JP3046086B2 - Resin fixing method for hollow fiber membrane bundle - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for fixing a hollow fiber membrane bundle to a resin using a centrifugal force for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, hollow fiber membrane modules having a substance exchange function and a fluid separation ability via a membrane surface have been used in various fields such as filtration and substance exchange in many fields such as medical equipment and gas-liquid separation processing equipment. It is being used.

As a typical structure of a hollow fiber membrane module, a large number of hollow fiber membranes are housed in a cylindrical body, and the ends of each hollow fiber membrane are fixed to the end of the cylindrical body in an open state by resin. A structure in which an opening of the hollow portion of each hollow fiber membrane to the outside of the cylindrical body and a region in contact with the side surface (outer wall) of each hollow fiber membrane in the cylindrical body is separated by a resin fixing portion can be exemplified.

[0004] As a form of resin fixing of the hollow fiber membrane to the cylindrical body, a method of fixing the resin with both ends of the hollow fiber membrane open, and a method of sealing one end of the hollow fiber membrane and fixing the other end in the open state. The hollow fiber membrane is fixed in a shape such as a linear shape or a U-shape.

[0005] The method of fixing the hollow fiber membrane bundle in the cylindrical body includes the use of centrifugal force to fix the end of each hollow fiber membrane at the end to be fixed of the hollow fiber membrane bundle arranged in the cylindrical body. There is a method in which a resin liquid is supplied and filled in between, and the liquid is solidified.

In this case, usually, a resin reservoir is arranged on the side of the closed end on the side where the end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle of the tubular body containing the hollow fiber membrane bundle is fixed, and the inside of the closed end and the resin A set for fixing the resin is assembled by communicating the liquid reservoir with the tube, and the set is stored in the centrifuge, and the centrifugal force is applied to supply the resin liquid from the resin liquid reservoir into the end of the tubular body and solidify the resin. The method has been adopted.

However, in this resin fixing method, at least one resin reservoir is incorporated in one cylindrical body and set in a centrifuge, so that the end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle of the cylindrical body is fixed. In the part of the centrifuge where the end side is set,
More space is required.

Further, in this method, the amount of the resin liquid supplied into the cylindrical body is finally adjusted by the centrifugation between the liquid surface of the resin liquid in the resin liquid reservoir and the liquid surface of the resin liquid in the end of the cylindrical body. Since they are adjusted by arranging them so that they are at the same level in the direction of force application, not only in the resin reservoir at the end of resin fixing, but also in the tube that communicates the resin reservoir and the end of the cylindrical body. Residual waste solidifies throughout.

Therefore, it can be said that the above-described method of fixing the hollow fiber membrane bundle to the resin using the centrifugal force has a problem to be improved from the viewpoint of improving the production efficiency.

In the above method, an opening of a tube communicating with the resin liquid reservoir is provided on the side of the closed end to which the hollow fiber membrane bundle end of the cylindrical body is fixed, and the resin liquid is introduced into the closed end from the tube. Is supplied toward the side surface of the hollow fiber membrane bundle. Therefore, the uniform dispersibility of the hollow fiber membrane in the cylindrical body may be disturbed, and it may be difficult to fix the resin in the uniform dispersion state of the hollow fiber membrane.

Further, when a resin liquid having a low viscosity is supplied under a strong centrifugal force, the resin liquid easily rises on the side surface (outer wall surface) of the hollow fiber membrane, and a uniform thickness cannot be obtained in the resin fixing portion. There is a problem.

