JP2007218539A - Hollow fiber membrane module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a hollow fiber membrane module efficiently function even in a case where the hollow fiber membrane module has many restrictions on shape or the like. <P>SOLUTION: In a hollow fiber membrane bundle 7 stored in a module case 5, both end of each hollow fiber membrane are opened to surfaces of end plates 9 and 11, and a gas to be humidified is supplied thereto through an opening part of the end plate 9. A humidifying gas introduced through a first gas inlet pipe 13 is supplied to the outside of the hollow fiber membranes through a first gas inflow port 5a formed in the module case 5 with inclination in a reverse direction to the flowing direction of the humidifying gas carried from one end of the hollow fiber membrane module to the other end thereof. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane module configured by housing a hollow fiber membrane bundle composed of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes in a container.

  Conventionally, as a hollow fiber membrane module, for example, the following Patent Document 1 describes a module applied to a humidifier for humidifying a gas supplied to a fuel cell. This hollow fiber membrane module accommodates a hollow fiber membrane bundle composed of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes in a container, and fixes both ends of each hollow fiber membrane with a tube plate made of resin. Both ends are opened.

  Then, the first gas is supplied to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane in the container, and the second gas is supplied to the inside of the hollow fiber membrane. At this time, each gas contacts the inner and outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membrane. Since it flows, the water vapor on the gas side having a high water vapor partial pressure is humidified by selecting and passing the hollow fiber membrane to the gas side having a low water vapor partial pressure.

At this time, the hollow fiber membrane module is configured so that the effective length of the hollow fiber membrane bundle is L and the inner diameter of the container is D, so that L / D is set to 1.8 or more, particularly 2 to 6, It is trying to improve the humidification efficiency while suppressing the pressure loss.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-55534 (see paragraph 0018 and FIG. 3)

  By the way, when a fuel cell is mounted on a vehicle with many layout restrictions on various components, the required dimension setting of the hollow fiber membrane module as described above cannot be secured for a humidifier that is mounted on the vehicle together with the fuel cell. Cases occur, and hollow fiber membrane modules are generally cylindrical in shape. However, when they are rectangular, the above-mentioned dimension setting requirements may not be satisfied, and sufficient humidification efficiency is obtained. There will be no.

  Then, even if it is a case where there are many restrictions with respect to the shape etc. of a hollow fiber membrane module, this invention aims at making a hollow fiber membrane module function efficiently.

  The present invention accommodates a hollow fiber membrane bundle composed of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes in a container, distributes a first gas outside the hollow fiber membrane in the container, and places the first gas inside the hollow fiber membrane. In the hollow fiber membrane module in which the gas of 2 is circulated, a first gas supply unit for supplying the first gas to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane in the container on a side surface of one end of the hollow fiber membrane module, A first gas outflow portion for allowing the first gas to flow out of the container is provided on a side surface of the other end of the hollow fiber membrane module, and the first gas is directed from one end to the other end of the hollow fiber membrane module. The first gas is ejected from the first gas supply unit in a direction substantially opposite to the flow direction of the first gas.

  According to the present invention, the first gas is ejected from the first gas supply unit in the direction opposite to the flow direction of the first gas from one end to the other end of the hollow fiber membrane module. Even if the residence time of the first gas flowing outside the membrane is long and the area of the hollow fiber membrane that can be effectively used is widened and there are many restrictions on the shape of the hollow fiber membrane module, the hollow fiber membrane module It can function efficiently.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2, which is a plan view of a humidifying device including a hollow fiber membrane module 1 showing the first embodiment of the present invention. This humidifier humidifies a gas supplied to a fuel cell (not shown). By humidification, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane such as perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid used in the fuel cell is kept in an appropriate wet state, thereby In addition to preventing a decrease in conductivity, poor contact between the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the electrode is prevented to improve output.

  Such a humidifier has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and houses the hollow fiber membrane module 1 described above inside a cylindrical housing 3. The hollow fiber membrane module 1 accommodates a hollow fiber membrane bundle 7 composed of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes in a module case 5 as a cylindrical container having both upper and lower ends opened in FIG.

  The upper and lower ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 7 in FIG. 1 are fixed by end plates 9 and 11 as fixing portions provided so as to close the upper and lower openings of the module case 5. The end plates 9 and 11 are constituted by a so-called potting portion in which a fixing agent made of a molten resin is solidified, and each hollow fiber membrane penetrates vertically in FIG. Openings at the upper end and the lower end of each hollow fiber membrane are exposed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the end plate 11, respectively.

