Hydraulic switching valve group for an energy recovery device and method of operation

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of seawater desalination equipment, and discloses a hydraulic switching valve group for an energy recovery device and a working method. The energy recovery device comprises a first pressure-bearing pipe and a second pressure-bearing pipe arranged in parallel. One end of each of the two pressure-bearing pipes is in vertical communication with a concentrated brine switching pipe. The hydraulic switching valve group comprises a first hydraulic switching valve, a second hydraulic switching valve and a third hydraulic switching valve. The first hydraulic switching valve is coaxially connected to the first pressure-bearing pipe through a first piston structure. The second hydraulic switching valve is coaxially connected to the second pressure-bearing pipe through a second piston structure. The hydraulic switching valve group is coaxially connected to the concentrated brine switching pipe through a third piston structure. The first or second hydraulic switching valve is used to transfer the energy of high-pressure water flow in the corresponding pressure-bearing pipe to the third hydraulic switching valve, and the water path switching of high-pressure concentrated brine in the concentrated brine switching pipe is realized through the movement of the third piston structure. The whole switching process is driven by water, which is environmentally friendly and energy-saving.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of seawater desalination equipment technology, and in particular discloses a hydraulic switching valve assembly and its working method for an energy recovery device. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing demand for drinking water and rising energy costs, the scalability and energy-saving design of seawater reverse osmosis technology have made it the preferred choice for water-scarce regions worldwide. Seawater desalination refers to the production of fresh water by desalinating seawater. It is an incremental technology for water resource utilization, increasing the total amount of freshwater and is unaffected by time, space, or climate, ensuring a stable water supply for coastal residents' drinking water and industrial boiler feedwater. In the desalination process, seawater is filtered through a reverse osmosis membrane to produce fresh water, while the concentrated brine that does not permeate the membrane is discharged. In existing technologies, the energy from the high-pressure concentrated brine can be used to pressurize low-pressure seawater, which is then filtered through the reverse osmosis membrane module. The high-pressure concentrated brine is then depressurized and discharged as low-pressure concentrated brine, achieving energy recovery.

[0003] Currently, most of the switching valves sold on the market are solenoid valves, and there are no hydraulic switching valves specifically designed for seawater desalination equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This patent addresses the aforementioned technical problems in the prior art by providing a hydraulic switching valve assembly and its operating method for an energy recovery device.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this patent to solve the technical problems existing in the prior art is:

[0006] A hydraulic switching valve assembly for an energy recovery device includes a first pressure-bearing pipe and a second pressure-bearing pipe arranged in parallel; one end of each of the two pressure-bearing pipes is simultaneously vertically connected to a concentrated brine switching pipe; the hydraulic switching valve assembly includes a first hydraulic switching valve, a second hydraulic switching valve, and a third hydraulic switching valve; the first hydraulic switching valve is coaxially connected to the first pressure-bearing pipe via a first piston structure; the second hydraulic switching valve is coaxially connected to the second pressure-bearing pipe via a second piston structure; the hydraulic switching valve assembly is coaxially connected to the concentrated brine switching pipe via a third piston structure; the first or second hydraulic switching valve is used to transfer the high-pressure water flow energy of the corresponding pressure-bearing pipe to the third hydraulic switching valve, and the movement of the third piston structure realizes the switching of the high-pressure concentrated brine water path in the concentrated brine switching pipe.

[0007] As a preferred technical solution, the first piston structure includes two first piston blocks located inside the first hydraulic switching valve. The two first piston blocks are spaced apart by a certain distance and connected as a whole by a first piston rod. One end of the first piston rod is located inside the first hydraulic switching valve, and the other end is located inside the first pressure-bearing pipe. The first piston rod located inside the first pressure-bearing pipe is provided with multiple rows of first water inlet holes, so that seawater in the first pressure-bearing pipe enters the first piston rod through the first water inlet holes and is introduced into the first hydraulic switching valve through the first water outlet holes provided on the first piston block near the first pressure-bearing pipe.

