Abstract:
Apparatus for circulating fluids, especially useful in gas permeation, in which a plurality of rings are stacked one on top of the other in a cylindrical jacket which is closed at each end with an end plate, one of which may be removable. Porous discs are located between each adjacent ring, in recesses formed therein, and each face of each disc is covered with a membrane. Fluid flows into the chambers formed between adjacent discs, and within each ring. For this purpose each ring is provided with a first passage communicating between one end face of the ring and the internal annular face of the ring, the second passage communicating between the internal annular face of the ring and the other end face, the second passage opening onto the internal face at a point generally opposite to the point at which the first passage opens thereonto, the first passage of each ring communicating with the second passage of the adjacent ring. The ring at one end of the stack has its first passage communicating with a supply duct, and the ring at the other end of the stack has its second passage communicating with the outlet duct of the apparatus, discharge channels being provided to let the permeate passing through the membranes escape from the lateral edge of each disc.
Abstract:
Separating apparatus, particularly suitable for gas permeation and pervaporaton, such apparatus comprising a plurality of parallelopipedonal frame members having a central cell forming aperture stacked alternately with a plurality of parallelopipedonal membrane members of substantially the same outside dimensions, the membrane members each including two permeable membranes having a porous support interposed therebetween, at least one opening formed in the porous support near one side and extending across between 40 and 90% of the width of the support, with the two membranes secured to one another in a fluid tight manner over a zone within the opening or openings, at least one orifice being formed in the membranes in said zone or zones, the openings of alternate membrane members being on opposite sides of the stack; means for supplying fluid to one end of the stack; means for withdrawing fluid from the other end of the stack; a fluid tight chamber enclosing the stack and means for removing permeate from said chamber.