JP4522004B2 - Filter module - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a filter module including a fluid separation filter capable of transmitting and separating only a specific fluid from a mixed fluid including a plurality of fluids, and more particularly to a filter module having high fluid separation performance.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a filter module including a fluid separation filter that can selectively permeate and separate a specific fluid from a mixed fluid containing a plurality of fluids is known. Examples of such fluid separation filters include polymer resins and the like. Metal films and inorganic oxide films deposited on the surface of porous materials such as organic materials or ceramics are used.
[0003]
As this type of module, for example, a filter tube formed on the partition wall surface contacting the fluid flow path surrounded by the partition walls of the honeycomb structure as disclosed in JP-A-4-71566, A so-called monolith type module in which a large number of through holes are formed in a longitudinal direction in a cylindrical body and used as a fluid flow path is known. Such a module allows a fluid to be treated to flow through a fluid passage and only a specific fluid is a partition wall. Only a specific fluid is transmitted through the filter by diffusing and moving inside, and the specific fluid is separated by being transmitted from the outer peripheral surface of the structure to the outside of the structure.
[0004]
As another module, as shown in FIG. 4, a hollow tubular fluid separation filter tube (hereinafter abbreviated as filter tube) 32 is inserted into a plurality of holes provided in the support member 35. There is known a filter module 31 which is fixed to form a filter tube converging body 33, which is housed and fixed in a housing.
[0005]
In the filter module 31, the fluid to be processed is supplied into the filter tube 32 from the fluid supply port 38 provided at the center of one end surface of the housing 34 and parallel to the end surface of the converging body 33. At the same time, the specific fluid diffuses and moves in the filter tube 32 through the fluid separation filter tube 32, permeates to the other surface of the filter tube 32, and is discharged from the permeated fluid discharge port 40 and collected outside the filter module 31. In addition, there is known a method of separating the specific fluid by discharging the remaining fluid from the remaining fluid discharge port 39 provided at the other end of the housing 34 to the outside of the system.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the structure of the conventional filter module 31, as is apparent from the schematic diagram for explaining the flow of fluid in FIG. 5, the fluid supplied from the fluid supply port 38 to the housing 34 is directly converged. 33, because the structure is such that it collides toward the end face, the amount of fluid supplied to each filter tube 32 becomes non-uniform, and the filter tube 32 located at the end is compared to the central portion where the fluid flows directly into the tube. As a result, the fluid separation efficiency in the filter tube 32 located at the end is significantly lowered, and the fluid separation performance of the entire module is lowered.
[0007]
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a filter module having high fluid separation efficiency and separation performance by uniformizing the amount of fluid to be processed into the filter pipe of the converging body. There is to do.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a result of studying the structure of the fluid supply port of the filter module, the present inventors have investigated the structure of the fluid supply port of the filter module. As a result, the inner diameter of the filter tube located at the center of the converging body in which a plurality of filter tubes are bundled By making the inner diameter of the filter tube located smaller, the flow resistance of the fluid to be treated into the filter tube is changed by increasing the inflow resistance of the fluid into the filter tube located in the center. By uniformizing the supply amount of the processing fluid, the fluid to be processed can be introduced uniformly into each filter tube without reducing the fluid separation efficiency of the filter tube located at the end, so that the separation of the filter tube as a whole is possible. As a result of improving the performance, it has been found that the fluid separation performance of the entire filter module can be improved.
[0009]
That is, the filter module of the present invention has a cylindrical shape, and is long and hollow in a housing having a treated fluid supply port on one end surface, a permeated fluid discharge port on the side wall surface, and a remaining fluid discharge port on the other end surface. from the treated fluid containing a plurality of kinds of fluids into the tube consists of a tubular and transmits only particular fluid, the filter tube can be separated accommodating a plurality of converged converged body, pre Symbol treated fluid inlets A fluid to be treated is supplied into the system from the inside, the fluid to be treated is introduced into each of the filter tubes, and a specific fluid in the fluid to be treated is transmitted to and separated from the outer surface side of the filter tube. with discharging the fluid out of the system from the permeate outlet, the remainder fluid is adapted to discharge out of the system from the remainder fluid outlet, and the fluid to be treated supply port, the fluid to be treated Convergence body A filter module is provided so as to increase the supply to the filter tubes in the center of the filter pipe located at the end, the filter tube inner diameter of the filter tube, located at the end portion located on the center It is characterized by being smaller than the inner diameter.
