JPH0350974Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] <Industrial application field> The present invention relates to a connector attached to the lower part of a hollow fiber module used to remove fine particles in water, such as iron oxide fine particles in condensate, by filtration. .

<Conventional technology> In recent years, as a method for treating condensate at thermal power plants, nuclear power plants, etc., filtration towers using hollow fiber modules have been used to first remove crud caused by iron oxide fine particles in condensate by filtration. A condensate treatment method has been proposed in which the filtered water is then treated with a mixed bed of a cation exchange resin and an anion exchange resin to remove impurity ions. The condensate treatment method described above directly removes crud on the membrane surface of each hollow fiber in the filtration tower. Contains no pre-coating agent. Therefore, since the solid matter contained in the washing waste liquid is only the removed iron oxide fine particles, the amount of solid matter is extremely small compared to the washing waste liquid of the pre-coated filter tower. Therefore, if a filtration tower using hollow fiber modules is used to remove crud containing radioactive materials, such as in condensate treatment at BWR nuclear power plants, the burden on the radioactive waste treatment system will be significantly reduced. From this point of view, it has recently received particular attention.

A hollow fiber module used to remove iron oxide fine particles in condensate water passes condensate from the outside to the inside of each hollow fiber, filters iron oxide fine particles on the outer peripheral surface of each hollow fiber, and removes the iron oxide fine particles. It is more advantageous to use the so-called external pressure type, in which the filtered water is obtained from the inside.

This is because condensate is passed from the inside to the outside of each hollow fiber, and the fine particles are filtered on the inner peripheral surface of each hollow fiber.
When used as a so-called internal pressure type, the effective cross-sectional area of the inner periphery of the hollow fiber gradually decreases due to the adhesion of the fine particles as the filtration progresses, and the flow resistance inside the hollow fiber increases, which is not preferable.

The applicant of this application previously filed the patent application No. 59-273579.
We proposed an external pressure type hollow fiber module for use in the applications described above.

The hollow fiber module is as shown in Fig. 9, and the upper and lower ends of a large number of hollow fibers 2 are bonded together, and the gaps between the hollow fibers are bonded at the upper ends without blocking the hollow portions of each hollow fiber. and upper joint part 3
The lower end of each hollow fiber is closed off and the gap between each hollow fiber is glued to form a lower joint 4, and the hollow fiber bundle is housed in an outer cylinder 5. At the same time, communication ports 6A and 6B are provided in the upper and lower parts of the outer cylinder 5, respectively, and a through port 7 is provided in the lower joint portion 4 for introducing air bubbles into the outer peripheral surface of each hollow fiber. It has a skirt portion 8 for receiving it.

Attaching the hollow fiber module 1 to a filtration tower,
For example, when removing iron oxide fine particles in condensate, it is done as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, a large number of hollow fiber modules 1 are vertically disposed on a partition plate 10 installed horizontally in a filtration tower 9, and a partition plate, for example, for introducing air bubbles below the hollow fiber modules 1 is installed. When filtering condensate with a user 11 attached, the condensate flows in from the inflow pipe 12 attached to the lower part of the filtration tower 9, and the condensate is passed through the through-hole 7 of each hollow fiber module 1 or the lower part. is introduced into the outer cylinder 5 from the flow port 6B, the iron oxide fine particles are filtered on the outside of each hollow fiber 2, the filtrate inside each hollow fiber 2 is collected above the partition plate 10, and the filtrate water is flows out from the outflow pipe 13.

If the pressure loss increases due to continued use of the filtration tower, perform the following cleaning.

