JP2002166123A - Dehumidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dehumidifier developing excellent dehumidifying capacity even if a blow means low in supply capacity is utilized. SOLUTION: Air to be dehumidified is sent into the hollow interiors of hollow fiber membranes 11 opened to the end surface of a seal part 13 and dehumidified during the passage through the hollow interiors of the hollow fiber membranes by the theory of known membrane separation and the dehumidified air is discharged in a direction P3. On the other hand, dry air passed through an adsorbent housing part 2 to be dried by the adsorbent is sent into a hollow fiber membrane module 1 from an introducing port 15 and passed through the outside of the hollow fiber membranes to be discharged to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane module 1 from a discharge port.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dehumidifier for dehumidifying gas.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For dehumidification, which is one type of gas separation, a refrigeration method and an adsorption method have conventionally been generally used. However, when using these methods, dust and drain are generated, CFCs must be used,
There are drawbacks such as an increase in the size of the device.

On the other hand, in recent years, a method using a hollow fiber membrane has attracted attention, and has begun to be put to practical use for dehumidifying compressed air in industrial use. In the case of a dehumidification method using such a membrane, the size and weight of the device can be reduced,
It is maintenance-free, does not require a power source, does not generate drain, and is superior to the refrigeration method and the adsorption method in terms of de-fluorocarbons and the like.

In such a dehumidifying method using a membrane using a hollow fiber membrane or the like, the difference in partial pressure of steam between the supply side of the membrane to be dehumidified and the steam-permeable side is used as the driving force for dehumidification. Must be kept dry at all times.

[0005] For example, a structure is known in which a part of the dehumidified gas is sent to the water vapor transmission side to be ventilated.

[0006]

However, in the case of the above-described prior art, the following problems have occurred.

In the dehumidifying method using a membrane using a hollow fiber membrane or the like as described above, a blowing device such as a fan, a blower or a small compressor is usually used to supply a gas to be dehumidified. However, when these blowers are used, a difference in partial pressure of water vapor between the membranes is hardly generated, and the dehumidifying ability is reduced.

[0008] In particular, when a blower having a supply capacity of 0.2 MPa or less is used, the dehumidifying capacity is extremely reduced. Therefore, most of home dehumidifiers and dehumidifiers in automobiles are still of the refrigerating type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dehumidifying apparatus which exhibits excellent dehumidifying ability even when a blowing means having a low supply capacity is used. To provide.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, a dehumidifier according to the present invention has a plurality of hollow fiber membranes. A hollow fiber membrane module having a sealed space, a first air passage through which the gas to be dehumidified passes through the hollow interior from one end side of the hollow fiber membrane in the hollow fiber membrane module, and is dehumidified and discharged to the other end side; The drying gas passed through the adsorbent storage section and dried is passed through the outside of the hollow fiber membrane in the hollow fiber membrane module.
And a ventilation path.

[0011] The gas here, air, N _2, O _2, other the hollow fiber membrane refers to a selectively permeable may gases and hollow fiber membrane does not dissolve swelling gas steam.

Therefore, since the dried gas dried by the adsorbent accommodating section is passed through the second air passage, a sufficient partial pressure difference of water vapor is generated between the first air passage and the second air passage.

[0013] It is preferable that a blower for sending gas to each of the first ventilation path and the second ventilation path is provided.

It is preferable that a part of the dehumidified gas is branched off from the first ventilation path and sent to the second ventilation path upstream of the adsorbent storage section.

It is preferable that a blower for letting gas flow through the first ventilation passage and a blower for letting gas flow through the second ventilation passage are independently provided.

It is preferable that the adsorbent storage section is arranged in a region heated by an external device.

Thus, the adsorbent can be recycled.

[0018]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions of the components described in this embodiment,
The materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise specified.

Referring to FIG. 1, a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a system basic configuration diagram of a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, a dehumidifier S0 according to an embodiment of the present invention sends a hollow fiber membrane module 1 having a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 11 and a dry gas into the hollow fiber membrane module 1. And an adsorbent storage section 2 for storing an adsorbent for drying gas.

The hollow fiber membrane module 1 has a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 11 inside a module case 12.

Further, sealing portions 13 and 14 are provided at both ends of the module case 12, respectively. In these sealing portions 13 and 14, at one end and the other end of each hollow fiber membrane 11, the sealing between the outer wall surfaces and between the inner peripheral wall surfaces of the module case 12 is performed by a sealing agent. In addition, the hollow fiber membrane 11 has a configuration in which the hollow interior is exposed to the outside and opened.

