MEMBRANE APPARATUS WITH ENHANCED MASS TRANSFER, HEAT TRANSFER AND PUMPING CAPABILITIES VIA ACTIVE MIXING

摘要

This invention is a combination mass transfer, and pump apparatus (10), which in a single step actively mixes a first mass, a second mass that simultaneously pumps one of the first mass, and the second mass through the apparatus. The combination mass transfer and pump apparatus substantially comprises a housing (12), and at least one distributor element (16) having a plurality of selectively fluid-permeable membrane elements (48) wherein the at least one distributor element is agitated within the second mass such that the first mass diffuses across the selectively fluid-permeable membrane elements, mixing with the second mass, and in the same step the second mass is pumped through the housing.