JP2016137468A - Manufacturing method of hollow fiber membrane module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for easily manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module, without requiring to use a special case of opening only one end, without requiring to remove a potting cup formed of silicone after hardening a potting agent, and hardly leaking the potting agent.SOLUTION: In a method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module, a hollow fiber membrane 11 is housed in the case 12, one end of the case 12 is sealed with a resin cap 13, a potting agent is injected into the case 12 and hardened, the hollow fiber membrane 11 and the case 12 are fixed, thereby obtaining the hollow fiber membrane module. A flange part 13d is formed on a side surface 13a of the resin cap 13. The side surface 13a of the resin cap 13 is inserted up to the flange part 13d so as to seal the inside of one end of the case 12. After injecting and hardening the potting agent, the resin cap 13, a hardened potting agent and the hollow fiber membrane 11 fixed by the potting agent are cut, thereby forming an opening end of the hollow fiber membrane 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module used in a household, industrial or medical filtration device.

Conventionally, the manufacture of a hollow fiber membrane module has been performed as follows, for example.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, first, a bundle of hollow fiber membranes 11 or a knitted fabric is stored in a cylindrical case 12, and a potting cup 15 made of silicone or the like is attached to one end of the case 12. Next, a potting agent is injected from the center tube 16 inserted into the bundle of hollow fiber membranes 11 or the center of the knitted fabric, and the potting agent is cured. Next, the potting cup 15 is removed from the case 12, and the hollow fiber membrane 11 fixed with the potting agent and the potting agent is cut along the line BB ′ of the potting portion 14 to form the open end of the hollow fiber membrane 11. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
However, this method is troublesome because it is necessary to remove the potting cup 15 from the case 12 after the potting agent is cured.

Therefore, as a simple method of manufacturing the hollow fiber membrane module, a cylindrical case 12 having an opening at one end as shown in FIG. 6 is used, a potting agent is injected from the center tube 16, and the case after hardening of the potting agent is used. 12 and a method of cutting along the line CC ′ of the potting unit 14 (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this method, it is not necessary to attach or remove the potting cup, and the hollow fiber membrane module can be easily manufactured.
However, this method requires a cylindrical case 12 having only one end opened. Therefore, there is a problem that a new mold for manufacturing the case 12 is required and the cost is increased. In addition, when the cylindrical case 12 is made of a material that is difficult to cut, it is difficult to manufacture the hollow fiber membrane module by this method.

Therefore, it is not necessary to use a special case with only one end opened, and it is not necessary to remove the potting cup made of silicone after curing the potting agent. A method has been proposed.
That is, as shown in FIG. 7, a resin cap 13 is inserted into one end of a cylindrical case 12, a potting agent is centrifugally injected from the center tube 16, and the potting portion 14 together with the resin cap 13 is cured after the potting agent is cured. Cut along line DD ′ (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

JP-A-5-84426 JP-A-4-284834 JP-A-8-215546

  However, in the method shown in FIG. 7, when the potting agent is centrifugally injected, the potting agent may leak from the contact portion between the case 12 and the resin cap 13.

  The purpose of the present invention is not to use a special case with only one end opened, and it is not necessary to remove a potting cup made of silicone after hardening of the potting agent, and the potting agent is not easily leaked. It is to provide a method capable of producing a hollow fiber membrane module.

The present invention has the following aspects.
[1] A hollow fiber membrane is housed in a cylindrical case, one end of the case is sealed with a resin cap having a side surface and a bottom surface, and a potting agent is injected into the case and cured to obtain a hollow fiber membrane In the method of manufacturing the hollow fiber membrane module by fixing the case, a flange portion is formed on the side surface of the resin cap, and the side surface of the resin cap is sealed to the flange portion inside one end of the case. Inserting and injecting the potting agent, cutting the resin cap, the hardened potting agent, and the hollow fiber membrane fixed with the potting agent at a predetermined position on the resin cap after the potting agent is cured, and hollow fiber membrane A method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module, wherein an open end of the hollow fiber membrane module is formed.
[2] The method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module according to [1], wherein a groove is formed inside the bottom surface of the resin cap.
[3] The method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module according to [2], wherein the grooves are formed radially on a bottom surface of the resin cap.
[4] The method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein an injection port for injecting a potting agent is formed on a bottom surface or a side surface of the resin cap.
[5] The method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module according to [4], wherein an injection port for injecting a potting agent is formed on a bottom surface of the resin cap, and the grooves are formed radially from the injection port of the potting agent. .

