JP5861479B2 - Method for producing hollow fiber membrane module - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module, and more particularly, to a method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module in which the hollow fiber membrane is exposed outside a cylindrical case.

  Conventionally, what has accommodated the hollow fiber membrane in the inside of a cylindrical case as a hollow fiber membrane module for water purifiers is known (for example, patent documents 1).

JP 2008-137005 A

  Such a hollow fiber membrane module purifies raw water by allowing raw water to flow in from one open end of the cylindrical case, purifying the raw water with the hollow fiber membrane, and discharging it from the other end of the cylindrical case. ing.

  Moreover, when using a water purifier in the environment where a large amount of turbidity is contained in the raw water, the turbidity tends to accumulate in the hollow fiber membrane module, so the life of the hollow fiber membrane is shortened. Therefore, in order to facilitate cleaning of the hollow fiber membrane in the hollow fiber membrane module, the axial length of the cylindrical case relative to the hollow fiber membrane is shortened to expose the hollow fiber membrane to the outside of the cylindrical case. A hollow fiber membrane module is proposed. Thus, by exposing the hollow fiber membrane to the outside of the cylindrical case, the user can remove the hollow fiber membrane module from the water purifier and wash the hollow fiber membrane by hand.

  A conventional hollow fiber membrane module that has been used in the past has a center tube as a core and the hollow fiber membrane is rolled into a cylindrical case with a bottom, and a resin pod containing resin is placed on the top of the center tube The hollow fiber membrane module is fixed to the cylindrical case by placing and solidifying the resin in the resin pod while flowing the hollow fiber membrane module in the lower direction of the cylindrical case using a centrifugal device. It was manufactured by cutting the bottom to expose the hollow fiber membrane.

  However, there has been a problem that a hollow fiber membrane module in which the length of the cylindrical case in the axial direction relative to the hollow fiber membrane is short cannot be manufactured by the method described above. Specifically, when the hollow fiber membrane module having a short axial length of the cylindrical case with respect to the hollow fiber membrane is to be manufactured by the above-described method, the roll-shaped hollow fiber membrane is supported in the circumferential direction. Since there is no cylindrical case, it is necessary to support the resin pod containing the resin with the hollow fiber membrane and the center tube, so that the resin pod may fall down and the resin may spill. Moreover, when the cylindrical case does not exist around the hollow fiber membrane, it is necessary to continue the production process with the hollow fiber membrane exposed, and the hollow fiber membrane may be damaged.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module in which the length of the cylindrical case in the axial direction relative to the hollow fiber membrane is short. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module having a short axial length of a bottomed cylindrical case with respect to the hollow fiber membrane, on a peripheral wall of the bottomed cylindrical case. A cylindrical auxiliary guide having a diameter substantially the same as the peripheral wall is attached to a cylindrical body obtained by rolling a long knitted fabric of a hollow fiber membrane having a predetermined length around a tubular center tube. A step of inserting the cylindrical body of the hollow fiber membrane into the casing, a step of attaching a resin pod containing resin to the upper end of the center tube, and applying a centrifugal force in the bottom direction using a centrifuge, A step of moving the resin in the pod to the vicinity of the bottom and curing; a step of cutting the bottom of the cylindrical case to expose the hollow fiber membrane; and a step of removing the auxiliary guide and the resin pod. Includes a flop, the.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, when the centrifugal force is applied to the cylindrical case by the centrifugal device, the hollow fiber membrane is prevented from being damaged by supporting the hollow fiber membrane from the surrounding by the auxiliary case. can do.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the auxiliary guide has a tapered shape in which the upper end diameter is longer than the lower end diameter.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to easily put the cylindrical body of the hollow fiber membrane into the cylindrical case.

  In the present invention, preferably, the upper end of the cylindrical case and the lower end of the auxiliary guide have a fitting structure.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, the cylindrical case and the auxiliary guide can be easily attached and detached.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module in which the length of the cylindrical case in the axial direction relative to the hollow fiber membrane is short.

