JP2011101869A - Membrane module and manufacturing method of membrane module - Google Patents

Abstract

A membrane module capable of easily joining a membrane element fixing portion and a plurality of membrane elements is provided.
SOLUTION: A membrane element fixing portion 20 and a permeate extraction end portion 18 of a membrane element 11 inserted in an opening 21 of the membrane element fixing portion 20 are heat-welded by heating and pressing from a hollow portion 13 side, and heat The material of the membrane element 11 and the membrane element fixing portion 20 in the joint portion 23 to be joined by welding is a thermoplastic resin, and the hollow portion 13 is formed between the permeate extraction end portions 18 of the adjacent membrane elements 11 in the joint portion 23. An escape space 24 is formed which is open to the side and allows the thermoplastic resin melted during heat welding to escape.
[Selection] Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a membrane module including a plurality of membrane elements having a filtration membrane and a water collecting member having a hollow portion therein, and a method for producing such a membrane module.

  Conventionally, as a membrane module, for example, as shown in FIG. 22, a plurality of through holes 72 are formed in a plate-like support member 71, and a permeate extraction end 74 of the membrane element 73 is inserted into each through hole 72. Some of them are glued together. A permeate outlet 75 is formed at the permeate outlet 74 of each membrane element 73.

  According to this, the permeate that has permeated through the membrane element 73 is taken out from the permeate outlet 75 to the outside of the membrane element 73. Such a membrane module 76 is described in, for example, Patent Document 1 below.

JP-A-6-327946

  In the above conventional type, in order to bond the support member 71 and the permeate extraction end 74 inserted into the through hole 72, an adhesive is applied to the permeate extraction end 74 and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 72. Can be considered. However, it takes time and effort to apply the adhesive. In particular, the number of the membrane elements 73 is increased, and there is a problem that much labor and time are required for joining the support member 71 (membrane element fixing portion) and the membrane element 73. .

In addition, when bonding, excessive adhesive may overflow and flow into the permeate outlet 75 of the membrane element 73 and block the permeate outlet 75.
The present invention provides a membrane module and a membrane module capable of easily joining a membrane element fixing portion and a plurality of membrane elements at the time of manufacturing, and capable of preventing clogging of a permeate outlet at the time of joining. An object is to provide a manufacturing method.

In order to achieve the above object, the first invention comprises a plurality of membrane elements having a filtration membrane,
A water collecting member having a hollow portion inside,
A permeate outlet for taking out permeate that has passed through the filtration membrane into the hollow part of the water collecting member is formed at the permeate outlet end of the membrane element,
The water collecting member has a membrane element fixing portion for fixing the permeate extraction end of each membrane element,
The membrane element fixing part is a membrane module having a plurality of openings into which the permeate extraction end of each membrane element is inserted,
The membrane element fixing portion and the permeate extraction end portion of the membrane element inserted into the opening of the membrane element fixing portion are thermally welded by heating and pressing from the hollow portion side,
The material of at least one of the membrane element and the membrane element fixing portion in the joined portion joined by thermal welding is a thermoplastic resin.
Between the permeate extraction ends of the membrane elements adjacent to each other at the joint, a clearance space is formed that opens to the hollow portion side and allows the thermoplastic resin melted or softened during thermal welding to escape.

  According to this, when the membrane module is manufactured, the permeate extraction ends of the plurality of membrane elements are inserted into the openings of the membrane element fixing portion, and the permeate extraction ends of the membrane elements are The membrane element fixing part is heated and pressed from the hollow part side and thermally welded. Thereby, a membrane element fixing | fixed part and a some membrane element can be joined easily.

  At this time, the molten (or softened) thermoplastic resin escapes into the escape space, whereby the deformation and flow of the thermoplastic resin are promoted, and a slight gap is formed between the permeate extraction end of the membrane element and the inner surface of the opening. Since it is easily filled with a molten (or softened) thermoplastic resin, the membrane element and the membrane element fixing portion can be favorably joined by thermal welding.

