Description
Title of the Invention: MEMBRANE CARTRIDGE
Technical Field
[0001]
The present invention relates to a membrane cartridge
constituting a submerged membrane separator used for,
e.g., solid-liquid separation of activated sludge or the
like.
Background Art
[0002]
In the related art, e.g., in a membrane bioreactor
system, a submerged membrane separator is submerged in a
reaction tank where activated sludge treatment is
performed on sewage or the like. In such a membrane
separator, multiple membrane cartridges of an organic
flat-membrane type are arranged in parallel at
predetermined intervals in the main-unit casing.
[0003]
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a membrane cartridge 10
includes a filtration plate 11 and filtration membranes
12 provided on both sides of the filtration plate 11.
Further, channel grooves 13 are formed on both sides of
the filtration plate 11. A permeated liquid passes
through the filtration membranes 12 and then flows
through the channel grooves 13. Moreover, at a point on
the upper end of one side of the filtration plate 11, a
permeated liquid outlet 14 is provided for collecting the
permeated liquid in the channel grooves 13 and taking out
the permeated liquid from the membrane cartridge 10. The
channel groove 13 has a honeycomb-shaped channel groove
pattern 15.
[0004]
With this configuration, by applying a suction
pressure to the inside of the membrane cartridge 10
through a suction pump, a liquid mixture in the tank
(liquid to be treated) is filtered through the filtration
membranes 12 by using a transmembrane pressure difference
between the front and rear sides of the filtration
membrane 12 as a driving pressure, the permeated liquid
having passed through the filtration membranes 12 flows
through the permeated liquid outlet 14 via the channel
grooves 13, and the liquid is discharged from the
permeated liquid outlet 14 through a header.
[0005]
For example, the published unexamined patent
application of Patent Literature 1 describes the membrane
cartridge 10 having the honeycomb-shaped channel groove
pattern 15.
[0006]
Instead of the honeycomb-shaped channel groove
pattern 15, as shown in FIG. 12, an X-shaped channel
groove pattern 18 may be provided in a membrane cartridge.
The channel groove pattern 18 is formed by channel
grooves 13 that intersect with each other in an X pattern.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0007]
Patent literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-
268388
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0008]
In the membrane cartridge 10 having the honeycomb-
shaped channel groove pattern 15 of FIGS. 10 and 11,
however, the channel groove 13 is not formed like a
continuous straight line to the permeated liquid outlet
14 of the filtration plate 11. Thus a permeated liquid
flows to the permeated liquid outlet 14 while repeatedly-
joining and branching, so that a pressure loss
disadvantageously increases and the overall surface of
the filtration membrane 12 is hard to effectively use at
the same time.
[0009]
In a membrane cartridge 19 having the X-shaped
channel groove pattern 18 of FIG. 12, the filtration
membrane 12 is supported only by corners 21a to 21d of
four cells 22 (four-point support) at an intersection 20
where the channel grooves 13 intersect with each other,
the cells 22 being separated by the channel grooves 13.
Thus when a suction pressure is applied to the membrane
cartridge 19, it is difficult to sufficiently support the
filtration membrane 12 at the intersection 20, so that
the filtration membrane 12 may come into the channel
grooves 13 at the intersection 20 and the channel cross-
sectional area of the channel groove 13 may decrease.
Therefore, a pressure loss may disadvantageously increase
at the intersection 20.
[0010]
In the membrane cartridge 10 of FIGS. 10 to 12, the
permeated liquid outlet 14 is provided only at one point
on the upper end of the filtration plate 11. Thus when
the membrane cartridge 10 is long in the vertical
direction, it is difficult to apply a sufficient suction
pressure to the lower part of the membrane cartridge 10
away from the permeated liquid outlet 14. Therefore
disadvantageously, a permeated liquid may not be
sufficiently obtained from the lower part of the membrane
cartridge 10.