That is, water flow is interrupted and air is first introduced from the lower air inlet pipe 14 while the lower part of the partition plate 10 is filled with condensate water and the upper part of the partition plate 10 is filled with filtered water. The air rises in the form of bubbles from the distributor 11, is received by the skirt portion 8 of each hollow fiber module 1, and is caused to flow into the inside of each hollow fiber module 1 through the through hole 7, so that the air bubbles rise inside the module. The water is stirred and each hollow fiber 2 is vibrated to peel off the iron oxide fine particles adhering to the outer membrane surface of each hollow fiber 2. Note that the air bubbles are released from the communication port 6A at the top of each hollow fiber module 1, and then flowed out from the air vent pipe 15 attached to the upper side of the filtration tower 9.

After sufficiently stirring and vibrating the air bubbles in each hollow fiber 2, air is forced in from the upper air inflow pipe 16, and the filtered water present in the upper part of the partition plate 10 is drained from the inside of each hollow fiber 2. The cleaning liquid containing a large amount of iron oxide fine particles is returned to the outside through the blow pipe 17.
This method allows more water to flow out, and the above-described filtration and washing are repeated alternately.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> As described above, in the external pressure type hollow fiber module, in order to peel off the iron oxide fine particles attached to the outside of each hollow fiber, each hollow fiber must be sufficiently stirred with air bubbles as described above. It is an important requirement to vibrate, and for this purpose, a through hole 7 is provided in the lower joint portion 4 as shown in FIG. 9.

However, in the hollow fiber module 1 shown in FIG. 9, it is necessary to close the hollow portion of each hollow fiber at the lower joint part 4, glue the gaps between each hollow fiber, and also provide a through hole 7. It has the disadvantage that it is complicated and difficult to manufacture, and its manufacturing cost is also relatively high.

The purpose of the present invention is not to manufacture the mechanism for introducing air bubbles into the hollow fiber module integrally with the hollow fiber module, but to separately manufacture a connector with a relatively simple structure, and to create a mechanism for introducing air bubbles into the connector. By adding a mechanism, the lower structure is simplified.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention is a method for bundling a large number of hollow fibers whose upper end is open and whose lower end is closed, or a large number of hollow fibers whose both ends are open, and to bundle each hollow fiber above and below the hollow fiber bundle. A connector attached to the lower end of a hollow fiber module having a joint for closing the gap between the hollow fibers, which includes a cylindrical body into which the lower end of the hollow fiber module is inserted, and a cylindrical body that is connected to the cylindrical body and has a lower end. A hollow fiber characterized in that the hollow fiber has a skirt portion that is open, and a bubble passage passage provided in the thick wall portion of the cylindrical body for introducing air bubbles received in the skirt portion to the outer peripheral surface of each hollow fiber. This relates to module connectors.

The present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway vertical cross-sectional view of the connector of the present invention installed at the lower end of a hollow fiber module.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cylindrical body 1
8, a bottom plate 19 for closing the lower opening of the cylindrical body 18, and a skirt portion 8 to which the cylindrical body 18 and one end are joined, and the other end is open at a position below the bottom plate 19. , the cylindrical body 1
Bubble passage 20 provided in the thick part corresponding to the side wall of No. 8
This forms a connector 21, and a hollow fiber module 22 is inserted into the upper opening of the cylindrical body 18.

Note that the hollow fiber module 22 shown in this embodiment
At the upper and lower ends of the large number of hollow fibers 2, the gaps between the hollow fibers 2 at the upper and lower ends are bonded together without blocking the hollow portions of each hollow fiber 2, thereby forming the upper joint portion 3 and the lower joint portion 4. The hollow fiber bundle is stored in the outer cylinder 5, and the outer cylinder 5 is
Flow openings 6A and 6B are provided in the upper and lower parts, respectively.

Although the bubble passages 20 are provided at four locations in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the number of locations where the bubble passages 20 are provided can be increased or decreased as necessary.

