The present invention relates to a membrane separation apparatus, and in particular, to a membrane separation apparatus that is suitably used as a membrane separation apparatus for monitoring of scale in a water treatment apparatus.
Conventionally, a flat membrane testing apparatus has been proposed, the flat membrane testing apparatus having an inner O-ring and an outer O-ring arranged in groove portions of a lower support body, the inner O-ring sealing between a separation membrane and the lower support body, the outer O-ring sealing between an upper support and the lower support body, the inner O-ring and outer O-ring serving as a sealing member between the upper support body and the lower support body sandwiching a test membrane (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). In this flat membrane testing apparatus, water to be treated is supplied into the flat membrane testing apparatus from a water-to-be-treated introduction port provided in the lower support body, permeated water that has permeated the separation membrane is discharged from a permeated water discharge port provided in the upper support body, and concentrated water is discharged from a concentrated water discharge port provided in a lower cell.
Patent Literature 1: Specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,970
However, in the flat membrane testing apparatus described in Patent Literature 1, since sealing between the separation membrane and the lower support body is realized by abutment between the separation membrane and the inner O-ring, as the inner O-ring is deteriorated, the separation membrane is damaged by contact between the separation membrane and a corner portion of the groove portion of the lower support body accommodating the inner O-ring therein. Therefore, a membrane separation apparatus, which enables prevention of damage to a separation membrane associated with deterioration of a sealing member, is useful.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a membrane separation apparatus that enables prevention of damage to a separation membrane even if a sealing member is deteriorated.
A membrane separation apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present invention comprises: a lower support body having a water-to-be-treated introduction port and a concentrated water discharge port provided therein; an upper support body having a permeated water discharge port provided therein; a separation membrane that is provided between the lower support body and the upper support body, and that separates water to be treated into permeated water and concentrated water; and a first sheet-like elastic member that is provided between the separation membrane and the lower support body, and that seals between the separation membrane and the lower support body and between the lower support body and the upper support body.
According to this configuration, since sealing between the lower support body and the upper support body is realized by the first sheet-like elastic member without provision of a groove portion accommodating therein a sealing member; even if the sheet-like elastic member serving as the sealing member is deteriorated, damage to the separation membrane is able to be prevented.
The membrane separation apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, further comprises: a second sheet-like elastic member that is provided between the upper support body and the separation membrane, and that seals between the upper support body and the lower support body. According to this configuration, sealing between the lower support body and the upper support body is able to be realized efficiently.
In the membrane separation apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the first sheet-like elastic member and the second sheet-like elastic member are arranged to cover a corner portion of an opening of the lower support body. According to this configuration, since the first sheet-like elastic member and the second sheet-like elastic member are able to protect the corner portion of the lower support body, and contact between the separation membrane and the corner portion of the lower support body is thus able to be prevented; damage to the separation membrane is able to be prevented efficiently.
In the membrane separation apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the lower support body is formed of: a water-to-be-treated introduction portion having the water-to-be-treated introduction port and the concentrated water discharge port provided therein; a primary side flow channel portion that is arranged between the water-to-be-treated introduction portion and the separation membrane, and that is provided with a primary side flow channel, through which the water to be treated that has been supplied from the water-to-be-treated introduction port is supplied to the separation membrane, and through which the concentrated water that has been concentrated by the separation membrane is supplied to the concentrated water discharge port; and a lower support portion that is arranged on the water-to-be-treated introduction portion and that supports the water-to-be-treated introduction portion: which are layered over one another. According to this configuration, if, for example, a problem is caused in the lower support body, just by replacement of the water-to-be-treated introduction portion or the primary side flow channel portion, which is being a cause of the problem, the problem in the lower support body is able to be solved, and thus maintainability of the membrane separation apparatus is improved. Further, even if there is a demand for modification in the configuration of the membrane separation apparatus due to, for example, water quality variation in the water to be treated, just by replacement of the necessary portion/portions, the demand is able to be dealt with.
In the membrane separation apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the upper support body is formed of: a permeated water discharge portion having the permeated water discharge port provided therein; a permeated water flow channel portion that is arranged between the permeated water discharge portion and the separation membrane, and that is provided with a permeated water flow channel, through which the permeated water is supplied to the permeated water discharge portion; and an upper support portion that is arranged on the permeated water discharge portion and that supports the permeated water discharge portion: which are layered over one another. According to this configuration, the separation membrane is able to be supported by the permeated water flow channel portion, and if, for example, a problem is caused in the upper support body, just by replacement of the permeated water flow channel portion or the permeated water discharge portion, which is being a cause of the problem, the problem in the upper support body is able to be solved, and thus maintainability of the membrane separation apparatus is improved. Further, even if there is a demand for modification in the configuration of the membrane separation apparatus due to, for example, water quality variation in the water to be treated, just by replacement of the necessary portion/portions, the demand is able to be dealt with.
