Title of Invention

EXTERNAL PRESSURE TYPE HOLLOW FIBER MEMBRANE MODULE

Abstract An external pressure type hollow fiber membrane module, comprising a hollow fiber membrane bundle formed, of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, a housing, and an inlet/outlet nozzle for fluid, wherein hollow fiber membranes are fixedly adhered to each other and the hollow fiber membranes are fixedly adhered to the inner wall of the housing at both ends of the hollow fiber membrane bundle. The hollow part at one or both side adhesively-fixed ends is opened, and the inlet/outlet nozzle for fluid is installed at the side face of the housing at least at one adhesively-fixed end in which the hollow part is opened. Where the membrane occupied rates of the nozzle in a neighboring area (A) and a non-neighboring area (B) among membrane chargeable areas on the inside of the adhesively-fixed part at at least one adhesively-fixed end positioned near the nozzle and where the hollow part is opened are PA and SB, the ratio of the membrane occupied rates PB/PA is 0.50 to 0.95.
Full Text WI926
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DESCRIPTION
EXTERNAL PRESSURE TYPE HOLLOW FIBER MEMBRANE MODULE
TECHNICAL FIETLD
[0001]
The present invention relates to an external
pressure type hollow fiber membrane module used in a
5 filtering device for clarifying a large quantity of raw
water such as river water, lake water, underground
water, sea water, domestic wastewater and industrial
wastewater and eliminating bacteria included therein.
BACKGROUND ART
10 [0002]
In general, a hollow fiber membrane module is
classified broadly into an internal pressure type and
an external pressure type. The external pressure type
of hollow fiber membrane module normally has a
15 structure of bundling several hundreds to tens of
thousands of hollow fiber membranes with a length of
200 to 3,000 mm and an outside diameter of the membrane
of 0-1 to 5 mm, accommodating the bundle in a
cylindrical case, and adhesively fixing the ends of
20 both sides to an inner wall of the case with a resin.
When adhesively fixing both ends, there are an one-end
collection type module and a both-ends collection type
module: the former is formed so as to have the end of

2
the hollow fiber mambrane opened in one adhesively-
fixed part, have the hollow part of fiber membrane
sealed at the other adhesively-fixed part, supply
compressively raw water to a region sandwiched between
5 the adhesively-fixed parts to permeate through the
hollow fiber membrane, and take the filtrate out from
the adhesively-fixed part in which the end of the
hollow fiber is opened; and the latter is formed so as
to have the ends of the hollow fiber membrane opened in
10 both adhesively-fixed parts, and take the filtrate out
from both ends. Furthermore, there are a plurality of
through-holes in hollov fiber membrane bundles at the
adhesively-fixed part that becomes to be a lower side
when being used, and their ports are used as a port for
15 supplying raw water to be filtrated, and as an air
supply port and a cleaning waste water outlet in a
physical cleaning process.
[0003]
When such an external pressure type hollow
20 fiber membrane module 15 used for the purpose of
bacteria eliminating and clarification, it is normally
subjected to a cross flow filtration to prevent a
suspended solid from depositing on the surface of a
hollow fiber membrane, or to the periodic physical
25 cleaning such as a back wash reverse filtration and an
air bubbling to recover a filter performance, thereby
enabling a stable filtration operation. In order to
operate the module in the above method, the module has

3
an exhaust port provided at the side face of a case in
the vicinity of an adhesively-fixed part in an upper
port, and is vertically installed. When the module is
used for filtration, the raw water containing the
5 suspended solid is supplied from a through-hole
provided in the adhesively-fixed part in the lover
part, and the concentrated water is discharged from the
exhaust port provided in the side face in the upper
part of the case. In addition, in a cleaning step by
10 air bubbling, the module is cleaned by the steps of
supplying air from the through-hole in the lower part;
thereby forming an air/water mixture flow; making the
membrane oscillated by the air/water mixture flow;
thereby stripping off the suspended solid deposited on
15 the surface of a membrane; then supplying raw water
together with air; and discharging it from the exhaust
post provided at the side face in the upper part of the
case.
The flow of a liquid discharged from the
20 exhaust port in Such a cross flow filtration and an air
bubbling cleaning occasionally draws the hollow fiber
membrane into the exhaust port to damage it, and the
oscillation of the membrane occasionally makes stress
concentration in the vicinity of the inner surface of an
25 adhesively-fixed part to rupture the hollow fiber
membrane.
[0004]
In order to efficiently discharge a deposit

4
outside a module by exfoliating it from the surface of
a membrane by the physical cleaning as described above,
a space must be secured between hollow fibers, so that
the hallow fiber membrane cannot be accommodated in the
5 module having approximately the closest packed state,
as in the case of an internal pressure type module.
For this reason, a membrane-occupying rate in a housing
is normally set at 0.3 to 0.6. The "membrane-occupying
rate in a housing" used herein means a ratio of a total
10 of the cross-sectional areas based on the outside
diameter of the membrane with reference to the cross-
sectional area based on the inside diameter of the
housing in a filtration region of the membrane. When
the membrane is accommodated in a comparative low
15 density, the distribution of the membrane in an
adhesively—fixed part of the membrane easily tends to
be ununiform, and the hollow fiber membrane in the
vicinity of the inner surface of the above adhesively-
fixed part develops a strong tendency to be ruptured.
20 [0005]
As the means of preventing the above
damage/rupture of a membrane in the vicinity of the
adhesivsly-fixed part of the hollow fiber membrane, a
method has been known which installs a current cylinder
25 in the vicinity of the inner surface of the adhesively-
fixed part and arranges a layer of a high polymer
material having rubber-like elasticity in the inner
side of the adhesively-fixed part (for instance, See

5
Patent Document 1). A method is also proposed which
coats the surface of the hollow fiber membrane
extending in the inner side of the adhesively-fixed
part with the same adhesive as that for forming the
5 inner surface of the fixed part (for instance, see
Patent Document 21.
[0006]
However, the method according to Patent
Document 1 has an excellent effect in preventing the
10 damage/rupture of a membrane as described above, but
when forming an adhesively-fixed layer only with a high
polymer having rubber-like elasticity, this may cause
the problem that the adhesively-fixed part may be
ruptured because the pressure resistance of the part is
15 inferior. In addition, in order to secure the pressure
resistance, it is required to adhesively fix the
membrane with a material having high strength and high
elasticity, and then to form a layer of a rubber-like
elastic body on the inner side thereof, so that the
20 method has a disadvantage of needing a complicated
manufacturing process and a high cost.
On the other hand, the method according to
Patent Document 2 does not have a sufficient effect of
preventing the membrane from being ruptured, and causes
25 the problem that the membrane is ruptured by air
bubbling in a long term operation.
[0007]
Patent Document 1: 3P-A-09-220446

6
Patent Document 2: JP-A-10-305218
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0008]
5 An object of the present invention is to
provide an external pressure type hollow fiber membrane
module which can efficiently discharge a deposit on a
membrane surface outside a module, can be used for a
long period without any rupture of a membrane in the
10 vicinity of the inner side of an adhesively-fixed part
caused by the flow of fluid, and can be easily
manufactured.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM
[0009]
15 As a result of a diligent study for solving
the above problems, the present inventors, have found
that the above object can be achieved by controlling
the distribution of a membrane on the inner side of an
adhesively-fixed part, and thus have accomplished the
20 present invention on the basis of the finding.
[0010]
Specifically, the present invention will be
described below.
(1) An external pressure type hollow fiber
25 membrane module including a hollow fiber membrane
bundle formed of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes,