[0011]
An object of the present invention is to provide a
membrane cartridge that can effectively use a membrane
surface with a reduced pressure loss and obtain a larger
amount of permeated liquid.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0012]
In order to attain the object, a first invention is a
membrane cartridge constituting a submerged membrane
separator, the membrane cartridge including:
a filtration membrane provided at least on one
surface of a filtration plate;
channel groove patterns formed on the surface of the
filtration plate covered with the filtration membrane,
the channel groove patterns allowing the passage of a
permeated liquid having passed through the filtration
membrane; and
permeated liquid outlets provided on the
circumferential edge of the filtration plate, the
permeated liquid outlets collecting and taking out the
permeated liquid having passed through the channel groove
patterns,
wherein the filtration plate is divided into multiple
water collection sections,
the channel groove patterns are formed in the
respective water collection sections and include linear
through-channel grooves across the water collection
sections, and
the through-channel grooves gradually approach the
nearest permeated liquid outlet from one end to the other
end.
[0013]
In this configuration, when a suction pressure is
applied to the inside of the membrane cartridge, a liquid
to be treated is filtered through the filtration membrane.
At this point, the permeated liquid having passed through
the filtration membrane flows to the permeated liquid
outlets through the through-channel grooves of the
channel groove patterns, and then the permeated liquid is
collected out of the membrane cartridge from the
permeated liquid outlets.
[0014]
The through-channel grooves of the channel groove
patterns are linearly provided from one end to the other
end so as to gradually approach the nearest permeated
liquid outlet. Thus the permeated liquid smoothly flows
in the through-channel grooves and the distance of the
permeated liquid flow in the through-channel grooves to
the permeated liquid outlet is shortened. With this
configuration, it is possible to reduce a pressure loss
and effectively use the membrane surface of the membrane
cartridge.
[0015]
According to a second invention, the through-channel
grooves in the water collection section are arranged in
parallel.
[0016]
According to a third invention, the through-channel
grooves in the water collection section are radially
arranged with respect to a point close to the nearest
permeated liquid outlet.
[0017]
According to a fourth invention, the adjacent
through-channel grooves communicate with each other
through communication grooves.
[0018]
With this configuration, the permeated liquid having
passed through the filtration membrane flows to the
permeated liquid outlets through the through-channel
grooves and the communication grooves, and the permeated
liquid is collected out of the membrane cartridge from
the permeated liquid outlets.
[0019]
According to a fifth invention, the communication
groove and the through-channel groove cross each other
like a letter T.
[0020]
With this configuration, the filtration membrane is
supported by the two corners of cells, which are
surrounded by the communication grooves and the through-
channel grooves, and one side edge of the through-channel
groove (i.e., supported by two points and one linear
portion) at an intersection where the through-channel
groove and the communication groove intersect each other.
Therefore, when a suction pressure is applied to the
inside of the membrane cartridge, the filtration membrane
can be more sufficiently supported at the intersection
than in the related art in which the filtration membrane
is supported only by the four corners of the cells (i.e.,
supported by four points). It is thus possible to prevent
the filtration membrane at the intersection from coming
into the through-channel groove and reducing the channel
cross-sectional area of the through-channel groove.
Consequently, it is possible to reduce a pressure loss
and effectively use the membrane surface of the membrane
cartridge.
[0021]
According to a sixth invention, the filtration plate
has a shape whose length and width are different,
the permeated liquid outlets are disposed at
different heights when the filtration plate is installed
upright such that the longitudinal direction of the
filtration plate is parallel to the vertical direction,
the filtration plate is divided into the water
collection sections in the vertical direction, and
the channel groove pattern in one of the water
collection sections is different from the channel groove
pattern in another one of the water collection sections.
[0022]
With this configuration, the permeated liquid having
passed through the filtration membrane flows through the
through-channel grooves of the channel groove patterns in
the water collection sections, and then the permeated
liquid is collected out of the membrane cartridge from
the permeated liquid outlets closest to the respective
water collection sections. Thus it is possible to reduce
a pressure loss to sufficiently apply a suction pressure
over the membrane surface of the membrane cartridge,
thereby collecting the permeated liquid while effectively
using the membrane surface.
[0023]
According to a seventh invention, the permeated
liquid outlets are provided respectively at positions of
the boundary portions of the water collection sections.