Further, the module case 12 is provided with an introduction port 15 for guiding the dry gas dried through the adsorbent storage section 2 to the inside of the hollow fiber membrane module 1.
An outlet 16 is provided for discharging the gas introduced through the inlet 15 to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane module 1.

The adsorbent storage section 2 stores an adsorbent for removing moisture in the gas.
For example, zeolite, silica gel, or the like can be used.

With the above-described configuration, first, the gas to be dehumidified is sent into the hollow interior of the hollow fiber membrane 11 opened to the end face of the sealing portion 13 (arrow P1 in the figure). Then, the gas to be dehumidified advances in the hollow inside of the hollow fiber membrane 11 in the direction of arrow P2. In the process of passing through the hollow interior, as described above in the related art, dehumidification is performed by the known principle of membrane separation (differential pressure of water vapor inside and outside the membrane). Then, the dehumidified gas is discharged in the P3 direction.

It should be noted that the passage of the gas traveling toward the arrows P1, P2, P3 forms a first ventilation passage.

On the other hand, by passing through the adsorbent storage section 2,
The dry gas dried by the adsorbent is sent into the hollow fiber membrane module 1 through the inlet 15 (arrow Q in the figure).
1) passing through the outside of the hollow fiber membrane 11 (arrow Q2 in the figure);
It is discharged from the outlet 16 to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane module 1 (arrow Q3 in the figure).

The passage of the gas traveling toward the arrows Q1, Q2, Q3 forms a second ventilation passage.

Here, the flow rate of the gas passed through the second ventilation path is 5% of the flow rate of the gas passed through the first ventilation path.
Not less than 30%, preferably not less than 10% and not more than 25%.

As described above, since the outside of the hollow fiber membrane 11 can be always kept in a dry state by the dry gas dried by the adsorbent, the difference in the partial pressure of water vapor between the inside and outside of the membrane can be suitably maintained. Becomes

As a result, a blowing means (blowing device) for blowing gas into the hollow fiber membrane 11 has a low supply capacity, for example, a blower, a fan, a small compressor or the like having a supply pressure of 0.1 MPa or less. Even when used, it exhibits sufficient dehumidifying performance.

Therefore, the present invention can be suitably used for a dehumidifier for a vehicle interior or a home where a small-sized air supply means having a low supply capacity is usually used. The present invention can be applied not only to air but also to dehumidification of N ₂ , O ₂ , and other gases through which the hollow fiber membrane can selectively transmit water vapor, and further, gases that do not dissolve and swell the hollow fiber membrane.

The adsorbent is deteriorated by adsorbing moisture. However, if the adsorbent storage section 2 is arranged in a region heated by an external device different from the dehumidifier, the adsorbent can be regenerated. Can be used for permanent use.

Next, an application example of the dehumidifier described above will be described.

For example, when the present invention is applied to dehumidification in a vehicle cabin, the humid air is passed through a hollow fiber membrane module having a water vapor selective permeability by a blowing means such as a blower to be blown into the vehicle.

At this time, at the same time, by the blowing means,
By sweeping the gas dried by passing through an adsorbent such as zeolite or silica gel to the water vapor permeable side of the hollow fiber membrane, the water vapor permeable side can always be kept at a low humidity, and the inside of the car is dried. It is possible to blow air.

Further, if the storage section for the adsorbent is arranged in the area heated by the engine of the automobile, the adsorbent is regenerated, and thus the permanent use is possible.

Next, some aspects of the system configuration of the dehumidifier according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(System Mode 1) FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing a system mode 1 of the dehumidifier according to the present embodiment.

The dehumidifying device S1 shown in FIG. 2 has a configuration in which a single blowing means 31 feeds gas into the first ventilation path and the second ventilation path.

In this configuration, the gas to be dehumidified is sent into the hollow fiber membrane of the hollow fiber membrane module 1 by the air blowing means 31 (P1), and the dehumidified gas is discharged by ventilating the inside of the hollow fiber (P3).

At the same time, a dry gas, which has been dried by passing gas through the adsorbent storage section 2 by the blowing means 31, is sent to the outside of the membrane in the hollow fiber membrane module 1 (Q1). It is discharged to the outside of the membrane module 1 (Q3).

This embodiment has an advantage that it can be achieved with a relatively simple configuration.

(System Mode 2) FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing a system mode 2 of the dehumidifier according to the present embodiment.

The dehumidifier S2 shown in FIG. 3 is configured to send the dehumidified gas into the adsorbent storage section 2.

