Membrane holder and membrane module

Abstract

The present invention relates to a membrane holder for hollow fiber membranes, in particular for application in tube filters. This membrane holder comprises: - a central pipe having spaced bands of inlet openings formed around its periphery for allowing liquid to flow through the central pipe; - a retaining element arranged around a central pipe, the retaining element having radially extending wall parts distributed along the circumference of the central pipe and a closure part extending between the free ends of the radially extending wall parts, for confining the hollow fiber membrane bundle between two adjacent radially extending wall parts and the closure part; a deflector plate arranged concentrically around the central pipe and spaced apart from the central pipe, the deflector plate covering the band of inlet openings when viewed in the radial direction; Equipped with.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is specifically a membrane holder for hollow fiber membranes for application in a tube filter, comprising: - a central pipe having spaced-apart bands of inlet openings formed along the outer peripheral portion of the central pipe for flowing liquid through the central pipe; - a holding element arranged around the central pipe, the holding element having radially extending wall parts distributed along the outer peripheral portion of the central pipe, and a closing part extending between free ends of the radially extending wall parts, the closing part serving to confine a bundle of hollow fiber membranes between two adjacent radially extending wall parts and the closing part; The present invention relates to a membrane holder comprising the above.

Background Art

[0002] Such a membrane holder is known, for example, from US Patent Application Publication No. 20090071894. In this published application, a membrane module is disclosed which comprises a cylindrical housing through which a central pipe extends. This central pipe has a plurality of inlet openings formed in the outer peripheral wall portion of the central pipe. A star-shaped holding element is arranged on the central pipe to hold a bundle of hollow fiber membranes.

[0003] Water to be filtered, or other liquids such as beer, wine, juice, dairy products, etc., are pumped into the hollow fiber membranes via a header, and the filtered liquid permeates through the wall of the hollow fiber membranes and is discharged into the central pipe via the inlet openings.

[0004] After a while, the hollow fiber membrane needs to be cleaned because it has filtered out a large number of particles from the liquid. This cleaning is done by reversing the flow within the membrane module. The liquid is pumped through the central pipe and inlet opening into the space where the bundle of hollow fiber membranes is located. This liquid then passes through the walls and the hollow fiber membrane, so that the filtered particles are backwashed out of the membrane, and is discharged through the header.

[0005] The problem is that when the flow within the membrane module is reversed, the liquid flow is ejected from the inlet opening in the central pipe. This liquid ejection can potentially damage the hollow fiber membrane. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0071894 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The objective of the present invention is to mitigate or even eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by the membrane holder described in the preamble. This membrane holder features deflector plates that are concentrically arranged around a central pipe, spaced apart from the central pipe, and covering the band of the inlet opening when viewed radially.

[0009] These deflector plates are spaced apart from the central pipe but cover the inlet opening when viewed radially. This prevents the ejected liquid from being directly directed at the hollow fiber membrane during backwashing of the filter module. As a result, it becomes possible to use a higher flow rate for backwashing the filter without damaging the filter.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the membrane holder according to the present invention, the deflector plate has a ring shape, and its inner wall is positioned equidistant from the outer surface of the central pipe.

[0011] A ring-shaped deflector plate can be easily positioned around the central pipe. By positioning the inner wall portion equidistant from the outer surface of the central pipe, all inlet openings will have similar resistance when the filter is backwashed with fluid.

[0012] While a circular cross-section is preferred for the central pipe, the use of a ring-shaped deflector plate makes it possible to use a variety of cross-sections, such as an ellipse.

[0013] The ring shape of the deflector plate is robust so that the pressure of the liquid ejected from the inlet opening can be easily resisted.

[0014] In another preferred embodiment of the membrane holder according to the present invention, the radially extending wall portion of the retaining element is positioned relative to each ring-shaped deflector plate.

[0015] In this embodiment, the ring-shaped deflector plate can be slid to a precise position on the central pipe that covers the inlet opening band. At the same time, the retaining elements are positioned at appropriate intervals along the length of the central pipe to hold the bundle of hollow fiber membranes.