[0024]
With this configuration, the permeated liquid flows
through the through-channel grooves of the channel groove
pattern in one of the water collection sections adjacent
to each other across the boundary portion and flows
through the through-channel grooves of the channel groove
pattern in the other water collection section. After that,
the permeated liquid is collected out of the membrane
cartridge from the permeated liquid outlet corresponding
to the boundary portion of the water collection sections.
[0025]
According to an eighth invention, the membrane
cartridge further includes a header groove at the
boundary portion of the water collection sections,
wherein the through-channel grooves in one of the
water collection sections adjacent to each other through
the boundary portion and the through-channel grooves in
the other water collection section communicate with the
header groove, and
the header groove has a larger channel cross-
sectional area than the through-channel groove.
[0026]
With this configuration, the permeated liquid having
passed through the filtration membrane flows in the
header groove through the through-channel grooves. Since
the channel cross-sectional area of the header groove is
larger than that of the through-channel groove, the flow
velocity of the permeated liquid flowing in the header
groove is lower than the flow velocity of the permeated
liquid flowing in the through-channel grooves. Thus
pressures in the header grooves are substantially
averaged (equalized) and suction pressures (pressure
distribution) can be averaged (equalized) in the width
direction of the membrane cartridge.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0027]
As has been discussed, the present invention can
reduce a pressure loss of a membrane cartridge,
sufficiently apply a suction pressure over the membrane
surface, effectively use the membrane surface, and
collect a larger amount of permeated liquid from the
membrane cartridge.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0028]
[FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a
membrane separator including membrane cartridges
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the membrane
separator including the membrane cartridges.
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of the membrane cartridge.
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a filtration
plate of the membrane cartridge.
[FIG. 5A] FIG. 5A is an enlarged front view showing a
portion of a permeated liquid outlet nozzle in the upper
part of the filtration plate of the membrane cartridge.
[FIG. 5B] FIG. 5B is an enlarged front view showing a
portion of a permeated liquid outlet nozzle in the lower
part of the filtration plate of the membrane cartridge.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing an
intersection of a through-channel groove and a
communication groove of the filtration plate of the
membrane cartridge.
[FIG. 7A] FIG. 7A is a front view showing a filtration
plate of a membrane cartridge according to a second
embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 7B] FIG. 7B is a front view showing a filtration
plate of a membrane cartridge according to a third
embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 7C] FIG. 7C is a front view showing a filtration
plate of a membrane cartridge according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 7D] FIG. 7D is a front view showing a filtration
plate of a membrane cartridge according to a fifth
embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a front view showing a filtration
plate of a membrane cartridge according to a sixth
embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 9A] FIG. 9A shows a channel groove pattern of a
membrane cartridge according to a seventh embodiment of
the present invention.
[FIG. 9B] FIG. 9B shows a channel groove pattern of a
membrane cartridge according to an eighth embodiment of
the present invention.
[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a filtration
plate of a membrane cartridge according to the related
art.
[FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing channel
grooves on the filtration plate of the membrane cartridge.
[FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view showing channel
grooves on a filtration plate of another membrane
cartridge.
Description of the Embodiments
[0029]
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a first embodiment of the
present invention will be described below.
[0030]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a submerged membrane
separator 31 is provided in a reaction tank 32 in which
activated sludge treatment is performed on sewage or the
like. The membrane separator 31 includes: a square main-
unit casing 33 whose upper and lower ends are opened;
multiple membrane cartridges 34 of an organic flat-
membrane type which are arranged in parallel at
predetermined intervals in the main-unit casing 33; and
an air diffuser 64 provided below the membrane cartridges
34.
[0031]
The adjacent membrane cartridges 3 4 having opposed
membrane surfaces are arranged in parallel at the
predetermined intervals. Although the membrane cartridges
34 are spaced at the predetermined intervals, the
membrane cartridges 34 may be contacted with each other
at least on the side edges of the membrane cartridges 34.
