JPS61278328A - Gas permeable membrane module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a gas permeable membrane from receiving the tension without expanding in the high temp. and the high pressure in such a state that the decompression is not affected by sticking a stiffened plate, a permeable substance and a permeable sheet in the whole surfaces to make these to one body and making it so as to hold the permeability. CONSTITUTION:When performing the decompression and the suction with a vacuum pump through a fluid discharge port 7 from the outside of a gas permeable membrane 1, the gas is selectively separated through the permeable membrane 1. A permeable sheet 4 is mounted on a permeable substance 3 and stuck in the whole surfaces and the permeable substance 3 is stuck on a stiffened plate in the whole surfaces. These have the permeability after the adhesion in the whole surfaces. The gas permeable membrane 1 and the stiffened plate 2 are sealed and held so that the gas is not introduced through the part other than the gas permeable membrane 1. The permeable sheet 4, the permeable substance 3 and the fluid discharge port 7 are made to a communicated state. The thickness of a spacer 8 of the module can be made thin because the membrane 1 is not expanded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention uses a gas permeable membrane for extracting a gas enriched in one component, such as an oxygen-enriched gas, from a mixed gas whose main components are, for example, oxygen and nitrogen. This invention relates to a gas permeable membrane module.

Conventional technology In recent years, oxygen-enriched gases have been widely used for combustion, medical purposes, etc., but oxygen separation by cryogenic separation is the most common method for obtaining these gases. While there are methods that utilize adsorption and desorption of gas on solid surfaces (zeolite, etc.), gas permeable membranes using polymeric membranes are being actively developed in order to easily create enriched gas. ing.

As a conventional separation technique using a selectively permeable membrane, there is a selective gas permeable membrane module as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 194006/1983.

A conventional gas permeable membrane module, which is one of the gas separation means described above, will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of a conventional gas permeable membrane module. In FIG. 6, 11 is a gas permeable membrane that selectively separates a mixed gas; 12 is a reinforcing plate that seals and holds the gas permeable membrane 11 so that a space is formed therebetween;
Reference numeral 13 indicates an air-permeable material having air permeability that is filled in the space, 14 indicates an air-permeable sheet interposed between the air-permeable material 13 and the gas-permeable membrane 11, and 15 indicates the gas-permeable membrane 11 and the reinforcing plate 1.
A double-sided adhesive tape 2 is kept airtight, and 16 is a fluid discharge port for discharging the fluid in the space.

FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a conventional gas permeable membrane.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional gas permeable membrane. 17 is a spacer for stacking gas permeable membrane modules.

Regarding the gas permeable membrane module configured as above,
The operation will be explained below.

6, when vacuum suction is performed from the outside of the gas permeable membrane through the fluid outlet 16 using the vacuum pump, the gas outside the gas permeable membrane module passes through the gas permeable membrane 11 and is selectively separated. be done. Further, the selectively separated gas (oxygen-enriched air) passes through the breathable sheet 14 and enters the space formed by the breathable material 13, and enters the fluid discharge port 16.
taken out from The breathable sheet 14 is made of a breathable substance 13
Since the surface of 0 is rough, it protects the gas permeable membranes 1, 1 from being damaged, and the gas permeable membrane 11 is made breathable so that it does not get trapped in the gas permeable substance 13 when the pressure is reduced by a vacuum pump. It is placed on top of substance 13.

Further, a space is formed between the reinforcing plate 12 and the gas permeable membrane 11, which holds and reinforces the gas permeable membrane 11 when the gas permeable membrane 11 is depressurized by a vacuum pump. Then, the gas permeable membrane 11 and the reinforcing plate 12 are formed by filling the space with a breathable substance 13 and a breathable sheet 14 to form the double-sided adhesive tape 1.
6 and is kept hermetically sealed. The breathable sheet 14, the breathable material 13, and the fluid outlet 16 are in communication.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a breathable material 13 is placed on the reinforcing plate 12, a breathable sheet 14 is placed on the breathable material 13, and the corner portions are covered on both sides. In a structure in which adhesive tape 15 is used to adhere the adhesive tape 15, when the pressure is not reduced by a vacuum pump under high temperature and high humidity conditions, the central portions of the breathable material 13 and the breathable sheet 14 swell and tension is applied to the gas permeable membrane 11, causing the gas to evaporate. The permeable membrane 11 is damaged. As a result, the life of the gas permeable membrane module is shortened.

Furthermore, if the central part of the breathable substance 13 and the breathable sheet 14 swells, the gas permeable membrane 11 will come into contact with the other gas permeable membrane 11 stacked in the thickness direction and the gas permeable membrane 11 will be damaged. 17 must be sufficiently thick so that the gas permeable membranes do not come into contact with each other, and this poses a problem in that miniaturization is not possible.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a x-body permeable membrane module that extends the life of a gas permeable membrane and is small in size.

Z to solve the problem? , tb In order to achieve this object, the gas permeable membrane module of the present invention is made up of seven parts by fully bonding a reinforcing plate, a breathable substance, and a breathable sheet with heat welding or adhesive, and has breathability. It is made in a similar way.

Function: With this configuration, the gas permeable membranes do not come into contact with each other, and the gas permeable membranes do not inflate when the gas permeable membrane is exposed to high temperature and high humidity without being subjected to reduced pressure by a vacuum pump. There is no tension.