Figure 3 shows the hollow fiber module 22 shown in Figure 1.
Fig. 4 is a cutaway external view of Fig. 3.
This is a cross-sectional view taken along line B. As shown in FIG. In the bubble passage 20
and the bubble supply port 23 are communicated with each other.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 4, the hollow fiber module 2
When the inner diameter of the hollow fibers 2 is relatively large, it is preferable to horizontally install a bubble supply pipe 25 having a large number of holes 24 within the bundle of hollow fibers 2. In this case, the bubble supply pipe 25 and the bubble supply port 23 are communicated with each other. Further, if the inner diameter of the hollow fiber module 22 is relatively small, the bundle of hollow fibers 2 may be covered with a net 26 instead of an outer cylinder 5 as shown in FIG.
When using the net 26, the distribution ports 6A, 6
B, the bubble supply port 23, the bubble supply pipe 25, etc. can be omitted. Note that FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 5. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the bottom plate 19 is used at the lower end of the hollow fiber module 22, but this is because the hollow fiber module 22 does not close the hollow portion at the lower end of each hollow fiber 2. For example, each hollow fiber 2
When using a hollow fiber module whose lower end hollow portion is closed with an adhesive or the like, the attachment of the bottom plate 19 can be omitted. In addition, in FIG. 1, there is a space 27 between the lower end of the hollow fiber module 22 and the bottom plate 19.
The hollow fiber module 22 and the connector 21 are joined together as shown in FIG. There is no problem even if the lower end of the module 22 and the bottom plate 19 are joined so as to be in close contact with each other. Note that the hollow fiber module 22 and the connector 21 can be joined by screwing or gluing, but it is advantageous to join by screwing because it allows for disassembly and inspection.

<Function> The assembly of such a hollow fiber module and the connector 21 of the present invention is installed in a filtration tower, and the installation method is similar to that shown in FIG. It is installed vertically on a partition plate 10 installed horizontally in the tower 9, and the other structure of the filtration tower is the same as that shown in Fig. 10, so the following filtration and washing operations will be explained with reference to Fig. 10 as well. do.

First, when performing filtration, water to be treated, such as condensate water, flows in from the inflow pipe 12. The condensate is the first
In the case of the hollow fiber module 22 shown in FIG. In this case, Net2
6 to reach the outer periphery of each hollow fiber 2, iron oxide fine particles are filtered on the outside of each hollow fiber 2, and the filtrated water inside each hollow fiber 2 is collected above the partition plate 10, and the filtrated water is flows out from the outflow pipe 13.

If pressure loss increases due to continued filtration, perform the following cleaning.

That is, water flow is interrupted and air is first introduced from the lower air inlet pipe 14 while the lower part of the partition plate 10 is filled with condensate water and the upper part of the partition plate 10 is filled with filtered water. The air rises from the distributor 11 in the form of bubbles, and the skirt portion 8 of the connector 21 receives the bubbles.
Next, in the case of the module 22 shown in FIG. 1 (FIGS. 3 and 4), the bubbles are passed through the bubble passage 20,
The air bubbles are introduced into the outer peripheral surface of each hollow fiber 2 through the air bubble supply port 23, the air bubble supply pipe 25, and the hole 24, and the water in the module 22 is stirred, and each hollow fiber 2 is vibrated. Peel off the iron oxide fine particles adhering to the outer membrane surface. Note that the air bubbles are released from the flow port 6A of the hollow fiber module 22, and then flowed out from the air vent pipe 15 attached to the upper side of the filtration tower 9.

Furthermore, in the case of the module 22 shown in FIG.
Introducing air bubbles from the outer periphery of the hollow fiber bundle into the inside of the hollow fiber bundle via the bubble passage 20 and the net 26,
While stirring the water in the module 22,
Each hollow fiber 2 is vibrated to peel off iron oxide fine particles adhering to the outer membrane surface of each hollow fiber 2. In the case of the module 22 shown in FIG.
6 and then discharged through an air vent pipe 15 attached to the upper side of the filtration tower 9.

After sufficient stirring and vibration by such bubbles, air is forced in from the upper air inflow pipe 16 to cause the filtered water present in the upper part of the partition plate 10 to flow back from the inside to the outside of each hollow fiber 2. The cleaning liquid containing a large amount of iron oxide fine particles is discharged from the blow pipe 17.

