Method of potting hollow fiber membranes and apparatus for filtering liquid with hollow fiber membranes

Abstract

A method for potting hollow fiber membranes comprises the steps of forming a bundle of membranes with a layer of adhesive; covering one end of the bundle with a permeate pan, the ends of the membranes protruding upwards into the permeate pan; and flowing a liquid potting material into the permeate pan. The bundle may be tilted to more quickly distribute the liquid potting material. An apparatus for filtering liquid with hollow fiber membranes comprises a bundle of membranes, a layer of adhesive spaced from the end of the bundle, a permeate pan covering the end of the bundle, and a header formed with the membranes, the adhesive and the pan.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for filtering liquid with hollow fiber membranes, the apparatus comprising
 a bundle of hollow fiber membranes;   at least a first layer of adhesive material substantially perpendicular to the length of the membranes, the first layer of adhesive spaced from an end of the bundle;   a permeate pan covering the end of the bundle to define a permeate collection space in fluid communication with the lumens of the membranes; and   a header material extending from the first layer of adhesive to the pan,   wherein the header has meniscuses around the membranes or extends to a second layer of adhesive material located between the end of the bundle and the first layer of adhesive material.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus has the second layer of adhesive material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pan further comprises a hole to allow access to the permeate collection space.