JP3057115U - Hollow fiber membrane dehumidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hollow fiber membrane type dehumidifier which has a simple structure, is low in cost, and can be used stably for a long period of time. SOLUTION: In a hollow fiber membrane dehumidifier for dehumidifying a high-pressure and high-humidity gas by a hollow fiber membrane bundle 4, a low-pressure region outside the hollow fiber membrane is used as a purge gas at a delivery port 3 side of the dehumidified gas. And a flow control passage 5 for adjusting the flow rate of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 4 and one or more hollow fibers bound together with the hollow fiber membrane bundle 4 by the hollow fiber membrane consolidation resin 7. It is formed by a thread membrane.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 The present invention relates to a wet gas dehumidifier using a hollow fiber membrane.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 A hollow fiber membrane type dehumidifier using a hollow fiber membrane bundle obtained by bundling a large number of hollow fiber membranes is known to have various configurations. Both ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundle with the hollow fiber membranes are airtightly attached, a high-pressure, high-humidity dehumidified gas flows inside the hollow fiber membranes, and a low-pressure, low-humidity gas flows outside the hollow fiber membranes. The above-mentioned purge gas is circulated to dehumidify the gas to be dehumidified by the difference in partial pressure of water vapor between the inner and outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membrane. And, as the purge gas, a gas is used, which is obtained by dividing a part of the high-pressure dehumidified gas, which flows inside the hollow fiber membrane and is dehumidified, and reduces the pressure to normal pressure.

As means for flowing the purge gas to the low-pressure region outside the hollow fiber membrane, a part of the dehumidified high-pressure dehumidified gas is supplied to a flow control valve or a fixed throttle provided inside or outside the dehumidifier. It is known that the pressure is reduced by a valve and divided, and this gas is circulated through a passage provided inside or outside the dehumidifier to a low pressure region (for example, JP-A-6-134246 and JP-A-8-299743). Reference). Further, as another means for distributing the purge gas, a method is known in which a gas that has permeated from a high-pressure dehumidified gas inside the hollow fiber membrane into a low-pressure region outside the hollow fiber membrane is used as a purge gas. .

However, in the former case, it is necessary to provide a flow control valve, a fixed throttle valve, and a passage for purge gas inside or outside the dehumidifier, so that the configuration becomes complicated and the cost increases. There is a problem. Also, in the latter case, when the inner surface of the hollow fiber membrane is contaminated with foreign matter, clogging occurs and the flow rate of the purge gas decreases, so that there is a problem that the hollow fiber membrane cannot be used stably for a long period of time. .

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a hollow fiber membrane type dehumidifier that has a simple configuration, is low in cost, and can be used stably for a long time.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above problems, the hollow fiber membrane type dehumidifier of the present invention comprises an outer cylinder and a hollow fiber membrane bundle made up of a number of hollow fiber membranes and both ends of which are hermetically attached to the inner surface of the outer cylinder. A hollow fiber membrane dehumidifier for dehumidifying a high-pressure, high-humidity gas flowing inside the hollow fiber membrane with a low-pressure purge gas flowing outside the hollow fiber membrane. The outlet side has a flow rate adjusting passage for the purge gas for connecting the outlet side to the low-pressure region outside the hollow fiber membrane and adjusting the flow rate, and the flow rate adjusting path is bound together with the hollow fiber membrane bundle. It is characterized by being formed by one or a plurality of hollow fiber membranes.

In the hollow fiber membrane type dehumidifier, when the both ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundle are consolidated with the hollow fiber membrane consolidation resin, one end of the hollow fiber membrane dehumidifier forms a flow control passage together with the hollow fiber membrane bundle. The membrane is bound and consolidated, and the hollow fiber membrane-consolidated resin is hermetically attached to the inner surface of the outer cylinder, or the flow rate adjustment passage is replaced with a hollow fiber membrane bound together with the hollow fiber membrane bundle. It can be formed of one or more hollow tubes made of synthetic resin or metal. Further, the outer cylinder of these dehumidifiers can be formed of a flexible material, and the hollow fiber membrane bundle can be airtightly attached directly or indirectly to the outer cylinder.