FIG. 7 shows the connector 21 shown in FIG. 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway vertical cross-sectional view of the case where another module 22 is attached, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D--D in FIG. 7. Module 22 shown in Figure 7
At the upper and lower ends of the large number of hollow fibers 2, the gaps between the hollow fibers 2 at the upper and lower ends are bonded together without blocking the hollow portions of each hollow fiber 2, thereby forming the upper joint portion 3 and the lower joint portion 4. Tonashi and hollow fiber 2
A water collection pipe 28 is erected inside the bundle of water collection pipes 2 and 2.
The upper end of 8 is opened above the partition plate 10, and the lower end thereof is opened into the space 27. When such a hollow fiber module 22 is used, the filtered water inside each hollow fiber 2 can be collected in the space 27 and flowed out above the partition plate 10 via the water collection pipe 28. The filtered water inside the hollow fibers 2 can be sampled from both ends of each hollow fiber 2, and therefore the linear flow velocity within the hollow fibers can be reduced to about 1/2, thereby reducing pressure loss during filtration. Note that the water collection pipe 28 can be installed not only inside the hollow fiber bundle, but also on the side wall of the cylindrical body 18 or the bottom plate 19, for example.
The water collection pipe 28 passes through the water collection pipe 28 and enters the space 27.
The opening at one end may be exposed, the water collecting pipe 28 may be placed along the outer tube 5, and the opening at the other end may be exposed above the partition plate 10.

<Effects> As explained above, the connector of the present invention has a mechanism for introducing air bubbles into the hollow fiber module, so there is no need to provide a mechanism for introducing air bubbles into the hollow fiber module itself, and the connector of the present invention The lower structure of the module is simplified, and the manufacturing cost of the hollow fiber module can be significantly reduced.

Further, the structure of the connector itself of the present invention is relatively simple, and since it can be attached to and detached from the lower end of the hollow fiber module, the lower end of the hollow fiber module can be inspected relatively easily.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 8 are drawings showing embodiments of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway vertical sectional view when the connector of the present invention is attached to the lower end of a hollow fiber module, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a cutaway external view of the hollow fiber module used in the present invention, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 3, and Figure 5. 6 is a cutaway external view of another hollow fiber module used in the present invention, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a connector of the present invention attached to the lower end of another hollow fiber module. FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line D--D in FIG. 7. Further, FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a hollow fiber module having a through hole at its lower end for introducing air bubbles, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of a filtration tower equipped with the hollow fiber module. 1...Hollow fiber module, 2...Hollow fiber, 3...
... Upper joint part, 4 ... Lower joint part, 5 ... Outer cylinder,
6... Distribution port, 7... Penetration port, 8... Skirt portion, 9... Filtration tower, 10... Partition plate, 11... Distributor, 12... Inflow pipe, 13... Outflow pipe, 14 ... lower air inflow pipe, 15 ... air vent pipe, 16 ... upper air inflow pipe, 17 ... blow pipe, 18 ... cylindrical body, 19 ... bottom plate, 20 ... bubble passage, 21 ... connector, 22... Hollow fiber module, 23... Air bubble supply port, 24... Hole, 25
...bubble supply pipe, 26...net, 27...space section, 28...water collection pipe.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A large number of hollow fibers with open upper ends and closed lower ends,
Alternatively, it is a connector that is attached to the lower end of a hollow fiber module that bundles a large number of hollow fibers that are open at both ends, and that has a joint for closing the gaps between the hollow fibers above and below the hollow fiber bundle. A cylindrical body into which the lower end of the hollow fiber module is inserted, a skirt portion that is joined to the cylindrical body and opens at the bottom, and the tube for introducing air bubbles received in the skirt portion to the outer peripheral surface of each hollow fiber. 1. A connector for a hollow fiber module, characterized in that it has a bubble passage provided in a thick part of a shaped body.