Catchment header and membrane module unit

• US 7,255,788 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Company Limited (Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Okazaki, Hiroyuki, Honjou, Kenji, Yanone, Katsuyuki, Kobayashi, Masumi, Yanou, Manabu
• Primary Examiner(s): Menon; Krishnan S.
• Application Number:
  US10/503,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20050218063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 210/232
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/21 Specific headers, end caps
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/00 Apparatus in general for separation processes using semi-permeable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/026 Wafer type modules or flat-surface type modules
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/043 with separate tube sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 65/00 Accessories or auxiliary operations, in general, for separation processes or apparatus using semi-permeable membranes

Abstract

A catchment header allowing a plurality of membrane modules to be connected thereto, having a tubular catchment part with a Young'"'"'s modulus of 4.0 GPa or less for collecting and taking out filtrated liquid from the membrane modules, wherein at least a part of the tubular catchment part is covered with a reinforcement member with a Young'"'"'s modulus of 4.0 to 250 GPa, the tubular catchment part of the catchment header is preferably formed of a synthetic resin, and the cross sectional area thereof perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular catchment part is preferably 4 to 36 cm².

Claims

1. A catchment header comprising:

a tubular catchment part including a plurality of membrane module connection parts at the side surface and having a Young'"'"'s modulus of 4.0 GPa or less for collecting and removing filtrated liquid from a plurality of membrane modules, and a reinforcement member having a Young'"'"'s modulus of 4.0 GPa to 250 GPa which covers at least a part of the side surface of the tubular catchment part.

2. A catchment header according to claim 1, wherein said tubular catchment part is formed of a synthetic resin.

3. A catchment header according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a cross-sectional area of said tubular catchment part perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the tubular catchment part is 4 to 36 cm².

4. A catchment header according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said tubular catchment part comprises a plurality of members which are connected in series.

5. A catchment header according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said reinforcement member is formed of a metal, a filler reinforced plastic, or a fiber reinforced plastic.

6. A catchment header according to any one of claims 1 or 2, further comprising:

a connection part having a protruded shape and that is adapted to be connected to a membrane module.

7. A catchment header according to claim 6, wherein said connection part is linked to an adjacent connection part that has a protruded shape via a linking member.

8. A membrane module unit, comprising:

a plurality of membrane modules, and a catchment header according to any one of claims 1 or 2 to which said plurality of membrane modules are connected.

9. A membrane module unit according to claim 8, wherein said membrane modules are hollow fiber membrane modules in which bundle ends of a hollow fiber membrane of a sheet shape are accommodated inside a housing of a rectangular shape and are fluid-tightly fixed using a fixing member.

10. A catchment header according to claim 3, wherein said tubular catchment part comprises a plurality of members which are connected in series.

11. A catchment header according to claim 3, wherein said reinforcement member is formed of a metal, a filler reinforced plastic, or a fiber reinforced plastic.

12. A catchment header according to claim 4, wherein said reinforcement member is formed of a metal, a filler reinforced plastic, or a fiber reinforced plastic.

13. A catchment header according claim 5, further comprising:

a connection part having a protruded shape and that is adapted to be connected to a membrane module.

14. A catchment header adapted to be immersed in a fluid that is to be filtered, said catchment header adapted to receive and be connected to a plurality of membrane modules which are to be immersed in the fluid to be filtered, said catchment header comprising:

a hollow tubular-shaped catchment part formed from synthetic resin for collecting and removing filtered liquid from a plurality of the membrane modules, wherein said hollow tubular-shaped catchment part has a side surface, a Young'"'"'s modulus of 4.0 GPa or less, a plurality of membrane module connection parts on said side surface that are each adapted to receive and be connected to a respective membrane module, and at least one outlet for removing the filtered liquid collected from a plurality of membrane modules, and

a reinforcement member having a Young'"'"'s modulus of 4.0 GPa to 250 GPa which covers at least a part of said hollow tubular-shaped catchment part.

15. A membrane module unit adapted to be immersed in a fluid to be filtered that comprises a catchment header according to claim 14;

and a plurality of membrane modules connected to said catchment header.

16. A membrane module unit according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of membrane modules comprise hollow fiber membrane modules.