As a method for solving the above-mentioned problem in the resin fixing method of the end portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle utilizing the centrifugal force, for example, as shown in FIG. The resin reservoir 6 is inserted and arranged such that the distal end of the resin liquid supply pipe 5 extending from the resin reservoir 6 along the central axis of the cylindrical body 1 is located at a position corresponding to the center of the inner wall of the closing member 2. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-284305 discloses a method in which a resin liquid is supplied from a resin reservoir 6 into a closed end 1c of a cylindrical body by the action of a centrifugal force applied in a direction to fix the hollow fiber membrane 4 to the resin. After the resin is fixed, as shown in FIG. 7, the resin reservoir 6 is detached from the resin liquid supply pipe.
Is cut along the line AA to form an opening to the outside of the hollow portion of the hollow fiber membrane at the end face, thereby obtaining a finished product as a hollow fiber membrane module.

According to this method, the resin liquid reservoir 6 is set at the opening end 1b of the cylindrical body, so that the resin liquid reservoir 6 is placed on the side of the cylindrical body in the centrifuge as in the resin fixing method described above. You do not need to take up extra space.

The resin reservoir 6 is filled with a required amount of resin fluid, and all of the resin fluid is supplied into the closed end 1c of the cylindrical body. There is no waste due to solidification remaining in portions other than the resin fixing portion 7 in 5.

In addition, since the resin liquid is supplied toward the inner wall of the closing member 2 from the tip of the resin liquid supply pipe 5 located at the center in the closed end portion 1c, each hollow fiber membrane constituting the hollow fiber membrane bundle is provided. The uniform dispersibility of the resin fixing portion 7 is not found, and the thickness of the resin fixing portion 7 can be made uniform.

[0016]

However, in the above resin fixing method in which the resin liquid reservoir is arranged at the open end of the cylindrical body, for example, a resin liquid having a low viscosity is used for a hollow fiber membrane having a large pore diameter. For example, due to the relationship between the viscosity of the resin liquid and the physical properties such as the degree of porosity and the pore diameter of the hollow fiber membrane, the resin liquid may permeate and solidify even in the hollow portion of the hollow fiber membrane. In such a case, it is impossible to form the open end of the hollow fiber membrane even if the resin fixed part is cut to form the open end of the hollow fiber membrane on the end face of the resin fixed part.

Therefore, in order to prevent such defective products from occurring, it is necessary to fix the resin with a lower centrifugal force.

However, when the resin is fixed by a low centrifugal force, the resin liquid supply pipe is attached to the resin fixing part 7 by a capillary phenomenon between the resin liquid supply pipe 6 and the hollow fiber membrane 4 surrounding the resin liquid supply pipe 6 as shown in FIG. There was a case where a conical raised portion 9 centered on the periphery was formed around 6.

In such a case, uniform strength cannot be obtained in the resin fixing portion 7, and a problem arises that a predetermined strength cannot be obtained particularly in a thin portion.

Therefore, if the amount of the resin injected is increased so as to obtain a predetermined strength even in a thin portion, the hollow fiber membrane portion covered by the conical raised portion 9 cannot be used effectively, and the hollow fiber The effective membrane area of the membrane module is reduced.

[0021] Such a decrease in the effective membrane area is a cause of greatly shortening the membrane life in the case of a hollow fiber membrane module having a small membrane area such as a membrane water purifier that has been widely used in recent years. Become.

The present invention is to solve the above-described problem in the resin fixing method of the end portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle using the centrifugal force performed by disposing the resin liquid reservoir on the opening end side of the cylindrical body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for obtaining a uniform thickness on a resin fixing portion even when a low-viscosity resin liquid is used in combination with a low centrifugal force.

[0023]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of fixing a hollow fiber membrane bundle to a resin, wherein a resin-fixed end is provided inside a cylindrical body having one end closed and the other end open. The hollow fiber membrane bundle is accommodated so as to be located in the closed end, and a resin liquid reservoir is further arranged on the open end side, and a tip of a resin liquid supply pipe communicating with the resin liquid reservoir is inserted into the closed end. With it placed,
Injecting a resin liquid into the closed end from the resin liquid reservoir through the resin liquid supply pipe by applying a centrifugal force and solidifying the resin liquid. A resin liquid distribution groove for distributing the resin liquid is provided along the bottom surface of the closed end, and the resin is fixed by disposing the tip of the resin liquid supply pipe close to the resin liquid distribution groove. I do.

