JP2009136772A - Hollow fiber membrane module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hollow fiber membrane module capable of allowing a fluid to uniformly penetrate its hollow fiber membrane bundle across the whole range thereof by minimizing the influence of the flow rate drop and the pressure drop of the fluid even at a location far from the inflow port of the hollow fiber membrane module. <P>SOLUTION: The follow fiber membrane module comprised of a plurality of bundled hollow fiber membranes and a meshed protective member disposed outside the hollow fiber membranes with the end parts of the hollow fiber membranes and of the protective member airtightly fixed to its case by virtue of an adhesive filler, is characterized in that a plurality of ribs that push and press the hollow fiber membranes are disposed inside the case. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane module.
The present invention also relates to a hollow fiber membrane module useful for filtering various substances using a hollow fiber type separation membrane.
Furthermore, it is particularly useful as a humidified hollow fiber membrane module such as a humidified hollow fiber membrane module for fuel cells.

Conventionally, in a humidified hollow fiber membrane module such as a humidified hollow fiber membrane module for a fuel cell, humidified air passes through the hollow fiber membrane and the humidified air passes outside the hollow fiber membrane.
And as this kind humidification hollow fiber membrane module, the structure of the humidification hollow fiber membrane module for fuel electricity etc. as disclosed by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2004-202478 or Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2005-224719 is known. Yes.

Such a conventionally known humidified hollow fiber membrane module will be described with reference to FIGS.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
In the figure, in order to supply water with the highest efficiency, the inflow port 600 and the outflow port 700 are Zened from end to end on the hollow fiber membrane 100 having both ends potted with the filling adhesive 400 (circumferential direction). The module case 500 is arranged so that the humidified air flows on the opposite side in the axial direction which is shifted by 180 degrees.

Then, the humid air that has flowed into the chamber of the module case 500 through the inflow port 600 diffuses in the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membrane 100.
However, since the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the hollow fiber membrane 100 and the inner peripheral surface of the module case 500 has an equal volume in the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membrane 100, the humidified air near the inflow port 600 maintains the inflow pressure while maintaining the inflow pressure. While permeating quickly into the membrane bundle, the humid air far from the inflow port 600 is unlikely to permeate into the hollow fiber membrane 100 due to the effect of reduced flow velocity and pressure loss.
For this reason, there has been a problem that the hollow fiber membrane 100 in a portion far from the inflow port 600 is not effectively used.

JP 2004-202478 A JP 2005-224719 A

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and even at a location far from the inflow port of the hollow fiber membrane module, the influence of a decrease in fluid flow velocity and pressure loss is suppressed as much as possible, and the hollow fiber membrane bundle is placed into the hollow fiber membrane bundle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hollow fiber membrane module that can make permeation uniform throughout the hollow fiber membrane bundle.

  The hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention includes a bundle of many hollow fiber membranes, a mesh-like protective member disposed outside the hollow fiber membrane, and an adhesive filling the ends of the hollow fiber membrane and the protective member. In the hollow fiber membrane module sealed and fixed to the case, a rib for pressing the hollow fiber membrane is provided inside the case.

The present invention has the following effects.
According to the hollow fiber membrane module of the first aspect of the present invention, the hollow fiber membrane bundle at a portion far from the inflow port can be used effectively.

  Moreover, according to the hollow fiber membrane module of the invention described in claim 2, it is easy to load the hollow fiber membrane into the case.

  Furthermore, according to the hollow fiber membrane module of the invention described in claim 3, after the hollow fiber membrane is loaded into the case, the gas permeation into the hollow fiber membrane can be corrected to be uniform throughout the membrane.

  Furthermore, according to the hollow fiber membrane module of the invention described in claim 4, the most suitable hollow fiber gap can be controlled.

Furthermore, according to the hollow fiber membrane module of the invention described in claim 5, since the hollow fiber is pressed by the ribs facing each other at different heights, the hollow fiber gap can be varied at the facing position, and is most preferable. It is possible to control the gap between hollow fibers.
Furthermore, according to the hollow fiber membrane module of the invention described in claim 6, since the hollow fibers are pressed by the ribs having different hardnesses, the hollow fiber gaps can be made different at the positions facing each other. It can be controlled to a suitable hollow fiber gap.

Furthermore, according to the hollow fiber membrane module of the seventh aspect of the invention, the gas flow can be smoothly guided from the inflow port to the outflow port.
Furthermore, according to the hollow fiber membrane module of the invention described in claim 8, the ribs can be effectively arranged.