[0008] As a preferred technical solution, the second piston structure includes two second piston blocks located inside the second hydraulic switching valve. The two second piston blocks are spaced apart by a certain distance and connected as a whole by a second piston rod. One end of the second piston rod is located inside the second hydraulic switching valve, and the other end is located inside the second pressure-bearing pipe. The second piston rod located inside the second pressure-bearing pipe is provided with multiple rows of second water inlet holes, so that seawater in the second pressure-bearing pipe enters the second piston rod through the second water inlet holes and is introduced into the second hydraulic switching valve through the second water outlet holes provided on the second piston block near the second pressure-bearing pipe.

[0009] As a preferred technical solution, the third piston structure includes three third piston blocks connected as one unit by a third piston rod, one of which is located inside the third hydraulic switching valve, and the other two third piston blocks are located inside the concentrated brine switching pipe.

[0010] As a preferred technical solution, the first hydraulic switching valve is provided with an elastic structure that contacts the first piston structure. In addition, the first hydraulic switching valve is provided with two inlet and outlet ports, and the distance between the two inlet and outlet ports is smaller than the distance between the two first piston blocks on the first piston structure. The second hydraulic switching valve has the same structure as the first hydraulic switching valve. The third hydraulic switching valve is also provided with two inlet and outlet ports that are spaced a certain distance apart.

[0011] As a preferred technical solution, both the first and second pressure-bearing pipes are provided with a low-pressure seawater inlet and a high-pressure seawater outlet at the end away from the concentrated brine switching pipe.

[0012] As a preferred technical solution, the concentrated brine switching pipe is provided with a high-pressure concentrated brine inlet and two low-pressure concentrated brine outlets at the top and bottom. The high-pressure concentrated brine inlet is located between two pressure-bearing pipes, and the two pressure-bearing pipes are located between the two low-pressure concentrated brine outlets at the top and bottom. Thus, the high-pressure concentrated brine enters the first pressure-bearing pipe or the second pressure-bearing pipe through the high-pressure concentrated brine inlet of the concentrated brine switching pipe, and is discharged from the low-pressure concentrated brine outlet in the form of low-pressure concentrated brine.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to disclose a method for operating the above-mentioned hydraulic switching valve assembly for an energy recovery device, comprising the following steps:

[0014] S1. The pretreated low-pressure seawater enters the first pressure pipe through the low-pressure seawater inlet, and the high-pressure concentrated brine enters the concentrated brine switching pipe and is guided by the third piston structure into the first pressure pipe that has been filled with low-pressure seawater.

[0015] S2. The high-pressure concentrated brine continuously pushes the first piston structure to move towards the direction of the first hydraulic switching valve. During the movement, the pressure of the high-pressure concentrated brine is transmitted to the low-pressure seawater, and then the low-pressure seawater is pressurized and discharged through the check valve device set in the high-pressure seawater outlet. At the same time, some of the pressurized seawater enters the first piston rod through the first water inlet and is introduced into the first hydraulic switching valve through the first water outlet. At this time, the first piston structure compresses the elastic structure in the first hydraulic switching valve during the movement.

[0016] S3. When the first piston block containing the first outlet hole moves between the two inlet and outlet ports of the first hydraulic switching valve, the high-pressure seawater in the first hydraulic switching valve enters the third hydraulic switching valve through one of the inlet / outlet ports and the corresponding pipeline. The high-pressure seawater pushes the third piston rod to move downwards for switching, and the third piston block located in the concentrated brine switching pipe on the third piston rod moves accordingly, thus cutting off the passage for the high-pressure concentrated brine to enter the first pressure-bearing pipe. During the switching movement of the third piston rod, the seawater in the third hydraulic switching valve is discharged into the second hydraulic switching valve through the other inlet / outlet port on it. This part of the seawater is discharged through the inlet / outlet port on the second hydraulic switching valve.

