Modular Hollow-Fiber Cartridge Blocks for Uniform Humidifier Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hollow fiber membrane modules require custom-manufactured cartridges that match the size of the humidifier housing, limiting their suitability for mass production and increasing the risk of membrane entanglement and damage due to large internal spaces.
Innovation Solution
The development of a standardized assembly type cartridge block with a polygonal or fan-shaped prism body, potting parts to secure hollow fiber membranes, and a dummy cartridge block for fluid flow without moisture exchange, allowing cartridges to be installed in various housing sizes and reducing membrane movement and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hollow fiber membranes are highly integrated to increase capacity, then humidification performance is improved, but gas flow uniformity deteriorates due to resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is divided into multiple compartments by partition walls, with hollow fiber membranes installed in each compartment. This segmentation allows gas to flow through multiple parallel paths, reducing resistance and improving flow uniformity while maintaining high integration capacity.
2Manufacturing precision
If cartridges are custom-manufactured to match housing size, then fit precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A standardized cartridge design with universal dimensions and features is created that can be installed in multiple housing sizes. The cartridge includes standardized partition wall structures, hollow fiber membrane configurations, and mounting features that maintain performance across different applications, eliminating the need for custom manufacturing for each housing size.
3Ease of operation
If large internal space is provided in cartridge, then membrane installation ease is improved, but membrane entanglement risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition walls and support structures are pre-installed in the cartridge before hollow fiber membranes are installed. This preliminary arrangement of support elements provides immediate guidance and positioning for the membranes during installation, ensuring proper placement while preventing entanglement and damage through the pre-established structural framework.
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
Enables mass production of hollow fiber membrane modules with cartridges that can be standardized across different housing sizes, reducing the risk of membrane entanglement and damage while ensuring uniform gas flow and efficient humidification.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane humidification method which supplies moisture to a gaseous fluid bed using a polymer separation membrane
Implementation Method 2
a hollow fiber membrane having large permeable area per unit volume is preferably used as the permselective membrane for the membrane humidification method
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an assembly-type cartridge block enabling various types of cartridges, and a hollow-fiber membrane module comprising the same. The assembly-type cartridge block of an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a body part having a plurality of hollow-fiber membranes therein and having mesh parts formed respectively at the upper and lower parts thereof; and a fastening part formed on a side surface of the body part and configured to be fastened to an adjacent assembly-type cartridge block. Further, the hollow-fiber membrane module of an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a housing unit including a first fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, a second fluid inlet, and a second fluid outlet; and a cartridge unit installed inside the housing unit and formed by fastening a plurality of assembly-type cartridge blocks, each of the assemble type cartridge blocks having a plurality of hollow-fiber membranes therein.