Hollow Fiber Membrane Module With Integrated Sealing Passages
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing cost of large hollow fiber membrane modules is high due to the need for complex cutting processes to ensure sealing performance, which is necessary for preventing fluid leaks when cover members are mounted on large cases.
Innovation Solution
A hollow fiber membrane module design that integrates a case with first and second pipes for fluid passage, a holding member with plate-shaped portions and support structures, and elastic seals, eliminating the need for gaskets and reducing the number of parts and manufacturing steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cover members are mounted on large cases to secure fluid passages, then fluid flow capability is improved, but sealing performance deteriorates due to difficulty in achieving flat contact surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealing function from the gasket system and relocates it to protrusions formed directly on the case surface. These protrusions engage with grooves in the cover member to create sealing points, eliminating the need for large-area flat contact surfaces and complex cutting processes while maintaining effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring entire contact surfaces to be flat and sealed, the invention creates localized sealing points at specific protrusion-groove interfaces. This local quality approach concentrates sealing effort at critical points where fluid leakage would occur, rather than requiring uniform sealing across large surfaces.
2Reliability
If cutting processes are performed after molding to enhance flatness of gasket contact portions, then sealing performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing protrusions are formed directly during the molding process of the case, before assembly with cover members. This preliminary formation of sealing structures eliminates the need for subsequent cutting or machining operations to create flat contact surfaces, reducing manufacturing steps and costs while ensuring consistent sealing geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The case structure itself provides the sealing function through integrally formed protrusions, rather than relying on separate gaskets that require precise flat contact surfaces. The protrusions self-align with grooves in the cover member to create effective sealing points without requiring additional processing.
3Reliability
If gaskets are used to seal gaps between case and cover members, then sealing performance is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional parts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the sealing function into the case structure itself by forming protrusions that directly engage with cover member grooves. This integration eliminates the need for separate gasket components, reducing the total number of parts while maintaining effective sealing at the critical interface between case and cover member.
Data Source
AI summary
A case has a first pipe and a second pipe. In the case, a holding member that holds a plurality of hollow fiber membranes is provided. The holding member includes a first plate-shaped portion and a second plate-shaped portion provided to sandwich the plurality of hollow fiber membranes and a connection portion connecting the plate-shaped portions. A passage passing from the first pipe to the first plate-shaped portion is formed between the first plate-shaped portion and the case and a passage passing from the second pipe to the second plate-shaped portion is formed between the second plate-shaped portion and the case.