[0017] S4. After the high-pressure concentrated brine is depressurized, the elastic structure inside the first hydraulic switching valve rebounds, and as low-pressure seawater is injected, the first piston structure discharges the low-pressure concentrated brine through one of the low-pressure concentrated brine outlets during the return stroke; the high-pressure concentrated brine entering the concentrated brine switching pipe is introduced into the second pressure-bearing pipe, and here it pressurizes the low-pressure seawater entering the second pressure-bearing pipe, and the cycle between the two pressure-boosting pipes repeats itself.

[0018] The advantages and positive effects of this patent are:

[0019] The hydraulic switching valve assembly for an energy recovery device of the present invention pressurizes low-pressure seawater with high-pressure concentrated brine and uses three hydraulic switching valves to switch the water path, so that the two pressure pipes can continuously recover energy in a cyclical manner, and the switching process is entirely hydraulically driven, which is environmentally friendly and energy-saving. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of the energy recovery device in this invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is another schematic diagram of the working principle of the energy recovery device in this invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first and second pressure-bearing pipes and the concentrated brine switching pipe in this invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional view of the first piston structure and the first hydraulic switching valve in this invention;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional diagram of the first piston structure in this invention.

[0025] In the diagram: 1. First pressure-bearing pipe; 1-1. Low-pressure seawater inlet; 1-2. High-pressure seawater outlet; 2. Second pressure-bearing pipe; 3. Concentrated brine switching pipe; 31. High-pressure concentrated brine inlet; 32. Low-pressure concentrated brine outlet; 4. First piston structure; 41. First piston block; 42. First piston rod; 43. First water inlet; 44. First water outlet; 5. Second piston structure; 6. Third piston structure; 61. Third piston block; 62. Third piston rod; 7. First hydraulic switching valve; 71. Elastic structure; 72. Inlet and outlet; 8. Second hydraulic switching valve; 9. Third hydraulic switching valve; 10. Low-pressure seawater; 11. High-pressure concentrated brine; 12. Low-pressure concentrated brine; 13. High-pressure seawater. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To further understand the invention content, features, and effects of this patent, the following embodiments are provided, and detailed descriptions are given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0027] Please see Figures 1-5 This invention discloses a hydraulic switching valve assembly for an energy recovery device. The energy recovery device includes a first pressure-bearing pipe 1 and a second pressure-bearing pipe 2 arranged in parallel. One end of each of the two pressure-bearing pipes is vertically connected to a concentrated brine switching pipe 3. The concentrated brine switching pipe 3 is provided with a high-pressure concentrated brine inlet 31 and two low-pressure concentrated brine outlets 32. The high-pressure concentrated brine inlet 31 is located between the two pressure-bearing pipes, and the two pressure-bearing pipes are located between the two low-pressure concentrated brine outlets 32. Thus, high-pressure concentrated brine 11 enters the first pressure-bearing pipe 1 or the second pressure-bearing pipe 2 through the high-pressure concentrated brine inlet 31 of the concentrated brine switching pipe 3, and is discharged from the low-pressure concentrated brine outlet 32 ​​in the form of low-pressure concentrated brine 12.

[0028] The hydraulic switching valve assembly includes a first hydraulic switching valve 7, a second hydraulic switching valve 8, and a third hydraulic switching valve 9; the first hydraulic switching valve 7 is coaxially connected to the first pressure-bearing pipe 1 via a first piston structure 4; the second hydraulic switching valve 8 is coaxially connected to the second pressure-bearing pipe 2 via a second piston structure 5; and the hydraulic switching valve assembly is coaxially connected to the concentrated brine switching pipe 3 via a third piston structure 6.

