JPH11226366A - Method and apparatus for manufacturing fluid separation membrane element and fluid separation membrane element - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatize the most parts of manufacturing processes and to improve production efficiency by folding double separation membranes so as to sandwich a raw fluid flow route member to give separation membrane units, alternately superposing the separation membrane units and filtered fluid flow route members, and winding the obtained layered by on a water collecting pipe. SOLUTION: A tip part of a separation membrane 8 in the unreeling direction is held by a transportation arm 13 for folding the membrane and by the operation of the transportation arm 13, the membrane 8 is folded double as to sandwich a raw liquid flow route member 9 to give a separation membrane unit. Then, a filtered liquid flow route member 20 is unreeled out of a filtered liquid flow route member roll 19, cut in a prescribed length by a cutter 21, and laid at prescribed positions on the separation membrane unit. A adhesive 28 is applied to the filtered liquid flow route member 20 by an adhesive applying gun 27. After application of the adhesive 28, a next separation membrane unit is superposed on the resultant filtered liquid flow route member 20 and these processes are repeated prescribed times to give a desired layered by 29. After that, a water collecting pipe 34 and the layered by 29 are sent to winding process by a transportation arm 39.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a fluid separation membrane element using a separation membrane and a fluid separation membrane element manufactured by the method. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus which can be efficiently manufactured, and a fluid separation membrane element manufactured by the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a fluid separation membrane element used in a reverse osmosis device, an ultrafiltration device, a microfiltration device and the like, and further applicable to a gas separation device, a raw liquid (in the case of gas) is used. Is a raw liquid flow path material to which the raw gas is supplied, a separation membrane for separating the raw liquid, and a unit composed of a permeated liquid flow path material that guides the permeated liquid permeated through the separation membrane and separated from the raw liquid into the collection pipe. A spiral fluid separation membrane element wound around a water pipe is known.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of such a fluid separation membrane element, most of the steps rely on manual work, which is inefficient even in mass production, and there is a limit in reducing the manufacturing cost.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing such a spiral type fluid separation membrane element substantially automatically, and a fluid separation membrane manufactured by the method. To provide elements.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a method for manufacturing a fluid separation membrane element according to the present invention is characterized in that a single-wafer separation membrane is separated into two parts by sandwiching a stock solution flow path material therebetween. A step of forming a membrane unit, and alternately stacking a separation membrane unit and a permeate channel material, and applying a glue in a U-shape to each permeate channel material to form a laminate,
Wrapping the laminate around a water collecting pipe.

In this manufacturing method, at least formation of a single-wafer separation membrane, disposition of a stock solution flow channel material on the separation membrane, folding of the separation membrane, alternate lamination of a separation membrane unit and a permeate flow channel material In addition, it is possible to automatically apply the adhesive to each of the permeated liquid flow path members.

[0007] In the above-mentioned manufacturing method, it is preferable to join the two-folded separation membrane and the stock solution channel material interposed between the folded portions of the separation membrane. This joining can be performed by welding using, for example, an ultrasonic welder.

[0008] For the above-mentioned laminate, for example,
The tip of the second permeate flow path material is joined to the surface of the water collection pipe, and then the laminate is wrapped around the water collection pipe. At this time, the tip of the first permeate flow path material in the laminate is extended at least by the circumferential length of the water collection pipe toward the water collection pipe from the tip of the second permeate flow path material. Is preferred.

Further, in order to keep the form of the laminated body until the next winding step, it is preferable to arrange a permeate flow path material in the lowermost layer and the uppermost layer of the laminated body. Further, it is preferable to tape or weld each layer so that each layer of the laminate does not shift. When it is not necessary to perform the tape fixing or the welding on all the layers, the tape fixing or the welding may be appropriately performed in a discrete manner. In the case of welding, an ultrasonic welder can be used as described above.

The apparatus for manufacturing a fluid separation membrane element according to the present invention comprises means for forming a separation membrane into a single sheet having a predetermined size, means for arranging a stock solution flow path material on the single sheet separation membrane, Means for folding the separation membrane in two so as to sandwich the path material, alternately stacking the separation membrane unit comprising the folded membrane and the raw material flow path material and the permeate flow path material, Means for applying an adhesive in a U-shape to the road material to form a laminate.

[0011] The manufacturing apparatus may further include a means for surrounding the above-mentioned laminate around the water collecting pipe. However, this surrounding means may be formed in a separate device, and it is sufficient if it can contribute to automation in the whole manufacturing process.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus further extracts the separation membrane, the stock solution channel material, and the permeate solution channel material from the roll-shaped separation membrane, the stock solution channel material, and the permeate solution channel material, and cuts them into a predetermined length. It is preferable to provide welding means for joining the separated membrane and the stock solution flow path material sandwiched between the two at the bent portion of the separation membrane.

