JP4576753B2 - Centrifugal potting device and method for producing hollow fiber membrane module using the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a centrifugal potting device for injecting a potting agent using centrifugal force in order to seal and fix the ends of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes in a hollow fiber membrane module, and production of a hollow fiber membrane module using the same It is about the method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, devices using a hollow fiber membrane module are known for various filtration devices used for household water purifiers, humidifiers used for fuel cells, or dehumidifiers.
[0003]
As one of the manufacturing processes of the hollow fiber membrane module, there is a process of sealing and fixing the ends of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes filled in the case with a potting agent. In order to perform this potting process, a centrifugal potting device is known in which a potting agent is injected into a case of a hollow fiber membrane module using centrifugal force.
[0004]
Such a centrifugal potting device according to the prior art will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a centrifugal potting apparatus according to the prior art. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of the hollow fiber membrane module in which potting is performed by the centrifugal potting apparatus shown in FIG.
[0005]
As shown in FIG. 7, the centrifugal potting apparatus 200 rotates while holding the hollow fiber membrane module 210, and a rotating jig 202 that applies centrifugal force to the hollow fiber membrane module 210 by the rotation, and the rotating jig A motor 203 as a driving means for rotating the 202, a container 204 installed in the center of the rotating body jig 202 and storing the potting agent 205, and a potting agent when the rotating body jig 202 is rotated. A pipe 206 fed into the module 210 and a device cover 207 covering the rotating body jig 202 and the like for safety are provided.
[0006]
As shown in FIG. 8, the hollow fiber membrane module 210 includes a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 211 and a module case 212 filled with the plurality of hollow fiber membranes 211.
[0007]
When the potting process is performed, the open end 213 side of the module case 212 which is the potting side is attached to the adapter 214 connected to the pipe 206 as shown in FIG. The adapter 214 is provided with a passage 215 for feeding the potting agent fed from the pipe 206 into the module case 212.
[0008]
In this way, when the motor 203 is rotated with the hollow fiber membrane module 210 attached to the rotating body jig 202, the rotating body jig 202 rotates, and the centrifugal force F acts on the potting agent in the tube 206. Then, the potting agent flows and is sent into the module case 212.
[0009]
Since the centrifugal force F ′ acts also on the potting agent in the module case 212, only the opening end 213 side in the module case 212 is filled with the potting agent.
[0010]
As described above, the potting agent is sealed and fixed only on the open end 213 side in the module case 212.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the prior art as described above, the following problems have occurred.
[0012]
In the case of the configuration of the conventional technology described above, when the rotating body jig 202 is rotated by the motor 203, the module case 212 and the pipe 206 are directly blown and heat is taken away from these outer surfaces. There was a problem that the temperature of the potting agent in 212 and the pipe 206 would decrease.
[0013]
In other words, since potting agents usually have thermosetting properties, a certain temperature or higher is required for curing. Therefore, if the temperature of the potting agent decreases, the time until curing is longer than intended. It was delayed, and in some cases, it could remain uncured.
[0014]
As described above, there is a problem that even if the potting agent is sufficiently filled in the module case 212, the module case 212 is not cured and a time loss occurs in the production process. Moreover, if the state which does not harden as it is is maintained, it will become inferior goods. Further, since the potting agent is not uniformly cured under suitable conditions, there is a problem that the liquid portion X exists as shown in FIG.
[0015]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a centrifugal potting apparatus capable of suitably curing a potting agent by suppressing a decrease in temperature of the potting agent. And it is providing the manufacturing method of a hollow fiber membrane module using the same.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the centrifugal potting device of the present invention,
A rotating body jig having a holding part for holding the potting object and applying centrifugal force to the potting object held by the holding part by rotation;
Drive means for rotating the rotary jig;
A container provided in the center of the rotating body jig for storing a potting agent;
A tube that feeds the potting agent from the container to the potting object by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotating jig;
And a heat retaining cover that is fixed to the rotating body jig, substantially closes an area including the potting object and the tube, and relieves the generation of an air flow to retain heat.
[0017]
Therefore, since the region including the potting object and the tube is kept warm by the heat insulating cover, the temperature drop of the potting agent inside these is suppressed.
[0018]
The heat retaining cover may be provided with a plate-like member for following the gas in the substantially closed region including the potting object and the tube together with the rotation of the rotating body jig.
[0019]
Thereby, since a plate-shaped member follows gas, it is suppressed that a wind hits the said potting target object and a pipe | tube directly.
[0020]
The rotating jig may be provided with a plate-like member that follows the rotation of the rotating jig and causes the gas in a substantially closed region including the potting object and the tube to follow.
