JPH043622Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a seal structure in a pervaporation membrane module used for concentrating various organic solvents.

[Conventional technology]

Pervaporation membranes are used for separation methods in which specific components in a solution supplied to the primary side of the membrane are permeated to the secondary side of the membrane and taken out in the form of vapor. Recently, it has been attracting attention from this point of view.

By the way, the pervaporation membrane module used in this separation method is usually constructed by closing the opening of a flat container-shaped plate 1 with an open top surface with a pervaporation membrane 2, as shown in FIG. A perforated plate 3 and a spacer 4 are arranged on the outside of the membrane 2 (that is, on the secondary side), and a gasket 5 made of rubber or the like is arranged at the contact part between the plate 1 and the pervaporation membrane 2. There is. Then, the solution L is supplied to the plate 1 as a fluid to be separated from the inlet 6 provided in the plate 1.
While this solution L flows out from the outlet 7, specific components such as moisture pass through the pervaporation membrane 2 and vaporize, becoming vapor. It is separated to the secondary side where the perforated plate is located.

However, such a pervaporation membrane module has a problem with the sealing performance of the gasket. That is,
Normally, a rubber-based gasket is used as the gasket 5 in consideration of its sealing performance, but if the solution L to be treated is an organic solvent, this gasket lacks solvent resistance and may cause the plant to be used for a long time. It was impossible to operate the system, and as a result, it was inefficient and required a great deal of time and effort for maintenance and inspection.

[Purpose of invention]

The present invention was made to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and its purpose is to seal the periphery of the pervaporation membrane when organic solvents are separated using the pervaporation membrane module. This method not only prevents deterioration, damage, or melting of the gaskets used in the plant, making it possible to operate the plant for a long period of time, but also reducing maintenance and inspection work.

[Summary of the invention] The sealing structure of the pervaporation membrane module according to the present invention is to close the opening of a container-shaped plate with an opening on one side with a pervaporation membrane, and to cover the secondary surface of this pervaporation membrane with a perforated membrane. In the pervaporation membrane module provided with a plate, the plate has a receiving surface formed around an opening, and is provided with an inlet and an outlet for the liquid to be separated, so that the liquid to be separated in the pervaporation membrane is The periphery of the side is directly supported by the receiving surface, and the periphery of the secondary surface is constructed by laminating perforated plates with a pressing member made of an elastic material interposed therebetween.

The present invention is not only applicable to the pervaporation membrane module as described above, but also can be applied to various devices using pervaporation membranes by sandwiching the membrane between the elements constituting the liquid side and the perforated plate. It can be applied to all areas to be sealed.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of a seal structure in a pervaporation membrane module according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In these figures, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 5 indicate the same names.

A receiving surface 1a is formed around a shallow box-shaped plate 1 with an open top, and a pervaporation membrane 2 is mounted in direct contact with this receiving surface 1a. A holding member 8 such as a gasket is disposed on the back side of the pervaporation membrane 2, that is, on the secondary side, and the holding member 8 and the plate 1 are fastened together by a tightening device (not shown).

This holding member 8 is made of a gasket 9 made of rubber or the like as shown in FIG. 2, or a metal plate 10 of stainless steel or the like if the unevenness of the packing surface of the plate 1 is small as shown in FIG. A porous and soft material 11 is used.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the edge of the perforated plate 3 may be made to protrude by pressing or the like to serve as a holding member 8. Furthermore, as shown in the figure, even a flat plate can be used as the perforated plate 3 if the finish of the packing surface is good.

However, in order to protect the pervaporation membrane 2, the pressing member 8 is preferably made of a soft and elastic material.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, when the holding member 8 is a metal plate 10 or a holding member 8 using a perforated plate 3 formed by pressing or the like as shown in FIG. 4, the pervaporation membrane 2 and the holding member 8 Or a porous and soft material 11 with solvent resistance is placed between the perforated plate 3 which also serves as a holding member.
Insert. This material 11 may be in the form of a thick band or a thin film.

