JP2018199098A - Membrane separator - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a membrane separator that can enhance membrane separation performance without increasing a diameter of a hollow fiber membrane bundle or elongating the hollow fiber membrane.SOLUTION: A membrane separator 10 is coupled to a plurality of hollow fiber membrane modules 100 in which an outer membrane flow channel passing on an outside of a hollow fiber membrane and an inner membrane flow channel passing on an inside of the hollow fiber membrane are formed. Adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules 100 are coupled to each other so that their outer membrane flow channels are connected mutually and their inner membrane flow channels are connected mutually.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a membrane separation apparatus including a plurality of hollow fiber membrane modules.

  A hollow fiber membrane module using a hollow fiber membrane made of a hydrophilic material can be used as a humidifier or a dehumidifier. In other words, when wet air is passed through one of the membrane flow path that passes through the membrane of the hollow fiber membrane and the membrane flow channel that passes through the membrane of the hollow fiber membrane, and dry air is flowed through the other, membrane separation of the hollow fiber membrane By utilizing the principle that moisture in the moist air moves to the dry air side by the action, it can be used as a humidifier or the like. Therefore, a humidifier or a dehumidifier using a hollow fiber membrane module can be called a membrane separator. For example, in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, a humidifier using a hollow fiber membrane module is provided to humidify an electrolyte membrane.

  Here, when it is desired to improve membrane separation performance (corresponding to humidification performance and dehumidification performance), it is conceivable to increase the number of hollow fiber membranes. However, in this case, the bundle of hollow fiber membranes becomes thick, and the fluid flowing in the flow path outside the membrane becomes difficult to spread throughout the hollow fiber membrane bundle, resulting in a decrease in membrane separation efficiency. It is also conceivable to increase the length of the hollow fiber membrane. However, in this case, since the hollow fiber membrane module becomes long and thin, it may not be possible to fit in a limited installation space, and there is a problem that the degree of freedom in design is small.

JP 2007-283292 A JP 2010-112613 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a membrane separation apparatus capable of improving membrane separation performance without increasing the hollow fiber membrane bundle or lengthening the hollow fiber membrane.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.

That is, the membrane separation apparatus of the present invention is
A membrane separation apparatus in which a plurality of hollow fiber membrane modules are formed, in which an outer membrane channel passing outside the membrane of the hollow fiber membrane and an intramembrane channel passing inside the membrane of the hollow fiber membrane are formed,
Adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules are connected to each other so that the flow paths outside the membrane are connected to each other and the flow paths inside the membrane are connected to each other.

  According to the membrane separation apparatus of the present invention, a configuration in which a plurality of hollow fiber membrane modules are connected is adopted, and the adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules are connected to each other between the outer membrane channels and to the inner membrane channels. ing. Therefore, the membrane separation performance can be enhanced in the entire membrane separation apparatus. And in each hollow fiber membrane module, it is not necessary to make a hollow fiber membrane bundle thick or lengthen the hollow fiber membrane. Moreover, since the structure which connects a some hollow fiber membrane module is employ | adopted, the design freedom with respect to the structure of the whole membrane separator is also large.

The plurality of hollow fiber membrane modules are:
A cylindrical case,
A hollow fiber membrane bundle comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membranes housed in the case;
A pair of sealing and fixing portions for sealing and fixing between the hollow fiber membranes while opening the hollow interior of each hollow fiber membrane on one end side and the other end side of the case;
Each with
Each side wall of the case is provided with an opening through which fluid passes in two places, one end side and the other end side,
The extra-membrane flow path passes through the outer wall surface side of each hollow fiber membrane in the case from one of the two openings provided on the side wall of the case, and the other of the two openings. The flow path leading to the opening of
The in-membrane flow path may be a flow path from one sealing and fixing part side to the other sealing and fixing part side from the one sealing and fixing part side of the pair of sealing and fixing parts.

  Further, adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules include an opening on the side of the outlet of the extramembranous channel out of the two openings provided on the side wall of the case in one hollow fiber membrane module, and the other hollow Of the two openings provided on the side wall of the case in the yarn membrane module, the openings on the side that becomes the inlet of the extra-membrane flow path may be connected to each other.

