JP3596980B2 - Fluid separation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fluid separation device having a membrane element formed in a cylindrical shape.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to separate components of a fluid, a fluid separation device such as a spiral-type membrane module, a pleated-type membrane module, or a stacked-type membrane module is used. Such a fluid separation device communicates with the permeable membrane that separates the first region forming the flow path of the raw fluid from the second region forming the flow path of the permeated fluid, and communicates with the second region. It has a cylindrical membrane element provided with a perforated hollow tube for taking out a fluid, and separates a raw fluid into a permeated fluid and a concentrated fluid. As the permeable membrane, a separation membrane such as a reverse osmosis membrane, an ultrafiltration membrane, or a microfiltration membrane used under relatively low pressure is used. This type of fluid separation device is constituted by loading one or a plurality of membrane elements connected in series into a cylindrical container.
[0003]
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a conventional fluid separation device. In the fluid separation device of FIG. 2, two spiral membrane elements are used.
In FIG. 2, a spiral-type membrane element 21 is formed by forming a material group having a set of a permeable membrane (permeable membrane), a raw fluid flow path material, and a permeable fluid flow path material around a perforated hollow tube 22 in a spiral shape. It is formed by winding around. In the example of FIG. 2, two membrane elements 21 are inserted into a cylindrical container 26 made of FRP (fiber reinforced plastic), stainless steel, or the like. Each membrane element 21 converts the pressurized raw fluid supplied from the left side in the figure into a permeated fluid that is transmitted through the permeable membrane and guided inside the perforated hollow tube 22, and the remaining concentrated fluid. To separate.
[0004]
One end of a perforated hollow tube 22 passing through the center of each membrane element 21 is connected to each other by an internal joint 25 a, and two membrane elements 21 are housed in a cylindrical container 26. The other end (upstream end) of the perforated hollow tube 22 of one membrane element 21 is sealed with a cap 28. The other end (downstream end) of the perforated hollow tube 22 of the other membrane element 21 is connected to a hub 24 projecting inward from the center of the end plate 23b by an internal joint 25b.
[0005]
Between the outer peripheral surface of the membrane element 1 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical container 26, a packing 29 for preventing mixing of the raw fluid and the concentrated fluid is interposed. Both ends of the cylindrical container 26 are closed by end plates 23a and 23b, respectively, and are fixed by bolts 27. A raw fluid inlet 31a is formed on one end plate 23a, and a concentrated fluid outlet 31b is formed on the other end plate 23b. The hub 24 formed at the center of the other end plate 23b is provided with a permeated fluid outlet 31c.
[0006]
In this fluid separation device, pressurized raw fluid is supplied into the cylindrical container 26 from a raw fluid inlet 31a of one end plate 23a. The raw fluid flows along the raw fluid flow path material of each membrane element 21 and is discharged as a concentrated fluid from the concentrated fluid outlet 31b of the other end plate 23b. In the process in which the raw fluid flows along the raw fluid flow path material of the membrane element 21, the permeated fluid that has passed through the permeable membrane is guided into the perforated hollow tube 22 along the permeated fluid flow path material, and the end plate 23b It is discharged from the permeated fluid outlet 31c. In this way, the source fluid is separated into a permeate fluid and a concentrate fluid.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional fluid separation device, the fluid stays in the dead space S formed by the cylindrical container 26, the membrane element 21, and the packing 29. If this fluid separation device is used for a long time, the fluid staying in the dead space S is denatured. In particular, when the fluid is a liquid containing an organic substance, microorganisms may propagate, and the microorganisms may decompose the organic substance to generate an odor or decompose the permeable membrane.
[0008]
In addition, when this fluid separation device is used in an ultrapure water production line that requires high purity permeated water, since the fluid stays in the dead space S, the rise of the permeated water purity is extremely slow. There's a problem.
[0009]
Further, as described above, the conventional fluid separation device is configured by housing the membrane element 21 in the cylindrical container 26, and the manufacturing cost of the cylindrical container 26 occupies the entire cost of the fluid separation device. The percentage is very large. Therefore, there is a problem that the price of the fluid separation device cannot be reduced.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable fluid separation device that can be reduced in cost and has no dead space.
