Hollow fiber membrane module

Details Hollow fiber membrane module Hollow fiber membrane module

1993-10-07

1996-01-02

Kim, John

Liquid purification or separation

Processes

Liquid/liquid solvent or colloidal extraction or diffusing...

139383R, 21032179, 21050023, 210791, 210796, 210797, B01D 6302, B01D 6508

Patent

active

054805538

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane module and a filtration method using this module. More particularly, it relates to a hollow fiber membrane module suitable for the filtration of highly polluted liquids (in particular, liquids polluted with organic matter), and a filtration method using such a module.


BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, hollow fiber membrane modules have been widely used in the field of so-called precision filtration applications including, for example, the preparation of sterile water, drinking water and high-purity water and the purification of air. In recent years, various attempts are being made to use hollow fiber membrane modules in highly polluted liquid treatment applications including, for example, secondary and tertiary treatments in sewage disposal plants, solid-liquid separation in night soil clarification tanks, separation of suspended solids (SS) from industrial waste water, direct filtration of river water in water purification plants, filtration of tap water for industrial use, and filtration of pool water.
However, most hollow fiber membrane modules used in these applications are of a cylindrical type which comprises a bundle of hollow fibers arranged in a circle or concentric circles and has conventionally been used in the field of precision filtration applications. Moreover, even where improvements are made in such hollow fiber membrane modules, they often comprise a mere modification of the packing density or packing form of hollow fibers.
When such a prior art hollow fiber membrane module is used for the treatment of highly polluted liquid (for example, SS.gtoreq.50 ppm, TOC.gtoreq.100 ppm), the hollow fibers cohere (or stick) together into a mass through the medium of the deposits (such as organic matter) accumulated on the membrane surfaces of the hollow fibers during use. As a result, the effective membrane surface area of the hollow fibers within the module is reduced to cause a rapid decrease in filtering flow rate. This phenomenon tends to occur especially in the hollow fibers located in the central part of cylindrical modules, and becomes more conspicuous with large-sized ones.
Although such a hollow fiber membrane module is periodically subjected to membrane surface cleaning or back washing, it is not easy to restore the function of the module whose hollow fibers have once cohered together into a mass, thus indicating a reduction in cleaning efficiency.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hollow fiber membrane module which, even when used for the filtration of highly polluted liquid, the hollow fibers contained in the module rarely cohere together into a mass, and the membrane surfaces of the hollow fibers can be efficiently cleaned concurrently with the filtration, so that the loss of the filtering function is minimized.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hollow fiber membrane module which can be efficiently produced on an industrial scale.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hollow fiber membrane module comprising (a) hollow fibers, (b) a fastening member for fixing the ends of the hollow fibers while leaving them open, and (c) a structural member for enclosing and supporting the fastening member, said hollow fiber membrane module being useful in the filtration of water by suction from the surface to the inside of the hollow fibers with intermittent or continuous cleaning of the membrane surfaces of the hollow fibers, characterized in that the hollow fibers comprise a textile fabric containing hollow fibers as the weft and the cross-section of the fastening member perpendicular to the hollow fibers is shaped like an elongated rectangle.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filtration method which comprises (A) immersing a hollow fiber membrane module in water to be treated, the hollow fiber membrane module comprising (a) hollow fibers, (b) a fastening member for fixing the ends of the ho

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