  Thereby, about an adjacent hollow fiber membrane module, it can be connected so that channel outside a membrane may connect.

  The adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules include an end on the side that becomes an outlet of the intra-membrane flow path among both ends of the case in one hollow fiber membrane module, and the both ends of the case in the other hollow fiber membrane module. The end portion on the side that becomes the inlet of the intramembrane flow path may be connected to the inside of the pipe by a pipe that becomes a part of the intramembrane flow path.

  Thereby, about the adjacent hollow fiber membrane module, it can connect so that the flow paths in a membrane may connect.

  In the pipe, a pair of openings that open the inside of the pipe are oriented in the same direction, and the pair of hollow fiber membrane modules connected by the pipe is preferably arranged such that these cases are parallel to each other. .

  Thereby, it becomes possible to shorten the length of the membrane separation apparatus in the direction in which the hollow fiber membrane extends.

  In addition, said each structure can be employ | adopted combining as much as possible.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the membrane separation performance can be enhanced without increasing the hollow fiber membrane bundle or lengthening the hollow fiber membrane.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the hollow fiber membrane module according to the 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 membrane separation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a membrane separation apparatus according to a modification of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail 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. . The membrane separation apparatus according to the present embodiment can be suitably used as a humidifier for humidifying an electrolyte membrane in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. However, it can also be used as a dehumidifier.

(Example)
A membrane separation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a front view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the hollow fiber membrane module according to the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the figure seen from the right side in FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along AA in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a membrane separation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the membrane separation apparatus according to the present example has a configuration in which a plurality of hollow fiber membrane modules are connected, and the configuration of each hollow fiber membrane module is the same. Therefore, in FIG. 4, the reference numerals are omitted as appropriate.

<Hollow fiber membrane module>
Prior to the description of the overall configuration of the membrane separation apparatus according to the present embodiment, the configuration of the hollow fiber membrane module will be described with reference to FIGS. The hollow fiber membrane module 100 includes a cylindrical case 110, a hollow fiber membrane bundle 120 composed of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes housed in the case 110, and a pair of seals provided on one end side and the other end side of the case 110. Stop fixing portions 131 and 132 are provided.

  The case 110 is made of a material such as resin or metal. In this embodiment, the case 110 is constituted by a cylindrical member. However, the case 110 may be cylindrical, and may be oval or rectangular when viewed from the front. The side wall of the case 110 is provided with tubular portions 111 and 112 having openings 111a and 112a through which fluid passes respectively at two positions, one end side and the other end side. In this embodiment, the tubular portion 111 is provided at a position opposite to the tubular portion 112 with the hollow fiber membrane bundle 120 interposed therebetween.

  The hollow fiber membrane bundle 120 has a configuration in which a plurality (from several hundred to several tens of thousands) of hollow fiber membranes are bundled. A hydrophilic material is used as the material for the hollow fiber membrane. For example, Nafion, which has a characteristic of allowing moisture to permeate through dissolution and diffusion, or PPSU (polyphenylsulfone), which has a characteristic of allowing moisture to permeate through a capillary condensation mechanism based on pore size control, can be suitably used. Since these materials have a low elution property and high strength, they can be suitably used as a humidifier or a dehumidifier.

  The pair of sealing fixing portions 131 and 132 seal and fix the hollow fiber membranes at one end side and the other end side of the case 110 while opening the hollow interior of each hollow fiber membrane. Further, in the present embodiment, the pair of sealing fixing portions 131 and 132 are openings at both ends of the case 110 in a state where the hollow interior of each hollow fiber membrane is opened on one end side and the other end side of the case 110. And the hollow fiber membrane bundle 120 is fixed to the case 110. These sealing fixing portions 131 and 132 are configured by curing a potting material such as an epoxy resin.

  In the hollow fiber membrane module 100 configured as described above, an extra-membrane channel passing through the outside of the hollow fiber membrane and an intra-membrane channel passing through the inside of the hollow fiber membrane are formed. The outer membrane flow path passes through the outer wall surface side of each hollow fiber membrane in the case 110 from one of the two openings 111a and 112a provided on the side wall of the case 110, and the two openings 111a and 112a. It is a flow path which reaches the other opening part. The intramembrane flow path is a flow path from one sealing fixing part side of the pair of sealing fixing parts 131 and 132 to the other sealing fixing part side through each hollow fiber membrane.

