Hollow fiber membrane separation apparatus

Claim 1

A hollow fiber membrane separation apparatus which comprises: a pressure container composed of a cylindrical shell and end plates which seal both opening ends of the tube, respectively; a dividing member provided at the substantial center portion in the container which divides the container into two longitudinally aligning compartments; two columnar hollow fiber assemblies which are longitudinally aligning and placed in the compartments, respectively; each of said columnar hollow fiber assemblies having an elongate member through which fluid to be treated can flow, hollow fiber layers formed by a plurality of hollow fibers having a selective permeability to fluid axially and radially extending at the peripheral portion of the elongate member, a conduit connected to the elongate member at the end thereof faced to the dividing member, and a resin wall radially extending at the other end faced to the end plate; the terminals of said hollow fibers being open outward thrusting through the resin wall and said terminal openings of the follow fibers being connected to the space formed by the surrounding wall, inner surface of the cylindrical shell and end plate; said dividing member having therein an inlet passage through which fluid to be treated is feeded and an outlet passage through which the fluid treated in the compartment is discharged; said dividing member being set within the shell with a clearance between the dividing member and the inner surface of the shell, said clearance being sealed with a plurality of sealing members so that the compartments are fluid-sealed from outside, and external pipings being directly connected to the passages in the dividing member through openings of the shell; and said end plate having an opening through which the fluid permeated through the hollow fiber membrane is discharged.