JP2006314919A - Hollow fiber membrane module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hollow fiber membrane module capable of reducing the pressure loss by making a fluid flow smoothly and improving the treating efficiency by increasing the number of hollow fiber membranes contributing to treatment, e.g. humidification. <P>SOLUTION: The module 1 has a module case 2, two or more hollow fiber membranes 3 housed in the module case 2, the first path passing through the hollow inside of the hollow fiber membranes 3 and the second path passing through the outer wall of the membrane of the hollow fiber membranes 3. The module 1 has a bundling member 9 bundling two or more hollow fiber membranes into two or more bundles to form a clearance between the bundles. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane module that utilizes the membrane separation action of a hollow fiber membrane to perform, for example, gas humidification, dehumidification, separation, liquid separation, and the like.

  Conventionally, this type of hollow fiber membrane module is shown in FIG. The hollow fiber membrane module 100 includes a module case 101 and a hollow fiber membrane bundle in which a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 102 accommodated in the module case 101 are bundled. In the hollow fiber membrane bundle, the gap between the outer wall surface of the hollow fiber membrane 102 and the inner wall surface of the module case 101 is sealed with a potting agent or the like so that only the hollow interior of the hollow fiber membrane 102 is opened at both ends. It is sealed with a stopper. As a method of using this hollow fiber membrane module 100, for example, a gas containing water vapor is caused to flow from the first inlet 104 to the path passing through the hollow interior of the hollow fiber membrane 102 and flow out from the first outlet 105 to be humidified. The gas flows from the second inflow port 106 to a path passing through the outside of the hollow fiber membrane 102 and flows out from the second outflow port 107, so that the gas passing through the hollow inside of the hollow fiber membrane 102 is permeated and discharged to the outside of the membrane. The moisture to be humidified that passes through the outside of the membrane can be humidified by the moisture that is applied.

  In the hollow fiber membrane module 100 shown in FIG. 4, the humidification target gas flowing in from the second inflow port 6 flows so as to intersect the hollow fiber membrane 102 and flows out from the second outflow port. It tends to flow around between the outer periphery of the hollow fiber membrane bundle with low resistance and the inner wall of the module case 101, and it is difficult to flow inside the hollow fiber membrane bundle, that is, between the hollow fiber membranes. Therefore, in such a hollow fiber membrane module, the entire hollow fiber membrane accommodated due to non-uniform fluid distribution cannot be used effectively, resulting in a decrease in processing efficiency such as humidification. Further, when a rectangular parallelepiped hollow fiber membrane module is adopted due to the demand for an increase in the size of the module, in the path passing through the membrane outer wall of the hollow fiber membrane, between the case inlet and the hollow fiber membrane bundle and between the case outlet and the hollow fiber membrane bundle. Are provided with spaces for reducing the unevenness of the flow of fluid in the module, but even if such a space is provided, the resistance between the hollow fiber membranes leads to the outer periphery of the hollow fiber membrane bundle. Fluid detours occur.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a hollow fiber membrane module that can distribute the fluid uniformly throughout the hollow fiber membrane bundle and increase the number of hollow fiber membranes that contribute to the treatment such as humidification, thereby improving the treatment efficiency. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, a hollow fiber membrane module according to the present invention includes a case having a substantially rectangular internal space, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes accommodated in the case, and a hollow interior of the hollow fiber membrane. A hollow fiber membrane module including a first path passing through the outer wall of the hollow fiber membrane, wherein the case includes an inlet and an outlet for the second path, and Between the outer membrane wall of the hollow fiber membrane on the inlet side, an inlet space for guiding a fluid flow to the entire hollow fiber membrane on the inlet side, and the membrane of the hollow fiber membrane on the outlet side and the outlet side In a hollow fiber membrane module comprising an outlet space for collecting fluid at the outlet between the outer wall and the hollow fiber membrane bundle, the plurality of hollow fiber membranes are bundled into a plurality of hollow fiber membrane bundles. And a bundling member for forming a gap.

  As described above, the gap formed between the hollow fiber membrane bundles by the bundling member forms a flow path that guides the fluid between the plurality of hollow fiber membrane bundles, so that the number of hollow fiber membranes that contribute to processing such as humidification is increased. be able to. Further, since the fluid can smoothly flow through the flow path formed by the gap between the hollow fiber membrane bundles, the resistance during the movement of the fluid can be reduced.

  In the case of a rectangular parallelepiped module, an inlet space and an outlet space are provided to reduce unevenness in the flow of fluid, but the fluid flows in a detour between the outer periphery of the hollow fiber membrane bundle and the inner wall of the case with low resistance. easy. However, the fluid can be guided into the hollow fiber membrane bundle by forming a gap between the hollow fiber membrane bundles by the binding member in this way.

  The binding member preferably includes a plurality of through holes, and the plurality of hollow fiber membranes are preferably bundled into a plurality of hollow fiber membrane bundles by being passed through the plurality of through holes.

  As described above, since the hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention can increase the number of hollow fiber membranes that contribute to the treatment such as humidification, the processing efficiency of the module can be improved. Moreover, since the resistance at the time of movement of the fluid is reduced, pressure loss can be reduced.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. .

  With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the hollow fiber membrane module which concerns on an Example is demonstrated. 1 to 3 are schematic cross-sectional views of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a drawing corresponding to the AA cross section of FIG. However, it corresponds to the AA cross section before the cross section in FIG. 1, not the AA cross section of FIG. 3 is a drawing corresponding to the BB cross section of FIG. 1. Like FIG. 2, FIG. 3 corresponds to the BB cross section before the cross section in FIG.

