Spinning the Future of Gas Separation: A Pilot-Scale Hollow Fiber Membrane Spinning Machine for Clarkson University

Hollow fiber membranes pack a very large membrane area into a small module, which makes them the workhorse geometry for industrial gas separation. Getting from a promising polymer to a good fiber is another matter. It depends on tight control of dope temperature, flow, bore fluid, air gap, coagulation and take-up speed, all at the same time.

Tech Inc. built a Pilot-Scale Hollow Fiber Membrane Spinning (Casting) Machine for a gas-separation research group in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York. The machine was custom-built to the researcher's own specification.

From First Conversation to a Tested Machine

The project started with a technical enquiry in spring 2026. A live video demonstration of Tech Inc.'s spinning technology followed, so the research team could see the process and discuss their requirements with our engineers.

The machine was then designed, built and fully tested at our facility. It was ready in September 2026, and a recorded test run was shared with the customer before despatch.

Engineering Highlights

Dope Delivery: Heated, Controlled, Pulse-Free

• A 5 L SS316 dope tank with a split band heater under PID control with a PT100 sensor, for stable dope temperature

• A precision spinning gear pump (0 to 0.6 cc/rev, about 0 to 20 mL/min), for accurate, repeatable dope metering

• An SS316 pulsation dampener, which smooths the flow to the spinneret, critical for uniform fiber walls

Bore Fluid Delivery

• A 5 L SS316 bore fluid tank

• A peristaltic bore pump (0 to 10 mL/min), for independent control of the lumen-forming fluid

The Spinneret

• An SS316 spinneret with a 1.4 mm OD × 0.8 mm ID needle

• Rated for dope temperatures up to 90 °C and viscosities up to 20,000 cP, covering the concentrated, viscous dopes typical of gas-separation polymers

Coagulation and Take-Up

• A 60 L SS316 coagulation bath with an immersed fiber path of about 1.0 to 1.2 m

• An SS316 take-up roller driven by a ¼ HP motor with variable frequency drive (VFD), which gives researchers fine control of draw ratio and take-up speed

Built for the Laboratory

• SS316 wetted parts on an SS316 skid

• 0 to 4 bar pressure gauges for line monitoring

• Emergency stop, MCB protection and safety interlocks

Why Pilot Scale?

Bench-top spinning rigs are useful for first trials, but their output and controllability limit what a lab can learn. With a pilot-scale machine, a group can make enough fiber for module fabrication and permeation testing. They can also run systematic studies of spinning variables and produce data that matters for scale-up. Every key variable here can be set independently: dope temperature, dope flow, bore flow and take-up speed.

Delivery

After acceptance of the video test, the machine was crated for sea freight to the USA, with US import filings in progress in October 2026.

What We Delivered

• A custom pilot-scale hollow fiber spinning machine, built to the researcher's specification

• A heated 5 L dope tank with PID/PT100 control, plus a 5 L bore tank

• Precision gear-pump dope metering with pulsation dampening, and peristaltic bore metering

• An SS316 spinneret for 90 °C and 20,000 cP dopes

• A 60 L coagulation bath and VFD take-up winder

• US-ready 110 to 120 V / 60 Hz power, with full safety interlocking

Planning a Hollow Fiber Program?

Tech Inc. designs and manufactures hollow fiber and flat sheet membrane casting machines, spinnerets, test cells and test skids for universities and industry worldwide.

Visit techincresearch.com or write to mail@techincresearch.com to discuss your spinning requirements.