[0008]

[Effects of action and invention]

 The hollow fiber membrane type dehumidifier according to the first and second aspects is characterized in that a part of the dehumidified high-pressure gas is diverted to a low-pressure region as a purge gas and a purge gas flow control passage for adjusting the flow rate thereof is provided. Since one or more hollow fiber membranes bound together with the hollow fiber membrane bundle are used, the flow control passage is formed by using the hollow fiber membrane required for dehumidification without using a separate member. The flow rate of the purge gas can be adjusted by the number of the hollow fiber membranes serving as the purge passage. Therefore, the configuration is simple, the cost is low, and the device can be used stably for a long time.

In the hollow fiber membrane type dehumidifier according to the third aspect, the flow rate adjusting passage for the purge gas is formed of one or more synthetic resin or metal hollow thin tubes separate from the hollow fiber membrane. Thus, it is possible to easily form the flow path for adjusting the flow rate of the purge gas. Further, if the hollow thin tube is made of metal, the flow rate of the purge gas can be adjusted accurately.

In these cases, the flow rate of the purge gas is determined by the pressure of the gas to be dehumidified, the dehumidification efficiency, etc., and the hole diameter, the number, the length, etc. of the hollow fiber membrane or the hollow thin tube are changed alone or in combination. By doing so, it can be set freely.

In the hollow fiber membrane type dehumidifier according to the fourth aspect, in addition to these functions and effects, the outer cylinder and the hollow fiber membrane bundle can be easily bent, so that the space for installation can be reduced. it can.

[0012]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. This dehumidifier includes a connecting joint 8 having a cylindrical outer cylinder 1 and a high-pressure gas inlet 2 airtightly attached to an end of the outer cylinder 1. And a connection joint 9 having a high-pressure gas outlet 3. Both ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 4 are mounted in the outer cylinder 1 by hollow fiber membrane consolidation resins 7, 7. Further, the outer cylinder 1 is provided with an exhaust port 6 for discharging a purge gas to the outside at a position closer to the center than the hollow fiber membrane solidifying resin 7 on the connection joint 8 side.

The hollow fiber membrane bundle 4 is configured by bundling a large number of hollow fiber membranes 4a for water separation, and both ends in the longitudinal direction are consolidated by the hollow fiber membrane consolidation resin 7, and It is adhesively fixed inside the outer cylinder 1. In this case, the outer surfaces of the end portions of the hollow fiber membranes 4a are naturally made airtight. The hollow fiber membrane consolidation resin 7 is directly fixed to the inner surface of the outer cylinder 1 by the consolidation resin itself, or indirectly by an O-ring mounted on the outer peripheral surface, or by a filler or the like applied to these mounting surfaces. It can be fixed in place.

The hollow fiber membrane consolidation resin 7 on the side of the high pressure gas outlet 3 is provided with a flow rate adjusting passage 5 for a purge gas capable of adjusting the flow rate. The flow rate adjusting passage 5 is formed of one or a plurality of hollow fiber membranes bound together with the hollow fiber membrane bundle 4. It is open at the position. Then, the flow rate of the purge gas can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of hollow fiber membranes constituting the flow rate adjustment passage 5. Although not shown, the one or more flow control passages 5 can be provided at an appropriate position such as the center of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 4.

The flow rate adjusting passage 5 may be a hollow thin tube made of synthetic resin or metal, which is separate from the hollow fiber membrane, instead of the illustrated hollow fiber membrane. When the flow control passage 5 is formed by a separate hollow thin tube, the passage 5 can be formed simultaneously with the fixing of the hollow fiber membrane bundle 4 by the hollow fiber membrane consolidation resin 7, so that the flow control passage 5 can be easily formed. In this case, when the inside diameter of the hollow thin tube is reduced, the flow rate can be finely adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of installations, but the processing cost of the thin tube increases. It is preferable to be in the range of 0.5 to 5.0 mm. When the flow rate adjusting passage 5 is formed of a hollow hollow tube made of metal, a narrow tube having an accurate inner diameter can be obtained as compared with a resin-made hollow thin tube.