  Furthermore, since excessive pressure can be prevented from acting between the permeate extraction end of the membrane element and the inner surface of the opening of the membrane element fixing portion, the permeate outlet of the membrane element is melted ( Alternatively, it is possible to suppress clogging with a thermoplastic resin that has been deformed (or fluidized) by being softened.

  In addition, since the contact area between the joint and the heating plate is reduced due to the presence of the escape space during the thermal welding, it is possible to concentrate the thermal energy only on the necessary parts and also to the thermal welding. The required heat energy can be reduced.

In such a membrane module, the permeate that has passed through the filtration membrane of each membrane element is taken out from the permeate outlet and collected in the hollow portion of the water collecting member.
In the membrane module of the second invention, the membrane element fixing portion is a thermoplastic resin,
The escape space is a groove formed between adjacent openings of the membrane element fixing part and opened to the hollow part side.

In the membrane module according to the third invention, the membrane element has a flat plate or sheet shape,
The opening of the membrane element fixing part has a slit shape.
The membrane module according to the fourth aspect of the invention is provided with an insertion amount regulating means for regulating the insertion amount when the permeate extraction end of the membrane element is inserted into the opening of the membrane element fixing portion.

  According to this, when the permeate extraction end portion of the membrane element is inserted into the opening of the membrane element fixing portion, the insertion amount of the permeate extraction end portion is regulated to the specified amount by the insertion amount regulating means. As a result, the insertion amount of the permeate extraction end can be easily and accurately set to a specified amount, and problems such as an excessive or insufficient insertion amount can be prevented.

The fifth invention comprises a plurality of membrane elements having filtration membranes,
A water collecting member having a hollow portion inside,
A permeate outlet for taking out permeate that has passed through the filtration membrane into the hollow part of the water collecting member is formed at the permeate outlet end of the membrane element,
The water collecting member has a membrane element fixing portion for fixing the permeate extraction end of each membrane element,
The membrane element fixing part is a method for manufacturing a membrane module having a plurality of openings into which the permeate extraction end of each membrane element is inserted,
A thermoplastic resin is used for at least one material of the permeate extraction end portion and the membrane element fixing portion of the membrane elements to be joined to each other,
Insert the permeate extraction end of the membrane element into the opening of the membrane element fixing part,
Heat-welding the permeate extraction end of the membrane element and the membrane element fixing part by heating and pressing from the hollow side,
The thermoplastic resin melted or softened at the time of heat welding escapes into the escape space formed between the permeate extraction ends of the adjacent membrane elements.

In the method for manufacturing a membrane module according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the escape space is a groove formed between adjacent openings of the membrane element fixing portion and opened to the hollow portion side.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the membrane module manufacturing method includes the step of inserting the permeate extraction end of the membrane element into the opening of the membrane element fixing portion and then pressing the heating plate from the hollow portion side to the permeate extraction end of the membrane element And heat-welded
At this time, the protrusion provided on the heating plate is inserted into the permeate outlet of the membrane element from the hollow portion side.

  According to this, when the hot plate is pressed from the hollow portion side to the permeate take-out end of the membrane element and thermally welded, the permeate take-off can be obtained by inserting the protrusion of the hot plate into the permeate take-out port of the membrane element. The outlet is closed at the protrusion. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the molten (or deformed) thermoplastic resin from blocking the permeate outlet, and to secure a permeate outlet.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the membrane element fixing portion and the plurality of membrane elements can be easily joined by heat welding. In addition, the melted (or softened) thermoplastic resin escapes into the escape space at the time of heat welding, so that the deformation and flow of the thermoplastic resin are promoted, and the permeate extraction end of the membrane element and the membrane element fixing portion Since the slight gap is easily filled with the molten (or softened) thermoplastic resin, the membrane element and the membrane element fixing portion can be favorably joined by thermal welding.

  Furthermore, since excessive pressure can be prevented from acting between the permeate extraction end of the membrane element and the inner surface of the opening of the membrane element fixing portion, the permeate outlet of the membrane element is melted ( Alternatively, it is possible to suppress clogging with a thermoplastic resin that has been deformed (or fluidized) by being softened.