According to the resin fixing method for the hollow fiber membrane bundle of the present invention, the resin liquid distribution groove is provided on the bottom surface of the closed end of the tubular body to which the end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle is fixed. The resin liquid injected into the end is effectively distributed along the bottom surface of the closed end by the resin liquid distribution groove, and a conical bulge is formed on the resin fixing portion as described above under a low centrifugal force or the like. Can be prevented.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the tubular body used in the method of the present invention as viewed from the open end side, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG.
FIG. 5 is a partially cut end view taken along line YY.

The cylindrical body 10 has one end 10b formed as an open end and the other end 10c formed as a closed end closed by a closing member 8. The closing member 8 may be formed integrally with the cylindrical body peripheral wall portion 10a, may be separately formed from the cylindrical body peripheral wall portion 10a and adhered thereto, or may be a suitable jig. They may be connected to form a closed space at the end 10c.

The closing member 8 constituting the bottom surface of the closed end 1c
On the inner wall surface, there is provided a resin liquid distribution groove 11 composed of a concave portion provided between the convex portions 12. It comprises a radial groove 11b extending radially at intervals and a peripheral groove 11c provided along the periphery of the closing member 8 and connected to the radial groove 11b.

The plane and cross-sectional shape of the resin liquid distribution groove 11, the position at which it is provided, and its size (width, depth, etc.) are not limited to those shown in the drawing, and a desired resin liquid distribution effect can be obtained. As described above, the size is selected according to the size and shape of the cylindrical body, the viscosity of the resin liquid, the magnitude of the centrifugal force, the physical properties of the hollow fiber membrane, and the like. When the radial grooves are provided as shown in the drawing, at least two grooves may be provided, and the larger the number, the more preferable. However, the number of the closing members may be determined in consideration of the size of the closing member, a method used for manufacturing the groove, and the like.

The resin fixing of the hollow fiber membrane bundle using the cylindrical body having the structure described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 can be performed, for example, as follows.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, a predetermined number of hollow fiber membranes 4 are housed in a tubular body 10, and the opening end side of each hollow fiber membrane 4 to be fixed is set in the closed end of the tubular body. And a resin supply pipe 6 connected to a resin reservoir (not shown).
A central recess 11a, the tip of which is provided on the inner wall of the closing member.
To complete the assembly of the membrane module forming set.

The resin liquid reservoir is filled with a sufficient amount of resin liquid for forming the resin fixing part necessary to obtain a predetermined thickness in the resin fixing part. The hollow fiber membrane 5 may be housed in various shapes, such as a U-shaped one with both ends open as shown in the drawing, and a substantially linear shape with one end sealed as shown. obtain.

The hollow fiber membrane 6 may be housed in the tubular body 10 from the opening end 10b side. If the closing member 8 is not integrally formed with the peripheral wall 10a of the tubular body, the closing member 8
May be performed before the closing member 8 is mounted from the open end where the device is mounted.

In this state, the set for forming the membrane module is set at a predetermined position of the centrifuge, and centrifugal force is applied from the open end 10b to the closed end 10c (in the direction of arrow Z) of the cylindrical body as shown in FIG. ) To supply the resin liquid in the resin reservoir into the closed end portion 10c of the cylindrical body via the resin liquid supply pipe 6. At that time, the resin liquid discharged toward the central concave portion 11a provided on the inner wall surface of the closing member 8
After being distributed in the peripheral direction, the liquid is filled in the closed end 10c while forming a flow rising toward the open end.