[0010]
Here, among the converged filter tubes, the ratio (r ₁ / r ₂ ) to the inner diameter r ₂ of the filter tube located at the end of the inner diameter r ₁ of the filter tube located in the center is 0.5-0. 9 is desirable.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An example of the filter module of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
According to FIG. 1, the filter module 1 includes a converging body 5 in which a plurality of, for example, 4 or more, particularly 10 or more, and further 30 or more filter tubes 4 made of a long hollow tube are converged in a cylindrical housing 2. It is stored. Here, the filter tube 4 supplies a fluid to be processed, which is a mixture of a plurality of types of gases or liquids, into the tube (inner surface side) of the filter tube 4, and only a specific fluid on the wall surface of the filter tube 4 is supplied to the filter tube 4. It can selectively permeate outside the tube (outer surface side) and be separated.
[0012]
Further, according to FIG. 1, both ends of the converging body 5 (the plurality of filter tubes 4) are fixed and converged through the support member 6, and are fixed to the inner surface of the housing 2 by at least one of the support members 6. Furthermore, the support member 6 is fixed and sealed to the end surface of the housing 2 via a stopper, a gasket (not shown), or the like as desired.
[0013]
Furthermore, the cylindrical housing 2 has a fluid supply port 8 to be processed at one end surface thereof, a permeated fluid discharge port 9 at the side wall surface of the housing 2, and a remaining fluid discharge port 10 at the other end surface of the housing 2. ing. One permeated fluid discharge port 9 is provided at a position between the support members 6 and 6 on the side wall surface of the housing 2. However, in order to improve fluid separation efficiency, a position close to the surface to be processed fluid supply port 8 is formed. It is desirable to be provided, and more than one may be provided.
[0014]
According to the filter module 1, the fluid to be processed is supplied into the system (inside the housing 2) from the fluid supply port 8, and the fluid to be processed is introduced into each filter tube 4 of the converging body 5. Thus, a specific fluid selectively permeates from the inner surface to the outer surface while the fluid to be processed passes through the inside of the filter tube 4. The permeated fluid is discharged from the permeated fluid discharge port 9 to the outside of the system (outside the housing 2), and the remaining fluid passing through the filter pipe 4 is discharged from the remaining fluid discharge port 10 to the outside of the system (outside the housing 2). .
[0015]
According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, among the filter tubes 4 converged by the converging body 5, a filter tube (hereinafter abbreviated as a central filter tube) 4 a located at the center of the converging body 5. The inner diameter of the filter tube (hereinafter abbreviated as the filter tube at the end) 4b is larger than the inner diameter of the filter tube 4a. The inflow resistance can be made relatively large as compared with that inside the filter pipe 4b at the end.
[0016]
On the other hand, in the filter module 1, as shown in the schematic diagram for explaining the flow of the fluid to be processed in FIG. 3, the fluid to be processed (arrow in the figure) supplied from the fluid supply port 8 is the end. Is supplied to the end of the central filter tube 4a more than the central filter tube 4b, but the inflow resistance of the central filter tube 4a is larger than the inflow resistance of the end filter tube 4b as described above. As a result, the fluid to be treated can be uniformly introduced into any one of the central filter tube 4a and the end filter tube 4b.
[0017]
Note that according to the present invention, among the filter tubes 4 which is the convergence, the introduction amount p ₁ of the fluid to be treated to the center of the filter tube 4a, the introduction amount of the fluid to be treated to the filter tube 4b end the ratio of _{p 2 (p 2 / p 1} ) is 0.5 to 2, it is desirable in particular 0.8 to 1.2.
