Sealer holding member for membrane element and membrane element using the same

• US 20060049093A1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
• Inventors: Chikura, Shinichi, Uda, Yasuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,198,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/321.830
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/10 Spiral-wound membrane modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/101 Spiral winding
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/00 Accessories or auxiliary operations, in general, for separation processes or apparatus using semi-permeable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/131 Reverse-osmosis

Abstract

A sealer holding member for a membrane element is disposed at an end of a spiral-type membrane element on an outer circumference thereof, and allows a feed to flow into a membrane end of the membrane element. The sealer holding member includes a first annular portion, an annular projection, a second annular portion, and a third annular portion arranged in this order. The first annular portion is engaged with an outer-covering member for the membrane element and receives an end of the membrane element without contacting a side of the membrane element. The second annular portion receives a sealer on an outside thereof.

Claims

1. A sealer holding member for a membrane element being disposed at an end of a spiral-type membrane element for holding an annular sealer on an outer circumference thereof and allowing a feed to flow into a membrane end of the membrane element, comprising:

a first annular portion having a side wall that opposes an upstream-side membrane end of said membrane element and receiving insertion of an end of an outer-covering member of the membrane element on an outside thereof;

an annular projection formed on an upstream side of the first annular portion, which is capable of stopping an end surface of said outer-covering member and a downstream-side end of said sealer by engagement on two side walls thereof;

a second annular portion formed on an upstream side of the annular projection, which holds said sealer on an outside thereof; and

a third annular portion formed on an upstream side of the second annular portion, which is capable of stopping an upstream-side end of said sealer by engagement.

2. The sealer holding member for a membrane element according to claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of said third annular portion is smaller than an outer diameter of said annular projection.

3. The sealer holding member for a membrane element according to claim 1, wherein, with respect to width in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the membrane element, a width of said annular projection is smaller than a width of said second annular portion, and a width of said third annular portion is smaller than a width of said second annular portion.

4. The sealer holding member for a membrane element according to claim 1, wherein said third annular portion includes a plurality of outer circumferential grooves with a partially lowered outer circumferential surface or a plurality of cut-outs with a partially removed annular portion.

5. The sealer holding member for a membrane element according to claim 1, wherein an end surface of said third annular portion includes a plurality of end surface grooves extending from an inner circumference thereof to an outer circumference thereof.

6. A membrane element wherein a sealer holding member for the membrane element according to claim 1 is disposed on an upstream side of the upstream-side membrane end of the spiral-type membrane element, and the end of the outer-covering member is inserted on an outside of said first annular portion.

7. A membrane element wherein a sealer holding member for the membrane element according to claim 2 is disposed on an upstream side of the upstream-side membrane end of the spiral-type membrane element, and the end of the outer-covering member is inserted on an outside of said first annular portion.

8. A membrane element wherein a sealer holding member for the membrane element according to claim 3 is disposed on an upstream side of the upstream-side membrane end of the spiral-type membrane element, and the end of the outer-covering member is inserted on an outside of said first annular portion.

9. A membrane element wherein a sealer holding member for the membrane element according to claim 4 is disposed on an upstream side of the upstream-side membrane end of the spiral-type membrane element, and the end of the outer-covering member is inserted on an outside of said first annular portion.

10. A membrane element wherein a sealer holding member for the membrane element according to claim 5 is disposed on an upstream side of the upstream-side membrane end of the spiral-type membrane element, and the end of the outer-covering member is inserted on an outside of said first annular portion.

11. A sealer holding structure for a spiral-type membrane element, comprising:

(i) the spiral-type membrane element having an upstream end and a side circumference, said spiral-type membrane being disposed inside an outer vessel;

(ii) an outer-cover member that covers the side circumference of the membrane element and extends in an upstream direction from the upstream end of the membrane element;

(iii) an annular sealer for sealing a space between the spiral-type membrane and the outer vessel at the upstream end of the membrane element; and

(iv) a sealer holding member for holding the annular sealer comprising a first annular portion, an annular projection, a second annular portion, and a third annular portion, wherein

the first annular portion is engaged with an inner wall of the outer-cover member without contacting the side circumference of the membrane element;

the annular projection stops an end of the outer-covering member; and

the third annular portion is a second annular projection, and the second annular portion is defined between the annular projection and the third annular portion where the annular sealer is fitted.

12. The sealer holding structure according to claim 11, wherein the third annular portion has an outer diameter which is smaller than that of the annular projection.

13. The sealer holding structure according to claim 11, wherein each of the annular projection and the third annular projection has a width defined in an axial direction which is smaller than that of the second annular portion.

14. The sealer holding structure according to claim 11, wherein the third annular portion includes a plurality of outer circumferential grooves with a partially lowered outer circumferential surface or a plurality of cut-outs with a partially removed annular portion.

15. The sealer holding structure according to claim 11, wherein the third annular portion includes a plurality of end surface grooves at an outer circumference thereof.

16. The sealer holding structure according to claim 11, wherein the first annular portion has a convex-concave side where the outer-cover member is engaged.

17. The sealer holding structure according to claim 11, wherein the third annular portion has an inclined surface facing the annular sealer.

18. The sealer holding structure according to claim 11, wherein the sealer holding member has reinforcing ribs radially extending toward an outer periphery of the sealer holding member.