US 12,214,316 B2
Method for manufacturing hollow fiber membrane module, and hollow fiber membrane module
Fumihiro Hayashi, Osaka (JP); Yasuhiko Muroya, Osaka (JP); Takamasa Hashimoto, Osaka (JP); and Yoshimasa Suzuki, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to SUMITOMO ELECTRIC FINE POLYMER, INC., Osaka (JP)
Appl. No. 17/756,933
Filed by SUMITOMO ELECTRIC FINE POLYMER, INC., Osaka (JP)
PCT Filed Aug. 17, 2020, PCT No. PCT/JP2020/031005
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 6, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/131145, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 1, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-235301 (JP), filed on Dec. 25, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0025394 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. B01D 63/02 (2006.01); B01D 67/00 (2006.01); B01D 69/08 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 63/0231 (2022.08) [B01D 63/0233 (2022.08); B01D 63/024 (2013.01); B01D 67/0086 (2013.01); B01D 69/08 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane module, the hollow fiber membrane module comprising:
a hollow fiber membrane bundle including a plurality of hollow fiber membranes;
a housing configured to contain the hollow fiber membrane bundle; and
a potting part or potting parts in which a potting agent is added between outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes and inner surfaces of the housing at one end region or at both end regions of the hollow fiber membrane bundle,
wherein the method comprises:
providing a sheet-shaped spacer or spacers in a space between the hollow fiber membranes at the one end region or at the both end regions of the hollow fiber membrane bundle; and
adding a potting agent between the outer surfaces of the hollow fiber membranes and the inner surfaces of the housing at the both end regions or at the one end region of the hollow fiber membrane bundle such that the provided spacer or spacers are embedded,
wherein the potting agent includes resin, rubber, or elastomer, as a main ingredient,
wherein the spacer or spacers are a net, a non-woven fabric, a porous sheet, or a film,
wherein the spacer or spacers are band-formed, and
wherein the providing includes:
arranging the hollow fiber membranes in parallel while holding only the one end region of the hollow fiber membranes or only the both end regions of the hollow fiber membranes, on one side of the spacer or spacers; and
forming the hollow fiber membrane bundle as a roll-shaped bundle by rolling the hollow fiber membranes and the spacer or spacers.