7
a housing, and a nozzle for allowing a fluid to enter
and exit therefrom, which makes the hollow fiber
membranes fixedly adhered to each other and to the
inner wall of the housing at both ends of the hollow
5 fiber membrane bundle; makes a hollow part opened in
one side or both sides at adhesively-fixed ends; and
has the nozzle for allowing a fluid to enter and exit
therefrom installed on the side face of the housing of
at least one adhesively-fixed end at which the hollow
10 part is opened; wherein a ratio PB/PA of membrane-
occupying rates is 0.50 or more but 0.95 or less, when
each of PA and PB is defined as the membrane-occupying
rates in neighboring region (A) of the nozzle and non-
neighboring region (B) of the nozzle among a membrane
15 chargeable region in the inner side of an adhesively-
fixed part, in at least one adhesively-fixed and of the
opened hollow part in the vicinity of the nozzle.
(2) An external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module including: a hollow fiber cartridge
20 having a hollow fiber membrane bundle formed of a
plurality of hollow fiber membranes, of which both end
parts are adhesively fixed and hollow parts in at least
one of adhesively-fixed ends are opened; and a housing
accommodating the cartridge and having a nozzle for
25 allowing a fluid to enter and exit therefrom installed
on at least one side face, in which the nozzle
installed is fixed so as to be placed in the vicinity
of the inner surface of an adhesively-fixed part in the

8
opened hollow parts side in the hollow fiber membrane
cartridge; wherein a ratio PB/PA of membrane-occupying
rates is 0.50 or more but 0.95 or less, when each of PA
and PB is defined as the membrane-occupying rate in
5 neighboring region (A) of the nozzle and non-
neighboring region (B) of the nozzle among a membrane
chargeable region in the inner side of the adhesiyely-
fixed part, in the adhesively-fixed end in the vicinity
of the nozzle.
10 (3) The external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module according to (1) or (2), wherein in
neighboring region (A) of the nozzle among the membrane
chargeable region in the inner side of an adhesively-
fixed part, membrane-occupying rate PC in every unit
15 region (c) constituting neighboring region (A) is 0.5
circles or more but 2.0 times or less with reference to
membrane-occupying rate PA in neighboring region (A).
(4) The external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module according to (1) or (2), wherein PA,
20 PBl and PB2 of the membrane-occupying rates have the
relation of PA  PB1  PB2 and Euxther PA is 0.40 or more
but 0.60 or less and PB2 is 0.20 or more bun less than
0.40 when each of PB1 and PB2 is defined as a membrane-
occupying race in a first non-neighboring region (B1)
25 and a second non-neighboring region (B2) in the non-
neighboring region (B) of the nozzle among the membrane
chargeable region in the inner side of the adhealvely-
fixed part.

9
(5) The extertnal pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module according to any one of (1) to (3),
wherein the non-neighboring region (B) of a nozzle
among the membrane changeable region in the inner side
5 of the adhesively-fixsd part includes at least one unit
region in which membrane-occupying rate PC in unit
region (C) constituting the non-neighboring region (B)
is less than 0.5 times with reference to merabrane-
occupying rate PB in the non-neighboring region (B),
10 (6) The external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a
current plate is arranged in the vicinity of the nozzle
of outer circumference parts of the hollow fiber
membrane bundle.
15 (7) The external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module according to claim 6, wherein the
current plate is cylindrical, accommodates the hollow
fiber mambrane bundle inside of it, has a plurality of
through-holes in a wall surface except the vicinity of
20 the nozzle, and has no through-hole in the vicinity of
the nozzle.
(8) The external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an
adhesive bond part constituting the adhesively-fixed
25 part is made of a single layer of a high polymer
material, and has the hardiness of 50A to 700 in a range
of operating temperatures.
(9) A method for manufacturing the external

10
pressure type hollow fiber membrane module according to
claim 1 or 2 including: previously inserting a
plurality of columnar materials into an end of a hollow
fiber membrane bundle at least in a side of making a
5 hollow part opened; accommodating the hollow fiber
membrane bundle which keeps the state of the insertion
in a vessel for forming art adhesively-fixed part;
injecting an adhesive bond into the vessel and curing
it, then cutting an end face of the hollow fiber
10 membrane handle to form the adhesively-fixed part; and
consequently making the columnar materials having a
length of 0.3 to 0.9 times with reference to a
thickness of the adhesively-fixed part exist at least
in the adhesively-fixed part of neighboring region (A),
15 (10) A method for manufacturing the external
pressure type hollow fiber membrane module according to
claim 1 including: accommodating a hollow fiber
membrane bundle in a housing case having a nozzle for
allowing a fluid to enter and exit therefrom at least
20 on one side face; horizontally rotating the housing
ease in a state of keeping the nozzle directing toward
a lower direction than a horizontal direction;
injecting an adhesive bond into the housing case under
the centrifugal force; and curing it to form an
25 adhesively-fixed part.
Effect of the Invention
[0011]

11
An external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module according to the present invention can
sufficiently discharge a deposit formed on a membrane
surface by a physical cleaning technique, and hardly
5 causes the rupture of a membrane in the vicinity of the
inner side of an adhesively-fixed part even when a
filtration with harsh physical cleaning including air
bubbling has been operated for a long period, and
further can be easily manufactured.
10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view
showing one example of a housing-integrated hollow
fiber membrane module according to the present
invention;
15 Fig. 2 is an explanatory drawing of "membrane
chargeable region" in a housing-integrated hollow fiber
membrane module;
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view
showing an example of a cartridge type hollow fiber
20 membrane module according to the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view
showing one example of a housing fox a cartridge type
hollow fiber membrane module according to the present
invention;
25 Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view
showing one example of a hollow fiber membrane element
in a cartridge type hollow fiber membrane module

12
according to the present invention;
Fig. 6 is an explanatory drawing of "membrane
chargeable region" in a cartridge type hollow fiber
membrane module;
5 Fig. 7 is an explanatory drawing of "unit-
region (C)" according to the present indention;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing one
example of a current plate in a housing-integrated
hollow fiber membrane module according to the present
10 invention;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing another
example of a current plate in a housing-integrated
hollow fiber membrane module according to the present
invention;
15 Fig. 10A is a perspective view showing one
example of a cross plate in a housihg-integrated hollow
fiber membrane module according to the present
invention;
Fig. 10B is a plan view of a cross plate
20 viewed from an X-direction in Fig. 10A; and
Fig. 10C is a side view of a cross plate
viewed from a Y-direction in Fig. 10A.
BEST MODE FOE CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0012]
25 The present invention will be specifically
described below with a particular emphasis on a
preferred embodiment thereof.