[0016] In another embodiment of the membrane holder according to the present invention, the central pipe is composed of a plurality of identical pipe parts, each pipe part having at least one inlet opening band.

[0017] Therefore, by using multiple identical pipe parts for the central pipe, a high degree of flexibility is possible regarding the length of the filter when assembling the filter and membrane holder.

[0018] Preferably, one end of each pipe part has a cylindrical portion having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the other end of the pipe part.

[0019] This allows the pipe parts to partially slide into each other. By providing small notches and grooves on both pipe parts, a snap connection can be made that prevents the joined pipe parts from easily separating.

[0020] In yet another preferred embodiment of the membrane holder, at least one ring-shaped deflector plate is positioned on each pipe part, a longitudinal guide groove is positioned on one of the inner surfaces of the ring-shaped deflector plate and the outer surface of the pipe part, and a rib is positioned on the other of the inner surfaces of the ring-shaped deflector plate and the outer surface of the pipe part, the rib extending into the guide groove.

[0021] The ribs and grooves provide guides, thereby positioning the ring-shaped deflector plate on which the retaining elements are mounted at the correct angular position, and ensuring that all retaining elements located along the longitudinal direction of the central pipe are precisely aligned.

[0022] In yet another embodiment of the membrane holder according to the present invention, each free end of the radially extending wall part is provided with two coupling members, each closing part is provided with a closing member on each end, and one closing member of the wall part and one closing member of the closing part form a hinge having a hinge axis parallel to the central tube axis.

[0023] Since the connecting member is a hinge, one end of the closing member can be disconnected so that the closing member can be hinge-opened onto the other connecting member. This is advantageous when positioning the hollow fiber membrane bundle into the holding element.

[0024] More preferably, two connecting members on the free ends of the radially extending wall portions are arranged coaxially with each other.

[0025] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a membrane module. This membrane module includes - a membrane holder according to the present invention, - a hollow fiber membrane bundle arranged between each two adjacent radially extending wall parts and the closing part, the bundle extending parallel to the central pipe, - at least one header arranged relative to one end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle for feeding a liquid such as water to the hollow fiber membrane, - a closing member arranged relative to the other end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle for closing each hollow fiber membrane, - a housing arranged between at least one header and the closing member, the central pipe extending at least through one of the closing member or at least one header for discharging the filtered liquid, and.

[0026] These and other features of the present invention will be described in combination with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1] [[ID=FF]] [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the parts constituting the membrane holder according to FIG. 1. [Figure 3] ​This figure shows the membrane holder from Figure 1 with several parts removed. [Figure 4] This diagram is similar to Figure 3, where one of the closing parts is in the open position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0028] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the membrane holder 1 according to the present invention. The membrane holder 1 has a central pipe 2 and retaining elements 3 arranged around the central pipe 2 and spaced apart from each other in the axial direction.

[0029] Each retaining element 3 has a ring-shaped deflector plate 4 with radially extending wall portion parts 5. A closing part 6 is connected to the free end of the wall portion part 5.

[0030] Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the parts that make up the membrane holder 1 of Figure 1. The central pipe 2 is composed of multiple pipe parts, each of which has a cylindrical portion 7 at one end. This cylindrical portion 7 corresponds to the diameter of the inner wall portion 8 at the other end. The cylindrical portion 7 has a notch 9, which cooperates with a groove 10 at the other end of the inner wall portion 8 to create a snap connection between the pipe parts that make up the central pipe 2.

[0031] The pipe parts are equipped with bands 11 of inlet openings 12. These inlet openings 12 discharge filtered liquid into the central pipe 2. Furthermore, axially extending grooves 13 are formed in the outer surface of the pipe parts. These grooves 13 cooperate with ribs 14 positioned on the inner surface of the ring-shaped deflector plate 4. These ribs 14 ensure that the inner surface of the deflector plate 4 is positioned at an equal distance from the outer surface of the pipe parts.