In the first embodiment, a high-pressure, high-humidity gas to be dehumidified is supplied to the high-pressure gas inlet 2, and this gas is dehumidified by a purge gas while flowing inside the hollow fiber membranes 4a. It becomes gas and is sent out of the dehumidifier from the high-pressure gas sending port 3. On the other hand, a part of the dehumidified gas flows as a purge gas through the flow control passage 5 in the low pressure region outside each hollow fiber membrane 4a. The water vapor in the gas to be dehumidified passes through the inside of each hollow fiber membrane 4a from the inside to the outside of the hollow fiber membrane 4a, and is discharged from the discharge port 6 to the outside by the purge gas. Therefore, by connecting piping (not shown) to the connection joints 8 and 9 at both ends of the outer cylinder 1, dehumidified gas can be supplied to a desired location.

In the first embodiment, since the flow control passage 5 is formed by a desired number of hollow fiber membranes, a flow control valve, a fixed throttle valve, and a purge gas passage are provided inside or outside the dehumidifier. Since it is not necessary, the structure is simple and the cost is low. Further, unlike the case where the gas permeating the low pressure side of the hollow fiber membrane 4a is used as the purge gas, it can be used stably for a long period of time. Further, the flow rate of the purge gas can be easily changed depending on the number of hollow fiber membranes used as the purge passage or the number, inner diameter, and length of the hollow thin tubes.

Although not shown, the flow rate adjusting passage 5 is formed in the hollow fiber membrane solidified resin 7 on the high pressure gas inlet 2 instead of the hollow fiber membrane solidified resin 7 on the side of the high pressure gas outlet 3. The exhaust port 6 may be provided on the high-pressure gas outlet 3 side of the outer cylinder 1. In this case, the high-pressure and high-humidity dehumidified gas supplied from the high-pressure gas inlet 2 is supplied to one or a plurality of flow control passages 5 provided in the hollow fiber membrane solidified resin 7 on the high-pressure gas inlet 2 side. As the gas passes through, it becomes a low-pressure low-humidity purge gas and is supplied to the low-pressure region outside each hollow fiber membrane 4a. Therefore, all of the gas dehumidified by the hollow fiber membrane bundle 4 can be sent out of the dehumidifier from the high-pressure gas outlet 3.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The outer cylinder 11 of the second embodiment is formed of a polymer material such as nylon or urethane or a flexible material such as metal. The high pressure gas inlet 2 and outlet 3 at the connection joints 12 and 13 are open in a direction substantially orthogonal to the outer cylinder 11. In the second embodiment, since the outer cylinder 11 is formed of a flexible material, the outer cylinder 11 and the hollow fiber membrane bundle can be bent to reduce the space in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, it is effective when there is no space between the inlet 2 and the outlet 3 for mounting a hollow fiber membrane bundle of a desired length. The other configurations and operations of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus detailed description is omitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 11 Outer cylinder 2 High-pressure gas supply port 3 High-pressure gas supply port 4 Hollow fiber membrane bundle 4a Hollow fiber membrane 5 Flow control passage 7 Hollow fiber membrane solidified resin 8, 9, 12, 13 Connection joint

Claims (4)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. An outer cylinder, comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, a hollow fiber membrane bundle having both ends hermetically attached to the inner surface of the outer cylinder, and a high-pressure, high-humidity fluid flowing inside these hollow fiber membranes. A dehumidifier, wherein the gas to be dehumidified is dehumidified by a low-pressure purge gas flowing outside the hollow fiber membrane. A purge gas flow control passage communicating with the low-pressure region and adjusting the flow rate thereof, wherein the flow control passage is formed by one or more hollow fiber membranes bound together with the hollow fiber membrane bundle. Features a hollow fiber membrane dehumidifier. 2. At the time of consolidating both ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundle with a hollow fiber membrane consolidation resin, at one end thereof, a hollow fiber membrane forming a flow control passage together with the hollow fiber membrane bundle is bound and consolidated. The hollow fiber membrane type dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the hollow fiber membrane consolidation resin is hermetically attached to the inner surface of the outer cylinder. 3. The flow control passage according to claim 1, wherein one or more synthetic resin or metal hollow thin tubes are formed instead of the hollow fiber membrane bundled together with the hollow fiber membrane bundle. The hollow fiber membrane dehumidifier according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The outer cylinder is formed of a flexible material, and a hollow fiber membrane bundle is hermetically attached directly or indirectly to the outer cylinder. The hollow fiber membrane dehumidifier according to any one of the above.