JP2549382Y2 - Hollow fiber membrane module - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a hollow fiber membrane module for aqueous liquid filtration used in, for example, a water purifier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional type of a wholly-filtered hollow fiber membrane module for aqueous liquid filtration is, for example, shown in FIG.
There is something like (b). That is, in this hollow fiber membrane module, a hydrophobic porous hollow fiber membrane 102 and a hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membrane 101 in which at least a part of the membrane surface is a hydrophobic portion 105 are housed in a module case 100. Then, the ends are fixed by the same potting material 104, and a U-shape as shown in FIG.
The structure is such that the other end is sealed in a straight shape as shown in FIG. Inside the module case 100, a hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membrane 101 and a hydrophobic hollow fiber membrane 10 are provided.
Only two are installed.

When gas enters from the aqueous liquid inflow side, the gas in the module case 100 is evacuated by the hydrophobic porous hollow fiber membrane 102 arranged all around the outer periphery. ing.

[0004]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned prior art, the gas accumulated in the module case 100 passes through the membrane wall of the hydrophobic porous hollow fiber membrane 102, so that the gas cannot pass therethrough. The resistance is governed by the thickness of the membrane wall of the hydrophobic porous hollow fiber membrane 102. This is very convenient for the purpose of discharging gas, but the hydrophobic hollow fiber membrane 1
Since 02 itself is a kind of plastic tube, it is easily crushed by an external pressure. If the hydrophobic porous hollow fiber membrane 102 is crushed and closed by the increase in the pressure of the liquid, there is a problem that the passage of gas is hindered and the gas releasing property is deteriorated.

For this reason, a relatively large number of hydrophobic porous hollow fiber membranes 102 must be provided in the case. For example, in order to cope with an increase in pressure, a bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membranes 101 is required. Hydrophilic hollow fiber membrane 1
Many bundles of the hydrophobic porous hollow fiber membranes 102 of about 0.2% to 10% of the number of 01 were required.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hollow fiber membrane module capable of improving the gas releasing property without being crushed even when a high pressure is applied. To provide.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a large number of hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membranes for aqueous liquid filtration in a module case, and a plurality of hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membranes in the module case are provided. A hollow fiber membrane module containing a hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn for removing gas, wherein the hydrophobic fiber
The layer microporous body yarn comprises an outer layer hollow fiber membrane constituting an outer layer part, and an inner layer microporous body yarn constituting an inner layer part provided in close contact with a hollow portion of the outer layer hollow fiber membrane, It is characterized in that the micropores of the inner layer microporous body yarn are set larger than the micropores of the outer layer hollow fiber membrane.

The micropores in the thickness direction of the outer hollow fiber membrane are made to have a size of 0.1 μm or less, and the micropores in the diameter direction and the micropores in the length direction of the inner microporous yarn are made to have a size of 1 μm or more. It is preferable that

The inner layer microporous yarn may be hydrophilic, and its structure may have a hollow portion and a node.

It is preferable that the hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn is disposed outside the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membrane inside the module case.

[0011]

In the hollow fiber membrane module having the above construction, a hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn having a two-layer structure of an outer hollow fiber membrane and an inner microporous yarn is used in order to release gas such as air. Because it was
Even if a high pressure is applied, the pressure is supported by the inner layer microporous yarn and does not collapse.

Further, since the size of the micropores of the inner layer microporous yarn is set larger than that of the outer layer hollow fiber membrane,
Gases such as air can be removed smoothly even in a two-layer configuration. In addition, the pores of the outer hollow fiber membrane can prevent impurities of a predetermined size such as bacteria from being mixed into the gas when the gas is released.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiment. In FIG. 1 showing a hollow fiber membrane module according to one embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 1 denotes the entire hollow fiber membrane module. This hollow fiber membrane module 1 is a total filtration type,
A case 3 having a bottomed cylindrical shape and a plurality of inflow ports 2 formed in the bottom, a bundle of a large number of hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membranes 4 for filtration filled in the case 3, air, etc. And a hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn 5 for degassing.

The hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn 5 is made of a porous resin material such as polyvinylidene fluoride, for example, and as shown in FIG. 2, an outer hollow fiber membrane 51 constituting an outer layer and an inner layer portion constituting an inner layer. And the inner layer microporous yarn 52.
The inner-layer microporous yarn 52 is a hydrophobic yarn, and a large number of micropores of 1 micron or more are formed in the radial direction and the length direction over the entire length on both the outer peripheral surface and the inner side, and the micropores are connected over the entire length. Gas such as air can be circulated.

The hydrophobic inner layer microporous yarn 52
The outer layer hollow fiber membrane 51 is integrally provided so as to be in close contact with the outer side, the outer layer hollow fiber membrane 51 has a thickness T, and the outer layer hollow fiber membrane 51 has a thickness of 0.1 μm which penetrates the thickness T in the radial direction. It has the following micropores.

As described above, the fine pores of the inner layer microporous yarn 52 are larger than the fine holes of the outer hollow fiber membrane 51.

Using the hydrophobic two-layer microporous body 5, an air vent of a hollow fiber membrane module of the total filtration type is constituted. That is, in this embodiment, the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membrane 4 is used.
The bundle and the hydrophobic two-layer microporous body 5 are bent into a U-shape, and both ends 41 and 57 are adhered and fixed to one end of the module case 3 by a potting material 7 while being kept open. The hydrophobic two-layer microporous body 5 is provided outside the bundle of the hydrophilic hollow fiber membranes 4 in which air easily accumulates.

The hydrophobic two-layer microporous body 5 is not bent into a U-shape, but is formed in a straight shape as shown in FIG. 5, and only one end is focused and fixed on the potting material 7 and the other end is fixed. You may comprise so that it may be exposed inside the module case 3.

Even if the hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn 5 is open at the other end which is not fixed and fixed to the potting material, fluid such as water does not pass through the opening and the outer periphery. A gas such as air passes through the inside from the opening and the outer periphery, and is a thread capable of extracting the gas to the outside from the portion fixed and focused by the potting material 7.

A sealing member 8 such as an O-ring for sealing a space between the module case 3 and a mounting member (not shown) is mounted around the potting portion 6 of the module case 3.

In the hollow fiber membrane module having the above structure, when air is mixed with raw water into the case 3 through the port 2 provided at the bottom of the case 3,
The air easily accumulates near the inner peripheral wall, and the air passes through the outer layer hollow fiber membrane 51 and the inner layer microporous body 52 by the hydrophobic two-layer microporous body 5 provided near the inner peripheral wall of the case 3 and is adhered by the potting material 7. The fixed terminal 57 comes out of the case 3 through the opening.

Even when a high pressure is applied in the module case 3, the hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn 5 supports the fluid pressure acting on the outer hollow fiber membrane 51 by the inner microporous yarn 52. Hardly crushed, and the air bleeding property is improved. Also, since the pressure resistance is excellent as described above, the number of air vent yarns does not need to be increased as in the related art, and the number of air vent yarns can be reduced. Therefore, the number of the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membranes 4 for filtration can be increased. And increase the filtration efficiency.

Further, as for the hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn 5, the inner layer microporous yarn 52 is hydrophobic. Therefore, like the hollow fiber membrane module of the other embodiment shown in FIG. Even when the other end that is not bonded and fixed is open, raw water does not flow through the opening, and only air passes through the inner layer microporous yarn 52 and the potting material 7
The module 57 is pulled out of the module case 3 from the opening of the terminal 57 bonded and fixed by the above. Then, only the raw water is filtered through the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membrane 4 for filtration.

In each of the above embodiments, the hollow fiber membrane module potting on one side has been described as an example, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a hollow fiber membrane module potting on both sides.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a hydrophobic two-layer microporous body. The hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn 5a of the second embodiment is composed of an outer hollow fiber membrane 51 and an inner microporous yarn 52a, as in the first embodiment. The inner layer microporous body yarn 52a has an outer peripheral surface and an
Micropores of a micron or less are continuously formed in the length direction from end to end so that gas can flow therethrough. The inner layer microporous yarn 52a has a configuration that can be used as a hydrophilic yarn.