In this configuration, the gas to be dehumidified is sent into the hollow fiber membrane of the hollow fiber membrane module 1 by the air blowing means 32 (P1), and the dehumidified gas is discharged by ventilating the inside of the hollow fiber (P3).

Then, a part of the dehumidified gas is sent to the adsorbent container 2, and the dried gas is sent to the outside of the membrane in the hollow fiber membrane module 1 (Q1). It is discharged to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane module 1 (Q3).

In this embodiment, since the dehumidified gas is sent to the adsorbent storage section 2, there is an advantage that the dry gas can be further dried.

(System Mode 3) FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing a system mode 3 of the dehumidifier according to the present embodiment.

The dehumidifying device S3 shown in FIG. 4 has a structure in which the first ventilation path and the second ventilation path are provided with blowing means independently of each other.

In this configuration, the gas to be dehumidified is sent into the hollow fiber membrane of the hollow fiber membrane module 1 by the blowing means 33 (P1), and the dehumidified gas is discharged by ventilating the inside of the hollow fiber (P3).

On the other hand, a gas is sent into the adsorbent storage section 2 by the blowing means 34, and the dried gas is sent to the outside of the membrane inside the hollow fiber membrane module 1 (Q1). 1 (Q
3).

This embodiment has the advantage that the system design can be diversified. In addition, the system modes 1 to 3
In any of the above cases, it is possible to arbitrarily change the ventilation amount by installing a valve in front of the module introduction port in the pipe for sending dry air that has passed through the adsorbent storage section 2.

[0054]

EXAMPLES More specific examples based on the above embodiment will be described. In addition, what was shown in the said system aspect 1 was used for the aspect of the system.

As the hollow fiber membrane module 1, the case inner diameter of the module case 12 is 30 mm, and the case length is 360.
mm, outer diameter of hollow fiber membrane 11 is 570 μm, inner diameter is 350 μm
20 ° C, relative humidity 90% R with a blower
H air was supplied to the hollow interior of the hollow fiber membrane 11. The supply pressure at this time was 0.02 MPa. Further, humid air at 100 l / min was passed through the hollow fiber membrane module 1.

At the same time, air at a rate of 12 l / min was passed through the adsorbent (100 g of silica gel) by a blower, and this was swept to the water vapor permeable side (second ventilation path) in the hollow fiber membrane module.

Thus, the dehumidified air discharged from the outlet of the hollow fiber membrane module 1 (P3) has a temperature of 20 ° C.
° C and a relative humidity of 15% RH.

[0058]

As described above, the present invention provides a sufficient water vapor partial pressure difference between the first air passage passing through the hollow interior of the hollow fiber membrane and the second air passage passing through the outside of the hollow fiber membrane. Therefore, excellent dehumidifying ability is exhibited even when a blowing means having a low supply capacity is used.

Further, the size of the apparatus can be reduced because the blowing means having a low supply capacity can be used.

If the adsorbent storage section is arranged in a region heated by an external device, the adsorbent can be recycled, so that the adsorbent can be used permanently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system basic configuration diagram of a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing a system mode 1 of the dehumidifier according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing a system mode 2 of the dehumidifier according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram showing a system mode 3 of the dehumidifier according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hollow fiber membrane module 11 Hollow fiber membrane 12 Module case 13,14 Sealing part 15 Inlet 16 Outlet 2 Adsorbent storage part 31,32,33,34 Blowing means S0, S1, S2, S3 Dehumidifier

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A hollow fiber membrane module having a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, wherein the hollow interior is opened at both ends of each hollow fiber membrane and the outer wall is sealed, and the gas to be dehumidified is the hollow fiber membrane module. A first air passage that passes through the hollow interior from one end side of the hollow fiber membrane and is dehumidified and discharged to the other end side; and a dry gas that is dried by passing through the adsorbent storage section, A second air passage passing through the inside of the hollow fiber membrane inside the dehumidifier. 2. The dehumidifying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a blower for sending gas to each of the first ventilation path and the second ventilation path. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a part of the dehumidified gas is branched off from the first ventilation path and sent upstream of the adsorbent storage section of the second ventilation path. Dehumidifier. 4. A blower for letting gas flow through the first air passage and a blower means for letting gas flow through the second air passage are provided independently of each other. 3. The dehumidifier according to claim 1. 5. The adsorbent storage section is arranged in a region heated by an external device.
5. The dehumidifier according to any one of the items 4 to 5.