CA1140533A — Hollow fibers of synthetic polymers

Claim 1

Independent Claim 43 words

An apparatus for transferring heat comprising hollow threads composed of synthetic polymers having from 10 to 90% by volume of inter-communicating pores and an even surface containing open pores, the propor-tion of the surface which is open amounting to from 10 to 90%.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 43 words

An apparatus for transferring heat comprising hollow threads composed of synthetic polymers having from 10 to 90% by volume of inter-communicating pores and an even surface containing open pores, the propor-tion of the surface which is open amounting to from 10 to 90%.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein a majority of the individual hollow threads are arranged in the form of regular and/or irregular loops over a majority of their respective lengths.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

3, An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein all of the hollow threads are arranged in the form of regular and/or irregular loops over their respective lengths.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 31 words

An apparatus according to any of Claims 1,2 or 3, wherein the hollow threads are arranged in the form of regular and/or irregular loops over the entirety of their respective lengths.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the hollow threads are arranged in the form of a spatially extending coil and/or a spiral lying in one plane.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the hollow threads are arranged in several layers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the hollow threads in each layer cross over the hollow threads in each of the adjacent layers several times.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 13 words

An apparatus according to Claim 1 comprising a multi-layer spooled or wound member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 8 comprising a spooled or wound member having a round, elliptical or polygonal annular cross-section with rounded corners.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 8 comprising a spooled or wound member having a rectangular annular cross-section with rounded corners.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 26 words

An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 8 comprising a spooled or wound member with an annular cross-section which increases and/or decreases along its longitudinal axis.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 8 comprising a woven, worked or knitted sheet or a sheet produced by a depositing method.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

An apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising at least one inlet each and at least one outlet each for at least three fluids participating in the heat transfer.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein a pro-portion of the liquid flowing through the hollow threads passes outwards through the pores and vaporises or evaporates on the outer surface of the hollow threads.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 59 words

An apparatus according to claim 1 or 14, wherein in addition to the heat transfer, filtration, microfiltration, separation of material or exchange of material takes place through the porous hollow threads and/or simultaneous vaporisation or evaporation of the proportion of the liquid flowing through the porous hollow threads takes place on the outer surface of the porous hollow threads.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 167 words

An apparatus for transferring heat comprising hollow threads composed of synthetic polymers having from 10 to 90% by volume of inter-communicating pores and an even surface containing open pores, the proportion of the surface which is open amounting to from 10 to 90%, wherein a layer which acts as a membrane is applied to the hollow threads and/or the hollow threads contain graphite, metal particles, fillers, stabilisers, additives, carbon black or dye pigments or any com-bination thereof and/or the hollow threads have a substantially circular cross-section with an external diameter falling within the range of 0.1 to 4 mm and/or the hollow threads have a wall thickness falling in the range of from 20 to 500 um and/or the hollow threads are internally and/or externally profiled and/or the hollow threads have a cross-section which changes con-tinuously or intermittently, in shape and/or size in its longitudinal direction and/or the hollow threads consist of two or more components and/or in that only a proportion of the components is porous.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 167 words

An apparatus for transferring heat comprising hollow threads composed of synthetic polymers having from 10 to 90% by volume of inter-communicating pores and an even surface containing open pores, the proportion of the surface which is open amounting to from 10 to 90%, wherein a layer which acts as a membrane is applied to the hollow threads and/or the hollow threads contain graphite, metal particles, fillers, stabilisers, additives, carbon black or dye pigments or any com-bination thereof and/or the hollow threads have a substantially circular cross-section with an external diameter falling within the range of 0.1 to 4 mm and/or the hollow threads have a wall thickness falling in the range of from 20 to 500 um and/or the hollow threads are internally and/or externally profiled and/or the hollow threads have a cross-section which changes con-tinuously or intermittently, in shape and/or size in its longitudinal direction and/or the hollow threads consist of two or more components and/or in that only a proportion of the components is porous.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said layer which acts as a membrane is impermeable to fluid.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

An apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the hollows have a cross-section which changes periodically continuously or intermittently.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 54 words

A device for the transfer of heat by synthetic polymer hollow filaments with 10 to 90 per-cent by volume of pores in mutual communication, said filaments having a flat surface with open pores the apertures of which constituting 10 to 90 percent of the surface, including means associating with said filaments for connection thereamongst.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 54 words

A device for the transfer of heat by synthetic polymer hollow filaments with 10 to 90 per-cent by volume of pores in mutual communication, said filaments having a flat surface with open pores the apertures of which constituting 10 to 90 percent of the surface, including means associating with said filaments for connection thereamongst.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 100 words

In a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of porous hollow filaments, the improvement wherein said filaments are of a synthetic polymer effective for heat transfer by thermal conductivity with 10 to 90 percent by volume of pores in mutual communication, said filaments having a flat surface with open pores the apertures of which constitute 10 to 90 percent of the surface, said pores being such that a portion of liquid flowing through the hollow filaments is able to pass outwardly through the pores and vaporize or evaporate on the outer surface of the filaments to further cool the flowing liquid.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 100 words

In a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of porous hollow filaments, the improvement wherein said filaments are of a synthetic polymer effective for heat transfer by thermal conductivity with 10 to 90 percent by volume of pores in mutual communication, said filaments having a flat surface with open pores the apertures of which constitute 10 to 90 percent of the surface, said pores being such that a portion of liquid flowing through the hollow filaments is able to pass outwardly through the pores and vaporize or evaporate on the outer surface of the filaments to further cool the flowing liquid.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 131 words

A heat exchanger according to claim 20, wherein a layer which acts as a membrane is applied to the hollow threads and/or the hollow threads contain graphite, metal particles, fillers, stabilisers, additives, carbon black or dye pigments or any combination thereof and/or the hollow threads have a substantially circular cross-section with an external diameter falling within the range of 0.1 to 4 mm and/or the hollow threads have a wall thick-ness falling in the range of from 20 to 500 um and/or the hollow threads are internally and/or externally pro-filed and/or the hollow threads have a cross-section which changes continuously or intermittently, in shape and/or size in its longitudinal direction and/or the hollow threads consist of two or more components and/or in that only a proportion of the components is porous.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 65 words

In a method of exchanging heat in which a flow-ing liquid is cooled by transfer of heat, the improvement wherein said liquid is flowed through porous hollow fila-ments of a synthetic polymer, with 10 to 90 percent by volume of pores in mutual communication, said filaments having a flat surface with open pores the apertures of which constitute 10 to 90 percent of the surface.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 65 words

In a method of exchanging heat in which a flow-ing liquid is cooled by transfer of heat, the improvement wherein said liquid is flowed through porous hollow fila-ments of a synthetic polymer, with 10 to 90 percent by volume of pores in mutual communication, said filaments having a flat surface with open pores the apertures of which constitute 10 to 90 percent of the surface.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method according to claim 22, wherein said synthetic polymer filaments are effective to provide heat transfer from said flowing liquid by thermal conductivity.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 44 words

A method according to claim 22 or 23, wherein a portion of the liquid flowing through the hollow filaments is allowed to pass outwardly through the pores and vaporise or evaporate on the outer surface of the filaments to further cool the flowing liquid.

Hollow fibers of synthetic polymers

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