JPH1190187A - Hollow fiber membrane module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance filtering performance by forming hollow fiber membranes in a crimped state and disposing them in a case member. SOLUTION: The hollow fiber membrane module 1 consists essentially of a housing case 2, hollow fiber membranes 4 and a sealing member 5 which seals the gap between each side face of the membranes 4 and a discharge hole. The hollow fiber membranes 4 are formed in a crimped state by twisting a simple yarn, a double or triple thread or a bundle of >=4, preferably about 5-10 threads and carrying out fixation by heating in water at 90-100 deg.C and perfect untwisting to obtain the crimped state. Since the crimped hollow fiber membranes 4 are disposed in the housing case 2, the contact area of the membranes 4 is reduced and a gap is ensured between the membranes. Filtering performance can be enhanced, the blocking of the gap between the membranes is suppressed and the service life of the hollow fiber membranes 4 can be prolonged.

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 for filtering a fluid containing fine particles and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a hollow fiber membrane module has been used for filtering a fluid containing fine particles and the like.

The hollow fiber membrane module includes a housing case filled with a linear hollow fiber membrane and sealing both ends of the housing case.
There is a one-end sealing type in which a hollow fiber membrane bent in a letter shape is loaded into a housing case and one end of the housing case is sealed.

A hollow fiber membrane module according to the prior art will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hollow fiber membrane module according to the related art.

[0005] As shown in the figure, the hollow fiber membrane module 1
Reference numeral 00 denotes a housing case 200 having an inflow hole 300, a hollow fiber membrane 400 loaded in the housing case 200, and a discharge hole 600 of the housing case 200.
And a sealing member 500 for sealing the gap between the side surfaces of the hollow fiber membrane 400 and the gap between the side surface of the hollow fiber membrane 400 and the housing case 200.

Here, the hollow surface of the end face of the hollow fiber membrane 400 on the discharge hole 600 side is open to the outside.

With the above configuration, the inflow hole 300
The fluid that has flowed into the housing case 200 (arrow A in the figure) permeates while being filtered from the side surface of the hollow fiber membrane 400 to the hollow portion, passes through the hollow portion, and is discharged from the discharge hole 600 (FIG. Middle arrow B).

[0008]

However, in the case of the above-described prior art, the following problems have occurred.

In the above-mentioned hollow fiber membrane module,
With long-term use, suspended matter in the housing case increases, or fine particles such as dust accumulate on the surface of the hollow fiber membrane, and the permeation flow rate to be filtered gradually decreases.

In order to prolong the life of the hollow fiber membrane, it is conceivable to increase the number of hollow fiber membranes to be filled as much as possible.

However, in the prior art, since the hollow fiber membranes are aligned in parallel and formed in a bundle, the contact area between the hollow fiber membranes becomes large, and fine particles such as dust are easily clogged. In other words, the life was shortened.

In order to extend the life of the hollow fiber membrane, the membrane may be flushed or back-pressure washed.
Since a device or the like for performing these operations must be provided, the configuration is complicated and the size of the device is increased.

[0013] Further, even in an apparatus provided with such a flushing or back pressure washing mechanism, it is better that the hollow fiber membrane module has an excellent permeation flow rate performance. The longer the life span.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to improve the permeation flow rate performance of filtration and extend the life of a hollow fiber membrane. An object of the present invention is to provide a hollow fiber membrane module having excellent quality.

[0015]

According to the present invention, there is provided a case member having an inflow hole through which a fluid flows in and a discharge hole through which a filtered fluid is discharged. A hollow fiber membrane module comprising: a plurality of hollow fiber membranes loaded into a hollow fiber membrane; and a sealing member that seals and fixes a gap between a side surface of the hollow fiber membrane and a discharge hole. It is characterized in that it is formed in a contracted shape and is loaded in the case member.

Therefore, since the hollow fiber membrane is formed in a crimped shape, the contact area between the hollow fiber membranes is reduced, and a gap is secured between the membranes.

