Vibratory shear enhanced process (VSEP) is a membrane separation technology platform invented in 1987 and patented in 1989 by Dr. J. Brad Culkin.
[2] After earning his PhD in chemical engineering from Northwestern University[3] Dr. Culkin spent his early professional career with Dorr–Oliver, Inc., a pioneering company in the area of separation processes.
[6] Concurrent with his membrane work, Culkin was helping to develop a mechanically resonating loudspeaker with the founders of Velodyne Acoustics.
[7] Culkin married these two areas of expertise and struck out to overcome membrane fouling through the use of vibration.
The first VSEP prototype Culkin developed was a literal combination of loudspeaker and membrane technology [8] as the photo shows below.