Modular devices and systems for infusing gas into a liquid and methods of manufacture and use thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides modular devices and systems for infusing gas into a liquid and methods of manufacture and use thereof. In accordance with an embodiment, a modular device for infusing gas into a liquid is provided. The modular device comprises a plurality of microporous hollow fibers, and a cap covering open ends of the microporous hollow fibers. The cap is configured to receive a gas into an opening and to deliver the gas into the open ends of the microporous hollow fibers. The cap is further configured to removably mount the modular device to a fixture. A system for infusing gas into a liquid may include one or more of the modular gas infusion devices configured to be removably mounted to a fixture such that the microporous hollow fibers are within a hollow cavity. The hollow cavity includes a first opening configured to receive a liquid and a second opening configured to discharge the liquid infused with a gas. Because the system is modular, it is economical to manufacture, scale to different application requirements and to maintain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular device for infusing gas into a liquid comprising:
 a plurality of microporous hollow fibers; and   a cap covering open ends of the microporous hollow fibers and the cap being configured to receive a gas into an opening and to deliver the gas into the open ends of the microporous hollow fibers, and the cap being configured to removably mount the modular device to a fixture.   
     
     
         2 . The modular device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a potting compound configured to adhere the microporous hollow fibers to the cap. 
     
     
         3 . The modular device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises:
 a sleeve that surrounds the open ends of the fibers wherein the potting compound adheres the microporous hollow fibers to the sleeve; and   a plug attached to the sleeve and the plug having a means for mounting the modular device to the fixture.   
     
     
         4 . The modular device according to  claim 3 , wherein the plug comprises the opening in the cap. 
     
     
         5 . The modular device according to  claim 3 , wherein the means for mounting the modular device to the fixture comprises tapered threads. 
     
     
         6 . The modular device according to  claim 3 , wherein the means for mounting the modular device to the fixture comprises a quick connect fitting. 
     
     
         7 . The modular device according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the cap is threaded. 
     
     
         8 . The modular device according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the cap is configured to accept a quick connect fitting. 
     
     
         9 . The modular device according to  claim 1 , wherein the microporous hollow fibers are looped such that the cap covers two open ends of each of the microporous hollow fibers. 
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a modular device for infusing gas into a liquid comprising:
 inserting ends of a plurality of microporous hollow fibers into a potting cup;   adding potting compound into the potting cup;   cutting through the potting cup and fibers to expose open ends of the microporous hollow fibers and thereby a remaining portion of the potting cup surrounds the microporous hollow fibers;   attaching the remaining portion of the potting cup to a means for removably mounting the modular device to a fixture.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the means for mounting further is configured to receive a gas into an opening and to deliver the gas into the open ends of the microporous hollow fibers. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the means for mounting comprises tapered threads for mounting the modular device to the fixture. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the means for mounting comprises a quick connect fitting for mounting the modular device to the fixture. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the opening in the means for mounting is threaded. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the opening in the means for mounting is configured to accept a quick connect fitting. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the microporous hollow fibers are looped such that cutting through the potting cup and fibers to exposes two open ends of each fiber. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a modular system for infusing gas into a liquid comprising:
 removably mounting one or more modular devices to a fixture, wherein each modular device comprises a plurality of microporous hollow fibers and an opening configured to receive a gas and is configured to deliver the gas into open ends of the microporous hollow fibers, and wherein the fixture comprises a hollow cavity, a first opening configured to receive a liquid, and a second opening configured to discharge the liquid infused with the gas, wherein when the one or more modules are mounted to the fixture, the microporous hollow fibers are within the hollow cavity;   introducing gas into the opening of each of the modular devices; and   introducing liquid into the first opening of the fixture.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the gas is primarily oxygen and the liquid is primarily water. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising maintaining a pressure of the gas higher than a pressure of the liquid. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising removing one or more of the modular devices and replacing the removed modular devices with replacement modular devices. 
     
     
         21 . A modular system for infusing gas into a liquid comprising:
 a fixture; and   one or more modules, each module comprising:
 a plurality of microporous hollow fibers; and 
 a cap surrounding open ends of the microporous hollow fibers and the cap being configured to receive the gas into an opening and to deliver the gas into the open ends of the microporous hollow fibers, and the end cap being configured to removably mount the module to the fixture. 
   
     
     
         22 . The modular system according to  claim 21 , wherein the fixture comprises:
 a hollow cavity;   a first opening configured to receive a liquid; and   a second opening configured to discharge the liquid infused with a gas.   
     
     
         23 . The modular system according to  claim 22 , wherein when the one or more modules are mounted to the fixture, the microporous hollow fibers are within the hollow cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The modular system according to  claim 21 , wherein the system is submersible in the liquid. 
     
     
         25 . The modular system according to  claim 24 , further comprising a submersible pump mounted within a container wherein the submersible pump is configured to draw liquid from the container and to direct the liquid into the fixture. 
     
     
         26 . The modular system according to  claim 21 , wherein the fixture comprises one or more receptacles configured to removably receive the one or more modules. 
     
     
         27 . The modular system according to  claim 26 , wherein the one or more receptacles comprise a threaded fitting. 
     
     
         28 . The modular system according to  claim 26 , wherein the one or more receptacles comprise a quick connect fitting. 
     
     
         29 . The modular system according to  claim 21 , further comprising a manifold configured to deliver the gas to the opening of the cap of each module. 
     
     
         30 . The modular system according to  claim 29 , further comprising a gas pressure regulator. 
     
     
         31 . The modular system according to  claim 21 , comprising at least two of the modules.