IP Library Granted Patent US 11,944,939
Granted Patent B2
US 11,944,939 · App. 17/283,752 · Granted Apr 2, 2024

Hollow fiber membrane element, hollow fiber membrane module, and method of forward osmosis water treatment

Inventors: Takahito Nakao (Osaka, JP); Hidehiko Sakurai (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: TOYOBO MC CORPORATION
B01D63/04B01D61/0022B01D63/033B01D63/065C02F1/445B01D2319/04B01D2319/06C02F2303/22
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,944,939
App. No.
17/283,752
Granted
Apr 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hollow fiber membrane element, comprising: a core tube comprising a side face having a plurality of pores; and a hollow fiber membrane group consisting of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes disposed around the core tube, the hollow fiber membrane element being a both open-ended type hollow fiber membrane element in which both ends of the core tube and the plurality of hollow fiber membranes are open. The hollow fiber membrane group includes a first hollow fiber membrane layer composed of a plurality of first hollow fiber membranes disposed so as to surround the core tube and a second hollow fiber membrane layer composed of a plurality of second hollow fiber membranes disposed so as to surround the first hollow fiber membrane layer, and a permeability coefficient of the plurality of first hollow fiber membranes is smaller than a permeability coefficient of the plurality of second hollow fiber membranes.

Claims (16)

1. A hollow fiber membrane element, comprising:

a core tube comprising a side face having a plurality of pores;

a hollow fiber membrane group consisting of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes disposed around the core tube; and

resin walls securing the core tube and the hollow fiber membrane group at both ends,

the hollow fiber membrane element being a both open-ended type hollow fiber membrane element in which both ends of the core tube and the plurality of hollow fiber membranes are open,

the hollow fiber membrane group including a first hollow fiber membrane layer composed of a plurality of first hollow fiber membranes disposed so as to surround the core tube and a second hollow fiber membrane layer composed of a plurality of second hollow fiber membranes disposed so as to surround the first hollow fiber membrane layer,

a permeability coefficient of the plurality of first hollow fiber membranes being smaller than a permeability coefficient of the plurality of second hollow fiber membranes.

2. The hollow fiber membrane element according to claim 1 , wherein a rate of decrease of the permeability coefficient of the plurality of first hollow fiber membranes from the permeability coefficient of the plurality of second hollow fiber membranes is more than 0% and not more than 60%.

3. The hollow fiber membrane element according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow fiber membrane element has a shape of cylinder, and the ratio of a thickness of the first hollow fiber membrane layer to a total thickness of the first hollow fiber membrane layer and the second hollow fiber membrane layer is more than 0% and not more than 30%.

4. The hollow fiber membrane element according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hollow fiber membranes are spirally wound around the core tube in a crisscross fashion.

5. A hollow fiber membrane module comprising:

the hollow fiber membrane element according to claim 1 ; and

a vessel accommodating at least one hollow fiber membrane element according to claim 1 .

6. A method of forward osmosis water treatment using the hollow fiber membrane module according to claim 5 , the method comprising:

a forward osmosis step involving flowing a treatment-target water containing water and a component other than water inside the plurality of hollow fiber membranes and flowing a draw solution containing a draw solute through the core tube to outside of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes, so as to allow water contained in the treatment-target water to move across the plurality of hollow fiber membranes toward the draw solution.

7. The method of forward osmosis water treatment according to claim 6 , wherein a concentration of the draw solution is 7 mass % or more.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2023
From: TOYOBO CO., LTD.
To: TOYOBO MC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064505/0149 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2021
From: NAKAO, TAKAHITO; SAKURAI, HIDEHIKO
To: TOYOBO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 055865/0697 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-197565 · Oct 19, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210379534A1 · Dec 9, 2021