In this case, a side of the main-unit casing 33 may be
opened or the main-unit casing 3 3 may be eliminated.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 3, the membrane cartridge 34
includes: a filtration plate 3 6 shaped like a rectangle
extended in vertical direction A (an example of a shape
whose length and width are different), and filtration
membranes 37 attached to both sides of the filtration
plate 36. The circumferential edge of the filtration
membrane 37 is fixed to the filtration plate 36 by, e.g.,
welding or bonding.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 4, multiple channel groove patterns 38 and 39 (two patterns in FIG. 4) are formed on both
sides of the filtration plate 36. A permeated liquid
having passed through the filtration membrane 37 flows
through the channel groove patterns 38 and 39. The
channel groove patterns 38 and 39 are covered with the
filtration membrane 37.
[0034]
On one side of the filtration plate 36 in width
direction B, upper and lower permeated liquid outlet
nozzles 41 and 42 (two upper and lower nozzles in FIG. 4)
are provided. The permeated liquid outlet nozzles 41 and
42 (an example of a permeated liquid outlet) collect a
permeated liquid in the first and second channel groove
patterns 38 and 39 and discharge the permeated liquid out
of the membrane cartridge 34. The height of the upper
permeated liquid outlet nozzle 41 from the lower end of
the filtration plate 36 is set larger than the height of
the lower permeated liquid outlet nozzle 42 from the
lower end of the filtration plate 36.
[0035]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the filtration plate 36 is
divided into water collection sections 44 to 46 in the
vertical direction (three in the vertical direction in
FIGS. 3 and 4) . The upper permeated liquid outlet nozzle
41 is located on the upper end of the upper water
collection section 44. The lower permeated liquid outlet
nozzle 42 is located at a position corresponding to a
boundary portion 70 between the central water collection
section 45 and the lower water collection section 46.
[0036]
The first channel groove patterns 38 are formed in
the upper water collection section 44 and the lower water
collection section 46. The second channel groove pattern
39 is formed in the central water collection section 45.
[0037]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first channel groove
pattern 38 is formed by multiple linear through-channel
grooves 38a extending across the water collection
sections 44 and 46 and multiple communication grooves 38b
communicating with the adjacent through-channel grooves
38a. Similarly, the second channel groove pattern 39 is
formed by multiple linear through-channel grooves 39a extending across the water collection section 45 and
multiple communication grooves 3 9b communicating with the
adjacent through-channel grooves 3 9a. The through-channel
grooves 38a of the first channel groove pattern 38 are
arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals and the
through-channel grooves 39a of the second channel groove
pattern 39 are similarly arranged in parallel at
predetermined intervals. By forming the first and second
channel groove patterns 38 and 39, multiple rectangular
cells 40 surrounded by the through-channel grooves 38a
and 39a and the communication grooves 3 8b and 3 9b are
formed on both sides of the filtration plate 36.
[0038]
Length direction C1 of the through-channel grooves
38a of the first channel groove pattern 38 and length
direction C2 of the through-channel grooves 39a of the
second channel groove pattern 39 are different from each
other.
[0039]
The through-channel grooves 38a of the first channel
groove pattern 38 in the upper water collection section
44 are inclined from the lower end (an example of one
end) to the upper end (an example of the other end) in
the length direction C1 with respect to the vertical
direction such that the through-channel grooves 38a gradually approach the upper permeated liquid outlet
nozzle 41 (an example of the nearest permeated liquid
outlet) .
[0040]
The through-channel grooves 39a of the second channel
groove pattern 39 in the central water collection section
45 are inclined from the upper end (an example of one
end) to the lower end (an example of the other end) in
the length direction C2 with respect to the vertical
direction such that the through-channel grooves 39a gradually approach the lower permeated liquid outlet
nozzle 42 (an example of the nearest permeated liquid
outlet) .
[0041]
The through-channel grooves 38a of the first channel
groove pattern 38 in the lower water collection section
46 are inclined from the lower end (an example of one
end) to the upper end (an example of the other end) in
the length direction C1 with respect to the vertical
direction such that the through-channel grooves 38a gradually approach the lower permeated liquid outlet
nozzle 42 (an example of the nearest permeated liquid
outlet) .
[0042]
The through-channel groove 38a and the communication
groove 3 8b of the first channel groove pattern 38 cross
each other like a letter T, and the through-channel
groove 39a and the communication groove 3 9b of the second
channel groove pattern 39 cross each other like a letter
T.