  According to the method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention, it is not necessary to use a special case having only one end opened, and it is not necessary to remove a potting cup made of silicone or the like after the potting agent is cured, and The potting agent is hard to leak and a hollow fiber membrane module can be easily produced.

It is sectional drawing which illustrates typically an example of the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the resin caps used for this invention. It is the top view which looked at the resin-made caps shown in FIG. 1 from the opening part side. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the resin-made caps used for this invention. It is sectional drawing which illustrates typically an example of the manufacturing method of the conventional hollow fiber membrane module which uses the cup for potting. It is sectional drawing which illustrates typically an example of the conventional hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing method which does not use the cup for potting. It is sectional drawing which illustrates typically the other example of the conventional hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing method which does not use the cup for potting.

"Method for manufacturing hollow fiber membrane module"
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 2-7, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component as FIG. 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.
As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module according to the present embodiment accommodates the hollow fiber membrane 11 in a cylindrical case 12, and one end of the case 12 is a resin cap having a side surface 13a and a bottom surface 13b. 13, a potting agent is injected into the case 12 and cured to fix the hollow fiber membrane 11 and the case 12 to manufacture a hollow fiber membrane module.

<Resin cap>
The resin cap 13 seals one end of the case 12, and includes a side surface 13a and a bottom surface 13b.
The material of the resin cap 13 is not particularly limited as long as it can be easily cut, and examples thereof include polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS resin, and polyvinyl chloride.

The resin cap 13 is inserted so as to be sealed inside one end of the case 12. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer diameter d ₁ of the opening 13 c of the resin cap 13 is preferably substantially the same as the inner diameter of the case 12. If the outer diameter d ₁ of the opening 13c of the resin cap 13 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the case 12, can be inserted side 13a of the resin cap 13 on the inner side of one end of the case 12, and a resin cap 13 and the case 12 is closely fitted. In the following description, a portion of the resin cap 13 inserted into the case 12 is also referred to as a “fitting portion” of the resin cap 13.
Here, “substantially the same” means that the outer diameter d ₁ of the opening 13 c of the resin cap 13 and the inner diameter of the case 12 are the same, or the outer diameter d ₁ of the opening 13 c of the resin cap 13 is the same. It means within ± 0.3% with respect to the inner diameter of the case 12.

  Further, a flange portion 13 d is formed on the side surface 13 a of the resin cap 13. Since the flange 13d is formed on the side surface 13a of the resin cap 13, when the side surface 13a of the resin cap 13 is inserted inside one end of the case 12, the flange 13d stops. 13d and one end of case 12 adhere. Since the flange 13d and one end of the case 12 are in close contact with each other, the close fitting between the resin cap 13 and the case 12 is further increased, and the potting agent can be prevented from leaking from the contact portion between the resin cap 13 and the case 12. .

The outer diameter d ₂ of the flange portion 13d is preferably the outer diameter of the case 12 to be substantially the same. The outer diameter d ₂ of the flange portion 13d outflow prevention effect of potting agent be greater than the outer diameter of the case 12 is leveled off, it only increases the cost.
Here, “substantially the same” means that the outer diameter d ₂ of the flange portion 13 d and the outer diameter of the case 12 are the same, or the outer diameter d ₂ of the flange portion 13 d is ± with respect to the outer diameter of the case 12. It means within 2%. However, the outer diameter _{d 2} of the flange portion 13d is made larger than the inner diameter of the case 12.

The flange portion 13d is formed over the entire circumference of the resin cap 13 in the circumferential direction.
Forming position of the flange portion 13d, the position where the distance _{d 3} from the opening 13c of the resin cap 13 to the flange portion 13d is 1~2mm is preferred. The portion from the opening 13c to the flange portion 13d of the resin cap 13 becomes a portion (fitting portion) in which the resin cap 13 is inserted inside one end of the case 12 and closely fits with the case 12. That is, the distance d ₃ is the thickness of the fitting portion. Since the fitting portion is not involved in the engagement of the case 12 and the potting agent, the distance d ₃ that may reduce the pressure resistance of 2mm larger than the potting agent. If the distance d ₃ is 2mm or less, it can maintain the withstand voltage performance of the potting agent. Further, the fitting portion of the resin cap 13 remaining on the case 12 side after cutting can be easily taken out as necessary. On the other hand, if the distance d ₃ is 1mm or more, since the contact area between the case 12 can be secured, contact fitting is enhanced.

  The thickness t of the flange 13d is preferably 1 mm or less. If the thickness t of the collar portion 13d is 1 mm or less, although it will be described in detail later, even if the collar portion 13d remains in the hollow fiber membrane module when it is cut at a predetermined position on the resin cap, the performance and appearance are hardly affected. .