[0029] The first piston structure 4 includes two first piston blocks 41 located inside the first hydraulic switching valve 7. The two first piston blocks 41 are spaced apart and connected as one unit by a first piston rod 42. One end of the first piston rod 42 is located inside the first hydraulic switching valve 7, and the other end is located inside the first pressure-bearing pipe 1. The first piston rod 42 located inside the first pressure-bearing pipe 1 is provided with multiple rows of first water inlet holes 43. Thus, seawater in the first pressure-bearing pipe 1 enters the first piston rod 42 through the first water inlet holes 43 and is introduced into the first hydraulic switching valve 7 through the first water outlet holes 44 provided on the first piston block 41 near the first pressure-bearing pipe 1.

[0030] The second piston structure 5 includes two second piston blocks located inside the second hydraulic switching valve 8. The two second piston blocks are spaced apart by a certain distance and connected as a whole by a second piston rod. One end of the second piston rod is located inside the second hydraulic switching valve 8, and the other end is located inside the second pressure-bearing pipe 2. The second piston rod inside the second pressure-bearing pipe 2 is provided with multiple rows of second water inlet holes, so that seawater in the second pressure-bearing pipe 2 enters the second piston rod through the second water inlet holes and is introduced into the second hydraulic switching valve 8 through the second water outlet holes provided on the second piston block near the second pressure-bearing pipe 2.

[0031] The third piston structure 6 includes three third piston blocks 61 connected as one unit by a third piston rod 62, one of which is located inside the third hydraulic switching valve 9, and the other two are located inside the concentrated brine switching pipe 3.

[0032] The first or second hydraulic switching valve 8 is used to transfer the high-pressure water flow energy of the corresponding pressure-bearing pipe to the third hydraulic switching valve 9, and the water path switching of the high-pressure concentrated brine 11 in the concentrated brine switching pipe 3 is realized by the movement of the third piston structure 6. The specific structure is as follows:

[0033] The first hydraulic switching valve 7 has an elastic structure 71 that contacts the first piston structure 4. Furthermore, the first hydraulic switching valve 7 has two inlet and outlet ports 72, and the distance between the two inlet and outlet ports 72 is smaller than the distance between the two piston blocks 41 on the first piston structure 4. The second hydraulic switching valve 8 has the same structure as the first hydraulic switching valve 7, and will not be described further here. The third hydraulic switching valve 9 also has two inlet and outlet ports 72 spaced apart.

[0034] Both the first and second pressure-bearing pipes 2 have a low-pressure seawater inlet 11 and a high-pressure seawater outlet 12 at the ends away from the concentrated brine switching pipe 3. The low-pressure seawater 10 enters the corresponding pressure-bearing pipe through the low-pressure seawater inlet 11. The high-pressure concentrated brine 11 enters the concentrated brine switching pipe 3 and is guided by the third piston structure 6 into the pressure-bearing pipe that is already filled with low-pressure seawater 10. In this pressure-bearing pipe, the pressure of the high-pressure concentrated brine 11 is transferred to the low-pressure seawater 10. Then the low-pressure seawater 10 is pressurized and discharged through the high-pressure seawater outlet 12. After passing through a booster pump, it is transported to the permeate membrane for filtration. Then the high-pressure concentrated brine 11 is depressurized and becomes low-pressure concentrated brine 12, which is discharged through the low-pressure concentrated brine outlet 32.

[0035] The working method of the above-mentioned hydraulic switching valve assembly includes the following steps:

[0036] S1, such as Figure 1 As shown, the pretreated low-pressure seawater 10 enters the first pressure pipe 1 through the low-pressure seawater inlet 11, and the high-pressure concentrated brine 11 enters the concentrated brine switching pipe 3 and is guided by the third piston structure 6 into the first pressure pipe 1 that is already filled with low-pressure seawater 10.

