STAGED MEMBRANE DIFFUSION DEVICE AND MEMBRANE SUPPORT

摘要

STAGED MEMBRANE DIFFUSION DEVICE AND MEMBRANE SUPPORT Inventors: F. Jesus Martinez William J. Schnell A diffusion device is disclosed made from a stack of pairs of semi-permeable membrane walls and plate members positioned between adjacent membrane wall pairs for support thereof. Flow conduits extend transversely of the stack in communication with flow passages between the membranes or between each membrane and each adjacent plate member. In accordance with this invention, staging means are provided for directing fluid in the flow passages successively along different membrane wall pairs to lengthen the fluid path of flow for improved diffusion. The staging means comprises an occluding member in the transversely extending flow conduits, positioned to redirect flow received from along one membrane wall pair along another membrane wall pair.