In the resin cap 13 in this example, an injection port 13e for injecting a potting agent is formed at the center of the bottom surface 13b.
In the case of the method shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, since the potting agent is injected from the center tube 16 inserted into the bundle of the hollow fiber membranes 11 or the center of the knitted fabric, the center tube 16 is inserted into the obtained hollow fiber membrane module. It will remain. If the center tube 16 remains in the hollow fiber membrane module, the use of the hollow fiber membrane module may be limited.
However, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, if the injection port 13e is formed on the bottom surface 13b of the resin cap 13, no center tube is required for injection of the potting agent. It does not remain, and the use of the hollow fiber membrane module is difficult to be limited.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a groove 13f is formed inside the bottom surface 13b of the resin cap 13 of this example. If the groove 13f is formed inside the bottom surface 13b of the resin cap 13, since the potting agent injected into the case 12 flows through the groove 13f, the potting agent can be evenly dispersed, and the hollow fiber membrane 11 becomes the case 12 It is hard to be biased inside. 1 and 2 are sectional views taken along the line a-a 'of the resin cap 13 of FIG.

The grooves 13f are preferably formed radially on the bottom surface 13b of the resin cap 13. When the inlet 13e is formed on the bottom surface 13b, it is preferable that the grooves 13f are formed radially from the inlet 13e. If the grooves 13f are formed radially, the potting agent can be easily dispersed uniformly over the entire bottom surface 13b, and can be evenly filled in the axial direction of the hollow fiber membrane module.
Further, the groove 13f is preferably formed in a circular shape also in the circumferential direction of the bottom surface 13b of the resin cap 13. If the groove 13f is formed in a circular shape, the potting agent can be uniformly dispersed in the circumferential direction of the bottom surface 13b of the resin cap 13.

The width and depth of the groove 13f are appropriately determined according to the size of the hollow fiber membrane module, the injection amount and viscosity of the potting agent. For example, the inner diameter of the case 12 is less than 100 mm, and the potting agent is urethane resin. In some cases, the following constitution is preferable from the viewpoint of uniform dispersion of the potting agent.
That is, the width of the groove 13f is preferably 3 to 5 mm, and the depth of the groove 13f is preferably 2 to 4 mm. In addition, when the grooves 13f are formed radially, the number of the grooves 13f is preferably 4 to 16.

<Case>
The case 12 stores the hollow fiber membrane 11.
The material of the case 12 is not particularly limited, but the method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention is particularly effective when the case 12 is difficult to cut. Examples of the material of the case 12 include polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyphenylene ether, polyethylene, polypropylene, and ABS resin. Among these, polyethylene, polypropylene, and ABS resin are preferable from the viewpoint of easy injection molding and excellent workability.

<Hollow fiber membrane>
The present invention can be carried out irrespective of the structure of the hollow fiber membrane used for the porous membrane, the non-porous membrane, etc. and the constituent material of the hollow fiber membrane.
Examples of the material of the hollow fiber membrane 11 include polyvinyl alcohol, polysulfone, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene, polyacrylonitrile and the like.
In particular, a hollow fiber membrane bundle obtained by processing the hollow fiber membrane 11 into an interdigital knitted fabric is preferably used because it is easy to handle and can be uniformly distributed without being biased when housed in the case 12.

<Potting agent>
Although it does not specifically limit as a potting agent used by this invention, For example, a urethane resin, an epoxy resin, an unsaturated polyester resin etc. are mentioned.

<Manufacturing method>
Hereinafter, the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module of this embodiment is demonstrated concretely.
First, the hollow fiber membrane 11 is stored in the case 12 (storage process). The hollow fiber membrane 11 may be a bundle or a knitted fabric.
Then, the side surface 13a of the resin cap 13 is inserted into one end of the case 12 in which the hollow fiber membrane 11 is accommodated so as to be sealed to the flange 13d, and one end of the case 12 is sealed with the resin cap 13. (Installation process).
Next, a potting agent is injected into the case 12 from an injection port 13e formed on the bottom surface 13b of the resin cap 13 (injection step). Examples of the potting agent injection method include a centrifugal method and a vibration method.
Next, after the potting agent is cured, the resin cap 13 is fixed with the cured potting agent and the potting agent at a predetermined position on the resin cap 13 (AA ′ line of the potting portion 14 in the illustrated example). The hollow fiber membrane 11 is cut (cutting step) to form an open end of the hollow fiber membrane 11 to obtain a hollow fiber membrane module.
In addition, the fitting part of the resin cap 13 is left in the hollow fiber membrane module in a state where it is buried in the potting agent, and the remaining part (the part other than the fitting part) of the cut resin cap 13 is discarded. The