[0032] The free end of the wall part 5 is provided with a pair of coaxially aligned cylindrical bushings 15. These bushings 15 are connected to pins 16 located on both ends of the closing part 6, forming a hinge.

[0033] Figure 3 shows the parts of Figure 2 assembled in combination with the second pipe part. When the filter module is backwashed, the liquid flow F is supplied into the central pipe 2. If the deflector plate is not present (on the second pipe part as shown), the liquid flows radially out of the pipe part. However, when the ring-shaped deflector plate 4 is positioned to cover the inlet opening 12, the liquid flow F is deflected and flows axially out of the space between the pipe part and the deflector plate 4, so that the hollow fiber membrane, which is held in a bundle between the wall part 5 and the closing part 6, is not damaged.

[0034] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of Figure 3 in which one closing part 6 is open and the hinge is released. Furthermore, it is clear from this figure that the central pipe 2 is composed of two pipe parts. By opening the closing part 6 along the entire length of the central pipe 2, it becomes possible to place the bundle of hollow fiber membranes into the membrane holder 1, and then the closing part 6 is closed again by moving the pin 16 into the bush 15 located at the free end of the radially extending wall part 5. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 1 Membrane holder 2 Central pipe 3 Retention elements 4 Ring-shaped deflector plate 5. Radial extending wall parts 6 Closure parts 7. Cylindrical section 8. Inner wall section 9 Notch 10 grooves 11 bands 12 Entrance opening 13 Axially extending groove 14 Ribs 15 Cylindrical bushing 16 pins

Claims

1. A membrane holder for a hollow fiber membrane, for application within a tube filter, A central pipe having spaced-apart bands of inlet openings formed along the outer circumference of the central pipe for allowing liquid to flow through the central pipe, A retaining element arranged around the central pipe, comprising radially extending wall parts distributed along the outer circumference of the central pipe, and a closing part extending between the free ends of the radially extending wall parts, wherein the closing part is for enclosing a hollow fiber membrane bundle between two adjacent radially extending wall parts and the closing part, and A membrane holder comprising, A membrane holder characterized by a deflector plate that is concentrically arranged around the central pipe, spaced apart from the central pipe, and covering the band of the inlet opening when viewed radially.

2. The membrane holder according to claim 1, wherein the deflector plate has a ring shape, and its inner wall portion is positioned at an equidistant distance from the outer surface of the central pipe.

3. The membrane holder according to claim 2, wherein the radially extending wall portion of the retaining element is arranged relative to each ring-shaped deflector plate.

4. The membrane holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the central pipe is composed of a plurality of identical pipe parts, and each pipe part has at least one of the bands of the inlet opening.

5. The membrane holder according to claim 4, wherein one end of each pipe part has a cylindrical portion having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the other end of the pipe part.

6. The membrane holder according to claims 5 and 3, wherein at least one ring-shaped deflector plate is positioned on each pipe part, a longitudinal guide groove is positioned on one of the inner surface of the ring-shaped deflector plate and the outer surface of the pipe part, and a rib is positioned on the other of the inner surface of the ring-shaped deflector plate and the outer surface of the pipe part, the rib extending into the guide groove.

7. The membrane holder according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each free end of the radially extending wall part is provided with two connecting members, each closing part is provided with a closing member on each end, and one closing member of the wall part and one closing member of the closing part form a hinge having a hinge axis parallel to the central tube axis.

8. The membrane holder according to claim 7, wherein the two connecting members on the free end of the radially extending wall portion are arranged coaxially with respect to each other.

9. It is a membrane module, A membrane holder according to any one of claims 1 to 8, A hollow fiber membrane bundle is disposed between each of two adjacent radially extending wall parts and a closing part, wherein the hollow fiber membrane bundle extends parallel to the central pipe, A header positioned toward one end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle for supplying liquid to the hollow fiber membrane, A closing member positioned toward the other end of the hollow fiber membrane bundle to close each hollow fiber membrane, A housing disposed between the at least one header and the closing member, wherein the central pipe extends through at least one of the closing member or the at least one header to discharge the filtered liquid, and A membrane module equipped with the following features.

Images