13
In the external pressure type membrane module
according to the present invention, it is important
that a ratio PB/PA of membrane-occupying rate PA in
neighboring region (A) of a nozzle among a membrane
5 chargeable region on at least an inner side of an
adhesively-fixed part with reference to a membrane-
occupying rate PB in a non-neighboring region (B) of
the nozzle among the membrane changeable region
satisfies the range of 0.50 or more but 0.95 or less.
10 When PB/PA is in the range, the fluid containing a
deposit on a membrane easily flows outside a membrane
bundle from the non-neighboring region, the fluid in
the neighboring region does not flow intensively, and
thus the damage or the rupture in the membrane is
15 hardly caused. When PB/PA is leas than 0.50, the
density of the membranes which exist in non-neighboring
region (B) of the nozzle is too few to relatively form
the extreme nondense state, and thus the fluid
intensively flows therethrough, thereby developing a
20 tendency to damage/rupture the membrane in the region
(B). On the other hand, when the PB/PA ratio exceeds
0.95, the membrane module reduces the effect of
preferentially discharging a deposit on a membrane from
the non-neighborlag region. Furthermore, when the
25 PB/PA ratio exceeds l.0, the density of the membranes
which exist in neighboring region (A) is too few to
relatively form the extreme nondense state, and thus
the flow rate there becomes to be remarkably high,

14
thereby developing a tendency to damage/rupture the
membrane in region (A). The PB/PA ratio is preferably
0.60 or moce aud 0.90 or: less, and further preferably
0.1 or more and 0.90 or less.
5 [0013]
In addition, when dividing a non-neighboring
region into a first non-neighboring region (Bl) and a
second non-neighboring region (B2) and definding a
membrane-occupying rate in each region as PBl and PB2,
10 the membrane-occupying rates preferably satisfy PA 
PBl  PB2, and it is particularly preferable that PA is
0.40 or more but 0.60 or less and PB3 is 0.20 or more
but less than 0.40. When the membrane-occupying rates
satisfy these conditions, the membrane module
15 adequately discharges a deposit on a membrane surface
from a membrane bundle, and can prevent the membrane
from being damaged or ruptured by a fluid flow.
[0014]
In the next place, the present invention will
20 be described in detail with reference to examples shown
in Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 1 is an example of an integral
module having a housing 2 which constitutes a module
and a hollow fiber membrane 1 which are fixedly adhered
to each other, and Fig. 2 shows a cross section in a
25 line X-X shown in Fig. 1. In addition, Fig. 3 shows an
example of a cartridge type module composed of the
housing 2 (Fig. 4) and a hollow fiber membrane element
(Fig. 5), and Fig. 6 shows the cross section in a line

15
X-X shown in Fig. 3. The "membrane chargeable region
in the inner side of an adhesively-fixed part"
according to the present invention means the region of
the inner surface of the adhesively-fixed part, and
5 further means that the region can charge the membrane.
Specifically, the membrane chargeable region is the
region surrounded by a current cylinder 5 shown in Fig.
2, and is a region in the inner side of a cartridge
head 9 shown in fig. 6. Furthermore, the "neighboring
10 region (A) of a nozzle" according to the present
invention means when the intersection points of the
central axis of the nozzle with an outer circumference
of the membrane chargeable region are defined as Zl and
Z2, a part of the membrane chargeable region contained
15 in a circle drawn by setting intersecting point Z1 in a
closer side to the nozzle as the center and a distance
between intersecting point Z1 and center point Z3 of
the membrane chargeable region 3as a radius. In
addition, the "non-neighboring region (B) of a nozzle"
20 means the region other than neighboring region (A) in
the membrane chargeable region, Futhermore, the
"first non^neighboring region (Bl)" means a part of
non-neighboring region (3) contained in a circle drawn
by setting intersection point Zl as the center and a
25 distance between middle point Z4 of Z2 and Z3 and Z1 as
a radius. The "seognd non-neighboring region (B2)"
means a part of non-neighboring region (B) other than
the first non-neighboring region. In addition, the

16
"membrane-occupying rate" according to the present
invention means a rate (percentage) of a total cross
section M of the membrane with inspect to an area S of
an objective region, and is determined by a method of
5 dividing the area of the objective region into the
total cross section calculated from the number of the
hollow fiber membrane in the objective ragion and a
membrane outside diameter and by a method of analyzing
an image with the use of a computer.
10 [0015]
In neighboring region (A), it is preferable
that membrane-occupying rate PC in every unit region
(C) constituting neighboring region (A) is 0.5 times or
more with reference to the membrane-occupying rate PA
15 in neighboring region (A). PC is more preferably 0.6
times or more, and further preferably is 0.1 times or
more. This means that there is no remarkably nondense
local part in neighboring region (A), thereby can more
reliably prevent the membrane from being damaged or
20 ruptured. Here, the "unit region (C)" means region (D)
divided by squares having a particular spacing
determined by a plurality of straight lines parallel
and orthogonal to a central axis of a nezzle when
considering intersection point 21 of the central axis
25 of nozzle 3 and the membrane chargeable region as a
base point. The "particular spacing" is a value of 15R
when R is defined as an average value of the outside
diameter of the hollow fiber membrane. A divided

17
section (D) in a peripheral part of neighboring region
(A) does not become to be a quadrangle having a length
corresponding to the particular spacing and thereby
having a defective part, but the divided section is
5 combined with an adjacent divided section in a parallel
direction to the central axis of the nozzle so as to
form a region having an area of not less than 225R2 and
less than 450R2 lay the minimum number of coalescence,
and the coalescsnt regior, is considered as one unit
10 region. At this time, when a coalescent region (D)
does not reacin 225R2 by combining only the adjacent
divided section in the parallel direction to the
central axis of the nozzle, the coalescent region (D)
is futher combined with one or two divided sections
15 among the adjacent divided sections in the orthogonal
direction to the central axis with respect to those
divided sections. In this case, the divided sections
to be combined is selected so that the total area of
the coslescent region can be 225R2 or more and closest
20 to 225R2. The procedure will be now specifically
described with reference to an example shown in Fig. 7.
Even when divided section (D17) is combined with the
adjacent divided section (D16), the coalescent region
does not reach the area of 225R2, and thus is further
25 combined with divided section (Dl5) to form unit region
(C1). Furthermore, divided section (D14) is combined
with divided section (D13) to form unit region (C2),
and divided section (D11) is combined with divided

18
section D12 to form unit region (C3). Furthermore,
divided section (D10) is combined with divided section
D9, divided section (D6) with divided section D7,
divided section (D5) with divided section (D4) and
5 divided section (D1) with divided section (D2) to form
a unit region (C4), (C6), (C7) and (C9), respectively.
In this case, D8 and D3 singularly form unit region
(C5) and unit region (C8), respectively.
[0016]
10 A non-neighboring region (B) preferably
contains at least one unit region (C) constituting non-
neighboring region (B), of which membrane-occupying
rate PC is less than 0.5 times with reference to
membrane-occupying rate PB in non-neighboring region
15 (B). It is particularly preferable that a plurality of
unit regions (C) of which PC is less than 0.5 times
with reference to PB continuously exist from the center
of a membrane bundle to the outer circumference part
thereof. The membrane module having such distributed
20 membrane bundles can further improve the
dischargeability of a deposit on the membrane surface,
and thereby can prevent fluid from being conccentrated
in neighiboring region (A) of a nozzle.
[0017]
25 A cartridge type module as shown in Fig. 3 is
composed of a hollow fiber membrane element and a
housing having a nozzle in an upper side face, through
which caw water and/or fluid for cleaning enters and