As a result, the life of the gas permeable membrane module can be extended. Also, since the gas permeable membrane does not swell, the spacer can be made thinner and more compact.

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a gas permeable membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the gas permeable membrane module, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the gas permeable membrane module, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the gas permeable membrane module. 1 is a comparison diagram of the life span due to oxygen concentration deterioration of a conventional gas permeable membrane module and a gas permeable membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a gas permeable membrane that selectively separates a mixed gas, 2 is a reinforcing plate that seals and holds a space between the gas permeable membrane 1, and 3 is filled in the space. 4 is a breathable sheet interposed between the breathable substance 3 and the gas permeable membrane 10; 6 is a reinforcing plate 2;
, an adhesive for bonding the entire surface of the breathable substance 3 and the breathable sheet 4; 6 is a double-sided adhesive tape that keeps the gas permeable membrane 1 and the reinforcing plate 2 airtight; and 7 is a fluid outlet for discharging the fluid in the space. .

In FIG. 3, 8 is a spacer used when stacking gas permeable membrane modules.

Regarding the gas permeable membrane module configured as above,
The operation will be explained below.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, when vacuum suction is performed from the outside of the gas permeable membrane 1 from the fluid nozzle lower using a vacuum pump, the gas outside the gas permeable membrane module passes through the gas permeable membrane 1 and is selectively separated. be done. In addition, the selectively separated gas (oxygen-enriched air) passes through the breathable sheet 4 and passes through the breathable substance 3.
The fluid enters the space formed by the fluid discharge lower and is taken out from the fluid discharge lower. Since the surface of the breathable substance 3 is rough, the breathable sheet 4 is placed on top of the breathable substance 3 to prevent it from getting stuck in the breathable substance 3 when the gas permeable membrane 1 is depressurized by a vacuum pump. Fully adhesive and protected. Further, the reinforcing plate 2, the breathable material 3, and the breathable sheet 4 are fully bonded with an adhesive 5, and are breathable.

A space is formed between the reinforcing plate 2 and the gas permeable membrane 1,
This is to hold and reinforce the gas permeable membrane 1 when the gas permeable membrane 1 is depressurized by a vacuum pump. Then, the gas permeable membrane 1 and the reinforcing plate 2 fill the space with a breathable substance 3 and a breathable sheet 4, and the reinforcing plate 2, the breathable substance 3, and the breathable sheet 4 are bonded to each other on the entire surface, and have air permeability. It's like that. The gas permeable membrane 1 and the reinforcing plate 2 are sealed and held with double-sided adhesive tape to prevent gas from entering from other than the gas permeable membrane 1. The breathable sheet 4, the breathable substance 3, and the fluid discharge lower are in communication.

In FIG. 3, the space 8 serves to prevent the gas permeable membranes from coming into contact with each other when the gas permeable membrane modules are stacked in the thickness direction.

As shown in Fig. 4, when the reinforcing plate 2, the air permeable material 3, and the air permeable rate 4 are bonded on the entire surface as shown in Figs. The lifespan is approximately doubled in a storage test in a constant temperature and humidity room at a temperature of 60°C and a humidity of 96% RH.

As a reminder, the life of the gas permeable membrane module is at an oxygen concentration of 28%.
In the following cases.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the reinforcing plate 2 and the breathable material 3
If the gas permeable sheet 4 and the gas permeable sheet 4 are completely bonded together, the gas permeable membrane 1 will swell as the gas permeable substance 3 and the gas permeable sheet 4 swell, and the gas permeable membranes will no longer come into contact with each other or be subject to tension. Extends module life. Furthermore, since the gas permeable membrane 1 does not swell, the thickness of the spacer 8 of the gas permeable membrane module can be reduced, resulting in a smaller size. In addition, the initial performance is equivalent to that of the conventional example. In this embodiment, the reinforcing plate 2, the breathable substance 3, and the breathable sheet 4 are bonded together using an adhesive, but the reinforcing plate 2, the breathable substance 3, and the breathable sheet 4 may be bonded together by heat.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention, by integrating the reinforcing plate, the breathable substance, and the breathable sheet, prevents the gas permeable membranes from coming into contact with each other, extending the life of the gas permeable membrane module, and reducing the thickness of the spacer. It can be made thinner and smaller, and the initial performance (oxygen enrichment flow rate, oxygen concentration) equivalent to that of conventional products can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a gas permeable membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same gas permeable membrane module, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of part a of FIG. 2. , the third tooth is a cross-sectional view of the same gas permeable membrane module, FIG. 4 is a life comparison diagram of the present invention and a conventional gas permeable membrane module, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional gas permeable membrane module, and FIG. Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of a conventional gas permeable membrane module, Figure 6B is an enlarged view of part a of Figure 6, and Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of a conventional gas permeable membrane module. 1... Gas permeable membrane, 2... Reinforcement plate, 3
...Breathable substance, 4 ...Breathable sheet, 6 ... Adhesive, 6 ... Double-sided adhesive tape, 7 ... Fluid Outlet.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a gas-permeable membrane that selectively separates the atmosphere or a gas mixture; a reinforcing plate that seals and holds a space between the gas-permeable membrane; and a vent that is air-permeable and filled in the space. a gas-permeable material, a gas-permeable sheet interposed between the gas-permeable material and the gas-permeable membrane, and a fluid discharge port for discharging fluid in the space; 1. A gas permeable membrane module characterized by integrating adhesive sheets by heat welding or adhesive.