  A hollow fiber membrane module 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a module case 2 and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 3 accommodated in the module case 2. The hollow fiber membrane 3 is bundled, and the gap between the outer wall surface of the hollow fiber membrane 3 and the inner wall surface of the module case 2 is opened at both ends so that only the hollow interior of the hollow fiber membrane 3 is opened. Etc. (sealing fixing part 4).

  The hollow fiber membrane module 1 according to the present embodiment, for example, allows a gas containing water vapor to flow from the first inflow port 5 through a path passing through the hollow interior of the hollow fiber membrane 3 to flow out from the first outflow port 6 to be humidified. The gas flows from the second inflow port 7 to the path passing through the outside of the hollow fiber membrane 3 and flows out from the second outflow port 8 so that the gas passing through the hollow interior of the hollow fiber membrane 3 is permeated and discharged to the outside of the membrane. The moisture to be humidified that passes through the outside of the membrane can be humidified by the moisture that is applied. As an application of a present Example, it can use as a humidification membrane module for fuel cells, for example.

  The module case 2 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the internal space for accommodating the hollow fiber membrane 3 is also a substantially rectangular space. And between the second inflow port 7 and the hollow fiber membrane 3 on the second inflow port 7 side, and between the second outflow port 8 and the hollow fiber membrane 3 on the second inflow / outlet side 8, respectively, An inlet space 70 for guiding the flow of gas to the entire hollow fiber membrane bundle on the inlet side and an outlet space 80 for collecting the processed fluid to the second inlet / outlet are formed. These spaces allow the fluid to flow through the entire hollow fiber membrane to reduce the unevenness of the wraparound within the module.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the hollow fiber membrane module 1 according to this embodiment further includes a binding member 9. The binding member 9 is a plate-like member provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the hollow fiber membrane 3 extends, and a plurality of through-holes penetrating in the direction in which the hollow fiber membrane 3 extends are provided. The plurality of hollow fiber membranes 3 accommodated are divided into a plurality of bundles by passing through the plurality of through holes. The through holes provided in the binding member 9 are provided at predetermined intervals, and a gap is formed between the bundles of the hollow fiber membranes 3. By this gap, a flow path for guiding the fluid flowing into the module from the second inlet 7 between the bundles of the hollow fiber membranes 3 is formed.

  With the flow path formed in this way, the fluid can be guided to the vicinity of the center of the module where it has been difficult to introduce the fluid in the related art, and the fluid can flow through the entire hollow fiber membrane. Therefore, it is possible to improve the processing efficiency of the module by contributing the entire hollow fiber membrane to processing such as humidification. Further, since the fluid can flow smoothly through this flow path, the resistance during movement of the fluid is reduced, and the pressure loss can be effectively reduced.

  In particular, when a rectangular parallelepiped module is used, even if a space is provided between the hollow fiber membrane bundle and the case inlet and case outlet, the fluid is bypassed between the outer periphery of the hollow fiber membrane bundle and the inner wall of the case with low resistance. It tends to flow, and pressure loss due to resistance between the hollow fiber membranes and reduction in processing efficiency occur. However, as in this embodiment, the fluid can be guided into the hollow fiber membrane bundle by forming a gap between the hollow fiber membrane bundles by the binding member.

  When the comparative evaluation of the humidifying performance of the hollow fiber membrane module according to the example of the present invention and the hollow fiber membrane module according to the prior art that does not include a binding member, the hollow fiber membrane module according to the present example, As compared with the conventional hollow fiber membrane module, it was confirmed that the pressure loss was reduced by 80% while maintaining the performance.

  In the manufacture of the hollow fiber membrane module 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, before sealing both ends of the hollow fiber membrane 3 in the case 2, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 3 are previously formed in the through holes of the binding member 9. It is manufactured by passing it into a plurality of bundles, and then sealing and fixing both ends thereof in the case 2.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the shape of the main part of the module case 2 of a present Example (basic shape including the part in which a hollow fiber membrane is accommodated (shape of a part except an inflow port and an outflow port)) Is a hexahedron (cuboid), but it goes without saying that the effect of the present invention can be obtained even in a module having a cylindrical case shape, for example.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to the prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hollow fiber membrane module 2 Module case 3 Hollow fiber membrane 4 Sealing fixing | fixed part 5 1st inflow port 6 1st outflow port 7 2nd inflow port 70 Inlet space 8 2nd outflow port 80 Outlet space 9 Bundling member 100 Hollow fiber membrane Module 101 Module case 102 Hollow fiber membrane 103 Sealing fixing portion 104 First inlet 105 First outlet 106 Second inlet 107 Second outlet

Claims (2)

A case having a substantially rectangular internal space;
A plurality of hollow fiber membranes housed in the case;
A first path through the hollow interior of the hollow fiber membrane;
A second path through the membrane outer wall of the hollow fiber membrane;
A hollow fiber membrane module comprising:
The case includes an inlet and an outlet for the second path,
Between the inlet and the membrane outer wall of the hollow fiber membrane on the inlet side, an inlet space for guiding a fluid flow to the entire hollow fiber membrane on the inlet side;
An outlet space for collecting fluid at the outlet between the outlet and the membrane outer wall of the hollow fiber membrane on the outlet side;
In a hollow fiber membrane module comprising:
A hollow fiber membrane module comprising a binding member that bundles the plurality of hollow fiber membranes into a plurality of hollow fiber membrane bundles and forms a gap between the hollow fiber membrane bundles. The binding member includes a plurality of through holes,
The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of hollow fiber membranes are bundled into a plurality of hollow fiber membrane bundles by passing through the plurality of through holes.

Images