Rectangular Hollow-Fiber Membrane Module for High Packing Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hollow-fiber membrane modules face challenges in increasing the packing ratio of membranes, which limits their separation performance due to the conventional cylindrical casing design, making it difficult to enhance filtration and degassing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A hollow-fiber membrane module with a rectangular tubular outer casing and open ports, allowing for higher packing density of hollow-fiber membranes, which can be easily sealed without a screw structure, facilitating increased membrane packing and improved separation performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a cylindrical casing is used with screw-fixed lids, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the packing ratio of hollow-fiber membranes is limited and cannot be significantly improved
Solution Approach 1:
The module is divided into an outer casing and an inner casing as separate components. The inner casing contains the hollow-fiber membranes and can be independently inserted into the outer casing, allowing for optimized membrane packing within the inner casing while maintaining a simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner casing is nested within the outer casing. The inner casing holds the hollow-fiber membranes in a compact arrangement that maximizes packing ratio, while the outer casing provides structural support and fluid distribution. This nested configuration enables higher membrane density without significantly complicating the overall device.
2Ease of operation
If the casing is sealed with screw-fixed lids, then the sealing is reliable, but the assembly and disassembly process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented from the main casing structure. Sealing members are provided as separate components that can be easily installed and removed from the outer casing, allowing for quick assembly and disassembly of the inner casing while maintaining reliable sealing through dedicated sealing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Sealing members act as intermediary components between the inner casing and outer casing. These dedicated sealing elements provide reliable sealing while allowing for simple insertion and removal operations, mediating between the need for tight sealing and ease of assembly/disassembly.
3Productivity
If more hollow-fiber membranes are packed to improve separation performance, then filtration and degassing efficiency increase, but the conventional cylindrical design makes it difficult to achieve higher packing ratios
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the membrane-containing inner casing from the outer casing, the design allows optimized spatial arrangement of membranes within the inner casing. This segmentation enables more efficient use of the available volume, accommodating more membranes without proportionally increasing the outer casing volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested configuration of inner and outer casings allows the hollow-fiber membranes to be packed in a space-efficient manner within the inner casing. This arrangement maximizes the membrane packing ratio, enabling higher separation performance within a compact module volume.
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 rectangular tubular design enables a higher packing ratio of hollow-fiber membranes, enhancing filtration and degassing performance while simplifying the installation and sealing process, leading to a more efficient and compact module.
Implementation Method 1
a filtered liquid that has permeated into inner spaces of the hollow-fiber membranes is discharged
Implementation Method 2
In order to filter various untreated liquids, a so-called cross-flow hollow-fiber membrane module is used
Data Source
AI summary
A hollow-fiber membrane module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a rectangular tubular outer casing with at least one sidewall being open, the outer casing having a plurality of open ports, and an inner casing configured such that a plurality of hollow-fiber membranes aligned in a longitudinal direction of the outer casing are placeable in the inner casing and configured to be insertable into the one sidewall.