DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING MEMBRANE DAMAGE OF HOLLOW FIBER MEMBRANE FILTER APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly and accurately detect the damage of the hollow fiber membrane of a hollow fiber membrane filter apparatus on the spot by a simple means. SOLUTION: A membrane damage detection device 10 consists of a transparent pipe 11, the optical sensor 12 arranged to the transparent pipe 11, a membrane damage detection control means 13 and a pressure air source 14 and is adapted to the membrane damage detection of an external pressure type hollow fiber membrane filter apparatus 15. In the detection of membrane damage, air is blown in the outside of a UF(hollow fiber) membrane 16 under low pressure of about 100 kPa by the compressor 14. Since the normal UF membrane 16 does not pass air from the outside to the inside, no air bubble is generated. Since air penetrates in the abnormal UF membrane 16 due to damage to generate an air bubble, the generation of an air bubble in the membrane filtered water remaining in the membrane is detected by the optical sensor to judge the damage of the UF membrane.