HOLLOW-FIBER MODULES MADE WITH HOLLOW-FIBER FABRIC

We have measured the overall mass transfer coefficient of oxygen from water across a hollow fiber membrane into nitrogen. The membranes are microporous, so this overall mass transfer is controlled by the indivi dual coefficient in the water. The membranes are incorporated into mod ules in which the fibers are carefully spaced, including modules made from hollow fiber fabric. At low flows, these modules give mass transf er which is up to ten times faster than that in commercial modules bas ed on similar hollow fibers. This implies that fabric-based modules ca n give equivalent performance with less membrane area. The performance of the fabric-based modules approaches that of modules built by hand, one fiber at a time. It approaches that inferred for a single fiber f rom heat transfer correlations.