By using such a manufacturing apparatus,
As will be described in detail in the embodiments described below, most of the major operations in the manufacturing process are automated.

The fluid separation membrane element according to the present invention is manufactured by the above-described manufacturing method. This fluid separation membrane element may be configured such that adjacent pieces of the two-fold separation membrane of the adjacent separation membrane unit have the same opening-side tip positions in the laminate. As a result, the adjacent separation membrane units are accurately joined, and finally a separation membrane element having high dimensional accuracy is obtained.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4
FIG. 7 shows an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a fluid separation membrane element according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 automates the process up to bonding the laminate of the separation membrane, the stock solution channel material, and the permeate solution channel material to the water collecting pipe.

First, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. Separation membrane 2 from separation membrane roll 1 wound into a roll
Is pulled out (rolled out), passed through the guide roll 3 and the nip roll 4, and then pulled out to a position above the carriage 5. At this time, the separation membrane roll 1 may be kept in a wet state, and an appropriate draining means or a water wiping means may be provided on one or both sides before the pulled-out separation membrane 2 reaches the nip roll 4. Further, it is preferable that the unwinding device is provided with an appropriate braking means so that the unwinding tension can be controlled to an optimum tension. As the separation membrane 2, a reverse osmosis membrane, an ultrafiltration membrane, a precision permeable membrane, a gas separation membrane, or the like can be used.

The extracted separation membrane 2 is cut into a predetermined length by a cutting means 7 having a cutter 6 running in a direction crossing the separation membrane 2, and the sheet-like separation membrane 8 is cut.
Is formed on the trolley 5. This operation corresponds to FIG.

At a position A on the trolley 5, a sheet-like raw material flow path material 9 is arranged at a predetermined position on the sheet-like separation membrane 8. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2B, the stock solution channel material 9 is formed by cutting the stock solution channel material 9 unwound from the stock solution channel material roll 10 into a fixed length by a cutter 11. For example, a net is used for the stock solution flow path material 9. The cut sheet-like raw material flow path material 9 is carried, for example, on the plate-like separation membrane 8 in a state where it is placed on the flat plate 12, and the tip of the raw liquid flow path material 9 is pressed. Then, the raw liquid flow path material 9 is disposed on the separation membrane 8 and the pressing of the leading end is released, whereby the raw liquid flow path material 9 is disposed at a predetermined position on the separation membrane 8.

The leading end of the separation membrane 8 in the above-described drawing direction is gripped by the membrane folding transfer arm 13, and is folded into two by the operation of the arm 13 so as to sandwich the stock solution flow path material 9 therebetween. The separation membrane unit 14 composed of the separation membrane 8 folded in half and the stock solution flow path material 9 is in a state as shown in FIG. At this time, the upper piece of the separation membrane 8 is δ
It is folded in two so that it is only long. δ is, for example, 5
It is set in the range of １５15 mm. In addition, the folded portion is folded by the folding means 15 by an appropriate method such as pinching. At this fold (folded portion), the separation membrane 8 and the stock solution flow path material 9 are joined by welding, for example, by an ultrasonic welder 16 (joining portion 17).

The separation membrane unit 14 thus formed
Is transported to the stacking position B on the carriage 18 by the movement of the carriage 5. The separation membrane unit 14 is transferred from the trolley 5 to the trolley 18 by a suitable means such as an end pressing means and a suction holding means of the separation membrane unit 14, for example, the retreating operation of the trolley 5 and the suction and transfer means 24.

At the side of the stacking position B, FIGS.
As shown in (d), the permeated liquid flow path material 20 is unwound from the permeated liquid flow path material roll 19, and is cut into a predetermined length by the cutter 21. After the cut permeate flow path material 20 is once placed on the table 22, it is suctioned and held by the suction and transfer means 24 having a plurality of suction pads 23 and transferred to the stacking position B. First, the first permeated liquid flow path material 20
Is disposed on the carriage 18 at the stacking position B, and then the separation membrane unit 14 is stacked on a predetermined position on the first permeated liquid flow path material 20. At this time, taping means 25
With the tape 26 (FIG. 2E), the end folded portion of the separation membrane 8 folded in half of the separation membrane unit 14 is fixed on the permeated liquid channel material 20. Tape fixing is
What is necessary is just to carry out at about two places at both ends in the width direction of the separation film 8.