  In addition, since the contact area between the joining portion and the heating plate is reduced due to the existence of the escape space during the thermal welding, it is possible to concentrate the thermal energy only on the necessary portions and the welding is required. Thermal energy can be reduced.

  Furthermore, by inserting the protrusion of the heating plate into the permeate outlet of the membrane element during heat welding, it is possible to reliably prevent the molten thermoplastic resin from blocking the permeate outlet. The permeate extraction flow path can be secured.

1 is a front view of a membrane separation device configured by stacking membrane modules according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a membrane module. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the water collecting member of the membrane module. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the membrane module. It is an enlarged view of the permeate extraction end of the membrane element of the membrane module. It is a XX arrow line view in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a membrane element fixing plate of the membrane module, in which (a) is a view taken along the line XX in FIG. 4 and (b) is a view taken along the line YY in FIG. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the method for manufacturing the membrane module, showing a state before the permeate extraction end of the membrane element is inserted into the opening of the membrane element fixing plate. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the method for manufacturing the membrane module, showing a state in which the permeate extraction end of the membrane element is inserted into the opening of the membrane element fixing plate. It is a XX arrow line view in FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a method for manufacturing a membrane module, showing a state in which a heating plate is pressed at a joint portion between a permeate extraction end of a membrane element and a membrane element fixing plate. FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a method for manufacturing a membrane module according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state before the permeate extraction end of the membrane element is inserted into the opening of the membrane element fixing plate. . FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the method for manufacturing the membrane module, showing a state in which the permeate extraction end of the membrane element is inserted into the opening of the membrane element fixing plate. It is a partially notched top view which shows the manufacturing method of the membrane module in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and shows the state before inserting the permeate extraction end part of a membrane element in the opening part of a membrane element fixing plate. . FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the method for manufacturing the membrane module, showing a state in which the permeate extraction end of the membrane element is inserted into the opening of the membrane element fixing plate. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a method for manufacturing a membrane module, showing a state in which a heating plate is pressed at a joint portion between a permeate extraction end of a membrane element and a membrane element fixing plate. It is a partially notched top view which shows the manufacturing method of the membrane module in the 4th Embodiment of this invention, (a) is before inserting the permeate extraction end part of a membrane element in the opening part of a membrane element fixing plate. (B) shows a state in which the permeate extraction end is inserted into the opening. It is a partially notched top view which shows the manufacturing method of the membrane module in the 5th Embodiment of this invention, (a) is before inserting the permeate extraction end part of a membrane element in the opening part of a membrane element fixing plate. (B) shows a state in which the permeate extraction end is inserted into the opening, and (c) shows a state in which the heating plate is pressed against the joint between the permeate extraction end and the membrane element fixing plate. It is a partially notched top view which shows the manufacturing method of the membrane module in the 6th Embodiment of this invention, (a) is before inserting the permeate extraction end part of a membrane element in the opening part of a membrane element fixing plate. (B) shows a state in which the permeate extraction end is inserted into the opening, and (c) shows a state in which the heating plate is pressed against the joint between the permeate extraction end and the membrane element fixing plate. It is an enlarged view of the permeate extraction end of the membrane element of the membrane module in the seventh embodiment of the present invention. It is a XX arrow line view in FIG. It is a perspective view of the conventional membrane module.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a membrane separation device. The membrane separation device 1 is installed in a treatment tank 2 and is immersed in a liquid to be treated 3 (for example, sewage waste water). A diffuser 4 is provided below the membrane separator 1. The membrane separation device 1 is composed of a plurality of membrane modules 10 stacked one above the other.

The configuration of each membrane module 10 will be described below.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the membrane module 10 includes a plurality of membrane elements 11 arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval, and a pair of water collecting members 12 arranged on both sides of the membrane elements 11. It has. The water collecting member 12 is a square box type member and has a hollow portion 13 inside.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the membrane element 11 is a flat membrane-type element having a flat plate shape or a sheet shape, and is attached to the both sides of the filter plate 15 having a square plate shape as a membrane support and the filter plate 15. And a flat membrane-like filtration membrane 16. In addition, a plurality of permeate outlets 17 are formed at the permeate outlet ends 18 on both sides of the filter plate 15 to take out the permeate that has passed through the filtration membrane 16 into the hollow portion 13 of the water collecting member 12.

