JPH0244842Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a connection structure between a porous support tube containing a tubular membrane and a head in a tubular membrane module using a tubular semipermeable membrane for separation.

A tubular type membrane module 1 as shown in FIG. 1, that is, a porous support tube 5 into which a tubular membrane (not shown) is inserted, is fixed at both ends with a head 2 having a U-bend 4, so as to communicate in a zigzag pattern. In a tubular membrane module having a structure in which both heads are fastened together with long bolts 3, the connecting structure between the porous support tube and the U-bend is conventionally made by stacking multiple layers of tubular fabric or nonwoven fabric to make it rigid. A U-bend metal tube is driven into the membrane support (on which the semipermeable membrane is coated) to prevent the membrane support from coming off the porous support tube and to prevent liquid leakage. A structure in which a U-bend and a porous support tube were sealed was used. However, such a rigid membrane support (semi-permeable membrane coated on it is called a sleeve) is expensive, and a metal tube must be inserted to prevent the sleeve from moving or deforming, so sealing is required. It is difficult to increase the performance and is not suitable when high pressure is required. In addition, tubular rubber packing material 7
A porous support tube and a U-bend flanged metal tube are sometimes connected using a packing material that integrates an O-ring and an O-ring, but such packing material does not deform when the metal tube is driven in. Therefore, it is difficult to reliably seal the porous support tube and the U-bend.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a connection structure that eliminates these drawbacks.
Specifically, a head with a large number of U-bends is fastened together with long bolts to fix both ends, and the U-bends connect a porous support tube with a tubular semipermeable membrane for separation on the inner surface in a zigzag pattern. In a tubular type membrane module, a metal tube having a flange is inserted into a porous support tube, and the expanded metal tube is attached to the outer circumference of the metal tube and is pressed against the semipermeable membrane on the inner surface of the porous support tube. A tubular rubber packing material is also attached to the outer periphery of the metal tube,
This is achieved by the structure of the connecting portion of the tubular membrane module, which is characterized by comprising a sealing member sandwiched between the flange of the metal tube and the edge of the porous support tube.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on its embodiments.

In FIG. 2, 5 is a porous support tube, and a membrane support 7 and a semipermeable membrane 8 are attached to the inner surface of the tube. The membrane support 7 is a tubular piece of cloth or nonwoven fabric, and the semipermeable membrane 8 is coated on top of it.In reality, the membrane support 7 and the semipermeable membrane 8 are integrated to form a sleeve. ing. Metal tube with flange 1
A tubular rubber packing material 9 is attached to the outer circumference of the tube 0, and this tubular rubber packing material 9 is pressed into contact with the expanded flanged metal tube 10 from the inside of the sleeve installed in the porous support tube, thereby forming a porous support tube. A seal is created between the pipes and the metal pipes are prevented from coming off. Regarding tube expansion in detail, this is not much of a problem when operating at low pressures such as ultrafiltration, but when high pressures are required such as reverse osmosis separation, a considerable tube expansion force is required. When considering this tube expansion force as the force required for the sleeve to come out from between the porous support tube and the metal tube when the sleeve is pulled (sleeve pullout force), the following results were obtained. . In other words, when a 0.5% solution of dye (congo red) was circulated inside the module and the pressure was gradually increased, no leakage occurred when the pulling force was 6 kg or more at water pressure of 40 kg/cm ² , but when the pulling force was 40 to 60 kg/cm 2 . At a water pressure of ^cm2 , some dye oozed out from between the tubular rubber packing material and the sleeve or metal tube. However, the pulling force is 20
Kg, no leakage occurred even when operating at a water pressure of 100 Kg/cm ² . 6 for reverse osmosis separation
Although a pulling force of Kg or more is desirable, it is difficult to achieve such a pulling force using the conventional method of driving a metal tube into a rigid support as described above.
Therefore, the above configuration of the present invention enables reliable connection even when high pressure is required. In addition, in the case of extreme overload, it is sufficient if the pulling force is 2 kg or more.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, in the present invention, the above-mentioned tubular rubber packing material 9
Separately, a sealing member 11 (O-ring, U-shaped packing material, etc.) is attached to the outer periphery of the flanged metal tube 10 so as to be sandwiched between the flange and the edge of the porous support tube. This provides a seal between the U-bend 4 of the head and the porous support tube 5. As mentioned above, in the past, a rubber packing material such as a tubular rubber packing material and an O-ring integrated was sometimes used, but such a packing material can be made equivalent to a tubular rubber packing material by driving or expanding a metal tube. When inserted into a U-bend, the seal will be insufficient. In the present invention, by using these separately, a seal structure with higher sealing performance is provided. In this case, the relationship between the sealing member such as the O-ring or U-shaped packing material and the edge wall thickness of the porous support tube is, for example, if the porous support tube is a thick-walled stainless steel tube with a smooth surface at the edge. The diameter of the O-ring etc. may be designed according to the thickness of the edge. On the other hand, if the wall thickness is thin or the edge surface is not smooth, a back-up spring may be used between the O-ring or the like and the edge.

Since the present invention has the above configuration, it is possible to provide a cheaper and more reliable connection structure between the sleeve and the porous support tube than in the case of using a rigid membrane support as in the past. In addition, since the tubular rubber packing material and the O-ring or U-shaped packing material are separate, the U-shaped packing material of the head
The sealing performance when inserted into a bend is also improved. Overall, the present invention therefore provides a very efficient structure for connecting tubular membrane modules.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the entire tubular membrane module used in the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the structure of the connecting portion according to the present invention. 1...Tubular membrane module, 2...Head, 3
... Long bolt, 4 ... U-bend, 5 ... Porous support tube, 6 ... Permeated water passage hole, 7 ... Membrane support, 8
... Semipermeable membrane, 9 ... Tubular rubber packing material, 10
...Flanged metal tube, 11...Sealing member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a tubular type membrane module in which both ends are fixed by tightening a head having a large number of U bends with long bolts, and the U bends connect a porous support tube having a separation tubular semipermeable membrane on the inner surface in a zigzag shape. A metal tube having a flange and inserted into a porous support tube, and a tubular rubber packing material attached to the outer periphery of the metal tube and pressed against a semipermeable membrane on the inner surface of the porous support tube by the expanded metal tube. and a sealing member that is also attached to the outer periphery of the metal tube and is held between the flange of the metal tube and the edge of the porous support tube. .