After centrifugation is performed until a predetermined solidification state is obtained, the membrane module forming set is removed from the centrifuge, the resin liquid reservoir is removed from the resin liquid supply pipe 6, and the resin fixing section 7 is further removed if necessary. After the post-treatment for solidification is performed, the hollow fiber is further cut at a predetermined position of the closed end portion 10c of the tubular body 10, for example, a BB line, and each hollow fiber is cut into the cut end surface of the resin fixing portion 7. By forming the open end of the membrane 4, a hollow fiber membrane module can be obtained.

When the resin liquid supply pipe 6 has reached the cutting position in the above-described cutting processing, the resin liquid supply pipe 6 is cut in this cutting step. It is necessary to select a material which has good adhesiveness, is easily cut in this cutting step, and does not cause separation at these interfaces during cutting.

The hollow fiber membrane 4 used in the method of the present invention may be a porous hollow fiber membrane made of various materials including polyolefin, cellulose, polysulfone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylonitrile, and the like. A hollow fiber membrane using a composite membrane of a layer and a homogeneous layer can be exemplified.

Further, as the cylindrical body, those made of various metals, resins and the like can be used.

Further, as the resin for forming the resin fixing portion,
Various known resins, such as urethane resin, unsaturated polyester resin, epoxy resin, and silicone resin, for forming the resin fixing portion can be used, and can be used by filling a resin reservoir as a suitable liquid composition.

The resin liquid supply pipe may be made of a material which has good adhesiveness to the resin for forming the resin fixing portion and is easily cut in the cutting step.

[0041]

EXAMPLE 1 One end of a polycarbonate tubular body having an inner diameter of 40 mm, a length of 100 mm, and a peripheral wall thickness of 2 mm was opened at one end.
A closing member having the structure shown in FIGS.

The size of the resin liquid distribution groove provided on the inner wall of the closing member is as follows.

Central recess; depth: 1.5 mm, diameter: 10 mm, radial groove; depth: 1.5 mm, width: 3 mm, length: 9 mm, peripheral groove; depth: 1.5 mm, width: 3 mm.

Next, 2,496 porous polyethylene hollow fiber membranes (outside diameter: 380 μm, film thickness: 55 μm, average pore diameter: 0.1 μm) having both ends opened from the opening side of the cylindrical body are bundled in a U-shape. After storing the liquid so that each open end is located within the closed end of the cylindrical body, the resin liquid reservoir filled with a urethane resin-forming liquid composition (17 ml, viscosity of about 1900 cps) at the open side is filled with a resin liquid. The resin liquid supply pipe extending from the reservoir was mounted so that the tip of the resin liquid supply pipe was close to the central concave portion provided on the inner wall of the closing member in the closed end, to obtain a membrane module forming set.

Next, the membrane module forming set was set in a centrifuge, and the centrifugal force generated by the rotation at 240 rpm was applied from the opening end side to the closing end side of the cylindrical body.

When the resin supplied into the closed end of the cylindrical body has hardened, the set for forming the membrane module is taken out of the centrifuge, the resin liquid reservoir is removed from the connection with the resin liquid supply pipe, and the resin liquid reservoir is further formed. 60 to 70 ° C
And then left at room temperature for 20 days to completely cure.

Next, in order to form an open end of the hollow fiber membrane on the end face of the resin fixing portion and give it a predetermined thickness, the position of 8 mm from the end of the closed end of the cylindrical body is changed to the cylindrical body. To obtain a hollow fiber membrane module.

When the effective membrane area of this hollow fiber membrane module was measured, it was about 0.21 m ² . Further, when the hollow fiber membrane module was cut vertically and the cross-sectional shape of the resin fixing portion was examined, as shown in FIG. 5, a bulge of about 3 mm was recognized around the resin liquid supply pipe. The thickness of the resin fixing part in other parts is about 10m
m was almost uniform.

Comparative Example 1 A hollow fiber membrane module was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the inner wall surface of the closing member was made flat without providing a resin liquid distribution groove.

