JP3335520B2 - 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 hollow fiber membrane module used for processing such as ultrafiltration or membrane separation such as reverse osmosis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional hollow fiber membrane modules are disclosed, for example, in JP-A-5-57155 and JP-A-53-13377.
No. 6 is known. As shown in these publications and FIG. 3, the hollow fiber membrane module 2 includes a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 4 arranged in a bundle and a case 6 covering the outer periphery of the hollow fiber membranes 4 arranged in a bundle. And end joints 8 and 10 interposed so as to fill the space between the end outer peripheral surface of each hollow fiber membrane 4 and the end inner peripheral surface of the case 6.

In order to manufacture such a hollow fiber membrane module 2, a bundle of hollow fiber membranes 4 is arranged in a case 6, and the inner peripheral surface of both ends of the case 6 and the outer peripheral surface of each hollow fiber membrane 4 are formed. For example, an epoxy resin is embedded in the gap between
Form 10. When the epoxy resin is embedded, the resin also enters the inner periphery of the end of the hollow fiber membrane 4, but in that case,
The end of the bundle of the hollow fiber membranes 4 is cut together with the end of the case 6,
The inner peripheral surface of the end of the hollow fiber membrane 4 opens at the end of the hollow fiber membrane 4. Adapters 12 and 14 having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet formed therein are attached to both ends of the case 6.

One of the adapters 1 of the hollow fiber membrane module 2
When a fluid is supplied from inside 2 into hollow fiber membrane 4, hollow fiber membrane 4
A predetermined component in the fluid flowing inside the membrane passes through the membrane wall of the hollow fiber membrane 4 to the extramembrane space 20 outside the membrane, and the non-permeable component of the fluid in the hollow fiber membrane 4 is concentrated to form the other adapter. 1
Leak from 4. The secondary fluid that has permeated to the outside of the membrane wall of the hollow fiber membrane 4 can be taken out from the inflow ports 16 and 18 formed in the case 6.

In recent years, heat resistance has been required in order to sterilize and wash such hollow fiber membrane modules 2. Actually, 90-
Washing by passing hot water of 100 ° C level,
For sterilization, a method of steam sterilizing the whole module in an autoclave (121 ° C., 1 hour level) is adopted.

Conventional hollow fiber membrane modules on the market do not require heat resistance, and as a material of the case,
Resins with low heat resistance, such as vinyl chloride, were used. When heat resistance is taken into consideration, a metal case made of stainless steel or the like is effective as the case 6, and it has been studied to actually produce a hollow fiber membrane module using the metal case.

[0007] Further, since the end joint body is required to have pressure resistance, a two-part epoxy resin or the like is used as a potting agent constituting the end joint body, and a bundle of hollow fiber membranes is used as a case. After being inserted into the inside, potting is performed by a centrifugal method, and a predetermined heat curing treatment is performed. afterwards,
The end of the end unit is cut to open the end of the hollow fiber membrane embedded in the end unit.

[0008]

However, when the case is made of metal such as stainless steel, there is no problem when the epoxy resin is cured (stored at about 100 ° C.) as shown in FIG. However, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), when left at normal temperature, a peeling gap 20 is generated between the case 6 and the end coupling body 10, and the fluid may leak through the gap 20. Have issues. 4 (A),
In (B), the illustration of the hollow fiber membrane is omitted.

For example, the inner diameter is 110 mm and the outer diameter is 112 mm
It has been confirmed by the present inventor that when the end joint is formed with a two-part epoxy adhesive using a stainless steel case described above, a peel gap 20 of about 0.4 mm is generated. This is considered to be because the linear expansion coefficient of the epoxy resin is about four times that of stainless steel and is due to the contraction of the epoxy resin. Originally, the tensile shear bond strength between stainless steel and epoxy resin was about 100 kg / cm ² (data for plate material)
It is considered that the difference between the coefficients of linear expansion causes separation of the bonding surface in the bonding with the pipe-shaped case 6.

When the separation gap 20 is formed as shown in FIG. 4B, the extra-membrane space 20 of the hollow fiber membrane 4 shown in FIG. become unable. The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even if a heat-resistant case is adopted as the case, the sealing property between the end coupling body and the case is maintained, and a good membrane separation process can be performed. It is an object to provide a hollow fiber membrane module.

