Cartridge of hybrid frameless arrays of hollow fiber membranes and

Abstract

A module is disclosed for use as a membrane device, comprising, a shell with fluid couplings removably affixed to each of its ends containing at least one cartridge having an axial conduit. The cartridge is formed with plural frameless arrays of hollow fibers of selectively permeable material. Each array is free of any means to support the fibers intermediate split-clip headers in which the fibers are held near their opposite ends, except for tension cords which may be substituted for fibers. The split-clip headers are mirror-images of each other. Each has a peripheral potting channel and longitudinal, laterally spaced apart grooves in the split-clip headers. The upper and lower sections, placed one upon the other, together form through-passages ('grooves') in which terminal portions of the fibers are snugly embraced. The fibers lie in parallel spaced-apart relationship in a plane substantially orthogonal to the axial conduit, and their ends are cut before a stack of arrays is potted. The fibers of one array lie transversely relative to those of another array. The cartridge is disposed longitudinally within the shell and comprises plural split-clip headers which when laminated, one to another, define the central axial which need not be fluid-tight but only near-fluid-tight, so the terminal portions of the fibers can be potted.