[0043]
On both sides of the filtration plate 36, multiple
header grooves 51 to 53 extended in the width direction B
of the filtration plate 36 are formed (three header
grooves are vertically provided in FIG. 4). The first
header groove 51 is located at the upper end of the upper
water collection section 44, the second header groove 52
is located at a boundary portion 71 between the upper
water collection section 44 and the central water
collection section 45, and the third header groove 53 is
located at the boundary portion 70 between the central
water collection section 45 and the lower water
collection section 46.
[0044]
The upper ends of the through-channel grooves 38a in
the upper water collection section 44 communicate with
the first header groove 51. The lower ends of the
through-channel grooves 38a in the upper water collection
section 44 (in one of the water collection sections) and
the upper ends of the through-channel grooves 39a in the
central water collection section 45 (in the other water
collection section) communicate with the second header
groove 52. The lower ends of the through-channel grooves
39a in the central water collection section 45 (in one of
the water collection sections) and the upper ends of the
through-channel grooves 38a in the lower water collection
section 46 (in the other water collection section)
communicate with the third header groove 53. The channel
cross-sectional areas of the header grooves 51 to 53 are
larger than those of the through-channel grooves 38a and
39a.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 5, the upper and lower permeated
liquid outlet nozzles 41 and 42 each include a nozzle
body 55 protruding outward from the edge of the
filtration plate 36, and a hole 56 provided on the nozzle
body 55. One end of the hole 56 is opened on the end of
the nozzle body 55 and the other end of the hole 56
communicates with the first and third header grooves 51
and 53.
[0046]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on one of the right and
left sides of the main-unit casing 33, upper and lower
water collecting pipes 59 and 60 are provided from the
front to the rear of the main-unit casing 33 (two water
collecting pipes are vertically provided in FIG. 2). The
water collecting pipes 59 and 60 collect a permeated
liquid sucked from the permeated liquid outlet nozzles 41
and 42 of the membrane cartridges 34. The permeated
liquid outlet nozzles 41 and 42 and the water collecting
pipes 59 and 60 are connected to each other via
connecting pipes 61.
[0047]
To the water collecting pipes 59 and 60, a delivery
pipe 62 for delivering the permeated liquid is connected.
On the delivery pipe 62, a suction pump is provided that
generates a suction force in the membrane cartridge 34 to
suck the permeated liquid. Without using a suction pump,
a suction force may be generated by using the hydraulic
head pressure of a liquid to be treated 63 in the
reaction tank 32 as a filtering pressure.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 2, a detachable side panel 3 5 is
provided on the other side of the main-unit casing 33. As
indicated by the virtual line of FIG. 2, by detaching the
side panel 35 from the main-unit casing 33, the membrane
cartridge 34 can be taken in and out from the main-unit
casing 33 in the width direction B (lateral direction).
[0049]
The effect of the configuration will be described
below.
[0050]
In a filtering operation, the suction pump is driven
to reduce a pressure in the membrane cartridges 34 while
air is diffused from the air diffuser 64, so that sludge
or the like in the liquid to be treated 63 is captured by
the filtration membranes 37. At this point, a permeated
liquid having passed through the filtration membrane 37 flows through the through-channel grooves 38a and 39a and
the communication grooves 3 8b and 3 9b of the channel
groove patterns 38 and 39 to the permeated liquid outlet
nozzles 41 and 42. The permeated liquid is collected to
the water collecting pipes 59 and 60 from the permeated
liquid outlet nozzles 41 and 42 through the connecting
pipes 61, and is delivered to the outside of the reaction
layer 32 through the delivery pipe 62.
[0051]
At this point, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the
permeated liquid in the upper water collection section 44
passes through the through-channel grooves 38a and the
communication grooves 38b of the first channel groove
pattern 38 and the first header groove 51, and flows into
the upper permeated liquid outlet nozzle 41. The through-
channel grooves 38a are linearly provided from the lower
end to the upper end in the length direction C1 and
gradually approach the upper permeated liquid outlet
nozzle 41. Thus the permeated liquid smoothly flows in
the through-channel grooves 38a and the distance of the
flow to the upper permeated liquid outlet nozzle 41 is
shortened.