  Further, a permeate flow path 19 that guides the permeate that has permeated through the filtration membrane 16 to each permeate outlet 17 is formed in the filter plate 15. The permeate channel 19 has a plurality of lateral channels 19 a that communicate with the permeate outlet 17 and a plurality of flow holes 19 b that communicate with the permeate side of the filtration membrane 16 and the lateral channels 19 a.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the water collecting members 12 has a membrane element fixing plate 20 (an example of a membrane element fixing portion) that fixes the permeate extraction ends 18 of the plurality of membrane elements 11. Yes. These element fixing plates 20 are flat members that constitute inner walls facing each other of the water collecting members 12, and are bonded to the water collecting member 12 with an adhesive or the like. The filter plate 15 and the membrane element fixing plate 20 are both made of thermoplastic resin.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, each element fixing plate 20 has a plurality of slit-shaped openings 21 that are long in the vertical direction. The opening 21 has a tapered guide part 21a that opens to the outside opposite to the hollow part 13 and has a width A that decreases toward the hollow part 13 side, and an insertion part that opens from the guide part 21a to the hollow part 13 side. 21b. The width B of the insertion portion 21b is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the plate thickness of the filter plate 15 of the membrane element 11, and the width A of the end portion of the opening portion 21 opposite to the hollow portion 13 is the hollow portion of the opening portion 21. It is larger than the width B of the end on the part 13 side. With the configuration as described above, it is possible to easily insert the permeate extraction end 18 of each membrane element 11 into the opening 21 of the membrane element fixing plate 20. The widths A and B are dimensions of the opening 21 in the thickness direction T of the membrane element 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the permeate extraction end 18 of the membrane element 11 is inserted into each opening 21, and the element fixing plate 20 and the permeate extraction end 18 of each membrane element 11 are heated. By heating and pressing from the hollow portion 13 side using the plate 26, heat welding and joining are performed.

  Among these, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a filter plate 15 melted at the time of heat welding is provided between the permeate extraction ends 18 of the adjacent membrane elements 11 in the joint 23 to be joined by the heat welding. An escape space 24 is formed for releasing the thermoplastic resin 25 (see FIG. 11) between the membrane element fixing plate 20 and the membrane element fixing plate 20. Each escape space 24 is a V-shaped groove opened to the hollow portion 13 side, and is formed between adjacent openings 21 of the membrane element fixing plate 20. Note that the width C of the escape space 24 in the thickness direction T of the membrane element 11 increases toward the hollow portion 13 side.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the heating plate 26 has a pin 27 (an example of a protrusion) that can be inserted and removed from the permeate outlet 17 of the membrane element 11 from the hollow portion 13 side in the vertical direction. A plurality of D and a thickness direction T of the membrane element 11 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a protruding portion 29 is provided at the upper end of the water collecting member 12, and the upper water collecting port 30 communicating with the upper end surface and the hollow portion 13 of the water collecting member 12 is provided in the protruding portion 29. Is formed. Further, a lower water collecting port 31 communicating with the hollow portion 13 is formed at the lower end of the water collecting member 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of membrane modules 10 can be stacked vertically by fitting the protruding portion 29 of the lower membrane module 10 into the lower water collection port 31 of the upper membrane module 10. The lower water collection port 31 of the lowermost membrane module 10 is closed by a plug or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the permeate extraction end 18 of each membrane element 11 is inserted into the opening 21 of the membrane element fixing plate 20 from the side opposite to the hollow portion 13. At this time, the permeate extraction end portion 18 is guided by the guide portion 21a of the opening portion 21 and easily inserted into the holding portion 21b.