  Furthermore, according to the hollow fiber membrane module of the ninth aspect of the invention, the mesh-like protective member (2) can promote the effect that the hollow fiber membrane bundle at a portion far from the inflow port can be effectively used.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The hollow fiber membrane module according to the present invention is used for a cross-flow type hollow fiber membrane module as exemplified in FIG.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state before the lid member of the hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention is attached to the case.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention includes a number of bundled hollow fiber membranes 1, a mesh-like protective member 2 disposed outside the hollow fiber membrane 1, and a hollow fiber. A hollow fiber membrane module in which a membrane 1 and an end 3 of a protective member 2 are sealed and fixed to a case 5 having a rectangular cross section by a filling adhesive 4, and a rib that presses the hollow fiber membrane 1 inside the case 5 A plurality 51 is provided in parallel with the hollow fiber membrane 1.

The portion of the case 5 where the ribs 51 are provided is a separate lid member 52 before assembly, as shown in FIG.
The case 5 may be divided into two parts and assembled so as to sandwich the mesh-like protective member 2 and the hollow fiber membrane 1, and then the divided parts may be integrated by an adhesive or welding.
The lid member 52 is fitted into the opening 53 provided in the case 5 from the state shown in FIG. 3, and is integrated with the case 5 by an adhesive or welding.

At this time, the plurality of ribs 51 provided on the lid member 52 press the mesh-like protective member 2 and the hollow fiber membrane 1.
This forms the most preferred hollow fiber gap.
The lid member 52 is provided so as to face the bottom side of FIG. 3, and similarly, a rib 51 is formed.
For this reason, the mesh-shaped protection member 2 and the hollow fiber membrane 1 are pressed by the ribs 51 from both the upper and lower surfaces.
And the most suitable hollow fiber gap | interval can be formed by changing suitably the hardness of the rib 51, height, a number, length, etc. FIG.

In particular, it is preferable to be able to purchase the hardness of the ribs provided on the upper and lower facing surfaces in order to form a suitable hollow fiber gap.
Furthermore, it is effective to make the mesh size of the mesh-like protective member 2 partially different in order to make the gas permeation of the entire hollow fiber membrane 1 uniform.
That is, a relatively fine mesh mesh-shaped protective member 2 is provided on the surface of the hollow fiber membrane 1 where gas easily penetrates, and a relatively coarse mesh mesh-shaped protective member 2 is provided on the surface of the hollow fiber membrane 1 where gas is difficult to penetrate. By doing so, gas permeation of the entire hollow fiber membrane 1 can be made uniform.

  It is also possible to adjust the mesh size of the mesh-like protective member 2 and then integrate it with the case. However, after the integration, the mesh of the mesh-like protective member 2 is opened from the opening 53 of the case 5. It is also possible to adjust the size.

In this embodiment, a fluorine resin is used as the material for the mesh-like protective member 2, but polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, or the like is appropriately selected and used.
This fluororesin is particularly effective when the hollow fiber membrane module is used as a water vapor supply for a fuel cell.

As the potting agent, polyurethane, silicone, nylon or the like is appropriately selected and used.
Moreover, as a material of the hollow fiber membrane, polyethersulfone, polyimide, polyolefin, or the like is appropriately selected and used.
Furthermore, as a material for the case, a metal such as stainless steel, a resin such as polypropylene, fluororesin, polysulfone, and acrylic is appropriately selected and used.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the best mode for carrying out the above-described invention, and various other configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is sectional drawing of the hollow fiber membrane module of this invention. It is BB sectional drawing of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state before attaching the cover member of the hollow fiber membrane module of this invention to a case. It is sectional drawing of the hollow fiber membrane module which concerns on a prior art. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hollow fiber membrane 2 Mesh-like protective member 4 Filling adhesive 5 Case 6 Inflow port 7 Outflow port 51 Rib 52 Lid member 53 Opening part

Claims (9)

  A large number of bundled hollow fiber membranes (1), a mesh-like protective member (2) disposed outside the hollow fiber membrane (1), the hollow fiber membrane (1) and the protective member (2) In the hollow fiber membrane module in which the end portion (3) is sealed and fixed to the case (5) with the filling adhesive (4), ribs that press the hollow fiber membrane (1) inside the case (5) ( 51) A hollow fiber membrane module characterized by being provided.   The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the case (5) where the rib (51) is provided is a separate lid member (52) before assembly.   The mesh size of the mesh-shaped protective member (2) is adjusted from an opening (53) of the case (5) provided corresponding to the lid member (52). Hollow fiber membrane module.   The hollow fiber membrane module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rib (51) is provided at a position facing the case (5).   The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 4, wherein the height of the facing ribs (51) is different.   The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 4, wherein the ribs (51) facing each other have different hardnesses.   The hollow fiber membrane module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the rib (51) is formed substantially parallel to the hollow fiber membrane (1).   The hollow fiber membrane module according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the case (5) has a rectangular cross section.   The hollow fiber membrane module according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the mesh size of the mesh-shaped protective member (2) is partially different.

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