  That is, the dry humidified gas as the second gas flows from the opening serving as the gas supply port at the upper end in FIG. 1 of each hollow fiber membrane described above and flows through the hollow fiber membrane, so that the hollow fiber After being humidified by the humidified humidified gas as the first gas supplied to the outside of the membrane, it flows out of the module through an opening serving as a gas discharge port at the lower end.

  In FIG. 1, the first gas inlet 5a as the first gas supply section through which the first gas flows into the module case 5 and the first gas are located at positions corresponding to the upper and lower portions of the module case 5, respectively. Are provided with a plurality of first gas outlets 5b as first gas outlets that flow out of the module case 5 along the circumferential direction.

  The first gas inlet 5a provided in the upper part is a through hole provided in the module case 5. The through hole flows in the module case 5 from the first gas inlet 5a toward the first gas outlet 5b. It is inclined and opened upward in the direction opposite to the main flow of the humidified gas indicated by the curved arrow B.

  On the other hand, the first gas outlet 5b provided in the lower part is a through hole provided in the module case 5, and this through hole is not inclined like the first gas inlet 5a, and the diameter of the module case 5 is not increased. It penetrates in the direction.

  And the 1st gas introduction pipe 13 is connected to the housing 3 of the position corresponding to the 1st gas inflow port 5a located in the left side in FIG. Further, a first gas outlet pipe 15 is connected to the housing 3 at a position corresponding to the first gas outlet 5b located on the right side in FIG.

  A cylindrical sealing material 17 is fitted between the housing 3 and the module case 5 between the first gas introduction pipe 13 and the first gas outflow pipe 15, while between the housing 3 and the module case 5. In FIG. 1, annular end seal materials 19 and 21 are fitted into the upper and lower ends, respectively.

  Thereby, an annular first gas introduction space 23 is formed between the sealing material 17 and the end sealing material 19, and an annular first gas outflow space is formed between the sealing material 17 and the end sealing material 21. 25 are formed.

  That is, the humidified gas as the first gas flows from the first gas introduction pipe 13 to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane in the module case 5 through the first gas introduction space 23 and the first gas inlet 5a. Then, after humidifying the humidified gas as the second gas supplied to the inside of the hollow fiber membrane, the module is removed from the first gas outlet pipe 15 via the first gas outlet 5b and the first gas outlet space 25. It flows out to the outside.

  Next, the operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the humidified gas that is the second gas is supplied from the end opening of each hollow fiber membrane that opens to the surface of the end plate 9 in the upper part in FIG. A humidified gas that is a first gas is introduced from the first gas introduction pipe 13.

  The humidified gas supplied from the upper end opening of the hollow fiber membrane flows downward in the hollow fiber membrane and flows out of the module from the lower end opening.

  On the other hand, after the humidified gas introduced from the first gas introduction pipe 13 flows into the annular first gas introduction space 23, each hollow in the hollow fiber bundle 7 from the first gas inlet 5 a to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane. It flows downward between the yarn membranes and flows out from the first gas outflow pipe 15 to the outside of the module while flowing out from the first gas outflow port 5b into the annular first gas outflow space 25.

  In such a gas flow process, water vapor in the humidified gas flowing outside the hollow fiber membrane permeates the hollow fiber membrane and humidifies the humidified gas flowing in the hollow fiber membrane.

  By the way, the flow of the humidified gas flowing outside the hollow fiber membrane in the module case is not uniform, and the flow velocity differs depending on each part as in the hollow fiber membrane module 10 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. . 3 is a front sectional view of the hollow fiber membrane module 10, and FIG. 4 is a plan view thereof. The gas inlet 50a of the module case 50 is similar to the lower gas outlet 50b of the module case 50. It is a through hole penetrating in the diameter direction.

  In such a hollow fiber membrane module 10, the flow velocity of the gas flowing outside the hollow fiber membrane is the slowest at the center, the medium speed at the outside, and the fastest at the outside in the plan view of FIG. 4. Yes. On the other hand, in the front sectional view of FIG. 3, the center in the diameter direction at the upper and lower ends is the slowest, the center in the vertical direction and the center in the diameter direction are medium speed, and the vicinity in the outer diameter direction is the fastest.

