Hollow Fiber Membrane Module Sheet Block Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hollow fiber membrane modules require a separate sealing process and curing time, which complicates the preparation process and can lead to reduced water passage efficiency and increased membrane discard due to blockages.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a sheet block with hollow fiber membranes arranged at regular intervals, secured by a thermoplastic resin block within a header, eliminating the need for sealing and cutting processes, and allowing for a simpler and faster preparation without leakage of the potting agent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gel type fugitive material is used to seal the end of hollow fiber membranes during potting, then the membranes can be sealed and later opened by dissolving the gel, but the process becomes complex and requires additional sealing and removal steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the gel type fugitive material sealing step entirely from the process. Instead of sealing the membrane ends with removable material, the patent uses a support structure that maintains membrane spacing and prevents blockage during potting, eliminating the need for sealing and subsequent removal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is installed beforehand to maintain proper membrane arrangement and spacing before the potting agent is applied. This preliminary positioning prevents membrane blockage during the potting process, eliminating the need for subsequent sealing removal steps.
2Stability of the object's composition
If hollow fiber membranes are dipped into potting material to secure them to the header, then the membranes are fixed in place, but some membranes may be blocked by the potting material reducing water passage efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure acts as an intermediary between the hollow fiber membranes and the potting material. It maintains proper spacing and positioning of the membranes, preventing the potting material from directly blocking the membrane pores while still providing secure attachment to the header.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure provides localized spacing and support at critical positions along the membrane length, ensuring that the potting material does not block the membrane pores in the water passage regions while still providing adequate securing.
3Ease of manufacture
If a bundle of hollow fiber membranes is used without regular arrangement, then the preparation process is simpler, but water passage efficiency is deteriorated due to uneven potting and blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure divides the membrane bundle into regularly spaced segments, creating uniform intervals between adjacent membranes. This segmentation ensures even distribution of the potting material and prevents blockages, improving water passage efficiency while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure pre-establishes the regular arrangement and spacing of hollow fiber membranes before the potting process. This preliminary organization ensures uniform potting material distribution and prevents blockages without complicating the manufacturing process.
4Reliability
If the end of hollow fiber membranes is sealed with removable material before potting, then blockages can be prevented, but the process time increases due to additional sealing and curing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the sealing material step from the process. The support structure inherently prevents blockages during potting without requiring additional sealing materials or curing time, thus reducing overall preparation time while maintaining blockage prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
A hollow fiber membrane module and a method for preparing a hollow fiber membrane module. A hollow fiber membrane module includes a header, and a sheet block inserted into the header, and the sheet block includes a hollow fiber membrane block, wherein the hollow fiber membrane block comprises a plurality of hollow fiber membranes arranged at regular intervals in a vertical direction of the header; and a resin block formed at an end of the hollow fiber membrane blocks and contacting an inner wall of the header to be secured thereto, and a potting agent is filled between hollow fiber membranes of the hollow fiber membrane blocks in a space between an upper side of the resin block to an inlet of the header to secure the hollow fiber membranes.