<Membrane separator>
With reference to FIG. 4, the membrane separation apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. The membrane separation apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which a plurality of the hollow fiber membrane modules 100 are connected. In the present embodiment, all of the plurality of hollow fiber membrane modules 100 have the same configuration and the same size and shape. The adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules 100 are connected to each other so that the channels outside the membrane are connected and the channels inside the membrane are connected. More specific description will be given below.

  In this embodiment, a case where eight hollow fiber membrane modules 100 are connected will be described as an example. In the present embodiment, a case where eight hollow fiber membrane modules 100 are arranged in a line and the cases 110 are connected in parallel to each other will be described as an example. For convenience of explanation, the hollow fiber membrane module disposed at one end (uppermost in FIG. 4) of the hollow fiber membrane modules 100 arranged in an example is appropriately referred to as one end side hollow fiber membrane module 100X. Moreover, the hollow fiber membrane module arrange | positioned in the other end (lowermost in FIG. 4) among the hollow fiber membrane modules 100 arranged in an example is suitably called the other end side hollow fiber membrane module 100Y. Further, the hollow fiber membrane modules disposed between the one end side hollow fiber membrane module 100X and the other end side hollow fiber membrane module 100Y are appropriately arranged in the order from the top in FIG. 4 to the intermediate hollow fiber membrane modules 100Z1, 100Z2, 100Z3. , 100Z4, 100Z5, 100Z6. Further, in the present embodiment, of the two openings 111a and 112a provided on the side wall of the case 110, the opening 111a serves as the inlet of the extramembranous channel and the opening 112a serves as the outlet of the outer membrane channel. Will be described as an example. Further, in the present embodiment, the end portion 114 on the side where the sealing fixing portion 132 is provided on both ends of the case 110 becomes the inlet side of the intramembrane flow path, and the side on which the sealing fixing portion 131 is provided. An example in which the end 113 of the inner side becomes the outlet side of the in-membrane channel will be described.

  The adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules 100 include an opening 112a provided on the side wall of the case 110 in one hollow fiber membrane module 100, and an opening 111a provided on the side wall of the case 110 in the other hollow fiber membrane module 100. Are connected. The one end side hollow fiber membrane module 100X, the intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z1, the intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z1, the intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z2, the intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z2, the intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z3, and the intermediate hollow fiber membrane module. 100Z3, intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z4, intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z4, intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z5, intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z5, intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z6, intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z6 and other end side hollow fiber membrane Such a connection is made with the module 100Y.

  In this embodiment, the connection between the opening 112a serving as the outlet of the extra-membrane channel and the opening 111a serving as the inlet of the intra-membrane channel includes the tubular portion 112 having the opening 112a and the opening 111a. This is done by connecting the tubular part 111. Various known techniques can be employed for the connection between the tubular portion 112 and the tubular portion 111. For example, as shown in the figure, flanges can be provided at the ends of the tubular parts, and the flanges can be fixed with a fixing tool such as a bolt, or the tubular parts can be fixed with a quick fastener.

In addition, the adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules 100 are configured such that the end portion 113 of the case 110 in one hollow fiber membrane module 100 and the end portion 114 of the case 110 in the other hollow fiber membrane module 100 flow in the membrane. They are connected by a pipe 200 that becomes a part of the path. The one end side hollow fiber membrane module 100X, the intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z1, the intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z1, the intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z2, the intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z2, the intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z3, and the intermediate hollow fiber membrane module. 100Z
3, intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z4, intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z4, intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z5, intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z5, intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z6, intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 100Z6 and other end side hollow fiber membrane Such a connection is made with the module 100Y.

  In this way, in the adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules 100, the end portion 113 that is the outlet side of the intra-membrane channel and the end portion 114 that is the inlet side of the intra-membrane channel are connected by the pipe 200. And as for the piping 200 which concerns on a present Example, a pair of opening part which open | releases the inside of a pipe | tube has faced the same direction. Therefore, the pair of hollow fiber membrane modules 100 connected by the pipe 200 is arranged so that these cases 110 are parallel to each other.

