Fluid separation membrane, fluid separation membrane module, and porous carbon fiber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hollow fiber membranes made of organic polymers face challenges in achieving high compression strength in the sectional direction, making them unsuitable for use under high pressures in fluid separation processes.
Innovation Solution
A fluid separation membrane is developed by forming an organic polymer layer on a porous carbon fiber with a co-continuous porous structure, enhancing the membrane's compression strength and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the membrane thickness is reduced to improve the permeation rate of fluid, then the permeation rate increases, but the compression strength in the sectional direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a porous carbon fiber substrate combined with an organic polymer coating layer. The porous carbon fiber provides high compression strength and structural integrity, while the organic polymer layer contributes to separation performance and permeation properties. This composite approach allows the membrane to achieve both high permeation rate and high compression strength simultaneously, resolving the technical contradiction between thinning the membrane for better permeation and maintaining sufficient compression strength.
2Productivity
If the membrane thickness is reduced to improve permeation rate, then fluid permeation improves, but the membrane becomes difficult to use under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The porous carbon fiber substrate provides exceptional mechanical strength and stability under high pressure conditions, while the organic polymer coating enables efficient separation and permeation. This composite structure ensures the membrane can operate reliably under high pressure (improving durability) while maintaining high permeation rates, thus resolving the contradiction between permeation performance and high-pressure reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous carbon fiber substrate features a co-continuous porous structure with controlled pore sizes that facilitates efficient fluid permeation while maintaining structural integrity. The porous structure allows high permeation rates without requiring excessive thinning, and the carbon fiber material inherently provides high mechanical strength for reliable operation under high pressure conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The membrane exhibits improved compression strength and durability, enabling efficient fluid separation under high pressures while maintaining high permeation rates.
Implementation Method 1
a porous carbon fiber having a co-continuous porous structure
Implementation Method 2
an organic polymer layer is formed on a surface of a porous carbon fiber
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid separation membrane has high compression strength in the fiber cross-section direction (direction orthogonal to the fiber axis). The fluid separation membrane is obtained by an organic polymer layer being formed on the surface of porous carbon fibers having a co-continuous porous structure. A fluid separation membrane module and porous carbon fibers having a fully co-continuous porous structure are also disclosed.