Membrane potting methods
View Patent ↗Apparatus and methods are disclosed which reduce stress formation in potting heads for porous hollow filtration membranes. In one example, there is disclosed a potting sleeve for forming a potting head which includes a first fixed portion and a second portion which is movable relative to the first fixed portion to reduce a peripheral extent thereof. In another example, a method of mounting a porous hollow membrane in a membrane filtration apparatus includes positioning a portion of porous hollow membranes within a mold and introducing a curable potting material into the mold so as to immerse the portion of the porous hollow membranes and at least part of one or more deformable members in the potting material. The method further includes at least partially curing the potting material to form a potting head and removing the potting head and the one or more deformable members from the mold.
1. A potting sleeve for use in forming a potting head having porous hollow fiber membranes mounted therein, the potting sleeve including at least one reinforcement member positioned between inner walls of the potting sleeve, the reinforcement member located along a diameter of the potting sleeve and configured as a continuous plate-like structure having opposed sides extending axially of the potting sleeve between a first end portion and an opposed second end portion of the reinforcement member, wherein the reinforcement member is connected to an internal wall of the potting sleeve at outwardly extending connection points on corners of each of the opposed sides of the first end portion such that the opposed sides of the reinforcement member are free of engagement with the inner wall of the potting sleeve apart from at the connection points.
2. The potting sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the reinforcement member is spaced axially from one end of the potting sleeve.
3. The potting sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement member, apart from adjacent the connection point is, in use, positioned within the potting head.
4. The potting sleeve of claim 1 , further comprising one or more openings in a wall of the potting sleeve for providing fluid communication with the porous hollow fiber membranes.