IP Library Granted Patent US 12685967
Granted Patent B2
US 12685967 · App. 18/293,989 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Hollow fiber membrane module

Inventor: Yosuke Ito (Shizuoka, JP)
Assignee: NOK CORPORATION
B01D63/02B01D53/228B01D53/268H01M8/04149B01D2053/224B01D2313/04B01D2313/08B01D2313/203B01D2313/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12685967
App. No.
18/293,989
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a hollow fiber membrane module that allows reducing pressure loss of a dry gas and a moist gas. A hollow fiber membrane module has: a hollow fiber membrane bundle; a case in which the hollow fiber membrane bundle is accommodated; a pair of sealing and fixing parts that fixes the hollow fiber membrane bundle to the case; intra-membrane channels; and extra-membrane channels. Moisture in the moist gas is supplied into the dry gas by virtue of the membrane separation effect of the hollow fiber membranes. A first channel is provided, which runs through the case from one end side to the other end side and through which part of the dry gas flows without passing through the intra-membrane channels.

Claims (12)

1 . A hollow fiber membrane module, comprising:

a hollow fiber membrane bundle made up of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes;

a case of which both ends are open and in a housing interior of which the hollow fiber membrane bundle is accommodated;

a pair of sealing and fixing parts that seals respective openings at respective ends of the case in a state where a hollow interior of the hollow fiber membranes is left open and that fixes the hollow fiber membrane bundle to the case at one end side and another end side of the case;

intra-membrane channels configured to allow at least a part of a first gas to flow therein from one end side of the case to the other end side of the case through the hollow interior of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes; and

extra-membrane channels configured to allow at least a part of a second gas to flow therein from an inlet formed in the case to an outlet formed in the case through the housing interior, the extra-membrane channels passing over the exterior of the hollow fiber membranes,

one of the first gas and the second gas being a dry gas and the other being a moist gas having higher humidity than that of the dry gas, whereby moisture in the moist gas is supplied into the dry gas by virtue of a membrane separation effect of the hollow fiber membranes,

wherein at least one of a first channel and a second channel is provided, the first channel running through the case from one end side to the other end side and being configured to allow the rest of the first gas to flow therein without passing through the housing interior, and the second channel running through the case in a direction that intersects a direction from the one end side to the other end side of the case and being configured to allow the rest of the second gas to flow therein without passing through the housing interior.

2 . The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1 , wherein said housing interior is divided into a plurality of sites by a partition wall, and said hollow fiber membrane bundle is divisionally accommodated at the plurality of sites, the first channel being provided so as to run through the partition wall.

3 . The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1 , wherein the first channel is provided so as to run through an outer wall of the case between an outer peripheral wall surface thereof and the housing interior.

4 . The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1 , wherein the housing interior is divided into a plurality of sites by a partition wall, and the hollow fiber membrane bundle is divisionally accommodated at the plurality of sites, the second channel being provided so as to run through the partition wall.

5 . The hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 1 , wherein the second channel is provided so as to run through an outer wall of the case between an outer peripheral wall surface thereof and the housing interior.