Permeation separation device for separating fluids

Claim 2

A permeation separation apparatus which comprises in combination, A. an elongated fluidtight jacket having a first end closed by a fluidtight cast wall member and a second end closed by said jacket; B. a plurality of selectively permeable crimped hollow fibers positioned longitudinally within said elongated jacket, said fibers extending substantially the length of said jacket and forming a loop adjacent the second closed end of said jacket with both ends of each of said fibers embedded in and extending through said cast wall member in fluidtight relationship thereto, said fibers comprising a bundle surrounded by at least one elongated flexible porous sleeve member extending longitudinally the substantial length of said bundle, said fibers being maintained in substantially rigid relationship with one another by positioning them closely adjacent one another such that random portions of said fibers abut one another, and by providing an adhesive bond at a plurality of such abutting portions, said fiber bundle positioNed within said jacket such that the elongated flexible porous sleeve surrounding said fibers in spaced away from the interior walls of said jacket; C. an outer closure member cooperating with said jacket and said cast wall member which, with said cast wall member, defines a chamber that is in communication with the open ends of each hollow fiber; D. a multiply perforated tube extending through at least one end of said jacket in fluidtight relationship thereto, said tube positioned within said bundle along approximately the center axis of said bundle and extending substantially the longitudinal length of said bundle, the perforations of said perforated tube being spaced around the circumference of said tube and along the length of the portion of said tube that is within said bundle, said tube constructed and arranged such that its interior communicates with the interior of said jacket only at the openings provided by said perforations, and such that its interior does not communicate with the chamber defined by said outer closure member and said cast wall member; E. conduit means on said jacket having to permit movement of fluid between the interior of said jacket, and an area outside said jacket; and F. conduit means on said outer closure member having to permit movement of fluid out of the chamber defined by said outer closure member and said cast wall member.