  In this way, the end surface of the permeate extraction end portion 18 is flush with (in agreement with) the inner end surface of the membrane element fixing plate 20, and in this state, as shown in FIG. Are pressed against the permeate extraction end 18 and the membrane element fixing plate 20, and the membrane element fixing plate 20 and the permeate extraction end 18 of the plurality of membrane elements 11 are thermally welded simultaneously by heating from the heating plate 26. . Thereby, the membrane element fixing plate 20 and the plurality of membrane elements 11 can be easily joined together. At this time, the pin 27 of the heating plate 26 is inserted into the permeate outlet 17 of the membrane element 11 from the hollow portion 13 side.

  The thermoplastic resin 25 of the filter plate 15 and the thermoplastic resin 25 of the membrane element fixing plate 20 that are melted (or softened) during the heat welding escape into the escape space 24, whereby deformation and flow of the thermoplastic resin 25 occur. And the slight gap between the permeate extraction end 18 and the inner surface of the holding portion 21b of the opening 21 is easily filled with the molten thermoplastic resin 25, so that the membrane element 11 and the membrane element fixing plate 20 are Good bonding can be achieved by thermal welding.

  Furthermore, when the heating plate 26 is pressed, it can be avoided that an excessive pressure acts between the permeate extraction end 18 of the membrane element 11 and the inner surface of the opening 21 of the membrane element fixing plate 20. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the permeate outlet 17 of the membrane element 11 from being blocked by the molten (or softened) and deformed (or fluidized) thermoplastic resin 25.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, due to the existence of the escape space 24, the contact area between the joining portion 23 (in this case, the membrane element fixing plate 20) and the heating plate 26 is reduced, so that heat energy is applied only to necessary portions. It can be applied intensively, and the thermal energy required for heat welding can be reduced.

  If the escape space 24 does not exist, there is no escape space for the molten thermoplastic resin 25 at the time of thermal welding, so that deformation and flow of the thermoplastic resin 25 are not promoted, and the membrane element 11 and the membrane element fixing plate There arises a problem that it becomes difficult to bond 20 well. Moreover, since the contact area of the junction part 23 and the heating plate 26 increases, the problem that the thermal energy required for heat welding increases also arises.

  As shown in FIG. 11, since the pin 27 of the heating plate 26 is inserted into the permeate outlet 17 during the thermal welding, the permeate outlet 17 is closed by the pin 27, thereby melting (or deforming). ) Can be reliably prevented from blocking the permeate outlet 17 and a permeate outlet can be secured.

  After the welding, the heating plate 26 is separated from the membrane element fixing plate 20 and the permeate extraction end 18 of the membrane element 11, whereby the pin 27 is removed from the permeate outlet 17. Then, the membrane module 10 as shown in FIG. 2 is manufactured by bonding the element fixing plate 20 to the water collecting member 12 using an adhesive, thermal fusion, mechanical pressure bonding, or the like.

  In this way, a plurality of membrane modules 10 are manufactured, and as shown in FIG. 1, the protrusion 29 of the lower membrane module 10 is fitted into the lower water collection port 31 of the upper membrane module 10, thereby The membrane separation apparatus 1 can be formed by stacking a plurality of membrane modules 10 vertically.

  During the filtration operation, the liquid to be treated 3 in the treatment tank 2 permeates the filtration membrane 16 by applying a negative pressure (suction pressure) to the permeation side of the filtration membrane 16 of each membrane module 10 by the suction pump 32 or the like. 3 and FIG. 5, the permeate passes through the flow holes 19 b and the transverse channels 19 a of the permeate flow channel 19 and is hollow from the permeate outlet 17 to the water collecting members 12. Part 13 is taken out.

