Title of Invention

A HOLLOW FIBRE MEMBRANE MODULE WITH A FIXED STRUCTURE

Abstract A hollow fibre membrane module with a fixed structure comprises: a bearing shell (7), an inlet (8), a concentrated water outlet (10), a produced water outlet (9), a central tube (1) and hollow fibre membranes (6), in which the hollow fibre membranes (6), the central tube (1) and the bearing shell (7) are fixed together, the inlet (8) is located at one end of the hollow fibre membranes (6), the concentrated water outlet (10) is located at the other end of the hollow fibre membranes (6), the produced water outlet(s) (9) is(are) located at one end or both ends of the central tube (1), and there are small holes drilled on the side wall of the central tube (1). The module also comprises at least one separate fixed ring(s)(2) for fixing the hollow fibre membranes (6), with the separate fixed ring(s)(2) fixed on the central tube (1) and the hollow fibre membranes (6) arranged in parallel through the separate fixed ring(s)(2).
Full Text A HOLLOW FIBRE MEMBRANE MODULE
WITH A FIXED STRUCTURE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a filtrating equipment, more specifically, to a hollow
fibre membrane module with a fixed structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hollow fibre membranes have been widely used m the fields such as water treatment,
biological separation and air filtration. The typical manner for constructing a hollow fibre
membrane module is to amount a bundle of hollow fibre membranes into a bearing shell, then
fix the ends of the bundle. However, such manner of directly amounting the bundle into a
shell easily causes the fibre membranes knotted and disordered.
The directly fixed membrane module has been improved. Some improvement are to
cover a net-like protection layer on the bundle, and others are to separate the membranes into
several bundles with separators. Although the above improvements have a certain protection
effect on the membranes, they easily damage the bundles, and cannot well solve the problems
existing in the distribution of water stream and collection of the produced water, which tend
to resulting the breaking of the membranes and the low filtrating efficiency. When the
diameter and the length of the membrane module are larger, the above problems are more
obvious.
To solve the above problems, someone have proposed to add a waiter distributing device
at the end of the bundle, so as to distribute water, and fix the water distributor, bundle and
shell together through bonding. However, this method still has the problem of nonuniform
water distribution.
Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop a hollow fibre membrane module with
a reasonable structure, which has more reasonable and efficient water stream distribution and
produced water collection, improved hollow membranes availability, and higher filtration
efficiency.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention has solved the problems existing in the prior art by incorporating
a fixing structure into the hollow fibre membrane module.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a hollow fibre membrane module with a
fixed structure comprising: a bearing shell, an inlet, a concentrated water outlet, a produced
water outlet, a central tube and hollow fibre membranes, in which the hollow fibre membranes,
the central tube and the bearing shell are fixed together, the inlet is located at one end of the
hollow fibre membranes, the concentrated water outlet is located at the other end of the
hollow fibre membranes, the produced wate:r outlet(s) is(are) located at one end or both ends