  3 and 4 described above, the portion with the slowest gas flow velocity is the diametrical center in the vicinity of the first gas inlet 50a and the first gas outlet 50b in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the portion where the flow velocity of the gas flowing outside the hollow fiber membrane is slow is difficult for the gas to reach and the hollow fiber membrane is not effectively used. Will not work well.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the first gas inlet 5a formed of a through hole flows in the module case 5 from the first gas inlet 5a toward the first gas outlet 5b. The flow is opened upward in the opposite direction to the flow indicated by the curved arrow B. For this reason, a part of the humidified gas flowing out from the first gas inlet 5a into the module case 5 flows toward the upper end plate 9 and then reaches the center along the end plate 9 as indicated by the arrow C. It goes into.

  Thereafter, the humidified gas that has entered the central portion flows downward in the central portion and flows outwardly as indicated by an arrow D at the lower end portion, along with the main flow of the humidified gas indicated by the arrow B, the first The gas flows out from the first gas outlet pipe 15 to the outside of the module through the gas outlet 5b and the first gas outlet space 25.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the first gas inlet 5a is opposite to the flow indicated by the curved arrow B flowing in the module case 5 from the first gas inlet 5a toward the first gas outlet 5b. Since the opening is directed upward in the direction, the humidified gas efficiently flows into the center of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 7 and the residence time of the humidified gas flowing outside the hollow fiber membrane is increased. The hollow fiber membrane of the part can also be effectively used to improve the humidification performance, and can function efficiently as the hollow fiber membrane module 1.

  In the present embodiment, the humidified gas flowing into the module case 5 from the first gas inlet 5a flows along the vicinity of the upper end plate 9, but the hollow fiber membrane in the vicinity of the end plate 9 Therefore, the hollow fiber membranes are not easily swayed even when gas passes through, so that the humidified gas efficiently enters the hollow fiber membrane bundle 7 without receiving a large resistance, so that the hollow fiber membranes in the center part Can be used more effectively.

  The first gas inlet 5a for generating such a gas flow may be formed simply by inclining when it is provided in the module case 5, and it is not necessary to add additional parts, and the humidification performance is improved at a low cost. be able to.

  In the above-described first embodiment, all of the plurality of first gas inlets 5a are configured to open upward in FIG. 1, but only a part thereof is opened upward. You may do it.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 is a plan view of a humidifier equipped with a hollow fiber membrane module 1A showing a second embodiment of the present invention. This hollow fiber membrane module 1A includes a first gas guide that extends along the inclined direction to the inclined first gas inlet 5a in the first embodiment shown in FIG. A pipe member 27 as a part is connected.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the pipe members 27 do not need to be provided in all of the plurality of first gas inlets 5a provided at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and here, every other pipe member 27 is provided along the circumferential direction. I have to.

  According to the second embodiment, the humidified gas can be supplied from the pipe member 27 connected to the first gas inflow port 5a to the central portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 7 as compared with the first embodiment. The hollow fiber membrane at the center can be effectively used more reliably and can contribute to the improvement of humidification performance.

  In addition, since the pipe member 27 described above is provided in a part of the plurality of first gas inlets 5 a, all the humidified gas introduced into the module case 5 is supplied from the hollow fiber membrane bundle 7. Without flowing toward the central part, it is also allowed to flow to the outer peripheral side as appropriate so that the humidified gas flows efficiently and uniformly over the entire area of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 7 without deteriorating the gas flow resistance more than necessary. Can do.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 of a humidifier equipped with a hollow fiber membrane module 1B according to the third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 7, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line FF in FIG.

  The hollow fiber membrane module 1B includes a through hole 5a1 penetrating in the diameter direction in a position corresponding to the first gas introduction pipe 13 and the module case 5 on the right side in FIG. The through holes 5a1 are connected to each other by a communication pipe 29 serving as a first gas supply passage serving as a first gas supply section, and the central portion in the extension direction of the communication pipe 29, that is, the diameter of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 7 is provided. A first gas outlet 29 a that opens toward the end plate 9 is provided in the center of the direction.

  In the module case 5, a plurality of first gas inlets 5a are provided at substantially the same position in the vertical direction as the through holes 5a1 along the circumferential direction, as in the case of the lower first gas outlet 5b, as shown in FIG. The module case 5 is provided as a through-hole penetrating in the diameter direction.

  That is, here, the module case 5 is provided with a plurality of through holes (first gas inlets) 5a and a through hole 5a1 along the circumferential direction, and a part of the plurality of through holes 5a and 5a1 has a first A communication pipe 29 is provided as one gas supply passage.