19
exits. In the hollow fiber membrane element both ends
of a plurality of the hollow fiber membranes are
adhesively fixed, the hollow part of the upper end of
the hollow fibfer membrane is opened, the hollow part of
5 the lower end of the hollow fiber membrane is sealed,
and further a plurality of through holes are arranged
in a lower adhesively-fixed part. The hollow fiber
membrane element is accommodated into the housing and
is fluid-tightly fixed with a holder and a sealant. It
10 is important to set the hollow fiber membrane element
so that 3a membrane-occupying rate in the membrane
chargeable region in the inner side of an upper
adhesively-fixed part is not uniform but has the dense
and nondense distributions, and further a region having
15 a comparative low membrane-occupying rate is arranged
in the opposite side of the nozzle of the housing. As
a result of such a setting, the module of which a ratio
FB/PA of the membrane-occupying rates in neighboring
region (A) of the nozzle with reference to that in non-
20 neighboring region (B) of the nozzle has a range of
0.50 or more but 0.95 or less shows an effect of the
present invention.
[0018]
The module according to the present invention
25 preferably has a current plate 8 which is arranged to
hold the spacing between the hollow fiber membrane
bundle and the inner wall of the housing in the
vicinity of the nozzle. The current plate 8 may be

20
arranged only in the vicinity at the nozzle in both
directions of an internal circumferential direction of
the housing and an axial direction of the housing as
shown in Fig. 8, but such a cylindrical body (a current
5 cylinder) is preferable which is arranged in the
vicinity of the nozzle in the axial direction of the
housing and is set to surround the outer circumference
of a hollow fiber membrane bundle, as shown in Fig. 9.
It is particularly preferable that the current plate
10 has no such hole as to penetrate through the wall
thereof in a region of the bilaterally symmetrical
range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees from the central
axis of the nozzle and has through holes in the other
region. The current plate has preferably such a length
15 in the axial direction of the housing as to start in
the inner side of an adhesively-fixed part and extend
to a position over the opening of the nozzle in a
central side of the housing.
In addition, the module according to the
20 present invention can also have the nozzle arranged in
the lower side face of a housing to introduce raw water
and/or a fluid for cleaning therein. Also, in this
case, it is preferable to arrange the above current
plate in the module.
25 [0019]
The integral type hollow fiber membrane
module having characteristics according to the
invention and the hollow fiber membrane element

21
constituting the cartridge type module having
characteristics according to the present invention can
be easily manufactured by previously introducing a
plurality of columnar materials into an ens of a hollow
5 fiber membrane bundle, accommodating them in a vessel
for farming an adhesively-fixed part, and forming the
adhesively-fixed part by injecting the adhesive bond
and curing it.
The columnar material needs to heve a length
10 of 0.3 times of more but 0.9 times or less with
reference to the thickness of an adhesively-fixed part,
and particularly preferably 0.5 times or more but less
than 0.8 times, in the adhesively-fixed part of
neighboring region (A). In addition, the length in the
15 adhesively-fixed part of non-neighboring region (B) is
preferably 0.3 times or more but less than 1.0 time.
The module which uses the above columnar materials
having such length improves dischargeability for
suspensoid and shows the effect of reliably preventing
20 the membrane from being damaged and ruptured.
[0020]
The columnar material can increase a bulk of
the hollow fiber membrane bundle by being inserted into
an end of the hollow fitter membrane bundle, and can
25 control the distributed state of the hollow fiber
membrane, in other words, the dispersion of a membrane-
occupying rate, by being placed in an adequate
insertion point. A ratio PB/PA of membrane-occupying

22
rates can be controlled to approximately 0.95, for
instance, by inserting a plurality of the columnar
materials so as to be uniformly distributed in a cross
section of the hollow fiber membrane bundles and
5 spreading the hollow fiber membrane bundles into the
whole membrane chargeable region. Furthermore, the
ratio PB/PA of the membrane-occupying rates can be
controlled to approximately 0.50 by arranging the
columnar materials so that the comparative large
10 amounts of them are distributed in non-neighboring
region (B) of the nozzle. In addition, the
distribution of the membrane-occupying rate can be
specifically controlled by (l) a method of changing the
density of the inserted points while using the columnar
15 materials with the same thickness and (2) a method of
keeping the density of the insertion point constant and
changing the thickness of the columnar material.
[0021]
A cross-sectional shape of the columnar
20 material is not limited in particular, and includes,
for instance, a circle, an elliptic shape, a polygon
such as a square, a hexagon and a star, and a tabular
shape. A preferred cross-sectional shape of the
columnar material is the circul or the elliptic shape
25 which is not likely to damage a hollow fiber membrane
when the columnar material contacts with a fiber
membrane. In addition, when the shape of the columnar
material is a circle, an elliptic shape, a polygon such

23
as a square, a hexagon or a star, the thickness is
preferably 5 times or more but 20 times or less with
reference to an outside diameter of the hollow fiber
membrane from the view point of easiness for
5 controlling the distribution of the membrane. The
"thickness" described here means the diameter of an
estimated circle for a maximum cross section in a
longitudinal direction of the columnar material. The
outside diameter of the hollow fiber membrane is
10 generally 0.6 to 2.5 mm, so that the thickness of the
columnar material is specifically selected by the range
of 3 to 50 mm, preferably by the range of 3 to 30 mm,
and particularly preferably by the range of 5 to 20 mm.
When the columnar material has a tabular shape, the
15 average thickness is preferably 3 times or more but 15
times or less with reference to the outside diameter of
the hollow fiber membrane for the same reason as
described above. In addition, preferably, the shape of
the top of the columnar material is previously formed
20 into such a shape as the columnar material can be
easily inserted into a hollow fiber mernbrane bundle,
specifically as a cone shape. The columnar material is
not particularly limited to a high polymer material, an
inorganic material and a metallic substance, but a
25 preferred material is a substance having adhesive
strength with the adhesive bond which constitutes an
adhesively-fixed layer as well as having tensile
elasticity equal to or higher than that of the adhesive

24
bond.
[0022]
In a method for manufacturing an external
pressure type hollow fiber membrane module according to
5 the present invention, when the module is an integral
type, a vessel for forming an adhesively-fixed part can
be composed of a housing case itself and an end vessel
which is fluid-tightly fixed to the end of the housing
case. An adhesive bond may be injected from an
10 adhesive-injacting port provided beforehand in the end
vessel, or can be directly injected from a nozzle
provided is the housing case. On the other hand, when
the module is a cartridge type having a hollow fiber
membrane element, the vessel for formimg the
15 adhesively-fixed part is composed of a head member
constituting the element and an end vessel which is
fluid-tightly fixed to the head member. Alternatively,
the vessel for forming the adhesively-fixed part may be
made by integrating the head member with an end vessel
20 pact so as to form a vessel shape. The adhesive bond
may be injected from the adhesive-injecting port
provided in the end vessel part, or can be directly
injected from an opening end of the head member (a part
into which the hollow fiber membrane bundle is
25 inserted). Furthermore, in the hollow fiber membrane
element, the adhesively-fixed part can be composed of
only the adhesive bond and the hollow fiber membrane by
preparing the vessel for forming the adhesively—fixed

