| US 7,608,185 B2 | ||
| Hollow fiber membrane modules for use in distillation systems | ||
| Xiaohong Liao, South Windsor, Conn. (US); Zidu Ma, Ellington, Conn. (US); and James R. Irish, Vernon, Conn. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Rockford, Ill. (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 18, 2007, as Appl. No. 12/2,669. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2009/0152184 A1, Jun. 18, 2009 | ||
| Int. Cl. B01D 63/00 (2006.01); B01D 15/00 (2006.01); B01D 35/18 (2006.01); B01D 3/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 210—321.8 [210/321.78; 210/321.79; 210/321.81; 210/640; 210/180; 210/261; 210/175; 96/4; 96/8; 96/10; 202/180; 202/175; 202/81; 202/202] | 20 Claims |
| 9. A membrane module comprising:
a housing;
a first chamber disposed within the housing, and having a feed solution inlet; a second chamber disposed within the housing, and having an outlet for the feed solution;
a conduit interconnecting the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the first chamber, the second chamber, and the
conduit are configured to provide flow paths for a feed solution flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber via
the conduit; and
a plurality of hollow fiber membranes extending through the first chamber and the second chamber to a distillate outlet, and
having inner hollow regions configured to provide flow paths for a distillate fluid, the plurality of hollow fiber membranes
having first segments located within the first chamber and second segments located within the second chamber, wherein the
first segments are configured to allow transmission of distillate fluid vapor therethrough and the second segments are configured
to prevent transmission of distillate fluid vapor therethrough while allowing transmission of thermal energy therethrough.
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