Subsequently, the second permeated liquid channel material 20 cut to a length different from that of the first permeated material is connected to the separation membrane unit 1.
4 on a predetermined position. An adhesive 28 is applied onto the permeated liquid channel material 20 by an adhesive application gun 27. As shown in FIG. 2F, the adhesive 28 is applied in a U-shape that opens in the direction of the two-fold fold of the separation membrane 8 of the separation membrane unit 14. This U-shaped opening is disposed on the side of a water collecting pipe described later, and the other three sides are closed in a bag shape to form a flow path for flowing permeated water to the water collecting pipe. Adhesive 2
After the application of 8, the next separation membrane unit 14 is stacked, and these operations are repeated a predetermined number of times, for example, 4 to 36 times, to form a desired laminate 29 as shown in FIG.
The separation membrane unit 14 and the permeate flow path material 20 are laminated while being shifted in the length direction according to the predetermined number of times.
The sum of the shift amounts is equal to or less than the circumference of the water collecting pipe, preferably the circumference. The movement of the adhesive application gun 27 is controlled by a scanning unit 30 capable of moving the gun 27 three-dimensionally.
The adhesive is supplied from a suitable adhesive tank 31.

The lowermost layer of the laminated body is the first permeated liquid channel material 20 having a long dimension as described above.
The permeated liquid flow path member 20 is arranged as shown in FIG. The uppermost layer of the permeated liquid flow path material 20 is formed to be equal to or slightly longer than the lower layer of the permeated liquid flow path material 20, and the longitudinal end thereof is tape 32.
By this, it is fixed to the first sheet of the permeated liquid channel material 20. Also,
It is preferable that each of the permeate flow path members 20 of the laminated body 29 is also fixed at the longitudinal end by the tape 33.

Further, since the surroundings of the laminated body 29 described later are performed before the adhesive is cured, after the surroundings, the opening-side tips E ₁ and E ₂ , E ₃ and E ₄ ,. as E _n and E _{n + 1} is aligned, in the formation of the laminate 29, FIG. 2
As shown in (e), the opening-side tips E ₁ and E ₂ of adjacent pieces of the two-fold separation membrane 8 of the adjacent separation membrane unit 14,
E ₃ and E _4, it is preferable that the respective · · · E _n and E _{n + 1} previously shifted by P. This P is the separation membrane unit 14
And the diameter of the water collecting pipe 34 are calculated and set. As a result, after the later-described winding, the adjacent separation membrane units 14 are accurately joined together with the permeated liquid flow path material 20 interposed therebetween. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that the front end of the first permeated liquid flow path material 20 is extended to the water collecting pipe 3 side by L longer than the second front end. L
Is preferably set to at least the circumference of the water collecting pipe 34. By this extension, the flow path of the permeated water that communicates with the inside of the water collecting pipe 34 is ensured even after the winding described later.

The distal end of the first permeated liquid channel material 20 of the laminate 29 formed as described above is joined to the surface of the water collecting pipe 34 as shown in FIG. This water collecting pipe 34 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), it is composed of a pipe having a large number of water collecting holes 35 formed on its surface, and is prepared in advance by providing a joining means such as a double-sided tape 36 for the joining. The release paper of the double-sided tape 36 is peeled off during the joining.

In the apparatus shown in FIG.
Supplied at location. That is, the formed laminated body 29
Is transported to the position C by the movement of the bogie 18, and the water collecting pipes 34 housed in the water collecting pipe stock means 38 correspond to the respective stacks 29 one by one, and It is supplied to the tip of the road material 20. The release paper of the double-sided tape 36 on the water collecting pipe 34 is peeled off, and is joined to the permeated liquid flow path material 20 as shown in FIG. In this state, the water collecting pipe 34
The stack 29 is sent to the winding step by the transfer arm 39. In this embodiment, the surrounding device and the device shown in FIG. 1 are configured as substantially different devices, but may be incorporated in the same device, or may be configured as a series of devices. The surrounding will be described later with reference to FIG.

As described above, in the present embodiment, at least the sheet-like separation membrane 8 having a predetermined dimension, the stock solution channel material 9 and the permeate solution channel material 20 are formed, transported and arranged to these predetermined positions. , The folding of the separation membrane 8, the end connection between the two-fold separation membrane 8 and the stock solution flow path material 9, the alternate lamination of the separation membrane unit 14 and the permeate flow path material 20, Application of the adhesive, conveyance of the formed laminated body 29, supply of the water collecting pipe 34, and conveyance of the water collecting pipe 34 and the laminated body 29 to the next process are automated.