25
part from a material having a low adhesive strength
with a cured adhesive bond; making it into a peelsble
structure; curing the adhesive bond; and then peeling
and removing the vessel.
5 [0023]
In the manufacturing method according to the
present invention, the intaction/curring of the adhesive
bond may be conducted by the so-called centrifugal
adhesion method using the centrifugal force, or can be
10 injected with the so-called settling adhesion method of
forcefully injecting the adhesive bond in a state of
leaving an adhesively-fined part at rest and curing it.
The centrifugal adhesion method is preferable because
the method uniformly forms a coating layer on the outer
15 surface of a hollow fiber membrane at the inner surface
of the adhesively-fixed part, and thus hardly causes
the rupture of the membrane. When the centrifugal
adhesion method is employed, as a general rule, the
injection/curing of the adhesive bond is applied by
20 horizontally setting the module in the state of
directing a nozzle upward and rotating it (for
instance, see Patent Document 1), but when the module
according to the peasant invention is manufactured with
the use of the centrifugal adhesion method, it is
25 preferable to horizontally set the module in the state
of directing the nozzle more downward than the
horizontal position and rotate it. This is because
when the module is set in this stats of directing the

26
nozzle downward, the module hardly forms the part
having a low membrane-occupying rate in neighboring
region (A) of a nozzle. In addition, when the
injection/curing of the adhesive bond is applied with
5 the centrifugal adhesion method, it is preferable to
stop the rotation at a stage when the curing reaction
has proceeded to the extent that the adhesive bond is
not fluidized any more, and subsequfently to heat the
adhesive bond in an oven to complete the reaction so
10 that the adhesive bond can reach to a practical cured
condition.
[0024]
The hollow fiber membrane used in the present
invention includes a reverse osmotic membrane, a nano
15 filtration membrane, an ultrafilter membrane and a
precise filtration membrane.
The material for the hollow fiber membrane is
not particularly limited, and includes polysulfone,
palyetheraulfone, polyacrylonitrile, polyimide,
20 polyetherimide, polyamide, poly etherketone,
polyetheretherketone, polyethylene, polypropylene,
poly (4-methyl pentene), ethylene-vinytalcohol
copolymer, cellulose, cellulose acetate, polyvinylidene
fluoride, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer,
25 polytetrafluoroethylene, and the composite materials
thereof.
[0025]
In addition, as for a preferable shape of a

27
hollow fiber membrane, the inner diameter is preferably
50 to 3,000 m, and further preferably 500 to 2,000 m,
and the ratio of inner/outer diameter is preferably 0.3
to 0.3. Furthermore, the hollow fiber membrane
5 preferably has a wave. When the hollow fiber membrane
has the wave, it can decrease the number of columnar
materials used for controlling the distribution of the
membrane-occupying rate.
[0026]
10 The form of the wave, namely, the degree of
the wave is expressed by the crimping degree of the
hollow fiber bundle. The crimping degree is preferably
1.45 or more but less than 2.5, and particularly
preferably is 1.50 or more but 2.0 or less. When the
15 module is made of the hollow fiber membrane bundle
having the crimping degree of the above range, the
module can control the distribution of membranes into a
predetermined membrane distribution by using a smaller
quantity of them, can prevent the membrane from being
20 damaged and ruptured, and further can exert physical
cleaning effects without obstructing the oscillation of
the membrane in the housing. The crimping degree
described here is a value determined by bundling 1,000
hollow fiber membranes and putting it in order; winding
25 a PET film with a thickness of 200 m and a width of 40
mm having a spring balance attached at an end around
the hollow fiber membrane bundle, pulling the spring
balance so as to apply the load of 1 kg onto, the

28
bundle, measuring a peripheral length of the hollow
fiber membrane bundle in the condition, and calculating
the value according to the following expression.
Crimping degree = (peripheral length [m] / 2
5 / ((outside diameter of hollow fiber membrane [m])2 x
the number of hollow fiber in membranes).
[0027]
When manufacturing the hollow fiber membrane
module or the membrane element constituting the module
10 by using a membrane having the above described wave,
the number of the above described columnar materials
can be reduced to 5 to 0 by controlling a ratio S2/S1
of the area S2 of a membrane chargeable region in the
end face of an adhesively-fixed part with reference to
15 the area S1 Of the membrane chargeable region in the
inner side of the adhesively-fixed part to be 0.7 or
more but 0.9 or less. The ratio S2/S1 is particularly
preferable in a range of 0.80 or more but 0.90 or less.
[0028]
20 The adhesive bond used in the present
invention preferably includes a high polymer material
of an epoxy resin, a urethane resin, an epoxy acrylate
resin, a silicon resin or the like. Among them, the
urethane resin is particularly preferable because of
25 completing the reaction in a relatively short time. In
addition, the adhesively-fixed layer composed of the
adhesive bond needs to have such pressure resistance as
to endure a differential pressure generated during use,

29
and thus has preferably adequate hardness. On the
other hand, in order to reliably prevent the hollow
fiber membrane from being ruptured due to the fluid
flow in physical cleaning for a longer period it is
5 preferable to use the adhesive band having adequate
softness. Accordingly, in order to impart the pressure
resistance necessary and sufficient for use and
reliably prevent the rupture of the membrane, it is
preferable to use the adhesive bond having hardness
10 between 70D and 50A in a range of operating
temperatures. The hardness described here means the
value shown by a shore hardness gauge in 10 seconds
after pushing it onto the surface of a sample
substantially having a smooth surface. When the above
15 value exceeds 70D, the adhesively fixed layer may cause
the above described rupture of the membrane, and when
the value is lower than 50A, the pressure resistance of
the adhesively fixed layer may be insufficient.
In the next place, the present invention will
20 be described with reference to examples and reference
examples.
Example
[0029]
Example 1
25 6,600 hollow fiber membranes made from PVDE
(which is manufactured by Asahi Chemical Industry) in
which one end of a hollow part was plugged were made
into one bundle, and further were inserted in a housing

30
case 2 having a head part in which a current cylinder 5
with the inside diameter of 154 mm is placed inside, as
described in Fig. 1. The head part has a nozzle 3 with
an inside diameter of 40 mm, and the central axis of
5 the nozzle is the normal line of the head. The current
cylinder has a cylindrical shape having 240 through-
holes 40 with the diameter of 5 mm in a region except a
part of symmetrically forming 50 degrees in total with
respect to the nozzle central axis. The used hollow
10 fiber membrane I had the pore size of 0.1 m, the
inside diameter of 0.65 mm and the outride diameter of
1.22 mm, and had a wave with the crimping degree of
1.65. Subsequently, 28 columnar bars (which were
previously formed by charging and spreadiny such an
15 adhesive bond as described below into a mold and then
curing it) having the outside distneter of 11 mm were
inserted/placed into the end part of a membrane bundle
of a plugged hollow part side so as to be uniformly
distributed. In addition, 24 columnar bars with the
20 outside diameter of 11 mm, wnich are made from
polyethylene, were inserted/placed into the end part of
a membrane bundle of an opened hollow part side so as
to be uniformly distributed. Subsequently, the
adhesive bond was injected into the head of the housing
25 case by fixing an adhesion cup having a tube for
introducing the adhesive bond attached thereon at both
ends of the housing case, horizontally fixing the
housing case on a frame for centrifugation in a state

