Improved contactors, cartridges, components, systems, and related methods

IMPROVED CONTACTORS, CARTRIDGES, COMPONENTS, SYSTEMS, AND RELATED METHODS The instant application relates to new or improved membrane contactors, modules, cartridges, components (including shells, housings, shims, spacers, and/or the like), systems, their methods of manufacture and/or use, and/or means and/or methods of enhancing the robustness, operation pressures, cycle life, and the like of such membrane contactors, cartridges, components, and systems. In at least selected embodiments, the present invention is directed to new or improved high pressure liquid degassing membrane contactors, cartridges, components, systems, and/or their methods of manufacture and/or use, and/or means and/or methods of enhancing the robustness, operation pressures, cycle life, and the like of such membrane contactors, cartridges, components, and systems. In at least certain embodiments, the present invention is directed to new or improved apparatus for and/or methods of degassing a high pressure liquid having entrained or dissolved gases with a new or improved hollow fiber membrane contactor, cartridge, component, and/or system. In at least particular possibly preferred embodiments, the new or improved contactor has a high pressure vessel or housing enclosing at least one new or improved membrane cartridge including a perforated core, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, a tube sheet affixing each end of the hollow fibers, a shell or casing, and one or more shims, spacers, protrusions, and/or the like on the shell, on the housing, on the shell and on the housing, and/or between the shell and the housing.