  At this time, since the hollow portions 13 of the upper and lower membrane modules 10 communicate with each other via the upper and lower water collecting ports 30 and 31, the permeate collected in the hollow portion 13 of the lower membrane module 10 It flows into the hollow portion 13 of the upper membrane module 10 through the lower water collection ports 30 and 31, and is finally taken out from the hollow portion 13 of the uppermost membrane module 10 through the upper water collection port 30 to the outside of the membrane separation apparatus 1. It is.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
An insertion amount regulating piece 35 (an example of an insertion amount regulating means) that regulates the insertion amount J when the permeate extraction end portion 18 of the membrane element 11 is inserted into the opening 21 of the membrane element fixing plate 20 is the membrane element fixing plate 20. Is provided. The insertion amount restricting piece 35 is located at the inner end of the opening 21 on the hollow portion 13 side, and enters the opening 21 from the inner side surface 21c of the opening 21 facing in the thickness direction T of the membrane element 11. It protrudes.

Hereinafter, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
When inserting the permeate extraction end 18 of the membrane element 11 into the opening 21 of the membrane element fixing plate 20, the permeate extraction end 18 contacts the insertion amount regulating piece 35 from the insertion direction F as shown in FIG. By making contact, the insertion amount J of the permeate extraction end 18 is regulated to a specified amount. As a result, the insertion amount J of the permeate extraction end 18 can be easily and accurately set to a specified amount, and problems such as an excessive or insufficient insertion amount J can be prevented.

(Third embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, the width A of the end of the opening 21 opposite to the hollow portion 13 is set to the end of the opening 21 on the hollow portion 13 side. In the third embodiment described below, the width E of the opening 21 is changed from the end on the hollow portion 13 side to the opposite side in the third embodiment described below. A constant width is provided over the end of the.

  In the first and second embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, the escape space 24 is formed as a V-shaped groove, but in the third embodiment, FIG. As shown in FIG. 16, the escape space 24 is formed as a concave groove having a constant width C.

  Moreover, in the said 1st Embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9-11, although the pin 27 is provided in the heating plate 26 and is inserted in the permeate extraction port 17, this 3rd Embodiment. Then, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the pin 27 is not provided on the heating plate 26.

  The manufacturing method of the membrane module 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the permeate extraction end 18 of each membrane element 11 is inserted into the opening 21 of the membrane element fixing plate 20 as shown in FIG. 16, the heating plate 26 is pressed against the permeate extraction end 18 and the membrane element fixing plate 20 from the hollow portion 13 side, and the membrane element fixing plate 20 and the plurality of membranes are heated by heating from the heating plate 26. The permeated liquid extraction end portion 18 of the element 11 is thermally welded simultaneously. Thereby, the membrane element fixing plate 20 and the plurality of membrane elements 11 can be easily joined together.

  The thermoplastic resin 25 of the filter plate 15 and the thermoplastic resin 25 of the membrane element fixing plate 20 melted at the time of the thermal welding escape into the escape space 24, and the deformation and flow of the thermoplastic resin 25 are promoted, and the membrane element 11. And the membrane element fixing plate 20 can be satisfactorily bonded by heat welding.

  In the third embodiment, since the pin 27 is not provided on the heating plate 26, the molten (or softened) thermoplastic resin 25 tends to flow into the permeate outlet 17. Since the resin 25 also flows into the escape space 24, it is possible to prevent the permeate outlet 17 from being blocked by the thermoplastic resin 25.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the permeate extraction end portion 18 of the membrane element 11 has a tapered shape (taper shape) in which the thickness G gradually decreases in the insertion direction F. Forming.

According to this, it is possible to easily insert the permeate extraction end 18 of each membrane element 11 into the opening 21 of the membrane element fixing plate 20.
(Fifth embodiment)
In the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18A, the opening 21 formed in the membrane element fixing plate 20 is composed of a first opening 21d and a second opening 21e communicating with each other. It is configured. The first opening 21 d opens to the outside opposite to the hollow portion 13, and the second opening 21 e opens to the hollow portion 13 side.