31
of directing the nozzle downward at 45 degrees, and
horizontally rotating it. The used adhesive bond was a
two-component theremosetting type urethane resin which
is manufactured by Sanyu Rec Co., Ltd.: SA-6330A2/SA-
5 6330B5 (product name)). When the fluidization of the
adhesive bond stopped due to the proceeding of the
curing reatction, the natation of a centrifugal machine
was stopped, and then the housing case was taken out
and heated at 50°C in an oven to be cured. Then, the
10 end of the housing case was cut to open a hollow part
in the side in which the hollour part was plugged in a
stage before being adhesively bonded, and all the
columnar bars which are made from polyethylen in an
opposite end were removed to form through holes. The
15 present membrane of the module had an active length of
2m.
Subsequently, the housing case was joined
with caps 6a and 6b through O-rings 7a and 7b by using
housing nuts 8a and 8b, and then the module was
20 attached to a filtering device in the state of
directing an opened hollow part side upward, and was
subjected to physical cleaning durability tests as
described below.
Clean water was supplied into the module from
25 a side of an upper adhesively-fixed part 4a at the flow
rate of 8 m3/hr, and simultaneously air was supplied
therein from a side of a lower adhesively-fixed part 4b
at the flow rate of 7 m3/hr. Both of supplied fluids

32
were discharged through the nozzle of the upper head.
The above described operation was continued except the
time of a leak test which was carried out every one
month. In addition, a water temperature was held at 5°C
5 during the operation.
Even after the operation for six months, a
leak due to the rupture of a membrane did not occur.
This operation period is equivalent to the operation
period of ten years or more in terms of a practical
10 filtration operation.
After the test was finished, the inner part
of the upper adhesively-fixed part of the module was
cut, the membrane was picked off, and an adhesively
bonded surface was observed in detail. When having
15 taken a photograph of the inner surface of the
adhesively—fixed part, enlarged the photograph to an A3
size, and measured a distributed state of a hollow
fiber membrane, PA, FBI and PB2 was 0.44, 0.43 and 0.34
respectively, the ratio PB/PA of membrane-occupying
20 rates was 0.89, and the membrane-occupying rate PC in
every unit region (C) was 0.8 to 1.2 times with
reference to the membrane-occupying rate PA in
neighboring region (A). However, there was only one
unit region (C) having the five membrane-occupying rate of
25 less than 0.5 times with reference to the membrane-
occupying rate PB in the contour part of a bundle in
the second non-neighboring region (B2).
Subsequently, an adhesively-fixed part was

33
cut at a position of 5 mm distant from the inner
surface of the upper adhesively-fixed part to form a
smooth cross section, and the hardness of the adhesive-
bond part of the cut surface was measured. As a
5 result, Shore hardness was 65D at 5°C and was 40D at
40°C.
In addition, a length of the columnar bar
inserted an the adhesively-fixed part was 50 mm, while
the length of the upper adhesively-fixed part was 65
10 mm, and the ratio was 0.77.
[0030]
Example 2
A hollow fiber membrane element as shown in
Fig. 5 which includes a cartridge head 9 haying a flat
15 flange; a lower ring 11 having 24 through holes with
the diameter of 11 mm and having a protrusion part with
a length of 40 mm; and two pipe-shaped struts (10)
which are made from SUS with an outside diameter of 10
mm and a wall thikness of 1 mn was prepared by using
20 6,600 hollow fiber membranes as in the case of Example
1. The strut was arranged in the outermost
circumference of a hollow fiber membrane bundle, and
was adhesively fixed with the use of the hollow fiber
membrane and a two-component thermosetting type
25 urethane resin (which is manufactured by Sanyu Rec Co.,
Ltd: SA-6330A2/SA-6330 B4 (product name). The
cartridge head was integrally formed with an end vessel
part, and has a port for introducing adhesive bond in

34
the end vessel part. The hollow fiber membrane bundle
was adhesively bonded with the cartridge head and the
lower ring by setting the end part of the membrane
bundle which was present in the side where a hollow
5 part was plugged inside the cartridge head without
placing any particular insert in the bundle, setting
the end part of the membrane bundle in the side where
the hollow part was opened inside a lower ring, and
then inserting/fixing 24 columnar bars made from
10 polyethylen in the hollow fiber membrane bundle through
holes in the lower ring, horizontally fixing them on a
holder for adhesion, and adhesively bonding them with a
centrifugal method in the fixed state. The adhesive
bond was settled at room temperature and cured by
15 heating as in the ease of Example 1, the end vessel
part of the cartridge head was cut to open the hollow
part in the end of the hollow fiber membrane, and the
columnar bars which are made from polyethylen were
pulled out from the lower ring to form the through
20 holes. The present hollow fiber membrane element had
an active length of 2 m.
The inside diameters of the cartridge head
and the lower ring were respectively 155 mm and 144 mm,
and the thicknesses of adhesive layers in the cartridge
25 head and the lower ring were respectively 65 mm and 30
mm. In addition, the inside diameter of an end vessel
part in a cut end was 140 mm, and S2/S1 was 0.82. In
an adhesively-fixed part in the cartridge head side, it

35
was observed that the hollow fiber membranes were
nondensely fixed on the part which had been placed in
the upper side when they were adhesively bonded with a
centrifugal method.
5 In membrane module as shown in Fig. 3 (where
7c shows an O-ring for a cartridge) was prepared by
employing a case as shown in Fig. 4, which is similar
to Example 1 except that the case had no nozzle and
current cylinder in a lower side face, as a Housing;
10 and accommodating the above described hollow fiber
membrane element in the housing. When accommodating
the hollow fiber membrane element, the side in the
comparative nondense state of the hollow fiber membrane
was set sc as to be an opposite side to an exhavst port
15 provided in the housing. The positional relationship
between the side in the comparative nondense state and
the exhaust port set at the time was inscribed on the
cartridge head.
The above described module was attached to a
20 rack device, and was subjected to a physical cleaning
durability test as in the case of Example 1.
Even after the operation for six months, a
leak due to the rapture of a membrane did not occur.
After having finished the test, an
25 adhesively—bonded surface was observed in detail as in
the case of Example l. As a result, PA, PB1 and PB2
were 0.48, 0.40 and 0.24 respectively, and the ratio
PB/PA of membrane-occupying rates was 0.70, and further