Further, the hollow fiber membrane is preferably heat-set after kneading the hollow fiber membrane, and further deflated to form a crimped shape.

Therefore, the hollow fiber membrane is in a crimped state by being heat-set after being kneaded, and is unwound in that state to be formed into a crimped and crimped state.

[0019]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions of the components described in this embodiment,
The material, shape, relative arrangement, and the like are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise specified.

A hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The hollow fiber membrane module includes a housing case filled with a linear hollow fiber membrane and sealing both ends of the housing case.
There is a one-end sealing type in which a hollow fiber membrane bent in a letter shape is loaded into a housing case and one end of the housing case is sealed.

First, the entire configuration of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the hollow fiber membrane module 1
Is a gap between a housing case 2 having an inlet 3, a hollow fiber membrane 4 loaded in the housing case 2, and a side face of the hollow fiber membrane 4 at a discharge hole 6 of the housing case (case member) 2. And a sealing member 5 for sealing and fixing a gap between the side surface of the hollow fiber membrane 4 and the housing case 2.

Here, the hollow surface of the end face of the hollow fiber membrane 4 on the discharge hole 6 side is open to the outside.

With the above-described structure, the fluid flowing into the housing case 2 from the inflow hole 3 (arrow A in the figure) permeates while being filtered from the side surface of the hollow fiber membrane 4 into the hollow portion, and is transmitted to the hollow portion. Through the discharge hole 6 (arrow B in the figure).

Next, the hollow fiber membrane 4 which is a feature of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a hollow fiber membrane provided in the hollow fiber membrane module according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The hollow fiber membrane 4 is formed into a single yarn, a double yarn, a triple yarn, or a bundle of more (preferably about 5 to 10 yarns) (excluding a single yarn), and is kneaded to 90 to 90%. After being placed in water at 100 ° C. and heat-fixed, it is completely broken.

Therefore, the hollow fiber membrane 4 is in a crimped state and formed in a crimped shape.

Here, the amplitude (t in the figure) of the hollow fiber membrane 4 at the time of unraveling is desirably about 1.5 to 5 times the outer diameter of the hollow fiber membrane 4, and the number is more than 10 mm in length. On the other hand, about 1 to 4 is desirable.

The material used for the hollow fiber membrane 4 is not limited as long as it can be heated with hot water, and for example, polysulfone or polyamide can be used.

The number of the hollow fiber membranes 4 to be filled is such that the filling rate is 30 to 45% when the ratio of the yarn bundle to the sectional area of the housing case 2 is the filling rate. preferable.

In the case of the one-end sealing type as shown in FIG. 1, the hollow fiber membrane 4 is formed in a U-shape. You don't have to.

With the above configuration, the hollow fiber membrane 4 is formed in a crimped state in a crimped state. Therefore, even when the hollow fiber membrane 4 is filled in the housing case 2, the hollow fiber membranes 4 are arranged in parallel to form a bundle. The contact area between the hollow fiber membranes is remarkably reduced as compared with the case where the hollow fiber membranes are formed, and a sufficient gap is secured between the membranes.

Accordingly, the performance of the flow rate while filtering and permeating from the membrane surface is improved, and clogging of fine particles such as dust in the gap between the membranes can be suppressed, and the life of the hollow fiber membrane can be extended. .

This is because the hollow fiber membrane 4 is crimped, and a space for trapping fine particles is secured between the membranes, so that cake filtration occurs more uniformly. Is considered to be the main cause.

Hereinafter, the effects of this embodiment will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. 3 based on a comparative test.

FIG. 3 is a graph comparing the flow rate performance between the embodiment of the present invention and the prior art.

The test was performed using a one-end sealed type hollow fiber membrane module. The hollow fiber membrane had an inner diameter of 0.25 m.
m, using a polysulfone membrane having an outer diameter of 0.45 mm, a housing case having a cylindrical shape and an inner diameter of 14 mm,
The inner length (s in FIG. 1) was 40 mm.