  In the present embodiment, the annular head 310 is fixed to the end portion 114 of the case 110 in the one end side hollow fiber membrane module 100X, and the annular head is attached to the end portion 114 of the case 110 in the other end side hollow fiber membrane module 100Y. 320 is fixed.

<Humidification (dehumidification) mechanism>
A humidification (dehumidification) mechanism in the membrane separation apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. In each hollow fiber membrane module 100 constituting the membrane separation apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, all of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 120 has a membrane flow path passing through the outer wall surface side of each hollow fiber membrane and a hollow of each hollow fiber membrane. An in-membrane flow path that passes through the interior is formed. And the membrane flow paths in each hollow fiber membrane module 100 and the membrane flow paths are connected. As a result, in the membrane separation apparatus 10, an extramembranous channel that flows in the direction of arrow R indicated by a solid line and an intramembranous channel that flows in the direction of arrow S indicated by a dotted line are formed. That is, the extra-membrane flow path passes from the opening 111a of the one end side hollow fiber membrane module 100X to the outer wall surface side of each hollow fiber membrane in each hollow fiber membrane module 100 and to the opening 112a of the other end side hollow fiber membrane module 100Y. It is a flow path to reach. The intra-membrane flow path is a flow path from the head 310 to the head 320 through the hollow interior of each hollow fiber membrane in each hollow fiber membrane module 100. In addition, by flowing the fluid in this way, in each hollow fiber membrane bundle 120, the flowing direction of the fluid flowing through the extra-membrane channel and the flowing direction of the fluid flowing through the intra-membrane channel are reversed.

  In the present embodiment, the membrane separation device 10 is used so that wet air flows in the extra-membrane flow path and dry air flows in the intra-membrane flow path. Thereby, the moisture on the wet air side is supplied to the dry air side by the membrane separation action by the hollow fiber membrane, and the dry air is humidified. Since the moisture is deprived of moisture, the humid air is dried. Therefore, it can be used as a humidifier or a dehumidifier.

<Excellent points of membrane separation apparatus according to this embodiment>
According to the membrane separation apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, a configuration in which a plurality of hollow fiber membrane modules 100 are connected is adopted, and the adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules 100 are connected to each other in the outer membrane flow path. The flow paths are connected. Therefore, membrane separation performance can be enhanced in the entire membrane separation apparatus 10. And in each hollow fiber membrane module 100, it is not necessary to make the hollow fiber membrane bundle 120 thick or lengthen the hollow fiber membrane by increasing the number of hollow fiber membranes. Moreover, since the structure which connects the some hollow fiber membrane module 100 is employ | adopted, the design freedom with respect to the structure of the whole membrane separator 10 is also large. For example, the arrangement relationship between the adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules 100 can be changed by changing the arrangement relationship between the tubular portions 111 and 112 provided in the case 110 from the arrangement shown in the above embodiment. Further, the number of the hollow fiber membrane modules 100 can be appropriately set according to the required humidifying performance and dehumidifying performance. Furthermore, in the said Example, although each hollow fiber membrane module 100 showed the case where all were the same structures, the dimension and shape were the same, according to the installation space of the membrane separation apparatus 10, a different dimension and shape The hollow fiber membrane modules 100 can be connected to each other. Further, in the case of this embodiment, when the quality of a certain hollow fiber membrane module 100 is lowered, it is only necessary to replace the hollow fiber membrane module 100 having a lowered quality, so that the maintenance cost can also be reduced. .

  Further, in this embodiment, adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules 100 are connected by piping in which a pair of openings that open the inside of the tube face the same direction. Thereby, the pair of hollow fiber membrane modules 100 to be connected are arranged so that these cases 110 are parallel to each other. Therefore, the length in the direction in which the hollow fiber membrane extends in the membrane separation device 10 can be shortened.

