Hollow Fiber Membrane Gas Dispersion for Full-Surface Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hollow fiber membrane modules struggle to effectively clean the entire membrane surface, particularly the upper end, during the bubbling step due to inadequate gas dispersion, leading to incomplete removal of suspended solids.
Innovation Solution
The hollow fiber membrane module is designed with a dual gas dispersion system, featuring a gas diffusing member and conduit that disperses gas from both the lower and upper spaces within the housing, ensuring comprehensive cleaning by employing both diffusing vent holes and pipe vent holes to disperse gas radially and vertically, respectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hollow fiber membranes are tightly packed to increase membrane area, then productivity is improved, but cleaning accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow fiber membrane module divides the membrane bundle into multiple segments separated by spacers. These spacers create channels that allow cleaning solutions to flow through and access the membrane surfaces, solving the problem of poor cleaning accessibility while maintaining high membrane area density for productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The design nests spacers within the tightly packed hollow fiber membrane bundle. The spacers are positioned between membrane bundles, creating accessible pathways without sacrificing the tight packing arrangement, thus enabling both high productivity and effective cleaning.
2Productivity
If hollow fiber membranes are tightly packed to increase membrane area, then productivity is improved, but air entrapment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers segment the membrane bundle into distinct regions with channels between them. These channels provide pathways for air to escape during filling and operation, preventing air entrapment while allowing the membranes to remain tightly packed for high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacers act as intermediary structures between the tightly packed membranes. They create void spaces that serve as air channels, mediating between the need for tight packing (productivity) and the need for air escape (preventing harmful air entrapment).
3Ease of operation
If spacers are added to improve cleaning accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers are designed as thin, flexible elements that can be easily integrated into the membrane bundle structure. Their simple geometry and material properties reduce manufacturing complexity while effectively creating cleaning channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacers incorporate porous structures or channels that naturally facilitate fluid flow for cleaning purposes. This porous design achieves effective cleaning accessibility through the inherent structure of the spacer material rather than complex external mechanisms.
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
This design enables thorough cleaning of the entire hollow fiber membrane, effectively removing suspended solids from both the lower and upper ends, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
A cleaning solution is introduced into the hollow fiber membrane module in order to detach deposits from the membrane
Data Source
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AI summary
The hollow fiber membrane module 10 comprises a hollow fiber membrane bundle 15 having a plurality of bundled hollow fiber membranes 14, a housing 13 with an internal space S1 formed in which the hollow fiber membrane bundle 15 is housed and a gas supply portion 2 which disperses cleaning gas for the hollow fiber membrane 14 in the internal space S1. The internal space S1 has an upper space S11 in which an upper-side part of the hollow fiber membrane 14 above a center of the hollow fiber membrane 14 in a longitudinal direction is positioned and a lower space S12 in which a lower-side part of the hollow fiber membrane 14 below the center of the hollow fiber membrane 14 in the longitudinal direction is positioned. The gas supply portion 2 is provided with pipe vent holes 54A and 54B (upper-side gas supply portions) which disperse gas in the housing 13 at a position in the upper space S11 and diffusing vent holes 43 (lower-side gas supply portion) which disperse gas in the housing 13 at a position below the lower space S12.