National Research Council of Canada

John D Hazlett

Oleh Kutowy

Adam J Bennett

William L Thayer

Charles E Capes

Kevin A Jonasson

Thomas W McCracken

Thomas A Tweddle

A stacked permeable membrane envelope assembly comprises two clamping plates with spaced, permeable membrane envelope assemblies clamped between them on frames. Each membrane envelope comprises two membrane covered, perforated plates clamped together to provide inner permeate chambers and outer feed fluid passages. Fluid distributing and permeable membrane sealing collars are provided comprising two annular plates with a radially scalloped, stiff-spring-like, channel separator ring located between them. The annular plates seal the membranes against the dished plates around feed fluid passages through the envelope assemblies while the radial scallops form passages for fluid to flow between adjacent membrane envelopes.

Fluid fractionating, stacked permeable membrane envelope assembly, and a

A method for the molecular filtration of predominantly aliphatic hydrocarbon liquids (e.g. spent diesel lubrication oil, crude oil or pipeline blend crude oils and heavy oils, and bitumen), wherein, at a viscosity less than 600 centipoise, the predominantly aliphatic hydrocarbon liquid is passed through a membrane, having at least a swelled outer layer on the high pressure side comprising a microporous, membrane of an aliphatic hydrocarbon liquid swellable, polysulfone compound, at a pressure differential in the range 1 to 100 atmospheres oil. The microporous membrane having been swelled in the aliphatic hydrocarbon liquid from having a molecular weight cut off less of than 20,000 when measured in an aqueous medium to, after adsorption of hydrocarbon liquid and having been swelled thereby, a molecular weight cut off less than 4,000 when measured in hydrocarbon liquid, so that oil depleted in the substance to be filtered therefrom permeates the membrane. The viscosity of the crude oil may be reduced by heating or adding a solvent to it. The invention is useful for separating, for example, nitrogen, sulphur, aluminum, chromium, copper, nickel, vanadium and asphaltenes from fossil derived, predominantly aliphatic hydrocarbon liquids.

Method for the molecular filtration of predominantly aliphatic

An atomizing nozzle assembly is provided having an outwardly diverging frustrum of a cone shaped, deflector core of wear resistant ceramic, a nozzle rim of wear resistant ceramic encircling the core and coextensive with a downstream portion thereof to form a mixing zone therewith for receiving liquid-to-be-atomized therein from an unobstructed passage and atomizing fluid directing the liquid-to-be-atomized away from the core. The mixing zone leads to a nozzle orifice outlet. The core is mounted in a core holder and is adjustable by a screw thread, in close proximity to the mixing zone, to adjust the width of the mixing zone. The liquid-to-be-atomized (e.g. a coal slurry fuel) and the atomizing fluid (e.g. air) are fed along coaxial tubes which are slidably mounted by glands to accommodate differential expansions.

Atomizing nozzle assembly

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Orleans, Canada

John D Hazlett