Granted Patent B2

US 12,624,897 · App. 17/541,741 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventors: Yohann Lilian Rousselet (Boston, MA); Kevin Ellsworth Egolf (Hampstead, MD); Ellie M. Litwack (Columbia, MD)

Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.

F28D7/0066B01D63/069B01D69/107B01D69/108F28D1/05333F28D21/0015B01D2313/131F28F9/167

Abstract

Claims (54)

1 . A membrane tube heat exchanger module comprising:

an inlet header having an inlet body with an inlet recess to receive a first fluid, the inlet body having an inlet body wall portion and at least one wall portion extending upstream from the inlet body wall portion that define at least a portion of the inlet recess, the inlet body having an inlet opening opposite the inlet body wall portion that opens to the inlet recess;

an outlet header having an outlet body with an outlet recess to receive the first fluid, the outlet body having an outlet body wall portion and at least one side wall portion extending downstream from the outlet body wall portion that define at least a portion of the outlet recess, the outlet body having an outlet opening opposite the outlet body wall portion that opens to the outlet recess;

openings of the inlet body wall portion and the outlet body wall portion;

membrane tubes connecting the openings of the inlet body wall portion and the outlet body wall portion, the membrane tubes facilitating flow of the first fluid from the inlet recess of the inlet header to the outlet recess of the outlet header;

the inlet body configured to direct all of the first fluid received at the inlet opening downstream toward the inlet body wall portion and into the membrane tubes;

the outlet body configured to direct all of the first fluid received at the outlet recess from the membrane tubes downstream toward the outlet opening;

the membrane tubes permitting mass transfer between the first fluid in the membrane tubes and a second fluid contacting outer surfaces of the membranes tubes; and

the membrane tubes are permeable to water vapor and are impermeable to liquid water.

2 . A membrane tube heat exchanger module comprising:

an inlet header having an inlet body with an inlet recess to receive a first fluid, the inlet body having an inlet body wall portion and at least one wall portion extending upstream from the inlet body wall portion that define at least a portion of the inlet recess, the inlet body having an inlet opening opposite the inlet body wall portion that opens to the inlet recess;

an outlet header having an outlet body with an outlet recess to receive the first fluid, the outlet body having an outlet body wall portion and at least one side wall portion extending downstream from the outlet body wall portion that define at least a portion of the outlet recess, the outlet body having an outlet opening opposite the outlet body wall portion that opens to the outlet recess;

openings of the inlet body wall portion and the outlet body wall portion;

membrane tubes connecting the openings of the inlet body wall portion and the outlet body wall portion, the membrane tubes facilitating flow of the first fluid from the inlet recess of the inlet header to the outlet recess of the outlet header;

the inlet body configured to direct all of the first fluid received at the inlet opening downstream toward the inlet body wall portion and into the membrane tubes;

the outlet body configured to direct all of the first fluid received at the outlet recess from the membrane tubes downstream toward the outlet opening; and

the membrane tubes permitting mass transfer between the first fluid in the membrane tubes and a second fluid contacting outer surfaces of the membranes tubes;

wherein the inlet body includes a flange extending about the inlet opening for connecting to an adjacent upstream membrane tube heat exchanger module.

3 . A membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 comprising:

an inlet header having an inlet body with an inlet recess to receive a first fluid, the inlet body having an inlet body wall portion and at least one wall portion extending upstream from the inlet body wall portion that define at least a portion of the inlet recess, the inlet body having an inlet opening opposite the inlet body wall portion that opens to the inlet recess;

an outlet header having an outlet body with an outlet recess to receive the first fluid, the outlet body having an outlet body wall portion and at least one side wall portion extending downstream from the outlet body wall portion that define at least a portion of the outlet recess, the outlet body having an outlet opening opposite the outlet body wall portion that opens to the outlet recess;

openings of the inlet body wall portion and the outlet body wall portion;

membrane tubes connecting the openings of the inlet body wall portion and the outlet body wall portion, the membrane tubes facilitating flow of the first fluid from the inlet recess of the inlet header to the outlet recess of the outlet header;

the inlet body configured to direct all of the first fluid received at the inlet opening downstream toward the inlet body wall portion and into the membrane tubes;

the outlet body configured to direct all of the first fluid received at the outlet recess from the membrane tubes downstream toward the outlet opening; and

the membrane tubes permitting mass transfer between the first fluid in the membrane tubes and a second fluid contacting outer surfaces of the membranes tubes;

wherein the outlet body includes a flange extending about the outlet opening for connecting to an adjacent downstream membrane tube heat exchanger module.

4 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet header and the outlet header include connecting portions configured to form snap-fit connections with adjacent upstream and downstream membrane tube heat exchanger modules.

5 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet header and the outlet header include a projection and a recess configured to engage a corresponding recess and projection of adjacent upstream and downstream membrane tube heat exchanger modules.

6 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet header and the outlet header have identical connecting portions configured to be connected to adjacent tubular membrane heat exchanger modules.

7 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet body wall portion includes an inlet plate;

wherein the outlet body wall portion includes an outlet plate; and

wherein the inlet and outlet plates include the openings therein.

8 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet and outlet headers each include at least one of:

a snap-fit member;

a snap-fit member receiving recess;

a flange; and

a fastener.

9 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein at least one of the membrane tubes each have a lumen to receive the first fluid and a pressure vessel in the lumen to receive a secondary fluid.

10 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein at least one of the membrane tubes has a lumen to receive the first fluid, a side wall extending about the lumen, and a support in the lumen to resist deformation of the side wall.

11 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the membrane tubes have side walls with openings having diameters in a range of 1 nanometer to 20 nanometers.

12 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet header includes potting securing the membrane tubes to the inlet body and wherein the outlet header includes potting securing the membrane tubes to the outlet body of the outlet header.

13 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet and outlet headers include:

fittings connecting the membrane tubes to the inlet and outlet bodies; and

potting securing the membrane tubes, fittings, and inlet and outlet bodies.

14 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the membrane tubes include at least one of:

polypropylene;

polydimethylsiloxane;

polytetrafluoroethylene;

hydrophobic polysulfone; and

graphene oxide.

15 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the membrane tubes are gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable.

16 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 further comprising a screen to protect the membrane tubes.

17 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 further comprising a support maintaining spacings between the membrane tubes.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (200)