<Effect>
According to the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module of the present embodiment described above, potting is performed by attaching an easily cut resin cap to the end of the cylindrical case, and after the potting agent is cured, Cut the cured resin in place. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a special case with only one end opened, and there is no need to manufacture a new mold for manufacturing the special case, and a hollow fiber membrane module can be manufactured without extra costs. . In addition, even if the container into which the hollow fiber membrane is placed is made of a material that is difficult to cut, it is not necessary to use a silicone potting cup. Modules can be manufactured.
In addition, since the resin cap used in the present invention has a flange on the side surface, potting can be performed while suppressing the potting agent from leaking from the contact portion between the resin cap and the case.

Moreover, according to the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module of this embodiment, since a potting agent is inject | poured from the injection hole formed in the bottom face of resin caps, a center tube is not required. Therefore, the center tube does not remain in the hollow fiber membrane module, and the use of the hollow fiber membrane module is not easily restricted.
Furthermore, according to the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module of this embodiment, since the groove 13f as shown in FIG. 3 is formed inside the bottom surface of the resin cap, the potting agent can be uniformly dispersed. The hollow fiber membrane is not easily biased in the case.

<Other embodiments>
The manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module of this invention is not limited to the method mentioned above.
For example, in the illustrated example, the injection port for injecting the potting agent is formed on the bottom surface of the resin cap, but when it is difficult to inject the potting agent from the bottom surface of the resin cap, FIG. As shown, an inlet 13 e may be formed on the side surface 13 a of the resin cap 13.
Even when the injection port 13e is formed on the side surface 13a of the resin cap 13, the potting injected from the side surface 13a of the resin cap 13 is possible if the groove described above is formed inside the bottom surface 13b of the resin cap. The agent flows through the groove and is uniformly dispersed.

  Alternatively, a center tube may be inserted into the center of the hollow fiber membrane, and a potting agent may be injected from the center tube. However, when the center tube is used as described above, the center tube remains in the obtained hollow fiber membrane module, which may limit the use of the hollow fiber membrane module. Therefore, it is preferable not to use a center tube for injecting the potting agent, but to form an injection port on the bottom or side surface of the resin cap and inject the potting agent from the injection port.

  In the above-described method, after the hollow fiber membrane is stored in the case, the resin cap is inserted and attached to the case. However, after the resin cap is inserted and attached to the case, the hollow fiber membrane is attached to the case. You may store in.

  In the above-described method, the example in which the hollow fiber membrane is potted only at one end of the case has been described. However, a similar method may be performed on the other end of the case. By potting at both ends of the case, a hollow fiber membrane module of the type in which both ends of the hollow fiber membrane are open can be manufactured.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described by way of examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

"Example 1"
As a case for housing the hollow fiber membrane, a cylindrical case made of polycarbonate having an outer diameter of 42 mm and an inner diameter of 37 mm was used.
The resin cap, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an outer diameter _{d 1} of the opening 13c is 37 mm, the flange portion 13d outside diameter _{d 2} is 42mm is formed on the side surface 13a, the center of the bottom surface 13b A polyethylene resin cap 13 is used in which an inlet 13e is formed in the portion, and six grooves 13f and circular grooves 13f extending radially from the inlet 13e are formed inside the bottom surface 13b. The thickness t of the flange portion 13d is 0.5 mm, the distance _{d 3} from the opening 13c of the resin cap 13 to the flange portion 13d was 2 mm. Further, the width of the groove 13f was 3 mm, and the depth was 2 mm.
A urethane resin was used as the potting agent.
The inlet 13e of the resin cap 13 and a container (not shown) filled with a potting agent were connected by a tube (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, first, a bundle of hollow fiber membranes 11 was stored in a case 12 (storage step).
Then, the side surface 13a of the resin cap 13 is inserted into one end of the case 12 in which the hollow fiber membrane 11 is accommodated so as to be sealed to the flange 13d, and one end of the case 12 is sealed with the resin cap 13. (Installation process).
Next, a potting agent is injected into the case 12 from the injection port 13e formed on the bottom surface 13b of the resin cap 13 by an centrifugal method (injection process), and at the end of the case 12 to which the resin cap 13 is attached. The end of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes 11 was fixed to the case 12.
Next, after hardening the potting agent, the resin cap 13, the hardened potting agent, and the hollow fiber membrane 11 fixed with the potting agent are cut along the line AA ′ of the potting portion 14 (cutting step). Then, the open end of the hollow fiber membrane 11 was formed to obtain a hollow fiber membrane module.