In the membrane separation apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the first sheet-like elastic member contains at least one type of rubber selected from the group consisting of fluororubber, nitrile butyl rubber, and hydrogenated nitrile rubber. According to this configuration, sealing between the upper support body and the lower support body is able to be realized efficiently.
According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a membrane separation apparatus, which enables prevention of damage to a separation membrane even if a sealing member is deteriorated, is able to be realized.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, by reference to the appended drawings. Limitation is not made to the respective embodiments below, and implementation may be made by modification as appropriate. Further, the respective embodiments below may be implemented by being combined with each other, as appropriate. Furthermore, any component common to the respective embodiments will be appended with the same reference sign, and redundant description thereof will be avoided.
The lower support body 11 generally has a cuboidal shape formed of plural plate-like members layered over one another, and is formed of a resin material, stainless steel, and the like. The lower support body 11 includes: a lower support portion 111; a water-to-be-treated introduction portion 112 that is provided on this lower support portion 111, and that is provided with a water-to-be-treated introduction port 112a for water to be treated that is subjected to filtration treatment by the separation membrane 13, and a concentrated water discharge port 112b, through which concentrated water that has been concentrated by the separation membrane 13 is discharged; a lower flow channel portion 113 that is provided on this water-to-be-treated introduction portion 112, and that is provided with a water-to-be-treated flow channel 113a, through which the water to be treated is supplied toward the separation membrane 13, and a concentrated water flow channel 113b, through which filtered water that has been filtered by the separation membrane 13 is discharged; and a primary side flow channel portion 114 that is provided between this lower flow channel portion 113 and the separation membrane 13, and that is provided with a primary side flow channel 114a, through which the water to be treated is supplied to the separation membrane 13 and through which the concentrated water that has been concentrated by the separation membrane 13 is discharged. In a space surrounded by the separation membrane 13, the primary side flow channel portion 114, and the lower flow channel portion 113; a spacer 115 that maintains a flow channel for the water to be treated and the concentrated water in the space is arranged. Although an example, in which the lower support body 11 is generally cuboidal, is described in the first example of one or more embodiments, the shape of the lower support body 11 may be modified, as appropriate.
In the membrane separation apparatus 1 according to the first example of one or more embodiments, by the lower support body 11 being formed of plural members, such as, as described above, the lower support portion 111, the water-to-be-treated introduction portion 112, the lower flow channel portion 113, and the primary side flow channel portion 114; even if, for example, a blockage of the concentrated water discharge port 112b of the water-to-be-treated introduction portion 112 due to generation of scale or the like in the concentrated water discharge port 112b, is caused, just by replacement of at least one of the water-to-be-treated introduction portion 112, the lower flow channel portion 113, and the like, where the blockage is caused, the blockage is able to be resolved, and thus maintainability is improved. Further, even if there is a demand for modification in the configuration of the membrane separation apparatus 1 associated with water quality variation in the water to be treated, just by replacement of the necessary portion/portions of the lower support body 11, the demand is able to be dealt with.
The upper support body 12 generally has a cuboidal shape formed of plural plate-like members layered over one another, and is formed of a resin material, stainless steel, and the like. The upper support body 12 includes: an upper support portion 121; a permeated water discharge portion 122 that is provided on (below in
As the separation membrane 13, for example, a reverse osmosis membrane (RO membrane), an ultrafiltration membrane (UF membrane), a microfiltration membrane (MF membrane), or the like is used. The separation membrane 13 is arranged so that both of end portions thereof are arranged to overlap, in a sectional view thereof, the non-opening portion of the primary side flow channel portion 114 and the non-opening portion of the secondary side flow channel portion 124 therebetween. Through the separation membrane 13: permeated water is obtained by water to be treated permeating the separation membrane 13 and suspended matter and salt in the water to be treated being removed; and concentrated water is obtained by the suspended matter, the salt, and the like in the water to be treated being concentrated. Thickness of the separation membrane 13 is, for example, equal to or larger than 0.05 mm and equal to or smaller than 2 mm.
The sheet-like elastic member 14 is arranged between the separation membrane 13 and the primary side flow channel portion 114. The sheet-like elastic member 14 is not particularly limited, as long as the sheet-like elastic member 14 is able to be used as a buffer between the separation membrane 13 and the primary side flow channel portion 114. For the sheet-like elastic member 14, for example, any of nitrile butyl rubber, fluororubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, and the like may be used. Of these, in terms of chemical resistance, as the sheet-like elastic member 14, fluororubber and hydrogenated nitrile rubber may be selected. The sheet-like elastic member 14 is arranged to cover both end portions of a lower surface side of the separation membrane 13 in a sectional view thereof. By the arrangement of the sheet-like elastic member 14 as described above, even if the sheet-like elastic member 14 is deteriorated, there is existence as a layer of an elastic member between the separation membrane 13 and the sheet-like elastic member 14, and surface contact between the separation membrane 13 and the lower support body 11 is able to be avoided, and thus the separation membrane 13 is able to be prevented from being damaged. Thickness of the sheet-like elastic member 14 is, for example, equal to or larger than 0.25 mm and equal to or smaller than 0.75 mm, but is not particularly limited.
