Spiral-Wound Membrane Sealant Adhesion via Pressing Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing spiral-wound type separation membrane elements face challenges in ensuring the reliability of the sealing part, which is crucial for preventing the mixture of source and permeate fluids.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a spiral-wound type separation membrane element that involves pressing a press member against the laminated body while rotating the hollow tube, ensuring specific pressure relations are maintained to effectively spread and penetrate the sealant, thereby enhancing the sealing reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealant is applied to the separation membrane unit in a spiral-wound membrane element, then the sealing function is provided to prevent fluid mixture, but the reliability of the sealing part is insufficient due to inadequate adhesion and distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidsealant application difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant is applied to the separation membrane unit before the laminated body is wound into the spiral configuration. This preliminary application ensures that the sealant is properly positioned and distributed before the complex winding process, preventing adhesion problems and ensuring reliable sealing without requiring complex post-winding application methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sealant is applied specifically to predetermined regions of the separation membrane unit where sealing is most critical. This localized application strategy ensures that the sealant is concentrated where it is most needed to prevent fluid mixture, improving sealing reliability while reducing overall sealant usage and application complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Shape

If the laminated body is wound around the hollow tube to form spiral structure, then the separation membrane element structure is created, but the sealant distribution and adhesion become unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespiral-wound structureVSAvoidsealant adhesion reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant is applied to the separation membrane unit before the laminated body is wound into the spiral configuration. This preliminary application ensures that the sealant is properly positioned and distributed before the complex winding process, preventing adhesion problems and ensuring reliable sealing without requiring complex post-winding application methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying the sealant after the spiral winding is complete (which would be difficult to access and distribute), the sealant is applied before winding. This reverses the conventional sequence and makes the sealant application straightforward while ensuring proper distribution throughout the spiral structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Manufacturing precision

If pressure is applied to the laminated body during winding, then the layers are pressed together to prevent wrinkles, but the sealant distribution and adhesion reliability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelayer uniformityVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant is applied to the separation membrane unit before the laminated body is wound and pressed. This timing ensures that the sealant is already in position and can withstand the subsequent pressing operation without being displaced or creating adhesion problems, maintaining both layer uniformity and sealing reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 proposed method improves the reliability of the sealing part by ensuring proper adhesion and distribution of the sealant, effectively preventing fluid mixture and enhancing the overall performance of the separation membrane element.

Implementation Method 1

pressing a press member against a portion of the laminated body... holding the plate-shaped member or the rod-shaped member in parallel with the axial direction of the laminated body wound around the hollow tube, curving the plate-shaped member or the rod-shaped member toward the hollow tube

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressing pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3695898B1Method and apparatus for manufacturing spiral-wound type separation membrane element
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 SUMITOMO CHEM CO LTD
  • EP3695898B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3695898B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3695898B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

A manufacturing method for a separation membrane element is a manufacturing method for a spiral-wound type separation membrane element including a perforated hollow tube and a laminated body that includes a separation membrane and is wound around the hollow tube. The manufacturing method includes pressing a press member against a portion of the laminated body that is wound around the hollow tube. The pressing presses the press member to satisfy respective relations defined by formulas (1) and (2): 0.1×Ps1≤Pe and 0.1×Ps2≤Pe