Hollow fiber membrane module

Abstract

The present application provides a hollow fiber membrane module capable of suppressing deformation of a housing main body even when the housing main body is made of resin. A hollow fiber membrane module (10) includes: a plurality of hollow fiber membranes (200); a housing (100) having a housing main body (110) made of resin that accommodates the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (200) and has an open portion at both ends; and a pair of sealing and fixing portions (310, 320) that seal gaps between the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (200) in a state in which hollow interiors of the respective hollow fiber membranes (200) are open and fix the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (200) to the housing (100) at both end sides of the housing (100); characterized in that the housing main body (110) has a reinforcing portion (115) that links a pair of opposing wall surfaces of an inner wall surface that accommodates the plurality of hollow fiber membranes (200) to each other integrally provided at the pair of wall surfaces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to hollow fiber membrane modules that can be applied to humidification devices and the like. Background Technology

[0002] For example, in hollow fiber membrane modules used in humidification devices for fuel cells, there is a growing trend towards larger sizes to meet the increasing demand for high-output systems. In larger hollow fiber membrane modules, the pressure of the fluid flowing inside the casing increases. Therefore, in the case of large casings, they are typically manufactured by machining rigid materials such as metal. Especially in the case of box-shaped casings, which are prone to deformation due to fluid pressure, they are also constructed from rigid materials such as metal.

[0003] However, manufacturing the housing by machining rigid materials such as metal increases costs. Therefore, it is desirable to manufacture the housing by resin molding using a mold. However, in the case of large hollow fiber membrane modules, as mentioned above, the fluid pressure increases, and the housing may deform during use. If the housing deforms, the sealing performance decreases, fluid leakage occurs, and there are concerns about reduced humidification performance and other quality degradation.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2018 / 190147 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a hollow fiber membrane module that can suppress deformation of the shell body even when using a resin-made shell body.

[0009] means for solving problems

[0010] To solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following methods.

[0011] That is, the hollow fiber membrane module of the present invention includes:

[0012] Multiple hollow fiber membranes;

[0013] The housing has a resin-made housing body that accommodates the plurality of hollow fiber membranes and has openings at both ends;

[0014] A pair of sealing and fixing parts, on both ends of the housing, seal the gap between the hollow fiber membranes while keeping the hollow interiors of each hollow fiber membrane open, and fix the plurality of hollow fiber membranes to the housing;

[0015] Its features are,

[0016] The main body of the housing is integrally provided with a pair of reinforcing parts on a pair of wall surfaces, which connect the opposing pair of wall surfaces of the inner wall surfaces accommodating the plurality of hollow fiber membranes to each other.

[0017] According to the present invention, since a reinforcing part is provided in the shell body, deformation of the shell body can be suppressed even if the fluid pressure inside the shell body increases.

[0018] The reinforcing part can be located in the center between one end and the other end of the housing body.

[0019] By adopting such a structure, for example, compared to the case where the reinforcing part is set from one end to the other, it is possible to suppress the reduction of the number of hollow fiber membranes contained in the shell body, suppress the obstruction of the flow of fluid flowing outside the hollow fiber membrane, and effectively suppress the deformation of the shell body.

[0020] The housing body includes: a pair of generally flat plates, each having at least one through hole for fluid passage; and a pair of curved sections, each connecting one side of the pair of generally flat plates; the housing body is constructed from a component with an elliptical cross-section perpendicular to the direction from one end of the housing body toward the other end.

[0021] The reinforcing portion can be configured to connect the inner wall surfaces of the pair of curved portions to each other.

[0022] Generally speaking, such a shape and resin-made shell body are prone to deformation due to fluid pressure, but as mentioned above, deformation is suppressed by providing reinforcement.

[0023] The reinforcing portion may be disposed in the center between the pair of generally flat plate portions in the housing body.

[0024] By adopting such a structure, for example, compared to the case where the reinforcing part is placed near a pair of generally flat parts, it is possible to suppress the reduction of the number of hollow fiber membranes contained in the housing body, suppress the obstruction of the flow of fluid flowing outside the hollow fiber membrane, and effectively suppress the deformation of the housing body.

[0025] In addition, the above structures can be combined and used as much as possible.

[0026] Invention Effects

[0027] As explained above, according to the present invention, even when a resin-based shell body is used, deformation of the shell body can be suppressed. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a side view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a front view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 4 This is a front view of the housing body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 5 This is a top view of the housing body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments are described in detail illustratively. However, unless otherwise specified, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the structural components described in these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to them.

[0035] (Example)

[0036] Reference Figures 1 to 6 The hollow fiber membrane module involved in the embodiments of the present invention will be described. Figure 1 This is a side view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a front view of a hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the hollow fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 AA section diagram. Figure 4 This is a front view of the housing body according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a top view of the housing body according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the shell body according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 BB cross-section diagram.

