JPS5933002B2 - Inspection method for fluid separation membrane module - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for testing a fluid separation membrane module that selectively permeates a fluid mixture through a separation membrane to separate fluid components.

Generally, this type of fluid separation membrane module has a separation membrane inside the main container, and the separation membrane divides the inside of the main container into two spaces, and one space is supplied with a mixed fluid, and the fluid in the separation membrane is divided into two spaces. It is configured to take out a fluid with a component content different from that of the mixed fluid supplied from the other space by utilizing the difference in permeability depending on the type, thereby separating the fluids.

However, some of these separation membranes have defects, and there are cases where the separation membrane is not completely installed in the main container. Therefore, in these cases, leakage may occur between one space and the other space within the main container, resulting in a decrease in separation performance. However, conventionally it has been difficult to inspect such defects. In other words, to inspect for leaks inside the main container, it is necessary to supply fluid at a predetermined pressure to one space and measure the amount of fluid leaking into the other space. Therefore, the fluid passes through this separation membrane and flows into the other space. Therefore, as a result of supplying fluid at a predetermined pressure to one space of the main body container and measuring the amount of fluid flowing out from the other space, and comparing this with the design standard value, if the flow rate is larger than the standard value, this is determined. It was difficult to determine whether the cause was leakage from a defect or an error in the amount of permeation through the separation membrane. Therefore, in the past, defects in this type of fluid separation membrane module could not be reliably detected, and a high-quality product could not be obtained. The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a method for inspecting a fluid separation membrane module that can reliably detect defects in the fluid separation membrane module and obtain a high-quality product. There is a particular thing. The present invention will be explained below based on one embodiment.

First, the configuration of the fluid separation membrane module 1 will be schematically explained with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 2 denotes a main body container, which has a cylindrical shape, for example.

A separation membrane 3 is installed inside the main container 2, and the separation membrane 3 divides the inside of the main container 2 into two spaces, for example, a high-pressure side space 4 and a low-pressure side space 5. An inlet 6 is formed at one end of the high-pressure side space 4, and an outlet 7 is formed at the other end. Further, an outlet port 8 is formed in the low pressure side space 5 . The mixed fluid to be separated is supplied from the inlet 6 to the high-pressure side space 4 at a predetermined pressure, and the supplied mixed fluid passes through the separation membrane 3, flows into the low-pressure side space 5, and is led out from the outlet 8. . Then, due to the difference in permeability of each component fluid of the mixed fluid, the low pressure side space 5
A mixed fluid having a different component content from the mixed fluid in the high-pressure side space 4 is separated. Further, the remaining fluid in the high pressure side space 4 is configured to be discharged from the discharge port 7. Incidentally, the separation membrane 3 actually has a number of tubular shapes or other shapes, and is attached with an adhesive or the like to keep it sealed.
The material of the separation membrane 3 is, for example, silicone rubber, polyethylene, 4-methyl-pentane, polybutadiene, porous cellulose acetate, porous ethyl cellulose, Nuclear Bore, porous 4-fluoroethylene, Akron, polyester, porous metal membrane. and combinations thereof are used. In addition, the fluids to be separated are H2, HesN
2, Air, 02, Ne, . Ar. Kr, Xe, . Rn,
．． F2, Cl2, Br2, 12, 235UF6, 03,
Kawa, CmHn. When separating a specific component from a mixture of two or more types of gas, such as sO2, when separating a gas between a liquid and a gas, such as in the case of blood and gas, or when separating a fluid between a liquid and a liquid. There are cases where you do so. To inspect such a fluid separation membrane module 1, first connect the inlet pipe 9 to the inlet port 6, connect the discharge pipe 10 to the outlet port 7, and then connect the outlet port 8 is connected to an outlet pipe 11.

Further, 12 is a first fluid supply mechanism, and 13 is a second fluid supply mechanism, each of which is configured to supply different types of fluid. The first fluid supply mechanism 12 and the second fluid supply mechanism 13 are connected to an on-off valve 14,
15, and are connected to the introduction pipe 9, respectively. A pressure regulator 16 and a pressure gauge 17 are provided in the middle of this introduction pipe 9. Further, the discharge pipe 10 is provided with a stop valve 18. Further, the outlet pipe 11 is provided with a flow meter 19 and a pressure gauge 20. Then, the stop valve 18 is closed, and the first fluid supply mechanism 12
The on-off valve 14 is opened to supply the first fluid to the high pressure side space 4 in the main body container 2 at a predetermined pressure. Therefore, the supplied first fluid passes through the separation membrane 3 and enters the low pressure side space 5.
flows to The first fluid flowing out from this low pressure side space 5
The flow rate GA of the fluid is measured by the flow meter 19. During this measurement, the low-pressure side space 5 is maintained at a predetermined pressure, and the pressure difference between the high-pressure side space 4 and the low-pressure side space 5, that is, on both sides of the separation membrane 3, is maintained at a predetermined value. Next, the on-off valve 14 of the first fluid supply mechanism 12 is closed, and the second fluid supply mechanism 13 is closed.
The on-off valve 15 is opened, the second fluid is supplied into the high pressure side space 4, and the flow rate G3 of the second fluid flowing out from the low pressure side space 5 is measured in the same manner as described above. Then, the above measured value G
The ratio GA/GB of A and GB is the separation membrane 3 for the first fluid.
Specific permeability coefficient QA and permeability coefficient QB for the second fluid
The ratio QA/QB is compared, and if they are equal, it is determined that the fluid separation membrane module 1 is not defective, and if they are not equal, it is determined that there is a defect. The reason for this is shown below. First, the pressure difference between the high pressure side space 4 and the low pressure side space 5 is ΔP
, the constant of the permeation amount determined by the area, thickness, etc. of the separation membrane 3 is k1, and if it is assumed that there are multiple defects in the separation membrane 3 or its mounting location, the number of defects per defect is calculated assuming that all the defects are equal. The constant of the leakage amount is K2, the number of defects is N, and the specific weight of the first fluid is γ. , when the specific weight of the second fluid is γB.

