3M Liqui-Cel™ EXF-4×13 Membrane Contactor

Overview

The 3M Liqui-Cel EXF-4×13 Series Membrane Contactor is a hollow-fiber degassing module used to remove dissolved gases — carbon dioxide, oxygen, and other gases — from process liquids without the chemical additions or large footprint of traditional stripping or vacuum-tower methods. It is used by water-treatment, power-generation, and process-industry operators across Oman and the GCC needing compact, efficient gas transfer for boiler feedwater, semiconductor-grade water, beverage production, and other dissolved-gas-sensitive processes.

The Extra-Flow (EXF) design increases the liquid flow capacity per module compared to standard Liqui-Cel contactors, using a specialized fiber winding and flow-path geometry that reduces pressure drop and channeling, making the EXF-4×13 well suited to applications needing higher throughput per module.

Operating Principle

The module contains microporous hollow-fiber membranes that separate a liquid stream from a gas or vacuum stream without direct mixing — dissolved gas molecules pass through the fiber walls driven by a partial-pressure gradient, while the liquid itself cannot pass through, so no chemicals contact the process fluid. Two fiber types are offered: X50 fiber, optimized specifically for CO2 removal from water, and X40 fiber, suited to general gas transfer applications including deoxygenation. The contactor can operate in vacuum mode, nitrogen-sweep mode, or a combination of both, depending on the target gas and required removal efficiency.

Engineering Design of the Liqui-Cel EXF-4×13

The module handles liquid flow rates of 0.5 to 3.4 m³/hr (2 to 15 gpm), with maximum operating conditions depending on housing material and fiber type: polypropylene housings with X50 fiber rate to 30°C at 7.2 barg, polypropylene with X40 fiber to 50°C at 7.2 barg, while 316L stainless steel housings support higher temperatures up to 70°C at adjusted pressure ratings. Membrane and potting materials are polypropylene and polyethylene, and housings are available in either polypropylene or 316L stainless steel vessel and end caps, letting the module be matched to the process fluid’s chemical compatibility and temperature requirements.

Key Features

• Chemical-free dissolved-gas removal via hollow-fiber membrane contact
• X50 fiber (CO2-optimized) or X40 fiber (general gas transfer/deoxygenation)
• Liquid flow rate 0.5-3.4 m³/hr (2-15 gpm)
• Vacuum, nitrogen-sweep, or combined operating modes
• Polypropylene housing (to 50°C/7.2 barg) or 316L SS housing (to 70°C)
• Extra-Flow design for higher throughput per module

Industrial Applications

Across Muscat, Sohar, and Salalah, the EXF-4×13 is used in power-plant boiler feedwater treatment to remove dissolved oxygen and CO2 that would otherwise cause corrosion in steam-cycle piping and boiler tubes, and in ultrapure water systems for semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and beverage production where dissolved-gas specifications are tightly controlled. Its compact hollow-fiber design replaces bulkier vacuum-tower or forced-draft degasser installations in space-constrained treatment plants.

The stainless-steel housing variant is also specified in desalination and industrial water-treatment plants across the region handling higher-temperature or more corrosive process streams, where the 316L construction provides the necessary chemical compatibility.

Technical Specifications

Request a Quote for 3M Liqui-Cel™ EXF-4×13 Membrane Contactor

Seven Star LLC supplies the 3M Liqui-Cel EXF-4×13 membrane contactor as an authorized channel partner to power, water-treatment, and process industries across Oman and the GCC. Contact our engineering team for a formal quotation and sizing support for your dissolved-gas removal application.