[0021]
Thereby, since a plate-shaped member follows gas, it is suppressed that a wind hits the said potting target object and a pipe | tube directly.
[0022]
In the manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention,
Using the above centrifugal potting device,
A case filled with a plurality of hollow fiber membranes is attached to the holding portion of the rotating body jig, and the rotating body jig is rotated by the driving means, thereby allowing the potting agent in the container to pass through the tube. It has the process of pouring in the said case and sealingly fixing the edge part of a some hollow fiber membrane with a potting agent, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. Absent.
[0024]
(First embodiment)
With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the centrifugal potting apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the manufacturing method of a hollow fiber membrane module using the same are demonstrated.
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a centrifugal potting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of the hollow fiber membrane module in which potting is performed by the centrifugal potting apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the heat insulating cover constituting the centrifugal potting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 1, the centrifugal potting device 100 rotates with the hollow fiber membrane module 10 held, and a rotating jig 2 that applies centrifugal force to the hollow fiber membrane module 10 by the rotation, and the rotating jig. Motor 3 serving as a driving means for rotating and driving, 2 a container 4 for storing the potting agent 5 installed in the center of the rotating body jig 2, and a hollow fiber membrane when the rotating body jig 2 rotates. A tube 6 fed into the module 10 and a device cover 7 that covers the rotating body jig 2 and the like for safety are provided.
[0027]
And in this Embodiment, the heat retention cover 8 fixed with respect to the rotary body jig | tool 2 is provided.
[0028]
The heat insulating cover 8 is detachably attached to the rotating body jig 2 so that the hollow fiber membrane module 10 can be easily attached and detached. The heat insulating cover 8 has a cylindrical shape, one side is open, and the opened side is fixed to the rotating body jig 2. The other is mostly closed, but an opening 82 is provided in the center for introducing the potting agent. Therefore, it has a donut shape when viewed from above.
[0029]
In the illustrated example, a convex portion 22 is provided on the outer wall surface of the heat insulating cover 8 as a mechanism for fixing the heat insulating cover 8 to the rotating body jig 2 (removably fixed). A concave portion 81 is provided on the inner wall surface of 21 and a mechanism for fixing by concave and convex engagement is used.
[0030]
However, not only such an uneven mechanism, but also a known technique may be used as appropriate, such as a mechanism using screws or a mechanism using elastic repulsion by an O-ring or the like. In consideration of ease of attachment / detachment, ease of manufacture of the device, and fixability, concave / convex fitting is preferable, but it is necessary that the heat insulating cover 8 is not removed by centrifugal force during rotation of the rotating body jig 2. .
[0031]
The material of the heat insulating cover 8 is preferably one having excellent heat retaining properties, for example, urethane resin is suitable. In consideration of durability, SUS or the like is also suitable. Accordingly, in order to achieve both heat retention and durability, it is more preferable to apply urethane resin to the inner peripheral wall surface of SUS.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 2, the hollow fiber membrane module 10 includes a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 11 and a module case 12 filled with the plurality of hollow fiber membranes 11.
[0033]
With the above configuration, when the potting process is performed, the open end 13 side of the module case 12, which is the potting side, is attached to the adapter 14 connected to the tube 6 as shown in FIG. The adapter 14 is provided with a passage 15 for feeding the potting agent fed from the pipe 6 into the module case 12.
[0034]
As described above, when the motor 3 is rotated with the hollow fiber membrane module 10 attached to the rotating body jig 2, the rotating body jig 2 rotates and the centrifugal force F acts on the potting agent 51 in the tube 6. Then, the potting agent flows and is sent into the module case 12.
[0035]
Since the centrifugal force F ′ acts on the potting agent in the module case 12, the potting agent 51 is filled only on the opening end 13 side in the module case 12.
[0036]
As described above, the potting agent can be sealed and fixed only on the open end 13 side in the module case 12.
[0037]
And in this Embodiment, since the heat insulation cover 8 was fixed with respect to the rotary body jig | tool 2, since the area | region 9 containing the pipe | tube 6 and the hollow fiber membrane module 10 is substantially obstruct | occluded, the air in the area | region 9 also It becomes easy to follow along with the rotating body jig 2. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of an air flow is eased also in the area | region 9, and it is reduced compared with the past that a wind strikes the pipe | tube 6 and the hollow fiber membrane module 10 directly.
[0038]
Therefore, it is possible to suppress heat from being removed from the outer wall surfaces of the tube 6 and the hollow fiber membrane module 10, and it is possible to suppress a temperature drop of the potting agent 51 inside them. This makes it possible to cure the potting agent in a suitable and uniform manner in a relatively short time, prevent poor curing, and prevent potting from dropping due to poor curing.
