Fluid degassing module with helical membrane

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9370734-B2
Application number	US-201414303778-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2014
Priority date	Jun 26, 2013
Publication date	Jun 21, 2016
Grant date	Jun 21, 2016

Abstract

A degassing module is adapted for degassing a liquidous fluid at relatively high throughput flow rates. The degassing module includes a tubular separation membrane that is helically wound within an interior chamber of a degassing module housing. The helically wound tubular separation membrane is disposed in an axial flow gap of predetermined proportions that maximizes fluid flow dynamics in reducing the gas transport resistance from the liquid phase across the membrane. Typically, the helically wound tubular separation membrane is positioned in the gap with radial spacings to surfaces bounding the gap, thereby forming axial flow channels circumaxially inwardly and/or outwardly of the wound tubular membrane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A degassing module for degassing a liquidous fluid, said degassing module comprising:
a housing defining an interior chamber and a housing axis, said housing having an evacuation port opening to said chamber, and a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port each opening to said chamber for permitting flow of the fluid through said interior chamber;
a cell secured to said housing and having a length extending axially along said housing axis in said interior chamber;
a tubular separation membrane helically wound about said cell in a gap between an inner surface of said housing and an outer surface of said cell, said membrane defining a lumen that is in fluid communication with said evacuation port for evacuating said lumen, said membrane forming a gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable barrier between said interior chamber and said lumen;
a housing strut extending from said inner surface of said housing to maintain said membrane in a spaced relationship from said inner surface of said housing, with a first spacing being defined radially between said membrane and said inner surface of said housing; and
a cell strut extending from said outer surface of said cell to maintain said membrane in a spaced relationship from said outer surface of said cell, with a second spacing being defined radially between said membrane and said outer surface of said cell.

2. A degassing module as in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a housing cap sealingly engaged to a housing shell.

3. A degassing module as in claim 2 wherein said cell extends from said housing cap.

4. A degassing module as in claim 1 wherein said first and second spacings are between 50-500 micrometers.

5. A degassing module as in claim 1 , including a plurality of cell struts extending substantially axially along said outer surface of said cell to define axially-oriented flow channels between respective adjacent sets of cell struts and between said membrane and said outer surface of said cell.

6. A degassing module as in claim 5 , including a plurality of housing struts extending substantially axially along said inner surface of said housing to define axially-oriented flow channels between respective adjacent sets of housing struts and between said membrane and said inner surface of said housing.

7. A degassing module as in claim 6 wherein said cell struts are circumferentially spaced apart by a circumferential spacing that is proportional to said first spacing and a circumference of said cell.

8. A degassing module as in claim 7 wherein said housing struts are circumferentially offset from said cell struts.

9. A degassing module for degassing a liquidous fluid, said degassing module comprising:
a housing defining an interior chamber and a housing axis, and having an evacuation port, a fluid inlet port, and a fluid outlet port;
a cell secured in said interior chamber and extending axially along said housing axis to form a circumaxial gap in said interior chamber, wherein the circumferential gap is radially bounded by a first surface and a second surface, with the second surface being substantially parallel to said first surface; and
a tubular separation membrane defining a lumen that is in fluid communication with said evacuation port for evacuating said lumen, said membrane forming a gas-penneable, liquid-impermeable barrier between said interior chamber and said lumen, said membrane being helically wound about said cell in said circumaxial gap, with one or more spacing structures maintaining a first spacing between said membrane and said first surface, and a second spacing between said membrane and said second surface, wherein said first and second spacings are between 50-500 micrometers.

10. A degassing module as in claim 9 wherein said housing includes a housing cap sealingly engaged to a housing shell, and said cell extends axially from said housing cap.

11. A degassing module as in claim 10 wherein said cell and said housing cap form a unitary body.

12. A degassing module as in claim 11 wherein said fluid inlet port is in fluid communication with said interior chamber through said cell.

13. A degassing module as in claim 12 wherein said cell includes a cell channel for conveying the liquidous fluid from said fluid inlet port to said interior chamber.

14. A degassing module as in claim 13 wherein said cell channel extends axially along said housing axis through a length of said cell.

15. A degassing module as in claim 9 wherein said first and second spacings are substantially equal.

16. A degassing system for degassing a liquidous fluid, said degassing system comprising:
a liquidous fluid source;
a degassing module including:
a housing defining an interior chamber and a housing axis, and having an evacuation port, a fluid inlet port, and a fluid outlet port;
a cell secured in said interior chamber and extending axially along said housing axis to form a circumaxial gap in said interior chamber, wherein the circumferential gap is radially bounded by said housing and said cell;
a tubular separation membrane defining a lumen that is in fluid communication with said evacuation port for evacuating said lumen, said membrane forming a gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable barrier between said interior chamber and said lumen, said membrane being helically wound about said cell in said circumaxial gap, with one or more spacing structures maintaining a first spacing between said membrane and an inner surface of said housing, and a second spacing between said membrane and an outer surface of said cell;

a transfer conduit fluidically coupling said liquidous fluid source to said fluid inlet;
a pump for motivating the liquidous fluid from said liquidous fluid source through said interior chamber of said degassing module; and
a vacuum source for evacuating said lumen through said evacuation port.

17. A degassing system as in claim 16 wherein the liquidous fluid is pumped into contact with said tubular membrane.

18. A method for degassing a liquidous fluid, said method comprising:
(a) providing a degassing module having:
(i) a housing defining an interior chamber and a housing axis, and having an evacuation port, a fluid inlet port; and a fluid outlet port;
(ii) a cell secured in said interior chamber and extending axially along said housing axis to form a circumaxial gap in said interior chamber, wherein the circumferential gap is radially bounded by said housing and said cell; and
(iii) a tubular separation membrane defining a lumen that is in fluid communication with said evacuation port for evacuating said lumen, said membrane forming a gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable barrier between said interior chamber and said lumen, said membrane being helically wound about said cell in said circumaxial gap, wherein a first spacing is maintained between said membrane and said first surface, and a second spacing is maintained between said membrane and said second surface;

(b) motivating the liquidous fluid through said fluid inlet and into contact with said membrane in said interior chamber;
(c) evacuating said lumen through said evacuation port; and
(d) delivering the liquidous fluid from said interior chamber through said outlet port.

19. A method as in claim 18 , including motivating the liquidous fluid through said degassing module at a flow rate exceeding 20 ml/minute.

20. A method as in claim 18 wherein said first and second spacings are between 50-500 micrometers.

Assignees

• Idex Health & Science Llc
• Idex Health & Science Llc

Inventors

• Liu Quan
• Sims Carl
• Gerner Yuri

Classifications

• B01D19/00 Primary

  Degasification of liquids · CPC title

• B01D19/0031 Primary

  by filtration · CPC title