[0018]
As a result, the amount of fluid introduced into each filter tube 4 is made uniform, and in particular, the amount of fluid introduced into the filter tube 4b at the end of the filter tube 4b having a high fluid separation efficiency is increased. Thus, the fluid separation performance of the filter tube 4 as a whole can be enhanced.
[0019]
That is, when the inner diameter of the filter tube 4a at the center of the converging body and the inner diameter of the filter pipe 4b at the end are the same, and further, the inner diameters of the filter tubes 4 in the converging body 5 are all the same, For example, when the fluid to be processed supplied into the system directly collides with the converging body 5, for example, the maximum width (inner diameter) R _{1 of the} inner surface of the processing fluid supply port 8 is 6 to ₁₀ mm. Because the maximum width (diameter) R _{2 of the} end facing the processing fluid supply port 8 is 15 mm or more, particularly 30 mm or more, and further 40 mm or more, there is a difference in the width between the processing fluid supply port 8 and the converging body 5. Due to the uneven distribution of the fluid supplied into the housing 2 from the fluid supply port 8 to be processed, the amount introduced into the filter tube 4b at the end is smaller than the amount introduced into the filter tube 4a inside. The filter tube 4 at the end with high fluid separation efficiency As a result of the decrease in the fluid separation efficiency at b, the fluid separation efficiency of the entire filter module 1 is decreased.
[0020]
According to the present invention, the ratio between the maximum width (inner diameter) R _{1 of the} inner surface of the processing fluid supply port 8 and the maximum width (diameter) R ₂ of the end portion of the converging body 5 facing the processing fluid supply port 8. This is particularly effective when (R ₂ / R ₁ ) is 1.5 or more, particularly 2.0 or more, and is the same when compared with the case where a fluid having the same flow rate is supplied from the processing fluid supply port 8. This is particularly effective when the inner diameter (r ₁ and r ₂ ) of each filter tube 4 is 5 mm or less, particularly 2 mm or less, and further 1.2 mm or less, and the inflow resistance when introducing a fluid into the filter tube 4 is high. .
[0021]
Further, according to the present invention, it is desirable that the inner diameters of the plurality of filter tubes 4 in the converging body 5 are formed to increase continuously or stepwise from the center toward the end.
[0022]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the fluid to be treated includes a liquid or a gas, and only a specific gas and / or liquid is selectively permeated through the filter tube 4 from a plurality of types of gases and / or liquids. This is particularly effective when
[0023]
In addition, according to the filter module 1, in order to increase the fluid separation efficiency, a vacuum pump or the like is installed outside the permeated fluid discharge port 9 to reduce the concentration of the fluid on the outer surface side of the filter tube 4. It is also possible to provide a differential pressure on both surfaces.
(Other forms)
1 and 2 show a method of changing the flow of the fluid to be treated by adjusting the inner diameter of the filter tube in the converging body. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cross section of the filter module 1 is used. In
(1) Arrangement is made so that the extrapolation lines (both two) of the wall surface of the treated fluid supply port 8 are located outside the converging body 5. Formed obliquely with respect to the housing 2 or on the side wall surface of the housing 2,
(2) The end surface of the housing 2 or the wall surface shape of the fluid supply port 8 to be processed is tapered or tapered toward the inside.
(3) A stirring member for stirring the fluid to be processed is attached between the fluid supply port 8 to be processed and the converging body 5 (4) A baffle plate is arranged between the fluid supply port 8 to be processed and the converging body 5 In any case, the flow of the fluid to be treated can be changed and the fluid to be treated can be uniformly introduced into each filter tube 4 of the converging body 5.
(Filter structure)
In addition, according to the present invention, the inner diameter of the filter tube 4 is particularly effective when the fluid introduction resistance is 5 mm or less, and the thickness is 0.5 to 5 mm in terms of mechanical strength and separation performance. It is desirable that it is 0.3-1 mm.
[0024]
The filter tube 4 can be made of organic resin, fiber, ceramics, etc., and is particularly porous with a porosity of 20% or more in terms of heat resistance, chemical resistance, and strength that does not deform against pressure in the system. At least one selected from the group consisting of alumina, zirconia, silica, cordierite, mullite and titania is preferred.