[0039]
(Second Embodiment)
4 and 5 show a second embodiment. In this embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a configuration in which a plate-like member for causing gas to follow the heat insulating cover is shown.
[0040]
Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description of the same components will be omitted.
[0041]
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view (partially perspective view) of the heat insulating cover constituting the centrifugal potting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a structural modification of the heat insulating cover constituting the centrifugal potting device according to the second embodiment.
[0042]
In the present embodiment, a plurality of plate-like members 83 are provided inside the heat insulating cover 8a. As shown in the drawing, the plurality of plate-like members 83 are arranged at positions that receive wind resistance when the heat insulating cover 8a rotates.
[0043]
Therefore, when the heat retaining cover 8a fixed to the rotating body jig 2 is rotated together with the rotating body jig 2, the plate-like member 83 is more active than the first embodiment in the region 9. The air inside follows with the rotating jig 2.
[0044]
Thereby, it is possible to further reduce the direct impact of wind on the tube 6 and the hollow fiber membrane module 10, and further suppress the temperature drop of the potting agent 51.
[0045]
The number of the plate-like members 83 to be installed is not limited to four as shown in FIG. 4, and may be set as appropriate according to the size of the apparatus, for example, as shown in the arrangement configuration shown in FIG. Two (a), four (b), six (c), eight (d), etc. can be set as appropriate.
In consideration of actual production, 2 to 8 sheets are suitable.
[0046]
(Third embodiment)
FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment. In the said 2nd Embodiment, although the plate-shaped member for making gas follow was shown in the heat retention cover, in this Embodiment, the board for making a rotating body jig | tool follow gas. The structure which provided the shaped member is shown.
[0047]
Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the above embodiment, the description of the same components is omitted.
[0048]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a centrifugal potting apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. However, the state which removed the heat insulation cover and opened the inside is shown.
[0049]
In the present embodiment, the rotating jig 2 is provided with a plurality of plate-like members 23. As shown in the drawing, the plurality of plate-like members 23 are arranged at positions that receive wind resistance when the rotating body jig 2 rotates.
[0050]
Therefore, as in the second embodiment, when the rotating jig 2 rotates, the air in the region 9 is more aggressively caused by the plate-like member 23 than in the first embodiment. Since it follows together with the rotating jig 2, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the second embodiment.
[0051]
Needless to say, the number and arrangement of the plate-like members 23 are the same as those in the second embodiment.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the potting agent can be suitably cured by suppressing a decrease in the temperature of the potting agent.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a centrifugal potting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of a hollow fiber membrane module in which potting is performed by the centrifugal potting device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a heat insulating cover constituting the centrifugal potting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view (partially perspective view) of a heat insulating cover constituting a centrifugal potting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a structural modification of a heat insulating cover constituting a centrifugal potting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a centrifugal potting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a centrifugal potting device according to the prior art.
8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of a hollow fiber membrane module in which potting is performed by the centrifugal potting device shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Rotating body jig 21 Annular wall surface 22 Convex part 23 Plate-like member 3 Motor 4 Container 5, 51 Potting agent 6 Tube 7 Device cover 8, 8a Thermal insulation cover 81 Recess 82 Opening part 83 Plate-like member 9 Region 10 Hollow fiber membrane module 11 Hollow fiber membrane 12 Module case 13 Open end 14 Adapter 15 Passage 100 Centrifugal potting device

Claims (4)

A rotating body jig having a holding part for holding the potting object and applying centrifugal force to the potting object held by the holding part by rotation;
Drive means for rotating the rotary jig;
A container provided in the center of the rotating body jig for storing a potting agent;
A tube that feeds the potting agent from the container to the potting object by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotating jig;
A centrifugal potting device, comprising: a heat retaining cover fixed to the rotating body jig, substantially blocking an area including the potting object and the tube, and relieving the generation of airflow to retain heat. 2. A plate-like member is provided on the heat retaining cover, which is configured to follow a gas in a substantially closed region including the potting object and a tube as the rotating jig is rotated. Centrifugal potting device described in 1. The rotating body jig is provided with a plate-like member that follows the rotation of the rotating body jig and follows the gas in a substantially closed region including the potting object and the tube. Item 2. The centrifugal potting device according to Item 1. Using the centrifugal potting device according to claim 1, 2, or 3,
A case filled with a plurality of hollow fiber membranes is attached to the holding portion of the rotating body jig, and the rotating body jig is rotated by the driving means, thereby allowing the potting agent in the container to pass through the tube. A method for producing a hollow fiber membrane module, comprising a step of pouring into the case and sealing and fixing ends of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes with a potting agent.

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