An outer hollow fiber membrane 51 having fine pores of 0.1 μm or less on the surface and having a thickness T is entirely covered on the outer side of the hydrophilic inner layer microporous yarn 52a. Thus, a hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn 5a is formed.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of a hydrophobic two-layer microporous body. The hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn 5b of the third embodiment is formed of the outer hollow fiber membrane 5 similarly to the first embodiment.
1 and an inner-layer microporous yarn 52b, and the inner-layer microporous yarn 52b has a bamboo shape composed of an outer peripheral portion 55 and an inner diameter portion 56.

The outer peripheral portion 55 is formed with a large number of fine pores of 0.1 μm to 0.04 μm extending from the outer peripheral wall to the inner peripheral wall over the entire length. In addition, the inner diameter portion 56
Is hollow, and a node 56b separating the hollow 56a at a certain interval is provided.
5 has a thickness in the longitudinal direction at the inner peripheral wall end of the outer peripheral portion 55, and both ends of the width are simultaneously reduced in thickness inward in the radial direction toward the center, and the central portion is The thinnest wall is formed.

The interior of the node 56b is a microporous body provided with a large number of micropores of 1 micron or more, and is configured so that gas can flow between the hollow portions 56a.

The bamboo-shaped inner layer microporous yarn 52b
The outer layer hollow fiber membrane 51 similar to that of the first embodiment is tightly covered over the entire circumference to form a hydrophobic two-layer microporous body 5b. The outer layer hollow fiber membrane 51 and the bamboo-shaped inner layer microporous body thread 52b may be made of the same material or different materials.

[0031]

The present invention has the above-described structure and function, and is used for degassing air or the like. The hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn having the two-layer structure of the outer hollow fiber membrane and the inner microporous yarn. Since gas is used, the gas smoothly escapes to the outside of the module case without being crushed when gas is mixed due to an increase in pressure at the time of abnormality.

Further, even if the hydrophobic two-layer microporous yarn starts to be deformed due to the pressure resistance, the original shape is reproduced as the pressure decreases.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 shows a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 (a) is a top view and FIG. 1 (b) is a longitudinal sectional view.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a first embodiment of the hydrophobic two-layer microporous body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a second embodiment of the hydrophobic two-layer microporous body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of a third embodiment of the hydrophobic two-layer microporous body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an overall longitudinal sectional view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional hollow fiber membrane module. FIG. 6 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view of a U-shaped hollow fiber membrane module, and FIG. 6 (b) is a type in which one end is potted. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a hollow fiber membrane module.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hollow fiber membrane module 2 Port 3 Case 4 Hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membrane 41 Terminal 5, 5a, 5b Hydrophobic two-layer microporous body 51 Outer-layer hollow fiber membrane 52, 52a, 52b Inner-layer microporous fiber 55 Outer peripheral part 56 Inner diameter part 56a Hollow part 56b Node part 57 Terminal 6 Potting part 7 Potting material 8 Seal member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toshihisa Hirai 1048 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-322278 (JP, A) JP-A-64-7907 (JP, A) JP-A-63-51603 (JP, U) JP-A-60-49904 (JP, U) Kaihei 4-65121 (JP, U)

Claims (5)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A hollow fiber in which a plurality of hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membranes for aqueous liquid filtration and a hydrophobic two-layer microporous fiber for removing gas in a module case are housed in a module case. A membrane module, comprising: an outer layer hollow fiber membrane forming an outer layer portion; and an inner layer microstructure forming an inner layer portion provided in close contact with a hollow portion of the outer layer hollow fiber membrane. A hollow fiber membrane module comprising: a porous yarn; wherein the fine pores of the inner microporous material are set larger than the fine holes of the outer hollow fiber membrane. 2. The micropores in the thickness direction of the outer hollow fiber membrane are set to 0.
The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, wherein the size is 1 micron or less, and the micropores in the radial direction and the micropores in the length direction of the inner layer microporous yarn are 1 micron or more. 3. The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer microporous yarn is made hydrophilic. 4. The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer microporous fiber has a hollow portion and a knot portion. 5. The hollow fiber according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic two-layer microporous body is disposed outside the bundle of hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membranes inside the module case. Membrane module.