When the effective membrane area of the obtained hollow fiber membrane module was measured, it was about 0.18 m ² . Further, when this hollow fiber membrane module was cut vertically and the cross-sectional shape of the resin fixing portion was examined, as shown in FIG. 8, a remarkable resin bulge of about 12 mm was observed around the resin liquid supply pipe. The thickness of the resin fixing part other than that is about 9
mm.

[0051]

The method of the present invention has the following effects.

(1) Since the set for forming the membrane module is compact, the operability is good, and the occupancy in the centrifuge is small. In comparison with the conventional method in which the resin reservoir is arranged on the side of the closed end where the end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle is fixed, it is possible to process two to three times as many sets for forming a membrane module at a time.

(2) The resin liquid reservoir is filled with a required amount of resin liquid, all of which is supplied into the closed end of the cylindrical body, and the cylindrical body to which the end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle is fixed is closed. As in the method of disposing the resin reservoir on the side of the end, the solidified resin does not remain in the entire resin reservoir and the resin liquid supply tube, and the amount of wasted resin is minimized. Becomes possible.

(3) In supplying the resin liquid from the resin liquid supply pipe into the closed end of the tubular body, the resin liquid is directed toward the inner wall of the closing member constituting the closed end, that is, in the same direction as the hollow fiber membrane bundle. So that the resin can be fixed without causing a bias in the distribution of the hollow fiber membranes constituting the hollow fiber membrane bundle,
This effect can be obtained more favorably by the resin liquid distribution groove provided on the inner wall surface of the closing member constituting the closed end.

(4) Since the resin liquid distributing groove is provided on the inner wall surface of the closing member constituting the closed end of the cylindrical body, even when the resin fixing treatment under a low centrifugal force is required, the capillary phenomenon occurs. This effectively prevents the resin liquid from rising around the resin liquid supply pipe, thereby making the thickness of the resin fixing portion uniform.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an example of a tubular body used in the method of the present invention, as viewed from an open end.

FIG. 2 is an end view cut along the line XX of the cylindrical body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially cut end view of the closed end of the tubular body of FIG. 1 taken along line YY.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a configuration of a membrane module forming set assembled by using the tubular body of FIG. 1;
Shown as a line cut end view.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a process of forming a resin fixing portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle using the tubular body of FIG. 1, and the tubular body is shown as an end view cut along the line XX of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a conventional method of fixing a hollow fiber membrane bundle to a resin.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a membrane module obtained by a conventional method of fixing a hollow fiber membrane bundle to a resin.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a shape of a resin fixing portion in a membrane module obtained by a conventional resin fixing method for a hollow fiber membrane bundle in which a resin liquid distribution groove is not provided in a closing member.

[Description of sign]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cylindrical body 1a Peripheral wall 1b Open end 1c Closed end 2 Closing member 3 Fixing ring 4 Hollow fiber membrane 5 Resin liquid supply pipe 6 Resin liquid reservoir 7 Resin fixing part 8 Closing member 9 Rising part 10 Cylindrical body 10a Peripheral wall portion 10b Open end portion 10c Closed end portion 11 Resin liquid distribution groove 11a Central concave portion 11b Radial groove 11c Peripheral groove 12 Convex portion

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B01D 63/02 B01D 63/00 500 JICST file (JOIS) WPI / L (QUESTEL)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A hollow fiber membrane bundle is accommodated in a tubular body having one end being a closed end and the other end being an open end such that an end to be fixed with resin is located within the closed end, Further, in a state where a resin reservoir is arranged on the opening end side, and a tip of a resin liquid supply pipe communicating with the resin reservoir is inserted and arranged in the closed end,
Injecting a resin liquid into the closed end from the resin liquid reservoir through the resin liquid supply pipe by applying a centrifugal force and solidifying the resin liquid. A resin liquid distribution groove for distributing the resin liquid is provided along the bottom surface of the closed end, and the resin is fixed by disposing the tip of the resin liquid supply pipe close to the resin liquid distribution groove. To fix a hollow fiber membrane bundle to a resin.