[0011]

To achieve the above object, according to the Invention The hollow fiber membrane module according to the present invention comprises a plurality of hollow fiber membranes arranged in bundles, the hollow fiber membranes disposed in the bundle A case that covers the outer periphery of the case , attached to both ends of the case,
A fluid inlet for fluid supplied to each of said hollow fiber membranes;
A hollow fiber having an adapter formed with a fluid outlet and a fluid outlet, and an end combination interposed so as to fill a space between an outer peripheral surface of an end of each hollow fiber membrane and an inner peripheral surface of an end of the case. a membrane module, Ri seal member for sealing between the outer peripheral and the inner peripheral surface of an end portion of said casing of said end coupling member is previously mounted on the inner peripheral surface of the case tare, end of the case
Part swells radially outward of the case, and
A swelling part into which a part of the union is inserted is provided, and the swelling part and
Joining the flange portion of the adapter using fastening means
It is characterized by having been done.

An O-ring is preferably used as the seal member. It is preferable to use an O-ring holding ring in addition to the O-ring. This O-ring is preferably attached to the inner peripheral surface of the case so that the crushing margin is larger than an expected peel gap.

[0013] In the hollow fiber membrane module according to the present invention, even if the case is made of metal, the separation gap based on the difference in linear expansion coefficient from the resin constituting the end joint body is removed by a sealing member such as an O-ring. Can be compensated by the crushing allowance. That is, even if a peeling gap occurs between the end coupling body and the case, the outer peripheral portion of the seal member is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the case and sealed at that portion, so that fluid leakage does not occur.

[0014] Also, the bulging portion that bulges radially outward to an end portion of the to case provided, to constitute so that the resin constituting the ends conjugate within the expanded portion enters the preferred Or withstand pressure
In order to construct a hollow fiber membrane module
You . A part of the end coupling body that has entered the bulging portion is caught by the bulging portion of the case, and the axial movement of the end coupling member is restricted. As a result, it becomes possible to fix the end joined body in which the peeling has occurred in the case.

In the present invention, the case is not always required to be made of metal. For example, even if the case is made of a polyolefin such as fluororesin or polypropylene, which cannot be adhered without special surface treatment, the present invention is also applicable. Is effective.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a hollow fiber membrane module according to the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of a main part of an end unit of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hollow fiber membrane module 30 of the present embodiment comprises a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 3 arranged in a bundle.
4, a case 36 that covers the outer periphery of the hollow fiber membranes 34 arranged in a bundle,
6 and end coupling bodies 38 and 40 interposed so as to fill the space between the end inner peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface.

The hollow fiber membrane 34 is not particularly limited, but a porous hollow fiber membrane is used.
Fluorine resins such as FA and PTFE, polyamide resins, polyimide resins, polyvinylidene fluoride resin films, polysulfone resin films, and the like are used. The number of the hollow fiber membranes 34 is not particularly limited, either, and ranges from 100 to 10 million. End joint 3
The potting resin constituting 8, 40 is not particularly limited, and for example, an epoxy resin or a urethane resin having high heat resistance is used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the case 36 of the hollow fiber membrane module 30 of the present embodiment is formed with inlets and outlets 46 and 48 for fluid. An extra-membrane space 50 is formed between the hollow fiber membranes 34 inside the case 36. The extra-membrane space 50 communicates with the inflow / outflow ports 46 and 48. At both ends of the case 36, ring-shaped bulging portions 37 bulging outward in the radial direction are formed. The ring-shaped swelling portion 37 has a part 3 of the end coupling members 38 and 40.
9, the end coupling bodies 38 and 40 are caught by the case 36, and the axial movement thereof is restricted.

In this embodiment, both bulging portions 3 of the case 36 are provided.
7 and the flanges of the adapters 42 and 44 are respectively butted, and these are joined using a fastening member such as a clamp 41. The fastening means includes a clamp 41
In addition, other fastening means such as bolts and nuts may be used.

In order to maintain the seal between the adapters 42 and 44 and the case 36, an O-ring groove is formed inside each of the adapters 42 and 44, and the O-rings 52 and 44 are formed therein.
The inner circumference of the O-rings 52, 52 is pressed against the outer circumference of the end of the case 36. Each adapter 42, 44 has an inlet 43,
45 are formed respectively. The inside of each of the adapters 42 and 44 communicates with the inside of the hollow fiber membrane 34.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a seal member is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the end of the case 36 at the position where the end joint 40 (same for 38) is formed. An O-ring 54 and a ring-shaped O-ring presser 56 are arranged. These O-ring 54 and O-ring retainer 5
6 is the case 3 before the end combination 38, 40 is formed.
6 is mounted on the inner periphery of the end. The crushing allowance of the O-ring 54 is
It is designed to be larger than a peel gap described later. The material of the O-ring 54 is not particularly limited, but is preferably a material having excellent heat resistance. Note that FIG.
In (A) and (B), the illustration of the hollow fiber membrane shown in FIG. 1 is omitted.