In the above embodiment, tape fixing is used as a method for fixing the ends of the permeated liquid flow path members 20 laminated in the laminate forming step, but a fixing method such as welding is used instead of the tape fixing. May be adopted.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first welder plate 4
0 (position a), and the separation membrane unit 1
The fourth and second permeate flow path members 20 are placed. The separation membrane unit 14 is shifted in the length direction from the permeated liquid flow path material 20 so as to be slightly away from the water collecting pipe side. Then, the first and second sheets of the permeated liquid channel material 20 are sandwiched between the metal carts 18,
The ultrasonic welder 41 is applied and fixed by fusion with the place where the first welder plate 40 is arranged. First
The welder plate 40 is only installed first for fusing and fixing the next permeate flow path material, and is not used at this time. Next, the second welder plate 42 is placed on the fusion-fixed (position b), and the separation membrane unit 14 is placed thereon.
And the third permeate flow path material 20 is placed. At this time, the separation membrane unit 14 is shifted as described above. Then, an ultrasonic welder 41 is applied so as to sandwich the second and third permeated liquid flow path members 20 with the first welder plate 40 and fusion-fixed. Then, the first welder is placed again after being fixed by fusing this time (position c), and the separation membrane unit 14 and the fourth permeate flow path material 20 are placed. Then, an ultrasonic welder 41 is applied and fused so that the third and fourth permeate flow path members 20 are sandwiched between the second welder plates 42. Thus, the first welder plate 40 and the second
By using the welder plates 42 alternately, the end portions of the adjacent permeate flow path members 20 can be fused and fixed.

In the fixing of the ends of the permeate flow path members 20 by this welding, it is possible to fix the end parts of all the permeate liquid path members 20 without fixing the end parts. . In short, it is sufficient that a predetermined laminated state is maintained so as not to shift until the completion of the winding step.

The laminated body 29 formed by the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the water collecting pipe 34 joined to the front end of the first permeated liquid flow path material 20 are sent to a winding step. The surrounding device is not particularly limited, and ordinary means can be used.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, while pressing the pair of nip rolls 44 on the rotating drive roll 43 with an appropriate pressure, the laminate 2 is wound around the water collecting pipe 34.
9 is wound in a roll. By continuing the rotation for a short time even after the completion of the winding, a substantially circular wound body can be obtained. Further, after the winding, winding may be performed using a winding tape or the like. Further, the winding may be performed in two steps, that is, a temporary winding and a full winding with forming and winding into a perfect circle.

The wound body thus formed is constituted, for example, in a fluid separation membrane element 50 as shown in FIG. In the fluid separation membrane element 50 shown in FIG. 8, the end plate 5 through which the raw water 52 can pass is disposed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of a winding body 51 in which the laminate 29 is wound around the water collecting pipe 34 in a roll shape.
3 and an end plate 55 through which the concentrated water 54 can pass, and a seal member 56 is attached to each of the end plates 53 and 55. The permeated water 57 is sent out from the water collecting pipe 34. The whole is accommodated in a pipe-shaped pressure vessel (not shown), and the space between each of the end plates 53 and 55 and the inner peripheral surface of the pressure vessel is sealed by a seal material 56. The fluid separation membrane elements 50 shown in FIG. 8 are connected in the longitudinal direction by the required number as necessary.

As described above, most of the operations in the manufacturing process of the envelope 51 of the fluid separation membrane element 50 are performed automatically. Therefore, even in the case of mass production, efficient production can be achieved and stable quality can be obtained. Particularly, as described above, the laminate 2
In the forming step 9, as shown in FIG. 2E, the positions of the open ends of the adjacent pieces of the two-fold separation membrane 8 of the adjacent separation membrane unit 14 are aligned, so that the Also, after the surrounding, the adjacent separation membrane unit 14 and each of the permeated liquid flow path members 20 are accurately joined so as to have a desired positional relationship, and a desired flow path is accurately formed. Therefore, good performance as the fluid separation membrane element 50 can be stably obtained. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, since the distal end of the first permeated liquid flow path material 20 is extended by a predetermined length or more, the first permeated liquid flow path material 20 is wound on the water collecting pipe 34 by at least the circumference thereof.
The second permeate flow path material 20 reliably forms a flow path from each permeate liquid flow path material 20 to the inside of the water collection pipe 34 through the water collection hole 35, and the separated permeate is smoothly collected in the water collection pipe 34. Collected within.