Note that the first term on the right side of the above equations (1) and (2) is the flow rate of the fluid passing through the separation membrane 3, and the second term is the flow rate of the fluid leaking from the defect. Therefore, if there is no defect, N
Since it is -0, the above second term becomes zero, so it becomes.

Therefore, GA/GB becomes.

Therefore, as mentioned above, if GA/GB is equal to QA/QB, it is determined that there is no defect. Also,
If there is a defect, the second term will not become zero. Since this second term is proportional to the square root of the ratio between the specific weight of the fluid and the differential pressure, when measurements are made using two types of fluids, the second term in the first fluid and the second term in the first fluid are It is not proportional to the second term in the fluid. Therefore, GA/GB is QA/
If GA/G3 and QA/QB are not equal, it can be determined that there is a defect. Note that if the relationship QA/QB-J7W/71 is established between the first fluid and the second fluid, even if a defect exists, GA/GB-
QA/QB, and the presence or absence of a defect cannot be determined, so combinations of fluids that hold such a relationship are not used. It should be noted that it is extremely rare for such a relationship to hold true, and such a relationship does not hold true for the combination of fluids that are actually used. Therefore, according to this method, the presence or absence of defects in the fluid separation membrane module 1 can be reliably inspected, and high-quality manufacturing can be obtained. In addition, the fluid separation membrane module 1 inspected in this way has been determined to be free of defects, and the constant of the permeation amount of a specific fluid has been obtained, so by using this, it is possible to start using it. It is possible to easily inspect the occurrence of defects later. Next, the method will be explained. First, the permeation flow rate, for example GA, obtained in the above test is recorded. Next, after the start of use, this fluid separation membrane module 1 is removed, and the inlet pipe 21 is connected to the inlet port 6, the discharge pipe 22 is connected to the outlet port 7, and the outlet pipe 23 is connected to the outlet port 8. Connecting.

The introduction pipe 21 is connected via a pressure regulator 24 and an on-off valve 25 to a fluid supply mechanism 26 that supplies the same type of fluid as the first fluid. Note that 27 is a pressure gauge. Further, the discharge pipe is provided with a stop valve 28, and the outlet pipe 23 is provided with a pressure gauge 29 and a flow meter 30. Then, the stop valve 28 is closed and the on-off valve 25 is opened, and the same type of fluid as the first fluid is supplied from the fluid supply mechanism 26 to the high pressure side space 4 at the same pressure.
Then, the flow rate GA' of the fluid passing through the separation membrane 3 and flowing out from the low pressure side space 5 is measured by the flow meter 30. Then, this distribution GN is compared with the GA. If a defect occurs in the fluid separation membrane module 1 after the start of use, the flow rate GN will increase by the amount leaked from the defect, so by comparing this GI with GA, it can be determined that the defect occurs after the start of use. It is possible to check whether the In addition,
The fluid used for this post-use test does not necessarily have to be the same type as the fluid used for the test during manufacturing. For example, if the permeation flow rate of the same type of fluid as that used in the fluid separation membrane module 1 is measured and recorded after the inspection at the time of manufacturing is completed, the flow rate from the low pressure side space 5 during use can be measured and recorded. By comparing the value with the above-mentioned recorded value, it is possible to check whether a defect has occurred while the product is in use. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, the mechanism for supplying fluid, the mechanism for measuring flow rate, etc. do not necessarily need to be the same as those described above.

Further, the inspection after the start of use is not necessarily limited to the above.

As described above, the present invention supplies first and second fluids of different types to one space at predetermined pressures, and in each case, the flow rate GA of the fluid flowing out from the other space is adjusted.
, GB, and the ratio GA/GB of GA and GB is calculated as the first
and the ratio QA/QB of the permeability coefficients QA, QB of the second fluid.
It is used to detect defects by comparing the

Therefore, if there are no defects, GA/GB is QA/QB.
, and if there is a defect, they will not be equal, so that the presence or absence of a defect can be reliably inspected. Therefore, high-quality products can be obtained, and the reliability, stability, and uniformity of the fluid separation membrane module can always be guaranteed, which has great effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, with Fig. 1 being a schematic diagram of a fluid separation membrane module, Fig. 2 being a schematic diagram explaining an inspection method during manufacturing, and Fig. 3 explaining an inspection method after the start of use. FIG. 1...Fluid separation membrane module, 2...
Main body container, 3... Separation membrane, 4... High pressure side space, 5... Low pressure side space, 12...
First fluid supply mechanism, 13...second fluid supply mechanism, 19...flow meter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 In a device for inspecting defects in a fluid separation membrane module in which a separation membrane is provided in a main container to partition the interior of the main container into two spaces, a first fluid is supplied to one space in the main container at a predetermined pressure. Measure the flow rate G_A of the first fluid supplied at the pump and flowing out from the other space, and then introduce a second fluid of a different type from the first fluid into one space in the main body container at the pressure and the flow rate G_A of the first fluid flowing out from the other space. The flow rate G_B of the second fluid supplied at an equal predetermined pressure and flowing out from the other space is measured, and the ratio Q_A/Q_B of the measured values Q_A and Q_B is the permeability coefficient Q_A of the separation membrane to the first fluid. A method for inspecting a fluid separation membrane module, characterized in that a defect is detected by comparing whether or not the permeability coefficient Q_B and the permeability coefficient Q_B for a second fluid are equal to a ratio Q_A/Q_B.