[0037] S2. The high-pressure concentrated brine 11 continuously pushes the first piston structure 4 to move in the direction of the first hydraulic switching valve 7. During the movement, the pressure of the high-pressure concentrated brine 11 is transmitted to the low-pressure seawater 10. Then, the low-pressure seawater 10 is pressurized and discharged through the check valve device provided in the high-pressure seawater outlet 12. At the same time, part of the pressurized seawater enters the first piston rod 42 through the first water inlet 43 and is introduced into the first hydraulic switching valve through the first water outlet 44. At this time, the first piston structure 4 compresses the elastic structure 71 in the first hydraulic switching valve 7 during the movement.

[0038] S3. When the first piston block 41 containing the first outlet hole 44 moves between the two inlet and outlet ports 72 of the first hydraulic switching valve 7, the high-pressure seawater 13 in the first hydraulic switching valve 7 enters the third hydraulic switching valve 9 through one of the inlet and outlet ports 72 and the corresponding pipeline. The high-pressure seawater 13 pushes the third piston rod to move downwards for switching. The third piston block located in the concentrated brine switching pipe 3 on the third piston rod moves accordingly, and the passage for the high-pressure concentrated brine 11 to enter the first pressure-bearing pipe 1 is cut off. During the switching movement of the third piston rod, the seawater in the third hydraulic switching valve 9 is discharged into the second hydraulic switching valve 8 through the other inlet and outlet port 72 on it. This part of the seawater is discharged through the inlet and outlet port 72 on the second hydraulic switching valve 8.

[0039] S4. After the high-pressure concentrated brine 11 is depressurized, the elastic structure 71 inside the first hydraulic switching valve 7 rebounds, and as the low-pressure seawater 10 is injected, the first piston structure 4 discharges the low-pressure concentrated brine 12 through one of the low-pressure concentrated brine outlets 32 during the return stroke; Figure 2 As shown, the high-pressure brine 11 entering the brine switching pipe 3 is introduced into the second pressure pipe 2, where it pressurizes the low-pressure seawater 10 entering the second pressure pipe 2, and the circulation between the two pressurizing pipes continues.

[0040] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this patent and is not intended to limit this patent in any way. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of this patent shall fall within the scope of this patent's technical solution.

Claims

1. A hydraulic switching valve assembly for an energy recovery device, the energy recovery device comprising a first pressure-bearing pipe and a second pressure-bearing pipe arranged in parallel; one end of each of the two pressure-bearing pipes being perpendicularly connected to a concentrated brine switching pipe; characterized in that: The hydraulic switching valve assembly includes a first hydraulic switching valve, a second hydraulic switching valve, and a third hydraulic switching valve; the first hydraulic switching valve is coaxially connected to a first pressure-bearing pipe via a first piston structure; the second hydraulic switching valve is coaxially connected to a second pressure-bearing pipe via a second piston structure; the third hydraulic switching valve is coaxially connected to the concentrated brine switching pipe via a third piston structure; the first or second hydraulic switching valve is used to transfer the high-pressure water flow energy of the corresponding pressure-bearing pipe to the third hydraulic switching valve, and the movement of the third piston structure realizes the switching of the high-pressure concentrated brine water path in the concentrated brine switching pipe; The first piston structure includes two first piston blocks located inside the first hydraulic switching valve. The two first piston blocks are spaced apart by a certain distance and connected as a whole by a first piston rod. One end of the first piston rod is located inside the first hydraulic switching valve, and the other end is located inside the first pressure-bearing pipe. The first piston rod located inside the first pressure-bearing pipe is provided with multiple rows of first water inlet holes, so that seawater in the first pressure-bearing pipe enters the first piston rod through the first water inlet holes and is introduced into the first hydraulic switching valve through the first water outlet holes provided on the first piston block near the first pressure-bearing pipe. The first hydraulic switching valve is provided with two inlet and outlet ports, and the distance between the two inlet and outlet ports is less than the distance between the two first piston blocks on the first piston structure.

