초록 ▼

A planar degasser comprises (1) a flow plate comprising a flow channel, (2) a planar separation membrane comprising a membrane transmission section which has a first major surface and a second major surface, the flow channel being at least in part bounded by the first major surface of the membrane t

A planar degasser comprises (1) a flow plate comprising a flow channel, (2) a planar separation membrane comprising a membrane transmission section which has a first major surface and a second major surface, the flow channel being at least in part bounded by the first major surface of the membrane transmission section, (3) a supporting member which supports the second major surface of the membrane transmission section when the pressure on the first major surface is greater than the pressure on the second major surface, and (4) structural features which enable liquid to flow through the flow channel when the pressure on the first major surface is equal to or less than the pressure on the second major surface, for example when there is no longer a vacuum on the second major surface of the membrane transmission section. The structural features can for example be an open channel in the base of the flow plate, or upstanding features on the base of the flow plate, or a passageway which is closed when the vacuum is on, but open when the vacuum is off, for example a passageway having a valve which is controlled by the vacuum.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A planar degasser comprising (1) a flow plate which comprises a flow plate chamber having a base, an inlet and an outlet,(2) a planar separation membrane comprising a membrane transmission section which has a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface of the membrane

1. A planar degasser comprising (1) a flow plate which comprises a flow plate chamber having a base, an inlet and an outlet,(2) a planar separation membrane comprising a membrane transmission section which has a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface of the membrane transmission section being adjacent to the base of the flow plate chamber and(3) a supporting member which is adjacent to the second major surface of the membrane transmission section; the separation membrane (A) when the pressure on the first major surface is greater than the pressure on the second major surface, (1) contacting and being supported by the supporting member and (2) forming, with the base of the flow plate chamber, a flow channel through which a liquid to be degassed can be passed from the inlet of the flow plate chamber to the outlet of the flow plate chamber; and(B) when the pressure on the first major surface is less than the pressure on the second major surface (1), being separate from the supporting member and(2) contacting the base of the flow plate chamber; the degasser comprising at least one structural feature which, when the pressure on the first major surface is equal to or less than the pressure on the second major surface, enables a liquid to flow from the inlet of the flow plate chamber to the outlet of the flow plate chamber, the structural feature being selected from (i) the base of the flow plate chamber comprises an open channel which connects the inlet of the flow plate chamber to the outlet of the flow plate chamber, and which enables liquid to flow from the inlet to the outlet when the pressure on the first major surface of the separation membrane is less than the pressure on the second major surface of the membrane and the separation membrane contacts the base of the flow plate chamber,(ii) the base of the flow plate chamber comprises upstanding elements which prevent the membrane from contacting the whole surface of the base of the flow plate chamber, thus enabling liquid to flow from the inlet to the outlet when the pressure on the first major surface is less than the pressure on the second major surface and the separation membrane contacts the base of the flow plate chamber, and(iii) the degasser comprises (1) a passageway which connects the inlet of the flow plate chamber to the outlet of the flow plate chamber and (2) a valve which (a) is controlled by the pressure on the separation membrane and (b) closes the passageway when the pressure on the first major surface is greater than the pressure on the second major surface and opens the passageway when the pressure on the first major surface passageway is less than the pressure on the second major surface, thus enabling liquid to flow from the inlet to the outlet when the pressure on the first major surface is less than the pressure on the second major surface and the separation membrane contacts the base of the flow plate chamber. 2. A degasser according to claim 1 wherein the supporting member is a selection plate comprising an inner selection plate surface which comprises (i) a selection plate base, and (ii) selection plate elements which extend from the base, are separated by intercommunicating selection areas, and have outer surfaces remote from the selection plate base. 3. A degasser according to claim 1 wherein the supporting member is composed of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of porous polymeric materials and porous metal sheets. 4. A planar degasser which comprises (1) a flow plate which comprises a flow plate chamber having a base, an inlet and an outlet,(2) a planar separation membrane comprising a membrane transmission section which has a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface of the membrane transmission section being adjacent to the base of the flow plate chamber and(3) a supporting member which is adjacent to the second major surface of the membrane transmission section, the separation membrane (A) when the pressure on the first major surface is greater than the pressure on the second major surface, (1) contacting and being supported by the supporting member and (2) forming, with the base of the flow plate chamber, a flow channel through which a liquid to be degassed can be passed from the inlet of the flow plate chamber to the outlet of the flow plate chamber; and(B) when the pressure on the first major surface is less than the pressure on the second major surface (1), being separate from the supporting member and(2) contacting the base of the flow plate chamber; wherein the base of the flow plate chamber comprises an open channel which connects the inlet of the flow plate chamber to the outlet of the flow plate chamber, and which enables liquid to flow from the inlet to the outlet when the pressure on the first major surface of the separation membrane is less than the pressure on the second major surface of the membrane and the separation membrane contacts the base of the flow plate chamber. 5. A degasser according to claim 4 wherein the flow plate chamber comprises two or more outlets, and the open channel connects the inlet to at least two of the outlets. 