Hollow fiber membrane module

Abstract

A hollow fiber membrane module comprising a large number of hollow fiber membranes contained in a cylindrical case, wherein one end of each hollow fiber membrane, which is left open, is fixed to the cylindrical case, while the other ends of the hollow fiber membranes are divided into more than one small bundles, with the ends, contained in separate small bundles, being kept together and plugged.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-section of an embodiment of a hollow fiber membrane module of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of the bottom end portion of an embodiment of the small bundle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-section of another embodiment of a hollow fiber membrane module of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-section of still another embodiment of a hollow fiber membrane module of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-section of the lower portion of an embodiment of a hollow fiber membrane module of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the small bundle partition member shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross-section of a conventional hollow fiber membrane module.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross-section of another conventional hollow fiber membrane module.

FIG. 9 shows an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of the bottom end portion of a small bundle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 shows an enlarged perspective view of still another embodiment of the bottom end portion of a small bundle shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic cross-section of still another embodiment of a hollow fiber membrane module of the invention.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic cross-section of a conventional submerged type hollow fiber membrane module.

FIG. 13 shows a schematic cross-section of an embodiment of a submerged type hollow fiber membrane module of the invention.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic cross-section of another embodiment of a submerged type hollow fiber membrane module of the invention.

FIG. 15 shows a development of the circumferential wall of a cylindrical case shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the circumferential wall shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 shows a schematic cross-section of still another embodiment of a submerged type hollow fiber membrane module of the invention.

FIG. 18 shows a schematic cross-section of still another embodiment of a submerged type hollow fiber membrane module of the invention.

FIG. 19 shows a schematic cross-section of still further another embodiment of a submerged type hollow fiber membrane module of the invention.

FIG. 20 shows a development of the circumferential wall of a cylindrical case shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 shows a schematic cross-section of another embodiment of a submerged type hollow fiber membrane module of the invention.

Claims

1. A hollow fiber membrane module, which comprises a hollow fiber membrane bundle comprising a large number of hollow fiber membranes, contained in a cylindrical case, wherein one end portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle is fixed to the cylindrical case in a state that end of each end of the hollow fiber membranes is open, while at the other end portion of the hollow fiber membrane bundle, the large number of hollow fiber membranes are divided into small bundles, with each small bundle being composed a plurality of the hollow fiber membranes, and with a small bundle forming member being provided at the end portion of each of the small bundles in order to bundle and fix the hollow fiber membranes and close the end of each of the hollow fiber membranes.

2. A hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, wherein the number of the small bundles is in the range of 10 to 800.

3. A hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the module is in the range of 50 to 400 mm, the length of the module is in the range of 500 to 3000 mm, and the number of the hollow fiber membranes contained in each small bundle is in the range of 50 to 800.

4. A hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, wherein a turbulence generation member is provided on the surface of the small bundle forming member.

5. A hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, wherein a small bundle partition member is provided in the cylindrical case, and the small bundle forming member is compartmentalized by the small bundle partition members.

6. A hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, wherein at least one hanging string is provided along with the hollow fiber membranes forming each of the small bundles, and one end of the hanging string is fixed at cylindrical case together with the one ends of the hollow fiber membranes and the other end of the hanging string is fixed at the small bundle forming member together with the hollow fiber membranes forming the small bundle, and wherein in each of the small bundle, a length of the hanging string in a filtration area is shorter than the shortest length of the hollow fiber membrane among lengths of the hollow fiber membranes in the filtration area.

7. A hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical case has an opening to allow water to move between inside and outside thereof.

8. A hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 7, wherein the opening is formed by providing porous material in at least parts of the circumferential wall of the cylindrical case, and the average rate of hole area in the lower portion of the circumferential wall of the cylindrical case is 25% or less.

9. A hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 8, wherein the average rate of hole area of in the upper portion of the circumferential wall of the cylindrical case is larger than the average rate of hole area in the lower portion of the circumferential wall.

10. A hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 7, wherein the number of the small bundles is in the range of 3 to 50, and the number of the hollow fiber membranes in each of the small bundles is in the range of 50 to 2000.