| 摘要 |
A hollow fiber separation module (10) is provided having a single, elongated pressurizable shell (11) and containing multiple separation stages by multiple sections of hollow fiber bundles (18,20) contained within the shell, with the ends of each bundle section potted within a single tubesheet (27,28) at each end of the elongated shell. The fibers within each section are aligned so that the permeate within the fiber bores passes along paths traveling generally from one tubesheet to the other and one or more impermeable barriers (19) are provided within the shell to isolate each section and control the passage of feed gas along the shell side of each fiber bundle section in a flow path countercurrent to the passage of permeate in the bores of the fibers. In a preferred embodiment, annular fiber bundles are positioned coaxially about a central mandrel (12), each of the annular bundles (18,20) coaxial with the other and with the ends of each bundle embedded within common tubesheets. Passages (21) are provided within the impermeable separating barrier (19) to permit passage of feed gas from one section of fiber bundle to the other at a position adjacent a tubesheet. Feed can be introduced at a position adjacent a tubesheet and retentate removed at the end of a bundle adjacent a tubesheet, so that the flow of feed and the flow of retentate from each preceding section pass axially through the bundles in a flow path countercurrent to that of the passage of permeate through the fiber bores. Provision is made for recycle of permeate to the feed and the use of stage II permeate to sweep the bores of the fibers of stage I. |
