, and a non-permeate outlet port. The feed gas, permeate gas, or non-permeate gas are introduced into or removed from the hollow fiber membranes via the plurality of radial through openings formed in the tubesheet, such that the radial through openings of the tubesheet intersect each or substantially each of the hollow fiber membranes.

1 . A fluid separation assembly comprising:
 a hollow fiber bundle comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membranes;   a first tubesheet and a second tubesheet encapsulating respective ends of the hollow fiber bundle, wherein one of the tubesheets has a plurality of radial through openings formed in the tubesheet; and,   a housing surrounding the hollow fiber bundle and the first and second tubesheets, the housing having a feed inlet port, a permeate outlet port, and a non-permeate outlet port;   wherein feed gas, permeate gas, or non-permeate gas are introduced into or removed from the hollow fiber membranes via the plurality of radial through openings formed in the tubesheet, such that the radial through openings of the tubesheet intersect each or substantially each of the hollow fiber membranes.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one first seal adjacent the first tubesheet and at least one second seal adjacent the second tubesheet, wherein the first and second seals are fluid tight. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a first end cap and a second end cap, wherein the first and second end caps are closed. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the feed inlet port is in flow communication with at least a portion of the radial through openings on the first tubesheet, so that the feed gas can flow into the intersected hollow fiber membranes. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the non-permeate outlet port is in flow communication with the second tubesheet, so that the non-permeate gas can flow out of the hollow fiber membranes and out of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the permeate outlet port is in flow communication with an interior of the housing, so that the permeate gas can permeate out of the intersected hollow fiber membranes and out of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the feed gas comprises air, the non-permeate gas comprises nitrogen enriched air, and the permeate gas comprises one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the radial through openings minimize pressure loads and bending moments on the tubesheet. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is part of an inert gas generating system in a transport vehicle, wherein the transport vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an aircraft, an aerospace vehicle, a space launch vehicle, a rocket, a satellite, a rotorcraft, a watercraft, a boat, a ship, a train, an automobile, a truck, and a bus. 
     
     
         10 . A method for minimizing pressure loads and bending moments in a fluid separation assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a fluid separation assembly comprising:   a hollow fiber bundle comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membranes;   a first tubesheet and a second tubesheet encapsulating respective ends of the hollow fiber bundle; and,   a housing surrounding the hollow fiber bundle and the first and second tubesheets, the housing having a feed inlet port, a permeate outlet port, and a non-permeate outlet port;   forming a plurality of radial through openings in one of the tubesheets, such that the radial through openings intersect each or substantially each of the hollow fiber membranes; and,   introducing or removing feed gas, permeate gas, or non-permeate gas into and out of the hollow fiber membranes via the radial through openings, thereby minimizing pressure loads and bending moments on the tubesheet.   
     
     
         11 . A method of generating nitrogen enriched air comprising:
 introducing air radially through radial through openings formed in a first tubesheet encapsulated end of a hollow fiber bundle of hollow fiber membranes, wherein the radial through openings intersect each or substantially each of the hollow fiber membranes;   permeating a permeate gas comprising one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide, water through walls of the hollow fiber membranes; and,   flowing out nitrogen enriched air from an opening of a second tubesheet encapsulated end of the hollow fiber bundle of hollow fiber membranes.   
     
     
         12 . An aircraft comprising:
 an airframe;   at least one fuel tank mounted on the airframe;   at least one fuel tank vent operatively connected to the fuel tank; and,   an inert gas generating system for generating inert gas on-board the aircraft, the inert gas generating system comprising the fluid separation assembly of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the nitrogen enriched air is supplied to at least one fuel tank of a transport vehicle,
 wherein:   the air is introduced through a feed inlet port and through the radial through openings to induce air flow through the hollow fiber membranes;   non-nitrogen permeate gases is removed from the hollow fiber membranes along the fiber bundle and out through a permeate outlet port;   nitrogen enriched air is removed through a non-permeate outlet port; and,   the nitrogen enriched air is supplied to at least one fuel tank of a transport vehicle.