[0025]
Furthermore, in terms of mechanical strength and fluid separation efficiency, the filter tube 4 may be formed of a plurality of porous layers having different pore diameters. For example, the porosity is 20% or more, and the average pore diameter is 0.05 to 0.05. It is desirable that a separation membrane having an average pore diameter of 1 to 10 nm and a film thickness of 0.05 to 5 μm is deposited on the surface of a support tube having a surface roughness of 2 μm and a surface roughness of 2 μm or less. Further, in order to improve the film formability of the separation membrane and form a thin and uniform separation membrane, an intermediate layer having a pore diameter between both is provided between the support tube and the separation membrane, if desired. May be. The separation membrane may be formed on either the inner surface or the outer surface of the support tube.
[0026]
The support member 6 is made of at least one selected from dense alumina, silica, cordierite, forsterite, steatite, zirconia, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, glass, etc., and has a coefficient of thermal expansion with the filter tube 4. Is preferably approximated within a thermal expansion coefficient of ± 1 × 10 ⁻⁶ / ° C.
[0027]
Further, the housing 2 is formed of a member that does not transmit fluid such as heat resistant glass, metal such as stainless steel, ceramics such as alumina or zirconia, and is hermetically sealed from the outside, but has high thermal shock resistance. In addition, when pressurizing or depressurizing the inside of the housing 4, a metal such as stainless steel having high mechanical strength is suitable, and it is particularly desirable that the housing 4 is formed of a substantially tubular body such as a cylinder.
[0028]
【Example】
Example 1
After adding a predetermined organic binder, lubricant, plasticizer and water to alumina powder having a purity of 99.9% and an average particle size of 0.1 μm, mixing, and producing a tubular molded body by extrusion molding, Baking at 1200 ° C., 37 support tubes made of α-alumina having a thickness of 0.5 mm, a length of 30 cm, an average particle size of 0.2 μm, and a porosity of 39% were produced. In addition, about the internal diameter of each support tube, 30 which makes | forms the outer periphery of a filter converging body was formed into 1.0 mm, the inner six were 0.9 mm, and the center of the converging body was formed into 0.75 mm. Moreover, the wax dissolved in the both end portions was filled by dipping, and the wax deposited on the outer peripheral portion of the support tube was wiped off and cooled to a temperature at which the wax was cured.
[0029]
On the other hand, a predetermined organic binder and a lubricant are added to and mixed with alumina powder having a purity of 99.9% and an average particle size of 0.1 μm, and a plate-like molded body is produced by press molding, followed by drilling. 37 through holes were formed and fired at 1600 ° C. to prepare a support member having a diameter of 43 mm and having 37 through holes for inserting and fixing the support tube.
[0030]
Further, to produce an average particle size 2μm borosilicate glass _{(SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3 -CaO} -BaO-SrO-B 2 O 3) added an organic binder, a solvent in a glass, mixed sealant paste. The paste had a viscosity of 30 Pa · s.
[0031]
Then, the 37 support tubes are inserted into through holes formed in the support member, filled with the sealant paste, heated to 1100 ° C., and the support tube and the support member are sealed with the sealant. Glued.
[0032]
Next, the obtained structure is inserted into the housing of the structure shown in FIG. 1, and the alumina boehmite sol for the intermediate layer is sent to the inner wall of the support tube in a state where the support member and the housing are hermetically sealed. Filled with a liquid pump, dried, taken out from the housing, fired, and similarly, a silica-zirconia separation membrane was deposited and formed on the inner surface of the support tube using a silica-zirconia sol solution for the separation membrane. A converging body in which 37 filter tubes having an intermediate layer and a separation membrane formed thereon were converged was produced and stored in a housing.
[0033]
The inner diameter of the housing was 55 mm, the inner surface length was 300 mm, the inner diameters of the treated fluid supply port, the remaining fluid discharge port and the permeated fluid discharge port were all 8 mm, and the diameter of the converging body was 45 mm.