[0052]
Further, the permeated liquid in the central water
collection section 45 passes through the through-channel
grooves 39a and the communication grooves 3 9b of the
second channel groove pattern 39 and the third header
groove 53 and flows into the lower permeated liquid
outlet nozzle 42. The through-channel grooves 39a are
linearly provided from the upper end to the lower end in
the length direction C2 and gradually approach the lower
permeated liquid outlet nozzle 42. Thus the permeated
liquid smoothly flows in the through-channel grooves 39a and the distance of the flow to the lower permeated
liquid outlet nozzle 42 is shortened.
[0053]
Moreover, the permeated liquid in the lower water
collection section 4G passes through the through-channel
grooves 38a and the communication grooves 38b of the
first channel groove pattern 38 and the third header
groove 53 and flows into the lower permeated liquid
outlet nozzle 42. As in the upper and central water
collection sections 44 and 45, the permeated liquid
smoothly flows in the through-channel grooves 38a and the
distance of the flow to the lower permeated liquid outlet
nozzle 42 is shortened.
[0054]
With this configuration, it is possible to reduce a
pressure loss of the membrane cartridge 34 and
effectively use the membrane surface.
[0055]
As has been discussed, the permeated liquid in the
upper water collection section 44 is taken out of the
membrane cartridge 34 from the upper permeated liquid
outlet nozzle 41 closest to the upper water collection
section 44, and the permeated liquid in the central and
lower water collection sections 45 and 46 is taken out of
the membrane cartridge 34 from the lower permeated liquid
outlet nozzle 42 closest to the water collection sections
45 and 46. Thus it is possible to apply a sufficient
suction pressure to the lower part of the rectangular
membrane cartridge 34 extended in the vertical direction
A, so that the permeated liquid can be obtained while
effectively using the overall membrane surface and a
larger amount of permeated liquid can be collected from
the membrane cartridge 34.
[0056]
As shown in FIG. 6, in the upper and lower water
collection sections 44 and 46, the filtration membrane 37
is supported by corners 74a and 74b of the two adjacent
cells 40 and one side edge 74c of the through-channel
groove 38a (i.e., supported by two points and one linear
portion) at an intersection 73 where the through-channel
groove 38a and the communication groove 3 8b of the first
channel groove pattern 38 intersect each other. Therefore,
when a suction pressure is applied to the inside of the
membrane cartridge 34, the filtration membrane 37 can be
more sufficiently supported at the intersection 73 than
in the related art of FIG. 12 in which the filtration
membrane is supported only by the corners 21a to 21d of
the four cells 22 (i.e., supported by four points). It is
thus possible to prevent the filtration membrane 37 at
the intersection 73 from coming into the through-channel
groove 38a and reducing the channel cross-sectional area
of the through-channel groove 3 8a. Similarly, at the
intersection 73 where the through-channel groove 39a and
the communication groove 3 9b of the second channel groove
pattern 39 in the central water collection section 45
intersect with each other, it is possible to prevent the
filtration membrane 37 from coming into the through-
channel groove 39a and reducing the channel cross-
sectional area of the through-channel groove 3 9a.
Therefore, it is possible to reduce a pressure loss of
the membrane cartridge 34 and effectively use the
membrane surface.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 4, the channel cross-sectional areas
of the header grooves 51 to 53 are larger than those of
the through-channel grooves 38a and 39a, so that the flow
velocity of a permeated liquid flowing in the header
grooves 51 to 53 is lower than the flow velocity of a
permeated liquid flowing in the through-channel grooves
38a and 39a. Thus pressures in the header grooves 51 to
53 are substantially averaged (equalized) and suction
pressures (pressure distribution) can be averaged
(equalized) in the width direction B of the membrane
cartridge 34.
[0058]
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the two
permeated liquid outlet nozzles 41 and 42 are provided
only on one side edge of the filtration plate 36 of the
membrane cartridge 34. As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D, two or
at least three permeated liquid outlet nozzles 41, 42, 66,
and 67 (permeated liquid outlets) may be provided as
second to fifth embodiments. The permeated liquid outlet
nozzles 41, 42, 66, and 67 may be provided on both side
edges of the filtration plate 36 or only on the other
side edge of the filtration plate 36.