2. The hydraulic switching valve assembly for an energy recovery device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The second piston structure includes two second piston blocks located inside the second hydraulic switching valve. The two second piston blocks are spaced apart by a certain distance and connected as a whole by a second piston rod. One end of the second piston rod is located inside the second hydraulic switching valve, and the other end is located inside the second pressure-bearing pipe. The second piston rod inside the second pressure-bearing pipe is provided with multiple rows of second water inlet holes, so that seawater in the second pressure-bearing pipe enters the second piston rod through the second water inlet holes and is introduced into the second hydraulic switching valve through the second water outlet holes provided on the second piston block near the second pressure-bearing pipe.

3. The hydraulic switching valve assembly for an energy recovery device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The third piston structure includes three third piston blocks connected as one unit by a third piston rod, one of which is located inside the third hydraulic switching valve, and the other two are located inside the concentrated brine switching pipe.

4. The hydraulic switching valve assembly for an energy recovery device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The first hydraulic switching valve has an elastic structure that contacts the first piston structure; the second hydraulic switching valve has the same structure as the first hydraulic switching valve; the third hydraulic switching valve also has two inlet and outlet ports spaced a certain distance apart.

5. The hydraulic switching valve assembly for an energy recovery device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Both the first and second pressure-bearing pipes are equipped with a low-pressure seawater inlet and a high-pressure seawater outlet at the end furthest from the concentrated brine switching pipe.

6. The hydraulic switching valve assembly for an energy recovery device as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The concentrated brine switching pipe is provided with a high-pressure concentrated brine inlet and two low-pressure concentrated brine outlets at the top and bottom. The high-pressure concentrated brine inlet is located between two pressure-bearing pipes, and the two pressure-bearing pipes are located between the two low-pressure concentrated brine outlets at the top and bottom. Thus, the high-pressure concentrated brine enters the first pressure-bearing pipe or the second pressure-bearing pipe through the high-pressure concentrated brine inlet of the concentrated brine switching pipe, and is discharged from the low-pressure concentrated brine outlet in the form of low-pressure concentrated brine.

7. The operating method of the hydraulic switching valve assembly for an energy recovery device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. The pretreated low-pressure seawater enters the first pressure pipe through the low-pressure seawater inlet, and the high-pressure concentrated brine enters the concentrated brine switching pipe and is guided by the third piston structure into the first pressure pipe that has been filled with low-pressure seawater. S2. High-pressure concentrated brine continuously pushes the first piston structure to move towards the direction of the first hydraulic switching valve. During the movement, the pressure of the high-pressure concentrated brine is transmitted to the low-pressure seawater, which is then pressurized and discharged through the check valve in the high-pressure seawater outlet. At the same time, some of the pressurized seawater enters the first piston rod through the inlet hole and is introduced into the first hydraulic switching valve through the first outlet hole. At this time, the first piston structure compresses the elastic structure in the first hydraulic switching valve during the movement. S3. When the first piston block containing the first outlet hole moves between the two inlet and outlet ports of the first hydraulic switching valve, the high-pressure seawater in the first hydraulic switching valve enters the third hydraulic switching valve through one of the inlet / outlet ports and the corresponding pipeline. The high-pressure seawater pushes the third piston rod to move downwards for switching, and the third piston block located in the concentrated brine switching pipe on the third piston rod moves accordingly, thus cutting off the passage for the high-pressure concentrated brine to enter the first pressure-bearing pipe. During the switching movement of the third piston rod, the seawater in the third hydraulic switching valve is discharged into the second hydraulic switching valve through the other inlet / outlet port on it. This part of the seawater is discharged through the inlet / outlet port on the second hydraulic switching valve. S4. After the high-pressure concentrated brine is depressurized, the elastic structure inside the first hydraulic switching valve rebounds, and as low-pressure seawater is injected, the first piston structure discharges the low-pressure concentrated brine through one of the low-pressure concentrated brine outlets during the return stroke. The high-pressure brine entering the brine switching pipe is introduced into the second pressurized pipe, where it pressurizes the low-pressure seawater entering the second pressurized pipe. The cycle between the two pressurized pipes repeats continuously.

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