Filtration system with membrane type hydrophilic and hydrophobic filters gives absolute filtration with automatic venting of freed gases, and prevents backward transmission of contamination with no bacterial growth through the filters. Filter aids in degassing industrial solutions and in removing oxygen from sea water

Buck, A. P.

English

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1 in.
September 1970	 Brief 70-I046 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage commerctI 
application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical 
Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Division, NASA, Code UT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Elimination of Gases and Contamination from Water 
Water
Hydrophobic	 Hydrophilic 
Filter	 Gas-Water	 Filter 
Inlet 
Not to Scale	 Gas-Water Separator 
A novel filter eliminates both free gases and bac-
terial contamination from water; filter life depends 
on its filtration area and the quality of the feed water. 
The device is small, simple (no moving parts), inex-
pensive, and easily replaced; handles pressures up to 
100 lb/in 2 at temperatures up to 121°C; depends in 
no way on gravity; gives absolute filtration, with 
automatic venting of freed gases; and prevents back-
ward transmission of contamination, with no bacte-
rial growth through the filters. 
The figure shows a model for separation of H 2 from 
the H20 product of a fuel cell. The commercially avail-
able hydrophilic and hydrophobic filters, made of 
cellulose esters, are of the membrane type and 150M 
thick; they have absolute holes with 80% porosity. 
In such close proxtmltv the filters provide a ready
surface for passage of either phase gas or water. The 
chosen physical dimensions of the filter separator 
depend on the desired rate of flow of the water and on 
the system's operating pressure. An upstream inter-
mediate filter may greatly prolong the life of the sep-
arator filter. 
This model could be refined to a 1 X 2-in., light-
weight, throw-away unit made of plastics, weighing 
about 0.1 lb, and using relatively low cost filters. Pore 
sizes might range from 0.01 to 5.0i, each filter having 
an effective area of 10 cm 2 . The smaller the pores, 
the greater the area required. Even viruses could be 
filtered. 
The new filtration system has many possible ap-
plications: degassing of industrial solutions such 
as hydraulic systems, possibly by recirculation of a 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700000440 2020-03-17T00:49:13+00:00Z
solution until all traces of gases are removed; and 
filtration of oxygen from sea water. When filtering 
beer through membrane filters, brewers are troubled 
by blockage of the filters by bubbling of CO 2 ; the new 
system could remove the free CO 2 . Cavitation affects 
certain pumps handling mixtures of gases and liquids. 
The device could be used in reverse for saturation of 
liquids with gases—as for saturation of blood with 
oxygen.
Note: 
No additional documentation is available. Specific 
questions, however, may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Kennedy Space Center 
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899 
Reference: B70-10456 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention may be made to NASA, Code 
GP, Washington, D.C. 20546.
Source: A. P. Buck of

Trans World Airlines, Inc.
under contract to

Kennedy Space Center

(KSC- 10502) 
Brief 70-10456	 Category 05


Elimination of gases and contamination from water

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