[0011]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
A fluid separation device according to the present invention communicates with a permeable membrane that separates a first region forming a flow path of a source fluid and a second region forming a flow path of a permeate fluid, and the second region. In a fluid separation device having a cylindrical membrane element having a perforated hollow tube for leading out a permeated fluid and separating a raw fluid into a permeated fluid and a concentrated fluid, a resin layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the membrane element In addition, a resin layer is formed on each end face of the membrane element so as to cover both end faces of the membrane element, and a first hole communicating with the first region is formed in the resin layer on one end face of the membrane element. A second hole communicating with the first region is provided in the resin layer on the other end face of the membrane element, and a second hole communicating with the inside of the perforated hollow tube is provided on the resin layer on at least one end face of the membrane element. 3 is provided.
[0012]
In the fluid separation device according to the present invention, the outer peripheral surface and both end surfaces of the cylindrical membrane element are covered with a resin layer, and the first and second fluid communication layers communicate with the first region of the membrane element. And a third hole communicating with the perforated hollow tube. As a result, no dead space is formed in the outer peripheral portion of the membrane element, so that no fluid remains in the outer peripheral portion of the membrane element.
[0013]
Therefore, when this fluid separation device is used for separating a fluid containing an organic substance, problems such as propagation of microorganisms, generation of offensive odor due to decomposition of the organic substance, and decomposition of the permeable membrane do not occur. Also, when the fluid separation device is used in an ultrapure water production line, the rise of the purity of the permeated water is improved.
[0014]
Further, since a cylindrical container for storing the membrane element is not required, the manufacturing cost is reduced. Further, by connecting the first hole and the second hole of the plurality of fluid separation devices, the plurality of membrane elements can be easily connected, and the number of connection stages of the plurality of membrane elements can be easily changed. can do.
[0015]
Thus, a highly reliable fluid separation device that can be reduced in cost and has no dead space is provided.
In particular, the first hole is a hole for a raw fluid inlet, the second hole is a hole for a concentrated fluid outlet, and the third hole is a hole for a permeated fluid outlet. Is also good. In this case, the raw fluid is supplied from the first hole of the resin layer to the first region of the membrane element. The raw fluid flows through the first region and is led out as a concentrated fluid from the second hole of the resin layer. The permeated fluid that has passed through the permeable membrane in the course of the flow of the original fluid through the first region flows through the second region, is guided into the perforated hollow tube, and is discharged from the third hole of the resin layer. Is done.
[0016]
The membrane element may be one in which one or a plurality of material groups composed of a permeable membrane, a raw fluid flow path material, and a permeate fluid flow path material are disposed on the outer peripheral surface of a perforated hollow tube. In this case, the flow path of the raw fluid in the first area is secured by the raw fluid flow path material, and the flow path of the permeated fluid in the second area is secured by the permeated fluid flow path material.
[0017]
Further, the first hole and the second hole are preferably provided at equal distances from the center of the end face of the membrane element toward the outer periphery. This makes it possible to easily connect a plurality of membrane elements in series.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1A is a longitudinal sectional view of a fluid separator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a transverse sectional view of an end of the fluid separator of FIG. 1A. In this embodiment, a fluid separation device having a spiral membrane element will be described.
[0019]
In FIG. 1, a spiral-type membrane element 1 includes a set of material groups including a permeable membrane (permeable membrane), a raw fluid flow path material, and a permeable fluid flow path material. It is formed by winding around.
[0020]
The outer peripheral surface of the membrane element 1 is covered with a resin layer 3 made of, for example, FRP over the entire width. The resin layer 3 has a function of sealing and protecting the outer peripheral surface of the membrane element 1. Both end surfaces of the membrane element 1 are covered with resin layers 4a and 4b made of, for example, an epoxy resin, a urethane resin, a silicon resin, or the like, and are sealed.
[0021]
A raw fluid inlet 5 is formed in one resin layer 4a, and a concentrated fluid outlet 6 is formed in the other resin layer 4b. The raw fluid inlet 5 and the concentrated fluid outlet 6 are provided at equal distances from the perforated hollow tube 2 toward the outer periphery. The surfaces of the resin layers 4a and 4b are formed flush with both end surfaces of the perforated hollow tube 2, respectively. Thereby, the openings at both ends of the perforated hollow tube 2 are exposed on the surfaces of the resin layers 4a and 4b. The openings at both ends of the perforated hollow tube 2 become the permeated fluid outlets 7.
[0022]
Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the fluid separation device of FIG. 1 will be described. First, a material group is wound around a perforated hollow tube 2 and the outermost periphery is reinforced with a tape or the like to form a spiral-type membrane element 1. Then, the resin is impregnated with the glass fiber, and the resin is wound and cured over the entire width of the outer peripheral surface of the membrane element 1 by a so-called filament winding method. Thereafter, both ends of the resin are cut to a predetermined length. Thus, the outer peripheral surface of the membrane element 1 is covered with the resin layer 3.