As described above, since the sheet-like elastic member 14 seals between the separation membrane 13 and the lower support body 11 and between the lower support body 11 and the upper support body 12, without provision of a groove portion for accommodating a sealing member, the membrane separation apparatus 1 according to one or more embodiments described above enables damage to the separation membrane 13 to be prevented even if the sheet-like elastic member 14 serving as the sealing member is deteriorated.
Further, in the membrane separation apparatus 1 according to one or more embodiments described above, since the lower support body 11 is formed by the lower support portion 111, the water-to-be-treated introduction portion 112, the lower flow channel portion 113, and the primary side flow channel portion 114 being layered over one another, if a problem is caused in a part of the lower support body 11, just by replacement of the lower support portion 111, the water-to-be-treated introduction portion 112, the lower flow channel portion 113, and the primary side flow channel portion 114 that are being a cause of the problem, the problem in the lower support body 11 is able to be solved, and thus maintainability of the membrane separation apparatus 1 is improved. Further, even if there is a demand for modification in the configuration associated with water quality variation in the water to be treated, just by replacement of the necessary portion/portions, the configuration is able to be modified.
Further, in the membrane separation apparatus 1 according to one or more embodiments described above, since the upper support body 12 is formed by the upper support portion 121, the permeated water discharge portion 122, the permeated water flow channel portion 123, and the secondary side flow channel portion 124 being layered over one another, if a problem is caused in a part of the upper support body 12, just by replacement of the upper support portion 121, the permeated water discharge portion 122, the permeated water flow channel portion 123, and the secondary side flow channel portion 124 being a cause of the problem, the problem in the upper support body 12 is able to be solved, and thus maintainability of the membrane separation apparatus 1 is improved. Further, even if there is a demand for modification in the configuration associated with water quality variation in the water to be treated, just by replacement of the necessary portion/portions, the configuration is able to be modified.
In one or more embodiments described above, an example, in which the lower support body 11 has the lower support portion 111, the water-to-be-treated introduction portion 112, the lower flow channel portion 113, and the primary side flow channel portion 114 layered over one another, has been described, but the lower flow channel portion 113 is not necessarily provided therein.
Next, a second example of one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, redundant description will be avoided by description with a focus on differences from the above described first embodiment. Further, description of any components in common with the above described first example of one or more embodiments will be omitted.
As the first sheet-like elastic member 21, similarly to the sheet-like elastic member 14 according to the above described first example of one or more embodiments, for example, any of nitrile butyl rubber, fluororubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, and the like may be used. The first sheet-like elastic member 21 is arranged to cover a part of the spacer 115 from both end portions of the lower support body 11. Further, the first sheet-like elastic member 21 has an area larger than that of an upper surface of the primary side flow channel portion 114 of the lower support body 11. The spacer 115 is for maintaining a flow channel for water to be treated and concentrated water, and is formed of a resin material, or the like. Furthermore, by the arrangement of the first sheet-like elastic member 21 as described above, contact between: the separation membrane 13; and the spacer 115 in the opening of the primary side flow channel portion 114, and a corner portion 114b of the primary side flow channel portion 114, is able to be prevented, and thus damage to the separation membrane 13 is able to be more efficiently prevented.
As the second sheet-like elastic member 22, similarly to the sheet-like elastic member 14 according to the above described first example of one or more embodiments, for example, any of nitrile butyl rubber, fluororubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, and the like may be used. The second sheet-like elastic member 22 is arranged to cover a part of the spacer 125 from both end portions of the upper support body 12. Further, the second sheet-like elastic member 22 has an area larger than that of a lower surface of the secondary side flow channel portion 124 of the upper support body 12. The spacer 125 is for maintaining a flow channel for water to be treated and concentrated water, and is formed of a resin material, or the like. By the arrangement of the second sheet-like elastic member 22 as described above, contact between: the separation membrane 13; and the spacer 125 in the opening a of the secondary side flow channel portion 124, and a corner portion 124b of the secondary side flow channel portion 124, is able to be prevented, and thus damage to the separation membrane 13 is able to be more efficiently prevented.
Although the disclosure has been described with respect to only a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that various other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2015/059910 | 3/30/2015 | WO | 00 |