  The width H of the first opening 21d is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the thickness of the filter plate 15 of the membrane element 11, and the width I of the second opening 21e is larger than the width H of the first opening 21d. As a result, as shown in FIG. 18B, when the permeate extraction end 18 of each membrane element 11 is inserted into the opening 21 of the membrane element fixing plate 20, it is adjacent to the joint 23 that is joined by thermal welding. A clearance space 24 opened to the hollow portion 13 side is formed between the permeate extraction end portions 18 of the matching membrane elements 11. The escape space 24 includes the permeate extraction end 18 of the membrane element 11 and the inner side surface of the second opening 21e facing each other in the thickness direction T of the membrane element 11, and the first opening of the second opening 21e. It is surrounded by the end face on the 21d side and is formed in a concave shape.

  According to this, the manufacturing method of the membrane module 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 19B, the permeate extraction end 18 of each membrane element 11 is connected to the membrane element fixing plate 20. Thus, an escape space 24 is formed between the permeate extraction ends 18 of the adjacent membrane elements 11.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 18 (c), the heating plate 26 is pressed from the hollow portion 13 side to the permeate extraction end 18 and the membrane element fixing plate 20, and the membrane element fixing plate 20 is heated by the heating plate 26. And the permeate extraction end 18 of the plurality of membrane elements 11 are thermally welded simultaneously. Thereby, the membrane element fixing plate 20 and the plurality of membrane elements 11 can be easily joined together. At this time, the pin 27 of the heating plate 26 is inserted into the permeate outlet 17 of the membrane element 11 from the hollow portion 13 side. Further, the thermoplastic resin 25 of the filter plate 15 and the thermoplastic resin 25 of the membrane element fixing plate 20 that are melted during the heat welding escape into the escape space 24.

(Sixth embodiment)
In the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19A, the membrane element fixing plate 20 is formed integrally with the flat plate portion 20a in which a plurality of openings 21 are formed and the periphery of the flat plate portion 20a. Frame portion 20b. The plate thickness of the flat plate portion 20a is smaller than the thickness of the frame portion 20b, and the width E of the opening 21 is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the plate thickness of the filter plate 15 of the membrane element 11.

  As shown in FIG. 19 (b), the permeate extraction end 18 of each membrane element 11 is inserted into the opening 21 of the membrane element fixing plate 20 in a state of protruding from the flat plate portion 20a to the insertion direction F side. To do. At this time, a clearance space 24 opened to the hollow portion 13 side is formed between the permeate extraction ends 18 of the adjacent membrane elements 11 in the joint portion 23 joined by thermal welding. The escape space 24 is surrounded by the permeate extraction end 18 of both membrane elements 11 and the flat plate portion 20a of the membrane element fixing plate 20 facing each other in the thickness direction T of the membrane element 11, and is formed in a concave shape. Has been.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 19 (c), the heating plate 26 is pressed against the permeate extraction end 18 from the hollow portion 13 side, and the permeate extraction end 18 and the membrane element fixing plate 20 are heated by the heating plate 26. And heat-welded. Thereby, the membrane element fixing plate 20 and the plurality of membrane elements 11 can be easily joined together. At this time, the pin 27 of the heating plate 26 is inserted into the permeate outlet 17 of the membrane element 11 from the hollow portion 13 side. Further, the thermoplastic resin 25 of the filter plate 15 melted during the heat welding escapes into the escape space 24.

(Seventh embodiment)
In the seventh embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the permeate flow path 38 is formed on the surface of the filter plate 15 and is open to the permeate side of the filtration membrane 16. 38 a and a plurality of flow passages 38 b having one end communicating with the end of the flow groove 38 a and the other end communicating with the permeate outlet 17. The flow groove 38a is formed by intersecting a vertical groove and a horizontal groove.

  According to this, the to-be-processed liquid 3 in the processing tank 2 permeate | transmits the filtration membrane 16, is filtered, and permeate passes through the flow groove 38a and the flow path 38b of the permeate flow path 38, and permeate outlet 17 to the hollow portion 13 of each water collecting member 12.

  In each of the above embodiments, a thermoplastic resin is used for each material of the filter plate 15 and the membrane element fixing plate 20, but only one material of the filter plate 15 and the membrane element fixing plate 20 is thermoplastic. A resin may be used.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the membrane element 11 is a flat membrane-type or sheet-like flat membrane-type element, but is not limited to this type. For example, the membrane element 11 includes a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, It may be a hollow fiber type element whose ends are bound in an open state, or a tubular element made of a tubular ceramic porous body.