6. A method which comprises (1) passing a first liquid to be degassed through the flow channel of a planar degasser as claimed in claim 1 while the pressure on the first major surface of the separation membrane is greater than the pressure on the second major surface of the separation membrane, and(2) after step (1), reducing the pressure on the second major surface of the separation membrane so that it is less than the pressure on the second major surface and the separation membrane contacts the base of the flow plate chamber, and passing a second liquid through the open channel in the base of the flow plate chamber. 7. A method according to claim 6 which comprises (3) after step (2), increasing the pressure on the first major surface of the separation membrane so that it is greater than the pressure on the second major surface of the separation membrane, and passing a third liquid through the flow channel. 8. A planar degasser according to claim 1 wherein the base of the flow plate chamber, when viewed in plan, is generally rectangular and has a length and a width, with the length dimension being 1.1-2.0 times the width dimension. 9. A planar degasser according to claim 1 wherein the flow channel formed by the separation membrane and the base of the flow plate chamber, when the pressure on the first major surface of the separation membrane is greater than the pressure on the second major surface of the separation membrane, is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped whose depth is substantially less than its width and its length. 10. A planar degasser according to claim 1 wherein the flow channel formed by the separation membrane and the base of the flow plate chamber, when the pressure on the first major surface of the separation membrane is greater than the pressure on the second major surface of the separation membrane, has a height of 0.0025 to 0.0055 inch and a width of 1 to 2 inch. 11. A planar degasser according to claim 1 wherein the membrane is composed of a polymeric material and is less than 51μ thick. 12. A planar degasser according to claim 4 wherein the open channel which connects the inlet of the flow plate chamber to the outlet of the flow plate chamber is 0.02-0.03 inch wide and 0.02-0.03 inch high. 13. A planar degasser according to claim 4 which comprises (1) a single said flow plate having first and second flow plate chambers on opposite sides of the flow plate, a first inlet and a first outlet communicating with the base of the first flow plate chamber, and a second inlet and a second outlet communicating with the base of the second flow plate chamber;(2) two said planar separation membranes(3) two said supporting members each of which is adjacent to one of the planar separation membranes; each of the separation membranes (A) when the pressure on the first major surface is greater than the pressure on the second major surface, (1) contacting and being supported by the adjacent supporting member and (2) forming, with the base of one of the flow plate chambers, a flow channel through which a liquid to be degassed can be passed from the inlet of the flow plate chamber to the outlet of the flow plate chamber; and(B) when the pressure on the first major surface is less than the pressure on the second major surface (1), being separate from the supporting member and(2) contacting the base of the flow plate chamber; wherein the base of the first flow plate chamber comprises a first open channel which connects the inlet of the first flow plate chamber to the outlet of the first flow plate chamber, and which enables liquid to flow from the inlet of the first flow plate chamber to the outlet of the first flow plate chamber when the pressure on the first major surface of the separation membrane is less than the pressure on the second major surface of the membrane, and the base of the second flow plate chamber comprises a second open channel which connects the inlet of the second flow plate chamber to the outlet of the second flow plate chamber, and which enables liquid to flow from the inlet of the second flow plate chamber to the outlet of the second flow chamber when the pressure on the first major surface of the separation membrane is less than the pressure on the second major surface of the membrane. 14. A planar degasser according to claim 4 wherein the base of the flow plate chamber, when viewed in plan, is generally rectangular and has a length and a width, with the length dimension being 1.1-2.0 times the width dimension. 15. A planar degasser according to claim 14, wherein the flow channel formed by the separation membrane and the base of the flow plate chamber, when the pressure on the first major surface of the separation membrane is greater than the pressure on the second major surface of the separation membrane, is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped whose depth is substantially less than its width and its length. 16. A planar degasser according to claim 4 wherein the flow channel formed by the separation membrane and the base of the flow plate chamber, when the pressure on the first major surface of the separation membrane is greater than the pressure on the second major surface of the separation membrane, has a height of 0.0025 to 0.0055 inch and a width of 1 to 2 inch. 17. A planar degasser comprising (1) a flow plate which comprises a flow plate chamber having a base, an inlet and an outlet,(2) a planar separation membrane comprising a membrane transmission section which has a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface of the membrane transmission section being adjacent to the base of the flow plate chamber and(3) a supporting member which is adjacent to-the second major surface of the membrane transmission section; the separation membrane (A) when the pressure on the first major surface is greater than the pressure on the second major surface, (1) contacting and being supported by the supporting member and (2) forming, with the base of the flow plate chamber, a flow channel through which a liquid to be degassed can be passed from the inlet of the flow plate chamber to the outlet of the flow plate chamber; and(B) when the pressure on the first major surface is less than the pressure on the second major surface (1), being separate from the supporting member and(2) contacting the base of the flow plate chamber; the degasser comprising (1) a passageway which connects the inlet of the flow plate chamber to the outlet of the flow plate chamber and (2) a valve which (a) is controlled by the pressure on the separation membrane and (b) closes the passageway when the pressure on the first major surface is greater than the pressure on the second major surface and opens the passageway when the pressure on the first major surface passageway is less than the pressure on the second major surface, thus enabling liquid to flow from the inlet to the outlet when the pressure on the first major surface is less than the pressure on the second major surface and the separation membrane contacts the base of the flow plate chamber.