Furthermore, if the pervaporation membrane is a composite membrane consisting of a pervaporation membrane and a membrane reinforcing it, and the reinforcing membrane serves as the material 11, there is no need to specifically add this material 11.

By making the holding member 8 a soft and elastic material, or by inserting the soft material 11 between the holding member 8 or the perforated plate 3 which also serves as the holding member 8 and the pervaporation membrane 2. Even if the plate 1 has some unevenness, the pervaporation membrane 2 can easily follow the unevenness due to the pressing force of the pressing member 8 and maintain sealing performance.

According to the sealing structure, the organic solvent does not come into contact with the gasket 9 (FIG. 2) made of rubber, and the organic solvent does not come into contact with the metal plate 10 from the back side of the pervaporation membrane 2.
(Fig. 3) etc. by pressing the pervaporation membrane 2.
Can be sealed around. Furthermore, the fourth
In the structure shown in the figure, a frame-shaped protrusion is formed around the perforated plate 3, and the pervaporation membrane 2 is formed by this protrusion.
Since the periphery of the gasket is pressed, a gasket can be substantially omitted.

Incidentally, the pervaporation membrane 2 is not drawn along the perforated plate 3 in any of Figures 1 to 4, but this is to make the structure easier to understand. When setting the pervaporation membrane 2,
By bending this, this bending is pushed up by the internal fluid during operation, and it comes to closely align with the perforated plate 3. As a result, the perforated plate 3 compensates for the lack of strength of the pervaporation membrane 2.

[Effect of idea]

The sealing structure of the pervaporation membrane module according to the present invention is such that the opening of a container-shaped plate with one side open is closed with a pervaporation membrane, and a perforated plate is provided covering the secondary surface of this pervaporation membrane. In the vaporization membrane module, the plate has a receiving surface formed around the opening, and is provided with an inlet and an outlet for the liquid to be separated, and the periphery of the liquid to be separated of the pervaporation membrane is It is directly supported by the receiving surface, and the perforated plates are laminated around the secondary surface with a pressing member made of an elastic material interposed therebetween.

Therefore, in the present invention, a gasket or an alternative thereof is placed on the secondary side (back side) of the pervaporation membrane, and the pervaporation membrane 2 is directly attached to the receiving surface 1a formed on the plate 1 that accommodates the fluid to be separated. Since the pressure is applied, the organic solvent L, which is the fluid to be separated, does not come into direct contact with anything other than the plate 1 and the pervaporation membrane 2.

Therefore, even materials that are susceptible to organic solvents can be freely used for the holding member 8 or the perforated plate 3 that also serves as the holding member 8.

As mentioned above, since the holding member 8 does not come into direct contact with the fluid to be separated, the holding member 8 will not deteriorate, be damaged, or melt and lose its sealing performance, and as a result, long-term plant operation can be improved. Not only is this possible, but it also has the effect of minimizing maintenance and inspection work, making it possible to operate the plant more efficiently.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 show examples of the seal structure in the pervaporation membrane module according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the pervaporation membrane module, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of section A in FIG. 1, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of essential parts of an embodiment in which a perforated plate also serves as a holding member, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional pervaporation membrane module. It is. 1... Plate, 2... Pervaporation membrane, 3... Perforated plate, 4... Spacer, 5... Gasket, 6
...Inflow port, 7...Outflow port, 8...Press member, 9
...Gasket, 10...Metal plate, 11...Soft material.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] In a pervaporation membrane module in which the opening of a container-shaped plate with one side open is closed with a pervaporation membrane, and a perforated plate is provided covering the secondary surface of this pervaporation membrane, The plate has a receiving surface formed around the opening, and is also provided with an inlet and an outlet for the liquid to be separated, and the area around the liquid to be separated side of the pervaporation membrane is directly connected to the receiving surface. A seal structure in a pervaporation membrane module in which perforated plates are laminated with a support member made of an elastic material interposed around the secondary surface.