of the central tube, and there are small holes drilled on the sidewall of the central tube,
wherein the module also comprises at least one separate fixed ring(s) for fixing the hollow
fibre membranes, with the separate fixed ring(s) fixed on the central tube and the hollow fibre
membranes arranged in parallel through the separate fixed ring(s).
In a preferred embodiment, when one separate fixed ring is used, it is located at the
middle of the central tube; and when more separate fixed rings are used, they are arranged in
equidistance on the central tube.
In another preferred embodiment, both ends of the hollow fibre membranes are
integrated with the central tube through a bonding material, then inserted into the bearing
shell.
In another preferred embodiment, the hollow fibre membranes, the central tube and the
bearing shell are directly integrated through a bonding material.
In another preferred embodiment, an outer ring is located at the outer edge of the
separate fixed ring, an inner ring is located at the inner of the separate fixed ring, and many
radial rib plates are located between the outer ring and the inner ring in equidistance; and, the
hollow fibre membranes are mounted in a cyclic space formed by the outer ring, the inner ring
and the radial rib plates of the separate fixed ring in equal amount, and are parallel with the
central tube.
In another preferred embodiment, there is a through-hole in the outer ring; the inner ring
is fixed in the central tube; the radial rib plate has a length of no less than 5mm, a width of no
less than 2mm and a thickness of no less than 2mm; and when more separate fixed rings are
used, the radial rib plate corresponding to each separate fixed ring is distributed on the same
plane.
In another pireferred embodiment, wherein the outer ring and the radial rib plate are
integrated.
In another preferred embodiment, the outer ring has many separating bodies respectively
inserted into the radial rib plate, and the amount of the separating bodies is at least 2, and at
most equal to the amount of the radial rib plate.
In another preferred embodiment, the separating bodies and the radial rib plate are
bonded together, or the separating bodies and the radial rib plate are clipped together, and the
separating bodies can be separated from the radial rib plate.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a filter comprising the above hollow
fibre membrane module.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the hollow fibre membrane module with a fixed structure
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates the structure of the separate fixed ring in the preferred embodiment
according to Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
Through extensive and intensive investigation, the inventors of the present invention
have found that by incorporating a fixing structure such as a separate fixed ring into the
hollow fibre membrane module, a hollow fibre membrane module with a reasonable structure,
which has more reasonable and efficient water stream distribution and produced water
collection, improved hollow membranes availability, and higher filtration efficiency, can be
obtained. Based on the above finding, the present invention has been achieved.
Now, the present invention is further described in conjunction with the drawings.
However, it should be understood that these drawings are merely to illustrate the present
invention, not limiting the scope of the invention.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the hollow fibre membrane module with a fixed structure
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in Figure 1, the
hollow fibre membrane module is a cylinder structure. The central tube 1 is also a cylinder,
and there are small holes 11 drilled on the outer wall thereof. The separate fixed rings 2 are
distributed in equidistance on the central tube 1 for separating and fixing the hollow fibre
membranes 6. The radial rib plates 3 corresponding to each separate fixed ring 2 forms a
plane along the axis of the central tube 1. The hollow fibre membranes 6 are also in the form
of cylinder and parallel with the central tube 1, and the ends thereof and the central tube 1 are
fixed together. These hollow fibre membranes 6 are arranged in parallel through the separate
fixed rings 2. The above member composed of the central tube 1, the hollow fibre membranes
6 and the separate fixed rings 2 are inserted into the bearing shell 7, so as to seal the outer
edge of the ends of the membranes and the bearing shell 7, In another embodiment, the ends
of the membranes, the central tube 1 and the bearing shell 7 can be directly integrated with a
bonding material. In another embodiment, when only one separate fixed ring 2 is used, it is
located at the middle of the central tube 1.
The operation principle of the hollow fibre membrane module is as follows: when the
ultrafiltration membrane is an internal pressure membrane, raw water flows into the inlet 8
located at one end of the hollow fibre membranes 6, then the filtrated produced water flows
into the central tube 1 via the through-hole on the central tube 1 through the space between
the bundle, and flows out of the produced water outlets 9 on both ends of the central tube 1;
and, the raw water without being filtrated flows into the other end of the membranes 6 via the
inner side of the membranes, so as to form concentrated water and flow out of the
concentrated water outlet 10, wherein the produced water outlet 9 can be located at one end of
the central tube 1 only; and, when the ultrafiltration membrane is an external pressure
membrane, the inlet 8 and the concentrated water outlet 10 become the produced water outlets,
and the produced water outlet 9 becomes an aeration outlet, thus the produced water flows out
of the inlet 8 and the concentrated water outlet 10 via the outer sides of the membranes.
Figure 2 illustrates the structure of the separate fixed ring 2 in the preferred embodiment

according to Figure 1. As illustrated in Figure 2, the separate fixed ring 2 is composed of an
outer ring 4, an inner ring 5, and radial rib plates 3 located between the outer ring and the
inner ring in equidistance. There are many through-holes 12 on the outer ring 4, the inner ring
5 is fixed on the central tube 1, and the radial rib plate 3 has a length of no less than 5mm, a
width of no less than 2mm and a thickness of no less than 2mm, generally. When mounting,
the outer ring 4 and the radial rib plates 3 can be integrated, or the outer ring can be formed
into many separating bodies respectively inserted into the radial rib plates 3. The amount of
the separafing bodies is at least 2, and at most equal to the amount of the radial rib plates 3.
The separating bodies and the radial rib plates 3 can be bonded together, or the separating
bodies and the radial rib plates 3 can be clipped together, and the separating bodies can be
easily separated from the radial rib plates 3. The hollow fibre membranes are mounted in a
cyclic space formed by the outer ring 4, the inner ring 5 and the radial rib plates 3 of the
separate fixed ring in equal amount.
The main advantages of the present invention are as follows:
The separate fixed ring fixes the bundle, correspondingly separates the bundle, and
forms a channel between the bundle, thus greatly reducing the resistance of the membranes
against water stream. Raw water flows into the inlet, then penetrates through the wall of the
hollow membranes to form produced water, while raw water flows to the other end of the
inner wall of the membranes to form concentrated water. Through the above channel formed
by the separate fixed rings, the produced water can flow into the produced water outlet
without being blocked, and the concentrated water can be discharged from the concentrated
water outlet, thus greatly increasing the operating efficiency of the membranes. Therefore,
when the diameter and the length of the membrane module are larger, the configuration of the
present invention can still remain the ordered arrangement of the membranes and the high
efficient operation, thus ensuring the collection and flow of the produced water.
Although the present invention has been illustrated in detail for the purpose of clarity
and understanding, upon reviewing the description of the present application, those skilled in
the art will readily understand that various amendments and modifications can be made in the
present invenfion without departure of the spirit and substance of the present invenfion. Such
amendments and modifications fall within the scopes of the attached claims and their
equivalents.