[0035]

As described above, according to the method and apparatus for manufacturing a fluid separation membrane element of the present invention, most of the main operations in the manufacturing process can be automated, and in particular, it is possible to improve the production efficiency in mass production. The quality can be stabilized, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
Further, in the fluid separation membrane element manufactured by these manufacturing methods and apparatuses, the dimensional accuracy is high and the target performance is stably obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for manufacturing a fluid separation membrane element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a manufacturing method using the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a laminate formed by the method of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a water collecting pipe used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a method of fixing an end portion when forming a laminate in a method for manufacturing a fluid separation membrane element according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a winding step.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of an assembly of the fluid separation membrane element according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Separation membrane roll 2 Separation membrane 5 Cart 6 Cutter 8 Single-leaf separation membrane 9 Raw liquid flow path material 10 Raw liquid flow path material roll 11 Cutter 13 Membrane return conveyance arm 14 Separation membrane unit 15 Folding means 16 Ultrasonic welder 17 Joining Part 18 Cartridge 19 Permeate flow path material roll 20 Permeate flow path material 21 Cutter 24 Adsorption and conveyance means 25 Taping means 26, 32, 33 Tape 27 Adhesive application gun 28 Adhesive 29 Laminate 30 Gun scanning means 34 Water collecting pipe 35 Water collecting hole 36 Double-sided tape 39 Transfer arm 40, 42 Welder plate 41 Ultrasonic welder 43 Drive roll 44 Nip roll 50 Fluid separation membrane element 51 Envelope 52 Raw water 53, 55 End plate 54 Concentrated water 56 Sealing material 57 Permeated water

Claims (14)

[Claims] A step of forming a separation membrane unit by folding a single-wafer separation membrane in two so as to sandwich a stock solution flow path material therebetween;
A step of alternately stacking the separation membrane unit and the permeate flow path material, applying an adhesive in a U-shape to each permeate flow path material to form a laminate, and placing the laminate around the water collecting pipe. Surrounding the fluid separation membrane element. 2. At least formation of a single-wafer separation membrane, disposition of a stock solution channel material on the separation membrane, folding of the separation membrane, alternate lamination of a separation membrane unit and a permeate channel material, 2. The method for producing a fluid separation membrane element according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is automatically applied to the flow path material. 3. The method for producing a fluid separation membrane element according to claim 1, wherein the two-folded separation membrane and the stock solution flow path material sandwiched therebetween are joined at a bent portion of the separation membrane. 4. The method for producing a fluid separation membrane element according to claim 1, wherein a front end portion of a first permeated liquid flow path material in the laminate is joined to a surface of the water collecting pipe. 5. The front end of the first permeate flow path material in the laminate is more than the front end of the second permeate flow path material.
The method for producing a fluid separation membrane element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fluid separation membrane element is extended toward the water collecting pipe by at least a circumferential length of the water collecting pipe. 6. The method for producing a fluid separation membrane element according to claim 1, wherein a permeated liquid flow path material is disposed on a lowermost layer and an uppermost layer of the laminate. 7. The method for producing a fluid separation membrane element according to claim 1, wherein in the step of forming the laminate, each layer is taped. 8. The method for manufacturing a fluid separation membrane element according to claim 1, wherein each layer is welded in the step of forming the laminate. 9. A means for forming a separation membrane into a single sheet having a predetermined size, a means for arranging a stock solution flow path material on the single wafer separation membrane, and folding the separation membrane in two so as to sandwich the stock solution flow path material. Means to
The separation membrane unit consisting of the folded membrane and the stock solution flow path material and the permeate flow path material are alternately stacked, and an adhesive is applied to each permeate flow path material in a U-shape and laminated. And means for forming a body. 10. The apparatus for producing a fluid separation membrane element according to claim 9, further comprising means for surrounding the laminate around a water collecting pipe. 11. A means for extracting a separation membrane, a raw solution flow path material, and a permeate flow path material from a roll-shaped separation membrane, a raw solution flow path material, and a permeate flow path material, and cutting the roll into a predetermined length. An apparatus for manufacturing a fluid separation membrane element according to claim 9 or 10. 12. The fluid separation membrane according to claim 9, further comprising welding means for joining the two-folded separation membrane and the stock solution channel material sandwiched between the two at the bent portion of the separation membrane. Element manufacturing equipment. 13. A fluid separation membrane element manufactured by the method according to claim 1. 14. The fluid separation membrane element according to claim 13, wherein the adjacent pieces of the two-fold separation membrane of the adjacent separation membrane unit have the same opening end positions in the stack.