Further, when the number of hollow fiber membranes is 400,
The sample of the prior art used what was formed in a bundle by being aligned in parallel, and the sample of the present embodiment was formed in a crimped state in a crimped state (t in FIG. 2 is 1 to 1). 2
mm, u is about 7 to 10 mm, and the number is about 3 with respect to the internal length of the housing case (s in FIG. 1).
It was used.

The turbidity life test (flow rate characteristic test) was carried out at an ambient temperature of 25 ° C., turbidity was measured at 20 ppm of kaolin, and the measured pressure was 0.
Filtration was performed at 5 kgf / cm ² , and the permeation flow rate with respect to the total filtered amount was measured.

In the graph of FIG. 3, the horizontal axis is the total filtration amount (liter (L)), and the vertical axis is the measurement pressure of 0.5 kg.
This is the permeation flow rate (ml / min) with respect to f / cm ² .

As is apparent from the figure, in the sample of the prior art, the permeation flow rate rapidly decreases as the total filtration amount increases, whereas in the sample of the present embodiment, the permeation flow rate decreases as the total filtration amount increases. It can be seen that the rate of decrease is small.

When the life is reached when the flow rate is reduced to 1/10 of the initial permeation flow rate, the sample of the present embodiment can achieve about twice the total filtration amount as compared with the sample of the prior art. Was confirmed.

As described above, while the hollow fiber membranes are arranged in parallel to form a bundle, the hollow fiber membranes are formed in a crimped shape (a crimped shape), thereby improving the permeation flow performance for filtration. You can see that

In the above description, the single-end sealed type hollow fiber membrane module has been described. However, the same effect can be obtained by applying the above-described hollow fiber membrane to the double-end sealed type hollow fiber membrane module. Needless to say.

The configuration of the double-ended sealed hollow fiber membrane module will be briefly described with reference to FIG. FIG.
1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hollow fiber membrane module of a double-end sealed type.

As shown in the drawing, a hollow fiber membrane module 10 of a double-end sealed type generally comprises a housing case 20 having an inlet hole 30, a hollow fiber membrane 40 loaded in the housing case 20, a housing Discharge hole 6 of case 20
0, a sealing member 50 for sealing a gap between the side surfaces of the hollow fiber membrane 40 and a gap between the side surface of the hollow fiber membrane 40 and the housing case 20.

Here, the point that the hollow fiber membrane 40 is sealed and fixed by the sealing members 50 at both ends of the housing case 20 is different from the above-described one-end sealed type hollow fiber membrane module. Are the same in configuration and function, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0049]

According to the present invention, since the hollow fiber membranes are formed in a crimped shape, the contact area between the hollow fiber membranes is reduced, and a gap is secured between the membranes. The life of the hollow fiber membrane can be prolonged, and the quality can be improved.

The hollow fiber membrane can be formed into a crimped state by heat-setting after being kneaded, and then unraveled in that state to form a crimped and crimped state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a hollow fiber membrane provided in a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph comparing the flow rate performance between the embodiment of the present invention and the conventional technology.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hollow fiber membrane module of a sealed type at both ends.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hollow fiber membrane module according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,10 hollow fiber membrane module 2,20 housing case 3,30 inlet hole 4,40 hollow fiber membrane 5,50 sealing member 6,60 outlet hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A case member having an inflow hole through which a fluid flows in and a discharge hole through which a filtered fluid is discharged, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes loaded in the case member, and side surfaces of the hollow fiber membrane A hollow fiber membrane module comprising: a sealing member for sealing and fixing a gap between the hollow fiber membrane and the discharge hole, wherein the hollow fiber membrane is formed in a crimped shape and loaded into the case member. Hollow fiber membrane module. 2. The hollow fiber according to claim 1, wherein the hollow fiber membrane is heat-set after kneading the hollow fiber membrane, and further deflated to form a crimped shape. Membrane module.