In the case of the first embodiment, since the resin cap 13 having the flange portion 13d formed on the side surface 13a is used, the side surface 13a of the resin cap 13 is inserted inside the one end of the case 12 so as to be sealed to the flange portion 13d. Then, the flange 13d and one end of the case 12 were in close contact with each other. Therefore, the close fitting between the resin cap 13 and the case 12 is further enhanced, and the potting agent can be prevented from leaking from the contact portion between the resin cap 13 and the case 12 even if the potting agent is centrifugally injected.
Moreover, in Example 1, since the potting agent was injected from the injection port 13e formed on the bottom surface 13b of the resin cap 13 without using the center tube, the center tube does not remain in the hollow fiber membrane module, The hollow fiber membrane module which is difficult to limit the application could be manufactured.
Moreover, in Example 1, since the groove 13f was formed inside the bottom surface 13b of the resin cap 13, the potting agent could be spread into the case 12. When the potting portion 14 was cut in the longitudinal direction and observed, the potting agent was uniformly dispersed, and the hollow fiber membrane module could be manufactured without the hollow fiber membrane 11 being biased in the case 12.

"Comparative Example 1"
As a case for housing the hollow fiber membrane, a cylindrical case made of polycarbonate having an outer diameter of 42 mm and an inner diameter of 37 mm was used.
As the resin cap, as shown in FIG. 7, an ABS resin cap 13 having an outer diameter of 37 mm and an inner diameter of 35 mm was used. In addition, the side surface of the resin cap 13 used in Comparative Example 1 is not formed with a flange portion, the bottom surface is not formed with an injection port, and no groove is formed inside the bottom surface. .
A urethane resin was used as the potting agent.

As shown in FIG. 7, first, the bundle of hollow fiber membranes 11 was stored in the case 12 (storage step), and the center tube 16 was inserted into the center of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes 11.
Next, the side surface of the resin cap 13 was inserted inside one end of the case 12 in which the hollow fiber membrane 11 was housed, and one end of the case 12 was sealed with the resin cap 13 (mounting process).
Next, a potting agent is injected from the center tube 16 into the case 12 by a centrifugal method (injection step), and the end of the bundle of the hollow fiber membranes 11 is attached to the end of the case 12 to which the resin cap 13 is attached. Fixed to case 12.
Next, after hardening the potting agent, the resin cap 13, the hardened potting agent, and the hollow fiber membrane 11 fixed with the potting agent are cut along the DD ′ line of the potting portion 14 (cutting step). Then, the open end of the hollow fiber membrane 11 was formed to obtain a hollow fiber membrane module.

In the hollow fiber membrane module obtained in Comparative Example 1, a trace of part of the potting agent leaking from the contact portion between the case 12 and the resin cap 13 was observed.
Moreover, when the potting part 14 was cut | disconnected in the vertical direction and observed, the trace which the potting agent flowed locally concentrated near the front-end | tip of the center tube 16 was observed.
Usually, the portion where the potting agent and the hollow fiber membrane 11 are in contact with each other temporarily loses the function of the hollow fiber membrane 11 and may deteriorate the performance of the hollow fiber membrane module. An appropriate hollow fiber membrane module could not be manufactured.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Hollow fiber membrane 12 Case 13 Resin cap 13a Side surface 13b Bottom surface 13c Opening part 13d Eaves part 13e Inlet 13f Groove 14 Potting part 15 Potting cup 16 Center tube

Claims (5)

The hollow fiber membrane is housed in a cylindrical case, one end of the case is sealed with a resin cap having a side surface and a bottom surface, and a potting agent is injected into the case and cured to form the hollow fiber membrane and the case. In the method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module by fixing,
A collar is formed on the side of the resin cap,
Inserted into the inside of one end of the case so as to seal the side surface of the resin cap to the buttocks, and injecting a potting agent,
A hollow fiber that cuts the resin cap, the cured potting agent, and the hollow fiber membrane fixed with the potting agent to form an open end of the hollow fiber membrane at a predetermined position on the resin cap after the potting agent is cured. Membrane module manufacturing method.   The manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module of Claim 1 with which the groove | channel is formed inside the bottom face of the said resin caps.   The manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module of Claim 2 with which the said groove | channel is formed in the bottom face of the said resin caps radially.   The manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module as described in any one of Claims 1-3 with which the injection port which inject | pours a potting agent is formed in the bottom face or side surface of the said resin-made caps.   The manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module of Claim 4 with which the injection port which injects a potting agent is formed in the bottom face of the said resin cap, and the said groove | channel is formed radially from the injection port of a potting agent.

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