It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the hollow fiber membrane module 1 manufactured by the hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing method of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the auxiliary guide used when manufacturing the hollow fiber membrane module by embodiment of this invention. It is drawing for demonstrating the hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing method by embodiment of this invention. It is drawing for demonstrating the hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing method by embodiment of this invention. It is drawing for demonstrating the hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing method by embodiment of this invention. It is drawing for demonstrating the hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing method by embodiment of this invention. It is drawing for demonstrating the hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing method by embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the structure of the hollow fiber membrane module manufactured by the hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing method of preferable embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a hollow fiber membrane module 1 manufactured by the hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing method of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hollow fiber membrane module 1 is formed by winding a long knitted fabric of a hollow fiber membrane around one end side of a cylindrical casing 3 having both ends opened. The hollow fiber membrane cylinder 5 is fixed with an adhesive (fixing resin, ie, potting resin) 7. The hollow fiber membrane constituting the cylindrical body 5 of the hollow fiber membrane is opened at one end of the cylindrical body 5 located on one end side of the casing 1. The axial length of the casing 3 is shorter than the axial length of the cylindrical body 5, and most of the cylindrical body 5 is exposed from the upper end of the casing 3.

  Further, a step portion 9 is provided at the upper end of the casing 3 along the circumferential direction of the casing 3 so that an auxiliary guide to be described later can be attached.

  Further, a center tube 11 that is a cylindrical member is inserted through the center of the cylindrical body 5 in the radial direction.

  The casing 3 may be made of any material having mechanical strength and durability. For example, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyolefin, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), acrylic resin, ABS resin, modified PPE (polyphenylene ether), etc. are used. It is done.

  As the hollow fiber membrane constituting the cylindrical body 5 of the hollow fiber membrane, various materials can be used. For example, various materials such as cellulose-based, polyolefin-based, polyvinyl alcohol-based, PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) -based, and polysulfone-based materials. A hollow fiber membrane made of a family can be used. In particular, a hollow fiber membrane made of a material with high elongation such as polyethylene is preferred.

  In addition, the hole diameter, porosity, film thickness, outer diameter, and the like of the hollow fiber membrane are not particularly limited as long as the hollow fiber membrane can be used as a filtration membrane. It is preferable that the diameter is 2000 μm, the pore diameter is 0.01 to 1 μm, the porosity is 20 to 90%, and the thickness is about 5 to 300 μm.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an auxiliary guide used when manufacturing the hollow fiber membrane module 1 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary guide 13 is configured by a cylindrical body having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the casing 3. The axial length of the auxiliary guide 13 is dimensioned so that the upper end of the auxiliary guide 13 is positioned higher than the upper end of the cylindrical body 5 when the auxiliary guide 13 is attached to the upper end of the casing 3. . At the lower end of the auxiliary guide 13, a step portion 15 that can be fitted to the step portion 9 at the upper end of the casing 3 is formed. The material of the auxiliary guide 13 may be any material having mechanical strength and durability, like the material of the casing 3, and the above-described polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyolefin, PVC, acrylic resin, ABS resin, modified PPE, etc. Is used. Moreover, in order to ensure the visibility of the hollow fiber membrane inside, it is preferable to use a transparent material.

  Next, the hollow fiber membrane module manufacturing method of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  First, a long knitted fabric (hollow fiber membrane bundle) 17 as shown in FIG. 3 is manufactured. This long knitted fabric 17 is produced by so-called Russell knitting, and a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 19 are folded back to the length of the width of the long knitted fabric 17 a plurality of times. The long knitted fabric 17 is manufactured by binding with a chain stitch knitting yarn 21 extending in the longitudinal direction of the long knitted fabric 17 on both sides.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the warp yarn 21 binds the hollow fiber membranes 19 by chain stitch (chain stitch) at a predetermined position of the folded portion. As the types of fibers constituting the warp yarn 21, multifilament yarns and spun yarns made of synthetic fibers having water resistance such as polyester fibers can be used, and it is desirable to select them appropriately depending on the use conditions. The optimum number of yarns is not particularly limited, but is within the range of 2 to 5, for example.

  Next, the long knitted fabric 17 is cut into a predetermined length, for example, about 30 to 50 cm, and the long knitted fabric is cut around the center tube 11 which is a cylindrical member as shown in FIG. 17 is rolled (that is, wound) to form a cylindrical hollow fiber membrane (cylindrical body) 5 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the center tube 11 is a tube (tube) -like member, and an annular flange 23 is formed at one end. The length of the center tube 11 is substantially equal to the width of the long knitted fabric 17, that is, the height of the cylindrical hollow fiber membrane (cylindrical body) 5. The annular flange 23 is positioned outward from the side edge of the long knitted fabric 17 when the cut long knitted fabric 17 is rolled (that is, wound), and is formed on the end surface of the formed cylindrical body 5. It becomes a circumscribed state. Further, the other end of the center tube 11 is formed such that the tip end surface forms a predetermined acute angle with the axis of the center tube 11.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the step 9 at the upper end of the casing 3 and the step 15 at the lower end of the auxiliary guide 13 are fitted to each other to attach the casing 3 and the auxiliary guide 13, thereby integrating them. At this time, since sufficient strength can be obtained by fitting the step portions 9 and 13 to each other, it is not necessary to use an adhesive or the like.