36
the membrane-occupying rate PC in every unit region (C)
was 0.7 times to 1.6 times with reference to the
membrane-occupying rate PA in neighboring region (A).
In the region of from the first non-neighboring region
5 (Bl) to the bundles in the contour part of the second
non-neighboring region (B2), there were three unit
regions (C) having the membrane-occupying rate of less
than 0.5 times PB.
Subsequently, an adhesively-fixed part was
10 cut at a position of 5 mm distant from the inner
surface of the adhesively-fixed part in a cartridge
head to form a smooth cross section, and the hardness
of the adhesive-bond part of the cut surface was
measured. As a result, Shore hardness was 53D at 5oC
15 and 37D at 40°C.
[0031]
Example 3
With the use of 6,400 hollow fiber membranes
made from PVDF (which is manufactured by Asahi Chemical
20 Industry), of which each had a pore size of 0.1 m, an
inside diameter of 0.68 mm, an outside diameter of 1.25
mm and no wave, a module was prepared as in the case of
Example 1 except that 14 columnar bars were inserted
into a half region of a membrane bundle in a nozzle
25 side and 18 columnar bars into the region in the
opposite side to the nozzle.
The module was subjected to a physical
cleaning durability test as in the case of Example l,

37
and as a result, even after the operation for six
months, a leak due to the rupture of a membrane did not
occur.
After the test was finished/ the hollow fiber
5 membrane module was cut in the inner side of an
adhesively-fixed part in a cartridge head, the membrane
was picked off, and the adhesively-bonded surface was
observed in detail. When having taken a photograph of
the inner surface of the adhesively-fixed part,
l0 enlarged the photograph to an A3 size, and measured a
distributed state of a hollow fiber membrane, PA, FBI
and PB2 was 0.46, 0.44 and 0.30 respectively, the ratio
PB/PA of membrane-occupying rates was 0.83/ and the
membrane-occupying rate PC in every unit region (C) was
15 0.7 co 1.4 times with reference to the membrane-
oceupying rate PA in a neighboring region (A). In the
region of from the first non-neighboring, region (Bl) to
the bundles in the contour part of the second non-
neighboring region (B2), there were two unit regions
20 (C) having the membrane-occupying rate of less than 0.5
times PB.
In addition, a length of the columnar bar
inserted at the adhesively-fixed part was 45 mm, while
the length of the upper adhesively-fixed part was 65
25 mm, and the ratio was 0.69.
[0032]
Example 4
The membrane bundle of 6,400 hollow fiber

38
membranes which were made from PVDF as in the case of
Example 3 was divided into four parts, and a cross
plate as shown in Figs. 10A to 10C was inserted into
them. The cross plate had the thickness of 5 mm, and
5 had such a shape as one side was longer than the other
side by 20 mm. The membrane bundle was inserted into a
housing case similar to Example l, and was set therein
so that the long side of the cross plate could be
placed at a position completely opposite to a nozzle.
10 Subsequently, six columnar bars similar to those in
Example 1 were inserted into each of two fractions of a
side close to the nozzle among the membrane bundles
divided into four fractions, and eight columnar bars
were inserted into each of two fractions in the side
15 opposite to the nozzle. After that, the module was
prepared as in the case of Example 1.
The module was subjected to a physical
cleaning durability test as in the case of Example 1,
and as a result, after the operation for six months,
20 there is only one membrane that caused a leak after the
operation period of six months.
After the test was finished, the hollow fiber
membrane module was cut in the inner side of an
adhesively-fixed part in a cartridge head, and the
25 leaking part was observed. As a result, one membrane
in the part corresponding to the position of the cross
plate in the second non-neighboring region was ruptured
at the adhesive interface. Further, the hollow fiber

39
membrane was picked off and the adhesively-bonded
surface was observed in detail. As a result, there
existed no membranes in the width of about 3 mm in the
part where the long side of the cross plate was buried.
5 When having taken a photograph of the inner surface of
the adhesively-fixed part; enlarged the photograph to
an A3 size; and measured a distributed state of a
hollow fiber membrane, PA, PB1 and PB2 were 0.43, 0.42
and 0.37 respectively, the ratio PB/PA of membrane-
10 occupying rates was 0.93, and the membrane-occupying
rate PC in every unit region (C) was 0.7 to 1.4 times
with reference to the membrane-occupying rats PA in
neighboring region (A). In the region of from the
first non-neighbering region (B1) to the contour part
15 of bundles in the second non-neighboring region (B2),
there were serial three unit regions (C) having the
membrane-occupving rate of less than 0.5 times PB.
In addition, a length of the columnar bar
inserted in the adhesively-fixed part was 45 mm, while
20 the length of the upper adhesively-fixed part was 65
mm, and the ratio was 0.69. In addition, the long side
and short side of the cross plate were 55 mm and 35 mm
respectively, and ths ratios were 0.85 and 0.54
respectively.
25 [0033]
Comparative Example 1
A hollow fiber membrane module was prepared
as in the case of Example I except that an insert was

40
not used when an upper adhesively-fixed part was formed
and the hollow fiber membrane was adhesively-bonded
with a centrifugal method in the state of having
directed a nozzle upward according to a general rule.
5 The module was subjected to a physical
cleaning durability test as in the case of Example 1,
and as a result, the leaks occurred in two membranes
after one month, and the leads occurred in 20 or more
membranes in cumulative total after two months. The
10 test was finished at this time, and the membrane module
was disassembled. As a result, every membrane having
caused the leak was ruptured in the side close to a
nozzle of the upper adhesively-fixed part.
when having observed the distributed state of
15 the hollow fiber membrane as in the case of Example 1,
there nondensely existed the membrane in a nozzle side
of a housing, and there existed no membrane in the
region of about 10 cm2. As a result of the measurement
of the cistributed state, the ratio PB/PA of membrane-
20 occupying rates showed 2.5.
[0034]
Comparative Example 2
When having accommodated a hollow fiber
membrane element prepared as in the case of Example 2
25 into a housing, the element was set so that the side in
the comparative nondense state in an adhesively-fixed
pare of a cartridge head could be closest to a nozzle
provided in the housing. The positional relationship

41
between the side in the comparative nondense state and
the nozzle at the time vas inscribed on the cartridge
head, and then the module was subjected to a physical
cleaning durability test as in the case of Example 1.
5 A leak occurred in one membrane after one
month, and the leaks occurred in 5 membranes in
cumulative total after 3 months, and in 36 membranes in
cumulative total after 6 months. The test was finished
at this moment, and the membrane module was
10 disassembled. As a result, every membrane having
caused the leak was ruptured in the side close to a
nozzle of the upper adhesively-fixed part.
When having measured the distributed state of
the hollow fiber membrane as in the case of Example 2,
15 the ratio PS/PA of membrane-occupying rates showed 1.9.
[0035]
Example 5
Modules prepared by methods described in
Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were
20 attached to a rack device, and were subjected to the
filtration of 1 m3 of a model liquid of which the
turbidity was adjusted to 1,000 ppm by adding mud in
river bottom thereto, and then cleaning it by passing
back wash water at the flow rate of 8 m3/hr for one
25 minute and air at the flow rate of 5 N-m3/h. After the
operation of filtration and cleaning was repeated five
times, each module was disassembled, and the state in a
membrane bundle in the vicinity of an upper adhesively-

42
fixed part was observed.
It was observed that a large quantity of
sludge accumulated in a part of second non-neighboring
region in Comparative Examples 1 and 2. In contrast to
5 this, a small quantity of sludge accumulated only in
one part of first non-neighboring region in Example 1,
and little sludge accumulated in Examples 2 and 3. In
Example 4, a small quantity of sludge accomulated only
in one part of the neighboring region.
10 INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0036]
The present invention provides a membrane
filter module suitably used in a filtering device for
clarifying and sanitising raw water such as river
15 water, lake water, underground water, sea water,
domestic wasteweter and industrial wastewater.