(Other)
In the said Example, the case where it comprised so that the flow direction of the fluid which flows through an extra-membrane flow path, and the flow direction of the fluid which flows through an intra-membrane flow path might become reverse in each hollow fiber membrane bundle 120 was shown. However, these directions may be the same. For example, the fluid can be caused to flow in the direction opposite to the arrow S with respect to the intra-membrane flow path. However, in order to increase the humidification efficiency and the dehumidification efficiency, it is better to use the opposite direction. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where wet air is allowed to flow through the extra-membrane flow path and dry air is allowed to flow through the intra-membrane flow path has been described. However, dry air may be allowed to flow through the extra-membrane channel and wet air may be allowed to flow through the intra-membrane channel.

  Moreover, in the said Example, a pair of sealing fixing | fixed part 131,132 is the opening part of the both ends of case 110 in the state which opened the hollow inside of each hollow fiber membrane by the one end side and other end side of case 110 The case where each is sealed and the hollow fiber membrane bundle 120 is fixed to the case 110 is shown. In the case of adopting a manufacturing method in which the pair of sealing fixing portions 131 and 132 is formed in a state where the hollow fiber membrane bundle 120 is arranged with respect to the case 110, the configuration is generally as described above. However, in the case of adopting a manufacturing method in which the hollow fiber membrane bundle 120 is separately accommodated in the case 110 after the pair of sealing fixing portions 131 and 132 are formed at both ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 120, the sealing fixing portion The outer peripheral surfaces of 131 and 132 may be exposed. In this case, as in the modification shown in FIG. 5, the sealing fixing portions 131 and 132 can be directly fitted and fixed to the head 310 and the pipe 200. However, in this case, as shown in FIG. 5, by providing a seal ring 500 such as an O-ring, an annular gap between the seal fixing portion 131 and the head 310, or the seal fixing portion 132 and the pipe 200. It is desirable to seal the annular gap between the two.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Membrane separation apparatus 100 Hollow fiber membrane module 100X One end side hollow fiber membrane module 100Y The other end side hollow fiber membrane module 100Z1, 100Z2, 100Z3, 100Z4, 100Z5, 100Z6 Intermediate hollow fiber membrane module 110 Case 111, 112 Tubular part 111a, 112a Opening 113 End portion 114 End portion 120 Hollow fiber membrane bundle 131, 132 Sealing fixing portion 200 Piping 310, 320 Head

Claims (5)

A membrane separation apparatus in which a plurality of hollow fiber membrane modules are formed, in which an outer membrane channel passing outside the membrane of the hollow fiber membrane and an intramembrane channel passing inside the membrane of the hollow fiber membrane are formed,
Adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules are connected to each other so that the flow paths outside the membrane are connected to each other and the flow paths inside the membrane are connected to each other. The plurality of hollow fiber membrane modules are:
A cylindrical case,
A hollow fiber membrane bundle comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membranes housed in the case;
A pair of sealing and fixing portions for sealing and fixing between the hollow fiber membranes while opening the hollow interior of each hollow fiber membrane on one end side and the other end side of the case;
Each with
Each side wall of the case is provided with an opening through which fluid passes in two places, one end side and the other end side,
The extra-membrane flow path passes through the outer wall surface side of each hollow fiber membrane in the case from one of the two openings provided on the side wall of the case, and the other of the two openings. The flow path leading to the opening of
The in-membrane flow path is a flow path from one sealing fixing part side to the other sealing fixing part side from one sealing fixing part side of the pair of sealing fixing parts. The membrane separator according to claim 1.   Adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules include an opening on the side of the outlet of the extramembranous channel out of the two openings provided on the side wall of the case in one hollow fiber membrane module, and the other hollow fiber membrane The two openings provided on the side wall of the case in the module are connected so as to be connected to the opening on the side serving as the inlet of the extra-membrane flow path. Membrane separator.   The adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules include an end on the side that becomes an outlet of the intra-membrane flow path among both ends of the case in one hollow fiber membrane module, and the both ends of the case in the other hollow fiber membrane module. The membrane separation apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an end portion on an inlet side of the intramembrane flow path is connected to the inside of the pipe by a pipe that is a part of the intramembrane flow path. .   The pipe has a pair of openings that open the inside of the pipe facing the same direction, and the pair of hollow fiber membrane modules connected by the pipe are arranged so that these cases are parallel to each other. The membrane separation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus is a membrane separation apparatus.

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