[0037] (Application example of hollow fiber membrane module)

[0038] An application example of the hollow fiber membrane module 10 according to this embodiment will be described. The hollow fiber membrane module 10 according to this embodiment can be used as a humidification device or a dehumidification device. This will be briefly explained. The hollow fiber membrane module 10 has a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 200 disposed inside the housing 100. Moreover, the hollow fiber membrane module 10 is configured to form a flow path through the outside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes 200 and a flow path through the inside of the membranes. With such a structure, for example, humidifying gas is supplied to the outside of the hollow fiber membranes 200, and dry gas is supplied to the hollow interior of each of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes 200. Thereby, through the membrane separation effect of the hollow fiber membranes 200, the moisture in the humidifying gas moves to the dry gas side. Therefore, the dry gas is humidified and the humidifying gas is dehumidified, so it can be used as both a humidification device and a dehumidification device.

[0039] Furthermore, the hollow fiber membrane module 10 involved in this embodiment can preferably be used as a humidification device for humidifying the electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell. In this case, the humidified air generated in the fuel cell is used as the aforementioned humidifying gas. The electrolyte membrane is kept humid by supplying the humidified gas (air) to the electrolyte membrane of the fuel cell. Here, as the material for the hollow fiber membrane 200, PPSU (polyphenylsulfone), which has the characteristic of allowing water to permeate through a capillary condensation mechanism based on pore size control, is preferably used. Additionally, when adjusting the membrane-forming solution (the raw material for the hollow fiber membrane), a hydrophilic hollow fiber membrane can be obtained by spinning a membrane-forming solution in which PPSU and a hydrophilic polymer (polyvinylpyrrolidone) are added to a solvent. Furthermore, a hydrophilic material, Nafion (registered trademark), which has the characteristic of allowing water to permeate through dissolution and diffusion, can also be used. Such materials have low leaching properties and high strength, and are therefore suitable for humidification or dehumidification devices.

[0040] (Hollow fiber membrane module)

[0041] The hollow fiber membrane module 10 involved in this embodiment will be described in more detail. The hollow fiber membrane module 10 includes a housing 100, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 200 disposed inside the housing 100, and a pair of sealing and fixing parts 310, 320. Furthermore, the housing 100 has a resin housing body 110 that accommodates the plurality of hollow fiber membranes 200 and has openings at both ends.

[0042] The housing body 110 includes a pair of generally flat portions 111, 112 and a pair of curved portions 113, 114 respectively connecting the two sides of the pair of generally flat portions 111, 112. Furthermore, the housing body 110 is constructed from a component with an elliptical cross-section perpendicular to the direction from one end of the housing body 110 toward the other end. At least one (in this embodiment, multiple) through holes 111a, 112a for fluid passage are provided in the pair of generally flat portions 111, 112. Moreover, the housing body 110 has a reinforcing portion 115 integrally provided on a pair of wall surfaces that connects an opposing pair of inner wall surfaces accommodating multiple hollow fiber membranes 200. More specifically, the reinforcing portion 115 is provided in such a way that it connects the inner wall surfaces of the pair of curved portions 113, 114 to each other. Furthermore, the reinforcing portion 115 is disposed at the center (including a portion of the center region) between one end and the other end of the housing body 110, and at the center (including a portion of the center region) between a pair of generally flat portions 111 and 112 of the housing body 110. The housing body 110 constructed as described above can be molded using resin materials such as PSU (polysulfone), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), and PPA (polyphthalamide). Therefore, the pair of generally flat portions 111 and 112, the pair of curved portions 113 and 114, and the reinforcing portion 115 are integrated.

[0043] Additionally, the housing 100 includes: a first fixing member 120 and a second fixing member 130 respectively fixed to both ends of the housing body 110; and a pair of third fixing members 140 and a fourth fixing member 150 respectively covering a pair of generally flat portions 111 and 112. The method of fixing these first fixing members 120, second fixing members 130, third fixing members 140, and fourth fixing members 150 to the housing body 110 is not particularly limited, and various known fixing methods such as threaded fastening can be used. Furthermore, these first fixing members 120, second fixing members 130, third fixing members 140, and fourth fixing members 150 can also be made of resin material (resin molded article).

[0044] The first fixing member 120 and the second fixing member 130 are respectively provided with tubes 121 and 131 that serve as inlets or outlets for fluid flowing inside the hollow fiber membrane 200 (hollow interior). Furthermore, the third fixing member 140 and the fourth fixing member 150 are respectively provided with tubes 141 and 151 that serve as inlets or outlets for fluid flowing outside the hollow fiber membrane 200. Additionally, the third fixing member 140 and the fourth fixing member 150 are fixed to the housing body 110 such that one of these tubes 141 and 151 is disposed at one end of the housing body 110 and the other at the other end of the housing body 110.