43
CLAIMS
1. An external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module comprising a hollow fiber membrane
bundle formved of a plurality of hollow fiber membrames,
a housing, and a nozzle for allowing a fluid to enter
and exit therefrom, which makes the hollow fiber
membranes fixedly adhered to each other and to the
inner wall of the housing at both ends of the aollow
fiber membrane bundle; makes a hollow part opened in
one side or both sides of adhesively-fixed ends; and
has the nozzle for allowing the fluid to enter and exit
therefrom installed on the side face of the housing of
at least one adhesively-fixed end at which the hollow
part is opened; wherein a ratio PB/FA of membrane-
occupying rates is 0.50 or more but 0.95 or less when
each of PA and PB is defined as the membrane-occupying
rates in a neighboring region (A) of the nozzle and a
non-neighboring region (B) of the nozzle among a
membrane chargeable region in the inner side of an
adhesively-fixed part, in at least one adhesively-fixed
end of the opened hollow part in the vicinity of the
nozzle.
2. An external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module comprising: a hollow fiber cartridge
having a hollow fiber membrane bundle formed of a
plurality of hollow fiber membranes, of which both end
parts are adhesively fixed and hollow parts in at least
one end of adhesively-fixed ends are opened; and a

44
housing accommodating the cartridge and having a nozzle
for allowing a fluid to enter and exit therefrom
installed on at least one side face, in which the
nozzle installed is fixed so as to be placed in the
vicinity of the inner surface of an adhesively-fixed
part in the opened hollow parts side in the hollow
fiber membrane cartridge; wherein a ratio PB/PA of
membrane-occupying rates is 0.50 or more but 0.95 or
less when each of PA and PB is defined as the membrane-
oecupying rate in a neighboring region (A) of the
nozzle and a nan-neighboring region (B) of the nozzle
among a membrane chargeable region in the inner side of
the adhesively-fixed part, in an adhesively-fixed end
in the vicinity of the nozzle.
3. The external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in
the neighboring region (A) of the nozzle, among a
membrane chargeable region in the inner side of an
adhesively-fixed part, membrane occupying-rate PC is
0.5 times or more but 2.0 times or less with reference
to membrane-occupying rate PA in the neighboring region
(A), in every unit region (C) constituting the
neighboring region (A).
4. The external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein PA,
PBl and PB2 of the membrane-occupying rates have the
relation of PA  PBl  PB2 and further PA is 0.40 or
more but 0.60 or less and PB2 is 0.20 or more but less

45
than 0.40 when each of PB1 and FB2 is defined as a
membrane-occupying rate in a first non-neighboring
region (B1) and a second non-neighboring region (B2) in
the non-neighboring region (B) of the nozzle among the
membrane chargeable region in the inner side of an
adhesively-fixed part.
5. The external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein the non-neighboring region (B) of the nozzle
among the membrane chargeable region in the inner side
of an adhesively-fixed part includes at least one unit
region in which membrane-occupying rate PC in unit
region (C) constituting the non-neighboring region (B)
is less than 0.5 times with reference to the membrane-
occupying rate PE in the non-neighboring region (B).
6. The external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a
current plate is arranged in the vicinity of the nozzle
of outer circumference parts of the hollow fiber
membrane bundle.
7. The external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module according to claim 6, wherein the
current plate is cylindrical, accommodates the hollow
fiber membrane bundle inside of it, has a plurality of
through-holes in a wall surface except the vicinity of
the nozzle, and has no through-hole in the vicinity of
the nozzle.
8. The external pressure type, hollow fiber

46
membrane module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an
adhesive bond part constituting the adhesively-fixed
part is made of a single layer of a high polymer
materia1, and has the hardness of 50A to 70D in a range
of operating temperatures.
9. A method for manufacturing the external
pressure type hollow fiber membrane module according to
claim 1 or 2 including: previously inserting a
plurality of columnar materials into an end of a hollow
fiber membrane bundle at least in a side of making a
hollow part opened accommodating the hollow fiber
membrane bundle which keeps the state of the insertion
in a vessel for forming an adhesively-fixed part;
injecting an adhesive bond into the vessel and curing
it; then cutting an end face of the hollow fiber
membrane bundle to form the adhesively-fixed part; and
consequently making the columnar materials having a
length of 0.3 to 0.9 times with reference to a
thickness of the adhesively-fixed part exist at least
in the adhesively-fixed part of a neighboring region
(A).
10. A method for manufacturing the external
pressure type hollow fiber membrane module according to
claim 1 including: accommodating a hollow fiber
membrane bundle in a housing case having a nozzle for
allowing a fluid to enter and exit therefrom at least
on one side face; horizontally rotating the housing
case in a state of keeping the nozzle directing toward

47
a lower direction than a horizontal direction:
injecting an adhesive bond into the housing case under
the centrifugal force; and curing it to form an
adhesively-fixed part.

An external pressure type hollow fiber
membrane module, comprising a hollow fiber membrane
bundle formed, of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes,
a housing, and an inlet/outlet nozzle for fluid,
wherein hollow fiber membranes are fixedly adhered to
each other and the hollow fiber membranes are fixedly
adhered to the inner wall of the housing at both ends
of the hollow fiber membrane bundle. The hollow part
at one or both side adhesively-fixed ends is opened,
and the inlet/outlet nozzle for fluid is installed at
the side face of the housing at least at one
adhesively-fixed end in which the hollow part is
opened. Where the membrane occupied rates of the
nozzle in a neighboring area (A) and a non-neighboring
area (B) among membrane chargeable areas on the inside
of the adhesively-fixed part at at least one
adhesively-fixed end positioned near the nozzle and
where the hollow part is opened are PA and SB, the
ratio of the membrane occupied rates PB/PA is 0.50 to
0.95.

Documents:

00558-kolnp-2006-abstract.pdf

00558-kolnp-2006-claims.pdf

00558-kolnp-2006-description complete.pdf

00558-kolnp-2006-drawings.pdf

00558-kolnp-2006-form 1.pdf

00558-kolnp-2006-form 2.pdf

00558-kolnp-2006-form 3.pdf

00558-kolnp-2006-form 5.pdf

00558-kolnp-2006-gpa.pdf

00558-kolnp-2006-international publication.pdf

00558-kolnp-2006-international search report.pdf

00558-kolnp-2006-priority document.pdf

abstract-00558-kolnp-2006.jpg


Patent Number 224137
Indian Patent Application Number 00558/KOLNP/2006
PG Journal Number 40/2008
Publication Date 03-Oct-2008
Grant Date 01-Oct-2008
Date of Filing 08-Mar-2006
Name of Patentee ASAHI KASEI CHEMICALS CORPORATION
Applicant Address 1-2, YURAKUCHO 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 YUZURU ISHIBASHI C/O ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, 1-2, YURAKUCHO 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO
PCT International Classification Number B01D 63/02
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP2004/014182
PCT International Filing date 2004-09-28
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2003-338160 2003-09-29 Japan