JPH0233869Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a total filtration type hollow fiber membrane module, and particularly to a total filtration type hollow fiber membrane module in which gas does not accumulate within the module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Membrane separation is a relatively new system that is increasingly finding use in the separation and concentration of liquid or gas mixtures. Typical separation membrane modules include flat membrane type, tubular membrane type,
Hollow fiber membrane types are known, but the hollow fiber membrane type binds both ends of a hollow fiber bundle with resin (potting material), opens one or both ends, and then loads it into an outer cylinder (housing). Because it is fixed and has a large membrane area relative to its unit volume, it is widely used in reverse osmosis, dialysis, ultrafiltration, plasma separation, etc.

Such hollow fiber membranes usually have a hydrophilic surface or have been treated to make the surface hydrophilic so that the liquid to be treated can easily enter the pores.

Furthermore, as a membrane separation method, a total filtration type in which the entire solution is passed through a hollow fiber membrane is known.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in this total filtration type hollow fiber membrane module, gases such as air are also taken into the module outer cylinder together with the solution to be treated. Since the hollow fiber membrane surface is hydrophilic, the gas taken in in this manner cannot escape through the pores because the pores are filled with liquid.

Therefore, when a total filtration type hollow fiber membrane module is operated continuously, gas that has entered during the separation operation accumulates inside the outer cylinder of the module, and when this accumulated gas reaches a certain amount or more, the separation of the module stops. Performance will be significantly degraded.

On the other hand, in order to exhaust this accumulated gas to the outside of the module outer cylinder, the smaller the diameter of the through-hole, the higher the pressure is required; for example, if the diameter of the hole is 0.2 microns, a high pressure of about 10 kg/cm ² is required.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, the present invention has been devised in view of the drawbacks of the prior art.Even if gas enters the module outer cylinder, it does not accumulate, and therefore it does not accumulate for a certain period of time. The object of the present invention is to provide a total filtration type hollow fiber membrane module whose separation performance does not deteriorate even when operated continuously.
According to the present invention, this purpose is to create a U-shaped bundle of porous hollow fibers with one end fixed liquid-tightly with a potting material while keeping the open end open, or a hydrophilic porous hollow fiber bundle with the other end sealed. This is achieved by providing a hollow fiber membrane module in which a float-type water stop valve is inserted into a part of the potting material part of the housed total filtration type hollow fiber membrane module.

[Function] When a separation operation is started using the total filtration type hollow fiber membrane module according to the present invention, the liquid to be treated enters the outer cylinder of the module and passes from the outside of the hydrophilic porous hollow fibers through the through holes (here, separation is performed). is carried out) into the interior of the hollow fiber and then discharged to the outside. During this separation operation, gas is also taken into the module outer cylinder along with the liquid to be treated. The hollow fibers are hydrophilic and the through holes are filled with the liquid to be treated, so gas cannot pass through them. However, a float-type water stop valve is installed in the potting material, and the inside of the module outer cylinder is If gas is present, it will escape to the outside. On the other hand, when the gas escapes, the stopper is closed by the float and the liquid is not discharged to the outside.

[Embodiments] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The figure is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the total filtration type hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention.

In the figure, the liquid to be treated enters the module outer cylinder 2 and is separated from the outside of the hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membrane 1 through its through holes, and the separated liquid flows inside the hollow fiber membrane 1. It is discharged to the outside of the module. At this time, since it is a total filtration type, gas such as air is simultaneously taken into the module outer cylinder 2 along with the liquid to be treated, but the gas is discharged to the outside via the float type water stop valve 4. Therefore, gas will not accumulate inside the module outer cylinder 2.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, in the total filtration type hollow fiber membrane module according to the invention, a float type water stop valve is arranged in a part of the potting material, so that the gas that has entered the outer cylinder of the module is prevented. It does not accumulate therein, but is immediately discharged to the outside, and does not interfere with the separation performance of the module.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the total filtration type hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Hydrophilic porous hollow fiber membrane, 2...Module outer cylinder, 3...Potting material part, 4...Float type water stop valve, 5...Float.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A total filtration type hollow fiber membrane module that houses a U-shaped or hydrophilic porous hollow fiber bundle with one end sealed and the other end liquid-tightly fixed with a potting material while keeping the open end open. A hollow fiber membrane module characterized in that a float type water stop valve is inserted into a part of the potting member.