[0059]
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the
filtration plate 3 6 is divided into the three water
collection sections 44 to 46 in the vertical direction A.
The filtration plate 36 may be divided into two water
collection sections in the vertical direction A. As shown
in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the filtration plate 36 may be divided
into at least four water collection sections 44 to 47 in
the vertical direction A. Further, as shown in FIG. 7D,
the filtration plate 36 may be divided into multiple
water collection sections 44 to 49 in the vertical
direction A (e.g., three water collection sections) and
in the width direction B (e.g., two water collection
sections).
[0060]
In the first embodiment, the two channel groove
patterns 38 and 39 are formed on the filtration plate 36.
Three or more channel groove patterns may be formed.
[0061]
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the
through-channel grooves 38a of the first channel groove
pattern 38 are arranged in parallel and the through-
channel grooves 39a of the second channel groove pattern
39 are arranged in parallel. The through-channel grooves
are not always arranged in parallel. For example, in a
sixth embodiment of FIG. 8, through-channel grooves 38a of a first channel groove pattern 38 formed in an upper
water collection section 44 are radially arranged with
respect to a point closest (adjacent) to an upper
permeated liquid outlet nozzle 41, through-channel
grooves 39a of a second channel groove pattern 39 formed
in a central water collection section 45 are radially
arranged with respect to a point closest (adjacent) to a
lower permeated liquid outlet nozzle 42, and the through-
channel grooves 38a of the first channel groove pattern
38 formed in a lower water collection section 46 are
radially arranged with respect to a point closest
(adjacent) to the lower permeated liquid outlet nozzle 42.
[0062]
The through-channel grooves 38a of the first channel
groove pattern 38 and the through-channel grooves 39a of
the second channel groove pattern 39 are inclined with
respect to the vertical direction but in different
directions.
[0063]
The effect of the configuration will be described
below.
[0064]
In the upper water collection section 44, a permeated
liquid flows to the upper permeated liquid outlet nozzle
41 through the through-channel grooves 38a and
communication grooves 3 8b of the first channel groove
pattern 38 and a first header groove 51. In the central
water collection section 45, the permeated liquid flows
to the lower permeated liquid outlet nozzle 42 through
the through-channel grooves 39a and communication grooves
3 9b of the second channel groove pattern 39 and a third
header groove 53. In the lower water collection section
46, the permeated liquid flows to the lower permeated
liquid outlet nozzle 42 through the through-channel
grooves 38a and the communication grooves 3 8b of the
first channel groove pattern 38 and the third header
groove 53. This configuration can obtain the same effect
as in the first embodiment.
[0065]
The through-channel grooves 38a and 39a of the
membrane cartridge 34 illustrated in the second to fifth
embodiments may be radially arranged instead of the
parallel arrangement.
[0066]
In the foregoing embodiments, the filtration
membranes 37 and the channel groove patterns 38 and 39 are provided on both sides of the filtration plate 36.
The filtration membrane 37 and the channel groove
patterns 38 and 39 may be provided only on one side of
the filtration plate 36.
[0067]
In the foregoing embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4, 7,
and 8, the two adjacent through-channel grooves 38a of
the first channel groove pattern 38 communicate with each
other through the communication grooves 38b, and the two
adjacent through-channel grooves 39a of the second
channel groove pattern 39 communicate with each other
through the communication grooves 39b. As seventh and
eighth embodiments of the present invention, as shown in
FIGS. 9A and 9B, at least three adjacent through-channel
grooves 38a of a first channel groove pattern 38 may
communicate with one another through communication
grooves 38b, and at least three adjacent through-channel
grooves 39a of a second channel groove pattern 39 may-
communicate with one another through communication
grooves 39b. Further, the communication grooves 3.8b and
39b are not limited to linear grooves and may be curved
or bent.
[0068]
In the foregoing embodiments, a spacer (e.g., a
nonwoven fabric or sponge) may be disposed between the
filtration plate 36 and the filtration membrane 37 to
prevent the filtration membrane 37 from contacting the
filtration plate 36.