Next, the hollow fiber membrane module 3 of the present embodiment
0 will be described. First, the O-ring 54 and the O-ring retainer 56 are mounted on the inner periphery of both ends of the case 36. At that time, the crushing allowance of the O-ring 54 is as shown in FIG.
It is larger than the separation gap 20 shown in FIG.

Next, the bundle of the hollow fiber membranes 34 is housed in the case 36 and potted with a potting agent such as epoxy resin in order to form the end joints 38 and 40 in the same manner as in the prior art. Then, an end portion of the bundle of hollow fiber membrane that has entered the potting agent disconnects, if modularized as shown in FIG. 1, the hollow fiber membrane module 30 is completed.

In the process of manufacturing the hollow fiber membrane module 30 according to the present embodiment, potting is performed with an epoxy resin to form end joints 38 and 40. At that time, a curing treatment of the epoxy resin is performed. The curing process is about 100 ° C
In this case, the gap is not generated between the end coupling body 40 and the stainless steel case 36 as shown in FIG. Next, it is left at room temperature. At this time, as shown in FIG.
A separation gap 20 is formed between the end coupling 6 and the end combination 40.

However, in the present embodiment, the separation gap 20 can be supplemented by the allowance of the crushing of the O-ring 54. That is, even if the separation gap 20 occurs between the end coupling body 40 and the case 36, the outer peripheral portion of the O-ring 54 is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the case 36, and the O-ring 54 is hermetically sealed at that portion to cause fluid leakage. Never.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the application of the hollow fiber membrane module according to the present invention is not particularly limited, and the module can be used for various applications such as liquid membrane separation and liquid-gas membrane separation.
The flow of the fluid is not particularly limited, and the fluid may flow from the port 43 to the port 45 shown in FIG. 1 or vice versa. Further, the fluid may flow from the port 46 to the port 48 shown in FIG. 1 or vice versa.

[0028]

EXAMPLE 1 As shown in FIG. 2A, a case 36 made of SUS316 was used.
(With an inner diameter of 105 mm and a length of 750 mm), an O-ring and an O-ring retainer were mounted on the inner peripheral surfaces of both ends. next,
Into the case 36, polyvinylidene fluoride hollow fiber membrane (inner diameter 210 .mu.m × outer diameter 300 [mu] m) after inserting 64000 present were the module performs potting, the end face cutting. Hot water at 95 ° C for 100 hours,
Water was passed, but no leakage occurred. In addition, heat shock of 95 ° C hot water flowing for 30 minutes and 20 ° C cold water flowing for 30 minutes was repeated 1000 times, but the sealing performance was kept good and leakage occurred. Did not.

Further, an autoclave treatment (121 ° C. ×
(1 hour) was repeated 100 times without any leakage. Example 2 A module was made in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the material of the case 36 was a polypropylene case. The sealability of the module was examined in the same manner as in Example 1, but no problem was found.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if a heat-resistant case is adopted as the case, the sealing property between the end joint body and the case is maintained, and a good membrane separation treatment is performed. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

2 (A) and 2 (B) are cross-sectional views of main parts of the end unit shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to a conventional example.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of the end unit shown in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 peeling gap 30 hollow fiber membrane module 34 hollow fiber membrane 36 case 37 bulging part 38, 40 end unit 39 part 41 clamp 42, 44 adapter 46, 48, 43, 45 ... Inflow / outlet 52 ... O-ring 54 ... O-ring 56 ... O-ring holder

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B01D 63/02 B01D 61/08 B01D 61/18 B01D 63/00 500

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of hollow fiber membrane as claimed in claim 1] are arranged in a bundle, and a case for covering the outer periphery of the hollow fiber membranes disposed in the bundle, is mounted on both ends of the case, supplying the to the hollow fiber membranes Sa
Adapters with respective inlets and outlets for fluids
Motor and said a hollow fiber membrane module having an end coupling member interposed so as to fill the space between the inner peripheral surface of an end portion of the case and the end portion outer peripheral surface of each hollow fiber membrane, said end sealing member for sealing between the outer peripheral and the inner peripheral surface of an end portion of said casing parts conjugate pre-mounted on the inner peripheral surface of the case tare is, the end of the casing, radially outside of the case Bulging into
And a swelling portion into which a part of the end coupling body enters.
Is, a flange portion of the said bulging portion adapter fastening means
A hollow fiber membrane module joined by using