[0034]
Then, the support member of the converging body and the fixing member of the housing were sealed and fixed via a gasket to produce the filter module of FIG.
[0035]
The obtained filter module is supplied with a mixed gas of 50% H ₂ gas and 50% N ₂ gas at 10 liters / minute (equivalent to atmospheric pressure) from the processing fluid supply port in a completely assembled state of the filter module. With the differential pressure of 0.5 MPa applied to the inner wall and outer wall of the gas, the flow rate of H ₂ gas and N ₂ gas discharged from the permeated fluid discharge port was measured with a gas flow meter, and the concentration of each gas was measured by gas chromatography. However, the flow rate of the permeating gas was 3.45 liters / minute, the H ₂ gas concentration was 95.2%, and the N ₂ gas concentration was 4.8%.
[0036]
Also, with the remaining fluid discharge port forming surface of the housing removed, 100% N ₂ gas that hardly permeates the filter tube wall surface is supplied as a process fluid (standard fluid) from the process fluid supply port at 10 liters / minute. The flow rate of the gas in each filter pipe is measured for any of the five filter pipes located at the center from the remaining fluid discharge port side of the converging body and the filter pipe located at the end, and this is sent to each filter pipe. Assuming that the amount of gas introduced is an average value, the supply amount (p ₁ ) in the central filter tube is 0.267 liters / minute, and the supply amount (p ₂ ) in the end filter tube is 0. 270 liter / min, and the ratio (p ₂ / p ₁ ) was 1.011.
[0037]
(Comparative example)
A filter module was prepared and evaluated in exactly the same manner as in Example 1 except that the filter tube in the converging body had the same shape as the outer diameter of 2.0 mm and the inner diameter of 1.0 mm with respect to the filter module of Example 1. As a result, the average linear velocity of the permeated gas was 1.4 liters / minute, the concentration of H ₂ gas was 93.2%, the concentration of N ₂ gas was 6.8%, and the supply amount (p in the center filter tube) ₁ ) was 0.585 liter / minute, the supply amount (p ₂ ) at the filter tube at the end was 0.224 liter / minute, and the ratio (p ₂ / p ₁ ) was 0.383.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the filter module of the present invention, it is possible to introduce the fluid to be treated evenly into each filter tube of the converging body, so that the filter module having high fluid separation efficiency in the entire filter tube It becomes.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the cross-sectional shape of an example of a filter module of the present invention.
2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a shape of an end portion of a converging body on the fluid supply port side in the filter module of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the flow of a fluid to be processed in the filter module of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view for explaining the cross-sectional shape of a conventional filter module.
5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the flow of a fluid to be processed in the filter module of FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Filter module 2 Housing 4 Filter pipe | tube 4a Center filter pipe | tube 4b End filter pipe | tube 5 Converging body 6 Support member 8 Processed fluid supply port 9 Permeated fluid discharge port 10 Remaining fluid discharge port

Claims (2)

In a housing having a cylindrical shape , a treated fluid supply port on one end surface, a permeated fluid discharge port on the side wall surface, and a remaining fluid discharge port on the other end surface , a plurality of types of fluids are formed in a long hollow tube. the to and transmits only specific fluid from the fluid to be treated containing, houses a convergent body converged filter tubes or more present which may be separated, the fluid to be treated before Symbol target fluid supply port to the system supplied, by introducing a該被processing fluid to each of the filter tube, passes through the particular fluid of the treated fluid to the outer surface side of the filter tube, and separated, the permeate fluid the permeate outlet while discharged outside the system from the remainder fluid is adapted to discharge out of the system from the remainder fluid outlet, and the fluid to be treated supply port, the fluid to be treated to the end of the converging member More central than the filter tube located A filter module is provided so as to increase the supply to the filter tubes positioned, filter inner diameter of the filter tube is located in the center may be smaller than the inner diameter of the filter tube located at the end module. Among the converged filter tubes, the ratio (r ₁ / r ₂ ) to the inner diameter r ₂ of the filter tube located at the end of the inner diameter r ₁ of the filter tube located at the center is 0.5 to 0.9. The filter module according to claim 1.

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