The flat or sheet-shaped membrane element 11 includes a shape having a curved portion or a bent portion, such as a corrugated plate shape or a bellows folded shape, in addition to a flat shape.
In each of the above embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to stack the membrane modules 10 in upper and lower stages and to communicate the hollow portion 13 in the water collecting member 12. It is not limited to 10.

  In each of the above embodiments, the membrane module 10 in which the water collecting member 12 is disposed on both sides of the membrane element 11 is shown, but the water collecting member 12 may be disposed only on one side of the membrane element 11.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Membrane module 11 Membrane element 12 Water collecting member 13 Hollow part 16 Filtration membrane 17 Permeate outlet 18 Permeate outlet 20 Membrane element fixing plate (membrane element fixing part)
21 opening 23 joint 24 relief space 25 melted thermoplastic resin 27 pin (protrusion)
35 Insertion amount regulating piece (insertion amount regulating means)
J Insertion amount

Claims (7)

A plurality of membrane elements having filtration membranes;
A water collecting member having a hollow portion inside,
A permeate outlet for taking out permeate that has passed through the filtration membrane into the hollow part of the water collecting member is formed at the permeate outlet end of the membrane element,
The water collecting member has a membrane element fixing portion for fixing the permeate extraction end of each membrane element,
The membrane element fixing part is a membrane module having a plurality of openings into which the permeate extraction end of each membrane element is inserted,
The membrane element fixing portion and the permeate extraction end portion of the membrane element inserted into the opening of the membrane element fixing portion are thermally welded by heating and pressing from the hollow portion side,
The material of at least one of the membrane element and the membrane element fixing portion in the joined portion joined by thermal welding is a thermoplastic resin.
A membrane characterized in that an escape space is formed between the permeate extraction ends of adjacent membrane elements in the joint portion and is opened to the hollow portion side and escapes the thermoplastic resin melted or softened during thermal welding. module. The membrane element fixing part is a thermoplastic resin,
2. The membrane module according to claim 1, wherein the escape space is a groove formed between adjacent openings of the membrane element fixing portion and opened to the hollow portion side. The membrane element has a flat plate or sheet shape,
The membrane module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening of the membrane element fixing portion has a slit shape. The insertion amount regulating means for regulating an insertion amount when the permeate extraction end of the membrane element is inserted into the opening of the membrane element fixing portion is provided. 2. The membrane module according to item 1. A plurality of membrane elements having filtration membranes;
A water collecting member having a hollow portion inside,
A permeate outlet for taking out permeate that has passed through the filtration membrane into the hollow part of the water collecting member is formed at the permeate outlet end of the membrane element,
The water collecting member has a membrane element fixing portion for fixing the permeate extraction end of each membrane element,
The membrane element fixing part is a method for manufacturing a membrane module having a plurality of openings into which the permeate extraction end of each membrane element is inserted,
A thermoplastic resin is used for at least one material of the permeate extraction end portion and the membrane element fixing portion of the membrane elements to be joined to each other,
Insert the permeate extraction end of the membrane element into the opening of the membrane element fixing part,
Heat-welding the permeate extraction end of the membrane element and the membrane element fixing part by heating and pressing from the hollow side,
A method for manufacturing a membrane module, wherein a thermoplastic resin melted or softened during heat welding escapes into a relief space formed between permeate extraction ends of adjacent membrane elements. 6. The method of manufacturing a membrane module according to claim 5, wherein the escape space is a groove formed between adjacent openings of the membrane element fixing portion and opened to the hollow portion side. After inserting the permeate extraction end of the membrane element into the opening of the membrane element fixing part, the heating plate is pressed from the hollow part side to the permeate extraction end of the membrane element and thermally welded,
7. The method for manufacturing a membrane module according to claim 5, wherein a protrusion provided on the heating plate is inserted into the permeate outlet of the membrane element from the hollow portion side.

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