[0069]
In the foregoing embodiments, the membrane cartridges
34 are disposed in the membrane separator 31 such that
the long sides of the membrane cartridges 34 are extended
in the vertical direction A. The membrane cartridges 34
may be disposed in the membrane separator 31 with the
long sides extended in the width direction B.
[0070]
In the foregoing embodiments, the header grooves 52
and 53 are formed at the boundaries between the channel
groove patterns 38 and 39. The header grooves 51 and 53
may be formed only at points corresponding to the
permeated liquid outlet nozzles 41 and 42.
[0071]
In the foregoing embodiments, the channel cross-
sectional areas of the header grooves 51 to 53 are larger
than those of the through-channel grooves 38a and 39a.
Instead of the header grooves 51 to 53, channel grooves
may be formed such that the channel cross-sectional areas
of the channel grooves are equal to or smaller than those
of the through-channel grooves 38a and 39a.
WE CLAIM
[Claim 1]
A membrane cartridge constituting a submerged
membrane separator, the membrane cartridge comprising:
a filtration membrane provided at least on one
"surface of a filtration plate;
channel groove patterns formed on the surface of the
filtration plate covered with the filtration membrane,
the channel groove patterns allowing passage of a
permeated liquid having passed through the filtration
membrane; and
permeated liquid outlets provided on a
circumferential edge of the filtration plate, the
permeated liquid outlets collecting and taking out the
permeated liquid having passed through the channel groove
patterns,
wherein, the filtration plate is divided into
multiple water collection sections,
the channel groove patterns are formed in the
respective water collection sections and include linear
through-channel grooves across the water collection
sections, and
the through-channel grooves gradually approach the
nearest permeated liquid outlet from one end to the other
end.
[Claim 2]
The membrane cartridge according to claim 1, wherein
the through-channel grooves in the water collection
section are arranged in parallel.
[Claim 3]
The membrane cartridge according to claim 1, wherein
the through-channel grooves in the water collection
section are radially arranged with respect to a point
close to the nearest permeated liquid outlet.
[Claim 4]
The membrane cartridge according to any one of claims
1 to 3, wherein the adjacent through-channel grooves
communicate with each other through communication grooves.
[Claim 5]
The membrane cartridge according to claim 4, wherein
the communication groove and the through-channel groove
cross each other like a letter T.
[Claim 6]
The membrane cartridge according to any one of claims
1 to 5, wherein the filtration plate has a shape whose
length and width are different,
the permeated liquid outlets are disposed at
different heights when the filtration plate is installed
upright such that a longitudinal direction of the
filtration plate is parallel to a vertical direction,
the filtration plate is divided into the water
collection sections in the vertical direction, and
the channel groove pattern in one of the water
collection sections is different from the channel groove
pattern in another one of the water collection sections.
[Claim 7]
The membrane cartridge according to any one of claims
1 to 6, wherein the permeated liquid outlets are provided
respectively at positions of boundary portions of the
water collection sections.
[Claim 8] The membrane cartridge according to any one
of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a header groove at
the boundary portion of the water collection sections,
wherein the through-channel grooves in one of the
water collection sections adjacent to each other through
the boundary portion and the through-channel grooves in
the other water collection section communicate with the
header groove, and
the header groove has a larger channel cross-
sectional area than the through-channel groove.

A filtration membrane and multiple channel groove
patterns 38 and 39 are provided on a filtration plate 36,
and permeated liquid outlet nozzles 41 and 42 for
collecting and taking out a permeated liquid in the
channel groove patterns 38 and 39 are provided at the
circumferential edge of the filtration plate 36, wherein
the channel groove patterns 38 and 39 include linear
through-channel grooves 38a and 39a that are inclined in
parallel and communication grooves 38b and 39b connecting
the through-channel grooves 38a and 39a, the through-
channel grooves 38a and 39a are arranged from one end to
the other end so as to gradually approach the closest
permeated liquid outlet nozzles 41 and 42, and the
permeated liquid flows to the permeated liquid outlet
nozzles 41 and 42 through the through-channel grooves 38a
and 39a.