What is claimed is:
1. A hollow fibre membrane module with a fixed structure comprising; a bearing shell
(7), an inlet (8), a concentrated water outlet (10), a produced water outlet (9), a central tube (1)
and hollow fibre membranes (6), in which the hollow fibre membranes (6), the central tube (1)
and the bearing shell (7) are fixed together, the inlet (8) is located at one end of the hollow
fibre membranes (6), the concentrated water outlet (10) is located at the other end of the
hollow fibre membranes (6), the produced water outlet(s) (9) is(are) located at one end or both
ends of the central tube (1), and there are small holes drilled on the side wall of the central
tube (1), wherein the module also comprises at least one separate fixed nng(s)(2) for fixing
the hollow fibre membranes (6), with the separate fixed ring(s)(2) fixed on the central tube (1)
and the hollow fibre membranes (6) arranged in parallel through the separate fixed ring(s)(2).
2. The hollow fibre membrane module according to claim 1, wherein when one separate
fixed ring is used, it is located at the middle of the central tube; and when more separate fixed
rings are used, they are arranged in equidistance on the central tube.
3. The hollow fibre membrane module according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the
hollow fibre membranes are integrated with the central tube through a bonding material, then
inserted into the bearing shell.
4. The hollow fibre membrane module according to claim 1, wherein the hollow fibre
membranes, the central tube and the bearing shell are directly integrated through a bonding
material.
5. The hollow fibre membrane module according to claim 2, wherein an outer ring is
located at the outer edge of the separate fixed ring, an inner ring is located at the inner of the
separate fixed ring, and many radial rib plates are located between the outer ring and the inner
ring in equidistance; and, the hollow fibre membranes are mounted in a cyclic space formed
by the outer ring, the inner rmg and the radial rib plates of the separate fixed ring in equal
amount, and are parallel with the central tube.
6. The hollow fibre membrane module according to claim 5, wherein there is a through
hole in the outer ring; the inner ring is fixed in the central tube; the radial rib plate has a
length of no less than 5mm, a width of no less than 2mm and a thickness of no less than 2mm;
and when more separate fixed rings are used, the radial rib plate corresponding to each
separate fixed ring is distributed on the same plane.
7. The hollow fibre membrane module according to claim 5, wherein the outer ring and

the radial rib plate are integrated.
8. The hollow fibre membrane module according to claim 5, wherein the outer ring has
many separating bodies respectively inserted into the radial rib plate, and the amount of the
separating bodies is at least 2, and at most equal to the amount of the radial rib plate.
9. The hollow fibre membrane module according to claim 8, wherein the separating
bodies and the radial rib plate are bonded together, or the separating bodies and the radial rib
plate are clipped together, and the separating bodies can be separated from the radial rib plate.
10. A filter comprising the hollow fibre membrane module according to any one of
claims 1-9.


Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=YkfdFTEC6/Eurin7dJTfcQ==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==


Patent Number 270645
Indian Patent Application Number 3924/KOLNP/2008
PG Journal Number 02/2016
Publication Date 08-Jan-2016
Grant Date 06-Jan-2016
Date of Filing 26-Sep-2008
Name of Patentee HAINAN LITREE PURIFYING TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD.
Applicant Address NO.13 SHUNDA ROAD,MEILAN DIST., HAIKOU,HAINAN,571126
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 CHEN, MAN 506A, NO. 333, HONGQIAO ROAD, SHANGHAI 200030
2 CHEN, QING 506A, NO. 333, HONGQIAO ROAD, SHANGHAI 200030
3 CHEN, LIANGGANG 506A, NO. 333, HONGQIAO ROAD, SHANGHAI 200030
PCT International Classification Number B01D 63/02
PCT International Application Number PCT/CN2007/000040
PCT International Filing date 2007-01-08
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 200620040234.X 2006-03-16 China