[0023]
Next, the membrane element 1 whose outer peripheral surface is covered with the resin layer 3 is immersed and impregnated in, for example, an epoxy resin, a urethane resin, a silicone resin, or the like, and is cured, so that both end faces of the membrane element 1 are respectively coated with the resin layer 4a. , 4b. At this time, by using a predetermined mold, the raw fluid inlet 5 is formed in one resin layer 4a, and the concentrated fluid outlet 6 is formed in the other resin layer 4b. The thickness of the resin is adjusted so that the surfaces of the resin layers 4a and 4b are flush with the end surface of the perforated hollow tube 2.
[0024]
In the fluid separation device manufactured as described above, the raw fluid is supplied to the raw material group of the membrane element 1 from the raw fluid inlet 5. The raw fluid supplied to the material group flows along the raw fluid flow path material, and is drawn out from the concentrated fluid outlet 6 as a concentrated fluid. The permeated fluid that has passed through the permeable membrane while the raw fluid flows along the raw fluid channel material is guided into the perforated hollow tube 2 along the permeated fluid channel material, and is taken out from the permeated fluid outlet 7. . In this way, the source fluid is separated into a concentrate fluid and a permeate fluid.
[0025]
In the fluid separation device of the present embodiment, since the outer peripheral surface of the membrane element 1 is directly covered with the resin layer 3, no dead space is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the membrane element 1. Therefore, when this fluid separation device is used for separating a liquid or the like containing an organic substance, problems such as propagation of microorganisms occurring in the dead space, generation of offensive odor due to decomposition of the organic substance, and decomposition of the permeable membrane do not occur. Also, when the fluid separation device is used in an ultrapure water production line, the rise of the purity of the permeated water is improved. Furthermore, since a cylindrical container for housing the membrane element 1 is not required, the manufacturing cost is reduced.
[0026]
The case where the fluid separation device is used alone has been described above, but it is also possible to connect and use a plurality of fluid separation devices. In this case, in the adjacent fluid separator, the concentrated fluid outlet 6 formed in the resin layer 4b of one fluid separator and the raw fluid inlet 5 formed in the resin layer 4a of the other fluid separator are connected by a pipe joint or the like. And a seal member such as an O-ring. Thereby, the plurality of membrane elements 1 can be easily connected, and the number of connection stages of the membrane elements 1 can be easily changed.
[0027]
In the above embodiment, the case where the spiral membrane element 1 is a single-leaf element formed by winding a set of material groups around the perforated hollow tube 2 has been described. 1 may be a double-leaf type membrane element configured by stacking two or more material groups and winding the same around the perforated hollow tube 2.
[0028]
Further, in place of the spiral membrane element 1, another type of membrane element such as a pleated membrane element or a laminated membrane element may be used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view and a transverse sectional view of a fluid separation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a conventional fluid separation device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Spiral type membrane element 2 Perforated hollow tube 3, 4a, 4b Resin layer 5 Raw fluid inlet 6 Concentrated fluid outlet 7 Permeated fluid outlet

Claims (4)

A permeable membrane that separates a first region forming a flow path of the raw fluid and a second region forming a flow path of the permeated fluid, and a perforated hole communicating with the second region and leading out the permeated fluid In a fluid separation device having a cylindrical membrane element having an empty tube and separating a raw fluid into a permeated fluid and a concentrated fluid, a resin layer is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the membrane element, and the A resin layer is formed on each end face of the membrane element so that both end faces are covered, and a first hole communicating with the first region is provided in the resin layer on one end face of the membrane element, and A second hole communicating with the first region is provided in the resin layer on the other end surface of the membrane element, and the resin layer on at least one end surface of the membrane element communicates with the inside of the perforated hollow tube. A flow characterized by providing a third hole. Separation device. The first hole is a hole for a raw fluid inlet, the second hole is a hole for a concentrated fluid outlet, and the third hole is a hole for a permeated fluid outlet. The fluid separation device according to claim 1, wherein: The membrane element is characterized in that one or more material groups composed of a permeable membrane, a raw fluid channel material and a permeated fluid channel material are arranged around the perforated hollow tube. The fluid separation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The fluid according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first hole and the second hole are provided at an equal distance from a center of an end face of the membrane element toward an outer periphery. Separation device.

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