Hollow Fiber Membrane Cartridge Opening for Uniform Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hollow fiber membrane modules experience non-uniform gas flow due to high integration of hollow fiber membranes, leading to fiber breakage, reduced humidification performance, and flow durability.

Innovation Solution

A hollow fiber membrane cartridge design featuring a specially formed opening with varying widths to distribute fluid flow uniformly, preventing fiber breakage and enhancing humidification and flow durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a plurality of hollow fiber membranes is highly integrated to increase humidifier capacity, then the permeable area per unit volume increases and humidification performance improves, but the gas flow becomes non-uniform due to resistance caused by the highly integrated membranes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehumidification capacityVSAvoidflow uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow fiber membrane module is divided into multiple cartridges, each containing a bundle of hollow fiber membranes. This segmentation allows the gas flow to be distributed more uniformly across multiple smaller units, reducing the resistance problem caused by high integration while maintaining the total permeable area needed for effective humidification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The opening is designed with varying widths where different portions have different dimensions. Specifically, the opening has a first portion and a second portion with different widths to control and uniformize the gas flow distribution across the hollow fiber membranes, addressing the non-uniform flow issue in specific local areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Volume of moving object

If hollow fiber membranes are highly integrated to achieve sufficient humidification in small capacity applications, then the size and weight of the humidifier are reduced, but fiber breakage occurs due to non-uniform flow concentration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehumidifier sizeVSAvoidfiber durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the membrane system into multiple cartridges with bundles of fibers, the flow concentration problem is reduced while maintaining high integration. This segmentation prevents any single bundle from experiencing excessive flow concentration that would lead to fiber breakage, thereby improving fiber durability while keeping the overall humidifier compact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The variable width opening design creates different flow conditions in different portions of the opening, preventing flow concentration at specific locations. This local quality control protects the hollow fiber membranes from excessive flow stress that would cause breakage, while maintaining the compact structure needed for small capacity applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the opening width is uniform to simplify manufacturing, then the manufacturing process is easier, but the fluid flow distribution across the hollow fiber membranes becomes non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening fabricationVSAvoidflow distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 uniform fluid distribution achieved by the varying opening widths prevents fiber breakage, improves humidification performance, and increases flow durability in hollow fiber membrane modules.

Implementation Method 1

a membrane configured to selectively transmit only water vapor included in an exhaust gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelective permeation: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 2

a first portion into which the second fluid is introduced and a second portion having a greater inflow flow rate of the second fluid per unit area than an inflow flow rate of the first portion are formed in the opening, and a width of the second portion is less than a width of the first portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow distribution through geometric control: Geometry

Data Source

PatentUS20250050278A1Hollow fiber membrane cartridge and hollow fiber membrane module including same

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 KOLON INDUSTRIES INC

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a hollow fiber membrane cartridge capable of preventing fiber breakage of a hollow fiber membrane by uniformly supplying a fluid to the hollow fiber membrane and a hollow fiber membrane module. The hollow fiber membrane is accommodated in the hollow fiber membrane cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and allows a first fluid and a second fluid to perform moisture exchange, wherein the first fluid flows inside the hollow fiber membrane, and the second fluid introduced from outside flows outside the hollow fiber membrane, an opening through which the second fluid is introduced or discharged is formed in the hollow fiber membrane cartridge, a first portion into which the second fluid is introduced and a second portion having a greater inflow flow rate of the second fluid per unit area than that of the first portion are formed in the opening, and a width of the second portion is less than a width of the first portion.