  Subsequently, the cylindrical body 5 of the hollow fiber membrane is inserted from the opening end of the upper portion of the auxiliary guide 13 having one end opened.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the discharge pipe 25 of the resin pod (liquid resin reservoir container) 27 with the discharge pipe 25 integrally formed at the lower portion is wound around the center of the cylindrical hollow fiber membrane (columnar body) 5. The resin pod 27 is filled with a liquid resin R for fixing.

  As the fixing resin, an epoxy resin, an unsaturated polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, a silicone-based filler, various hot melt resins, and the like can be used, and can be appropriately selected. Also, the viscosity of the fixing resin before solidification is not particularly limited, but is preferably 500 to 5000 mPa · s, more preferably 2000 to 3000 mPa · s.

  If the viscosity of the fixing resin is less than 500 mPa · s, the fixing resin may flow to the opening end of the hollow fiber membrane 4 and cause the opening end to be blocked. When the viscosity of the fixing resin exceeds 5000 mPa · s, it is difficult to impregnate between the hollow fiber membranes 4.

  Further, in the centrifugal device, the intermediate body including the casing 3 and the auxiliary casing 13 is placed sideways so that the bottom surface side of the casing 3 is outside the rotation and the upper end of the auxiliary casing 13 is the inside of the rotation. Call. With this centrifugal force, the liquid resin R in the resin pod 27 reaches the bottom of the casing 3 through the center tube 11 as indicated by an arrow A.

  Thereafter, the centrifuge is stopped, the casing 3 is taken out of the centrifuge, the liquid resin that has reached the bottom of the casing 3 is cured, and the cured resin layer that seals the inner space of the casing 22 in the axial direction at the bottom of the casing 3. Form. By this cured resin layer, the cylindrical hollow fiber membrane (cylindrical body) 5 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the casing 3, and the hollow fiber membranes are joined to each other in the cylindrical hollow fiber membrane (cylindrical body) 5. .

  Next, in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the casing 3, an internal cylindrical hollow fiber membrane (cylindrical body) 5 integrated by the casing 3 and the cured resin layer is cut in a radial direction of the casing 3, and the cylindrical hollow fiber membrane is obtained. After the open end of the hollow fiber membrane 19 constituting the (cylindrical body) 5 is exposed to the outside, the auxiliary casing 13 is removed from the casing 3 to complete the production of the hollow fiber membrane module 1 (FIG. 1).

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, Each structure can be suitably changed in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the cylindrical auxiliary guide is used. However, the auxiliary guide may have a truncated triangular pyramid shape having a tapered shape in which the upper end diameter is longer than the lower end diameter. Thereby, when the cylindrical body 8 of the hollow fiber membrane is put into the casing 3, the auxiliary casing 13 serves as a guide member that guides the cylindrical body 8 to an appropriate position in the casing 3.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hollow fiber membrane module 3 Casing 5 Cylindrical body 11 of hollow fiber membrane Center tube 13 Auxiliary guide 27 Resin pod

Claims (3)

A method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module having a short axial length of a bottomed cylindrical case with respect to the hollow fiber membrane,
Attaching a cylindrical auxiliary guide having substantially the same diameter as the peripheral wall on the peripheral wall of the bottomed cylindrical case;
Preparing a cylindrical body obtained by rolling a long knitted fabric of a hollow fiber membrane having a predetermined length around a tubular center tube, and inserting the cylindrical body of the hollow fiber membrane into the casing;
Attaching a resin pod containing resin to the upper end of the center tube;
Applying centrifugal force in the bottom direction using a centrifuge, moving the resin in the resin pod to the vicinity of the bottom, and curing,
Cutting the bottom of the cylindrical case to expose the hollow fiber membrane;
Removing the auxiliary guide and the resin pod. A method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module.   The said auxiliary guide is a manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module of Claim 1 which has a taper shape whose diameter of an upper end is longer than the diameter of a lower end.   The manufacturing method of the hollow fiber membrane module of Claim 1 or 2 with which the upper end of the said cylindrical case and the lower end of the said auxiliary guide have a fitting structure.

Images