Mass exchange apparatus and methods for the use thereof
Inventors
Johns, William R. • Evans, Alan F. • Knight, Ronald K.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10730018-B2
Publication Date
2020-08-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
There is described a method of use of a mass exchanger. In the method the mass exchanger comprises: a first channel for accommodating flow of a liquid to be treated; and a second channel for accommodating flow of a treatment agent, the first and second channels have a permeable membrane provided between them, so as to allow transfer of selected species between the first channel and the second channel. The steps of the mass transfer method comprise passing the liquid to be treated along the first channel and introducing a mixture of liquid and gas into the second channel to provide a two-phase treatment agent. It is desirable to provide a means of adjusting the concentration of gas species in a liquid such as blood, while simultaneously controlling the temperature of the liquid and optionally adjusting the concentration of ionic and/or dissolved species in that liquid. By this method and mass exchanger providing a two-phase treatment agent, it is possible to simultaneously deliver gaseous species (e.g. oxygen) into the treated liquid, while making use of the high heat capacity of the liquid phase of the treatment agent to transfer significant heat into or from the treated liquid.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method of use of a mass exchanger in which a liquid to be treated is passed along a first channel, while a treatment agent is accommodated in a second channel. The mass exchanger uses a microporous permeable membrane between the first and second channels to enable simultaneous transfer of selected gas and selected dissolved species between the channels.
A mixture of liquid and gas is introduced into the second channel to provide a two-phase treatment agent, so that the transfer of selected gas and selected dissolved species occurs across the membrane. The membrane arrangement is configured to allow simultaneous transfer through the microporous permeable membrane between the liquid in the first channel and the two-phase treatment agent in the second channel.
The approach addresses the use of a two-phase treatment agent to perform mass exchange together with heat exchange by using the liquid phase’s heat capacity, and it contrasts with conventional staged heat-then-mass exchange. The description distinguishes this from arrangements where two-phase behavior arises solely from evaporation or condensation, and from processes where gas exchange relies on dissolved or bound gas or on absorption/stripping.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is clm-00001 and it specifies a microporous permeable membrane between a liquid-treatment first channel and a two-phase-treatment second channel, with the two-phase treatment agent produced by introducing a mixture of liquid and gas into the second channel to enable simultaneous transfer of selected gas and selected dissolved species. The dependent claims refine the method by specifying particular liquids to be treated and by adding structural and operational limitations regarding inlet introduction architecture, temperature differences at channel entry, and reconditioning of the liquid phase after passage.
Microporous permeable membrane for simultaneous transfer between channels
A first channel accommodates flow of a liquid to be treated and a second channel accommodates flow of a treatment agent, wherein the first and second channels have a microporous permeable membrane therebetween so as to allow simultaneous transfer of selected gas and selected dissolved species between the first channel and the second channel.
Two-phase treatment agent introduced into the second channel
A mixture of liquid and gas is introduced into the second channel to provide a two-phase treatment agent, enabling simultaneous transfer of selected gas and selected dissolved species between the first channel and the second channel via the microporous permeable membrane.
Liquid to be treated as blood or blood product
The liquid to be treated is specified as blood and further as a blood product in dependent claims.
Gas and liquid introduced via separate inlets feeding a mixing chamber
The second channel receives a two-phase treatment agent provided by separate inlets and a mixing chamber, with a specified introduction arrangement for a gas inlet and a liquid inlet.
Different inlet temperatures for liquid to be treated and treatment agent liquid phase
When entering the first and second channels, the liquid to be treated and the liquid phase of the two-phase treatment agent have different temperatures.
Reconditioning the liquid phase after passage to reverse compositional changes
After the two-phase treatment agent passes through the mass exchanger, the liquid phase is reconditioned to reverse at least part of any compositional changes that occurred during passage.
Across the independent method claim and its refinements, the core coverage centers on forming a two-phase treatment agent in the second channel and using a microporous permeable membrane between the first and second channels to enable simultaneous transfer of selected gas and selected dissolved species, with dependent claim refinements specifying particular liquid feeds, inlet/mixing arrangement, comparative inlet temperatures, and post-passage reconditioning.
Stated Advantages
Allows simultaneous transfer of selected gas and selected dissolved species between the first channel and the second channel.
Uses the liquid phase’s heat capacity to perform heat transfer together with mass exchange rather than relying on conventional staged heat-then-mass exchange.
Documented Applications
Blood treatment using the mass exchanger method.
Blood product treatment using the mass exchanger method.
Use involving liquid microbial culture is listed among example entities for the treatment context.
Extracorporeal applications are listed among example contexts, including cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and kidney dialysis.
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