  According to the third embodiment, the humidified gas that has flowed into the first gas introduction space 23 from the first gas introduction pipe 13 enters the communication pipe 29 from both ends of the humidified gas, and other plurality of first gas inlets. It enters the module case 5 also from 5a.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the humidified gas that has entered the communication pipe 29 flows from the first gas outlet 29a located at the center of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 7 to the upper end opposite to the lower first gas outlet 5b. It spouts toward the plate 9. The humidified gas ejected from the first gas ejection holes 29a toward the end plate 9 is reflected by the end plate 9 and then flows downward in the center of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 7, and the first gas outlet at the lower end. It will flow toward 5b.

  On the other hand, the humidified gas that has entered the module case 5 from the other plurality of first gas inlets 5a hardly reaches the center in the vicinity of the upper end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 7 in FIG. Thus, the flow is directed toward the lower first gas outlet 5b so as to draw a large arc.

  As described above, the humidified gas flowing into the module case 5 from the first gas inlet 5a is less likely to reach the center near the upper end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 7 in FIG. On the other hand, it can be supplemented by the humidified gas ejected from the first gas ejection port 29 a provided in the communication pipe 29. As a result, the humidified gas can be made to flow uniformly over the entire area of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 7 and the humidification performance can be improved.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which a humidified gas is allowed to flow inside the hollow fiber membrane and a humidified gas is allowed to flow outside the hollow fiber membrane is shown. A humidified gas may be allowed to flow. Further, the hollow fiber membrane modules 1, 1A, 1B can be used not only as a humidifier but also as a filter.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the hollow fiber membrane modules 1, 1A, 1B are shown to have a cylindrical shape as a whole. However, the hollow fiber membrane modules 1, 1A, 1B are not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may have a prismatic shape.

It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is a top view of a humidification device provided with the hollow fiber membrane module concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is front sectional drawing of the hollow fiber membrane module which shows the flow velocity distribution of the gas which flows outside the hollow fiber membrane in a hollow fiber membrane module. It is a top view of the hollow fiber membrane module which shows the flow velocity distribution of the gas which flows outside the hollow fiber membrane in a hollow fiber membrane module. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 1 of a humidification apparatus provided with the hollow fiber membrane module concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view equivalent to FIG. 2 of a humidification apparatus provided with the hollow fiber membrane module concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 1 of a humidification apparatus provided with the hollow fiber membrane module concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is EE sectional drawing of FIG. It is FF sectional drawing of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1,1A, 1B Hollow fiber membrane module 5 Module case (container)
5a 1st gas inlet (1st gas supply part, through-hole)
5a1 Through-hole 5b First gas outlet (first gas outlet)
7 Hollow fiber membrane bundle 27 Pipe member (first gas guide)
29 Communication pipe (first gas supply section, first gas supply passage)
29a First gas outlet

Claims (8)

  A hollow fiber membrane bundle composed of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes is accommodated in a container, a first gas is circulated outside the hollow fiber membrane in the container, and a second gas is introduced into the hollow fiber membrane. In the hollow fiber membrane module to be circulated, a first gas supply unit for supplying the first gas to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane in the container is provided on a side surface of one end of the hollow fiber membrane module. A first gas outflow portion for allowing the first gas to flow out of the container is provided on a side surface of the other end of the module, and the flow direction of the first gas from one end to the other end of the hollow fiber membrane module; Is a hollow fiber membrane module characterized in that the first gas is ejected from the first gas supply section in a substantially reverse direction.   The first gas supply unit includes a through hole provided in the container, and the through hole is in a direction substantially opposite to a flow direction of the first gas from one end of the hollow fiber membrane module toward the other end. The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, wherein the hollow fiber membrane module is formed so as to open.   The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first gas supply part is provided with a first gas guide part extending to the inside of the container.   The first gas supply unit is provided in a plurality along the circumferential direction of the container, and the first gas guide unit is provided in a part of the plurality of first gas supply units. The hollow fiber membrane module described in 1.   The first gas supply unit is configured by a first gas supply passage that extends to the inside of the hollow fiber membrane bundle, and the first gas supply passage has the first gas heading from one end to the other end of the hollow fiber membrane module. The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, further comprising a first gas ejection port that ejects the first gas in a direction substantially opposite to a gas flow direction.   The first gas supply passage penetrates between the hollow fiber membranes in the hollow fiber membrane bundle and opens on both sides of the container, and the first gas is ejected from the openings on both sides. The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 5.   7. The container according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of through holes are provided along the circumferential direction of the container, and the first gas supply passage is provided in a part of the plurality of through holes. Hollow fiber membrane module.   The hollow fiber membrane module according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the first gas ejection port is provided at a diametrical center portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle.

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