[0045] Furthermore, the pair of sealing and fixing parts 310 and 320 are configured such that, at both ends of the housing 100, the gaps between the hollow fiber membranes 200 are sealed while the hollow interiors of each hollow fiber membrane 200 are open, and the plurality of hollow fiber membranes 200 are fixed to the housing 100. This pair of sealing and fixing parts 310 and 320 is obtained by curing with a potting material such as epoxy resin.

[0046] Reference Figure 3 This section describes an example of applying the hollow fiber membrane module 10, configured as described above, as a humidification or dehumidification device. For instance, when humidifying gas is supplied to the interior of the housing 100 from the tube 141 of the third fixing member 140 (arrow T0), the humidifying gas flows from the outside of the hollow fiber membrane 200 through the tube 151 of the fourth fixing member 150 to the outside of the housing 100 (arrow T1). Furthermore, when drying gas is supplied to the interior of the housing 100 from the tube 121 of the first fixing member 120 (dashed arrow S0), the drying gas is supplied from the sealing fixing part 310 at one end to the hollow interiors of each of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes 200, flowing within the membranes of each hollow fiber membrane 200. Afterward, the drying gas is discharged from the sealing fixing part 320 at the other end and flows from the tube 131 of the second fixing member 130 to the outside of the housing 100 (arrow S1). In the above process, through the membrane separation effect of the hollow fiber membrane 200, the moisture in the humid gas moves to the dry gas side, the dry gas is humidified, and the humid gas is dehumidified.

[0047] (Advantages of the hollow fiber membrane module involved in this embodiment)

[0048] According to the hollow fiber membrane module 10 of this embodiment, since a reinforcing portion 115 is provided in the housing body 110, deformation of the housing body 110 can be suppressed even if the fluid pressure inside the housing body increases. Therefore, a decrease in sealing performance can be suppressed, and fluid leakage can be suppressed. As a result, a decrease in humidification and dehumidification performance can also be suppressed. Furthermore, even when a large-scale housing 100 is required, the housing body 110 can be manufactured by resin-based molding, thus reducing costs compared to manufacturing by machining metal materials.

[0049] Furthermore, the reinforcing portion 115 involved in this embodiment is disposed at the center between one end and the other end of the housing body 110, and at the center between a pair of generally flat portions 111 and 112 of the housing body 110. By adopting such a structure, it is possible to suppress the reduction of the number of hollow fiber membranes 200 contained in the housing body, suppress the obstruction of the flow of fluid flowing outside the hollow fiber membrane 200, and effectively suppress the deformation of the housing body 110.

[0050] Symbol explanation:

[0051] 10 Hollow Fiber Membrane Modules

[0052] 100 housing

[0053] 110 Shell Body

[0054] 111 and 112 flat plate sections

[0055] 111a and 112a through holes

[0056] 113, 114 Bends

[0057] 115 Strengthening Department

[0058] 120 First Fixed Component

[0059] 121 Management Department

[0060] 130 Second fixing component

[0061] 131 Management Department

[0062] 140 Third Fixing Component

[0063] 141 Management Department

[0064] 150 Fourth Fixing Component

[0065] 151 Management Department

[0066] 200 hollow fiber membrane

[0067] 310, 320 Sealing and Fixing Parts

Claims

1. A hollow fiber membrane module, comprising: Multiple hollow fiber membranes; The housing has a resin-made housing body that accommodates the plurality of hollow fiber membranes and has openings at both ends; A pair of sealing and fixing parts, on both ends of the housing, seal the gap between the hollow fiber membranes while keeping the hollow interiors of each hollow fiber membrane open, and fix the plurality of hollow fiber membranes to the housing; Its features are, The main body of the housing has integrally formed reinforcing sections on a pair of wall surfaces, which connect opposite pairs of wall surfaces accommodating the plurality of hollow fiber membranes to each other. The main body of the shell includes: A pair of generally flat sections, each having at least one through hole for fluid passage; and A pair of curved portions, respectively connecting the two sides of the pair of generally flat portions; The main body of the housing is composed of a component with an elliptical cross-section that is perpendicular to the direction from one end of the housing body toward the other end. The reinforcing portion is provided in such a way that the inner wall surfaces of the pair of curved portions are connected to each other.

2. The hollow fiber membrane module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The reinforcing part is located in the center between one end and the other end of the housing body.

3. The hollow fiber membrane module as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The reinforcing portion is located at the center between the pair of generally flat plates in the housing body.

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