A modular membrane-free electro-deionization device

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of electro-deionization technology, and more particularly to a modular membrane-free electro-deionization device. The device includes a housing and multiple axially stacked deionization components; each component consists of a coaxial anode, a cathode, and an annular resin chamber between them. Limiting components are provided at both ends of the resin chamber, consisting of a first limiting plate and a second limiting plate that can rotate relative to each other. Through holes on the plates are used for water interception, and when the through channels are aligned, a resin channel is formed to achieve discharge / replenishment. The device, in conjunction with a rotating shaft drive, limiting rings, and elastic positioning components, achieves locking at both positions. This device allows for the addition or removal of modules as needed and enables rapid resin replacement, reducing downtime and leakage risks, and improving maintainability and operational stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electro-deionization technology, and more particularly to a modular membrane-free electro-deionization device. Background Technology

[0002] Electrodeionization (EDI) is a deep desalination technology that combines electrodialysis with ion exchange resins. It is widely used in high-purity water preparation, electroplating rinsing reuse, and ultrapure water supply in industries such as electronics and pharmaceuticals. Traditional EDI typically uses ion exchange membranes to separate the desalination and concentration chambers, along with resins to achieve ion migration and continuous regeneration. However, during long-term operation, problems such as membrane fouling, scaling, and concentration polarization can easily occur, leading to increased pressure drop, increased energy consumption, frequent maintenance, and high replacement costs.

[0003] To reduce membrane-related costs and failure risks, a membrane-free (membrane-free) electro-deionization technology has emerged in recent years: electrodes and ion exchange resin layers are directly arranged within an insulating cavity, and an external DC electric field is applied to promote the generation of H+ from water ionization. + With OH - In-situ regeneration of the resin enables continuous desalination. For example, Chinese patent CN102153166B discloses a membrane-free electro-deionization method and system. This system sequentially arranges a porous water distribution plate, electrodes, and ion exchange resin within an insulating cavity to avoid problems such as contamination and scaling caused by the ion exchange membrane. A mesh electrode / filter is used to achieve resin retention and water flow. While this membrane-free approach simplifies the compartment structure and reduces the risk of membrane failure, several prominent issues remain in engineering applications.

[0004] First, the maintenance and replacement of resin particles are inconvenient. Membrane-free EDI typically fills the resin in a relatively closed resin chamber or working area. Under long-term electrochemical regeneration and hydraulic flushing, the resin may wear down, break down, experience a decrease in exchange capacity, or become contaminated with organic matter / colloids, leading to failure. Once replacement or complete regeneration is required, existing equipment often needs to be shut down, end caps disassembled, or internal components removed before the resin can be discharged. This is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also prone to problems such as repeated assembly failure of seals, changes in internal coaxiality / gap, and resin leakage, making it difficult to meet the needs of continuous production and rapid maintenance.

[0005] Secondly, the multi-stage / multi-unit combination approach adopted to improve processing capacity will further amplify maintenance pain points. In engineering, multi-stage treatment units or multiple devices connected in series and parallel are often added to adapt to different water volumes and water quality fluctuations. However, if each unit needs to be disassembled and reassembled to replace the resin, the maintenance window is forced to expand, the risk of downtime is amplified, the complexity of on-site operation is significantly increased, and it is not conducive to achieving rapid expansion and standardized maintenance by adding or removing modules as needed.

[0006] Furthermore, although some EDI / ion-exchange continuous electro-deionization devices have proposed filling / replacement ports, it is still difficult to directly resolve the online maintenance challenges of membrane-free modular structures. For example, the plate-and-frame continuous electro-deionization device disclosed in CN100372598C has an opening connected to the desalination chamber's working area as a filling port for on-site filling or replacement of ion-conducting materials (such as resin), and is sealed with a sealing baffle. However, this type of structure is more suitable for plate-and-frame stacked compartments, where the filling port is usually a side-opening sealed type, still requiring manual operation by opening the sealing baffle. For membrane-free structures with cylindrical or coaxial electrodes, there is still a lack of more suitable structural means to ensure water flow during operation and reliable retention of resin particles while achieving controllable opening and closing of resin particle discharge / replenishment.

[0007] Furthermore, in the field of continuous ion adsorption / ion exchange systems, there are also solutions that use multi-hole distribution valves with fixed and moving parts (rotating disk / fixed disk) to achieve flow path switching, docking self-sealing, and positioning control (such as CN102628102B). However, such distribution valves are mainly designed for liquid distribution and column array switching. Their structural purpose and constraints are different from those of membrane-free EDI resin chambers, which can both retain water and open particle channels. Direct transplantation often brings new problems such as particle leakage, excessive pressure drop, unreliable positioning, or limited assembly space.

[0008] In summary, while existing membrane-free EDI technologies have made progress in membrane removal and structural simplification, they still suffer from several problems in engineering applications: difficulty in simultaneously controlling water flow and retention during resin chamber opening and closing; the need for disassembly and shutdown for resin replacement / maintenance; insufficient standardization in module expansion and maintenance; and instability of opening and closing positions due to water flow / vibration. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a device structure that adapts to the working mechanism of membrane-free EDI, facilitates modular expansion and rapid maintenance, and enables controllable entry and exit of resin particles, reliable sealing during operation, and structural stability, thereby improving the system's continuous operation capability and maintainability. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The technical objective of this invention is to address the problems in existing membrane-free electro-deionization devices, such as the closed and fixed resin chamber, the need for shutdown and disassembly for resin replacement and maintenance, the difficulty in achieving modular expansion, and the insufficient reliability of opening, closing, sealing, and positioning. This invention provides a modular membrane-free electro-deionization device. By setting switchable double-layered relative rotating sieve gate-type limiting components at both ends of each deionization module, combined with a positioning and locking structure, it enables controllable discharge and replenishment of resin particles without shutting down the system or with minimal disassembly. Simultaneously, it ensures water flow during operation, resin retention, and structural stability, thereby improving the maintainability, adaptability, and continuous operation capability of the device.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0011] A modular membrane-free electro-deionization device, comprising:

[0012] The housing has an upper interface at its top and a lower interface at its bottom. A receiving cavity is formed inside the housing, and both the upper interface and the lower interface are connected to the receiving cavity.

[0013] Multiple sets of deionization components are arranged in the receiving cavity along the axial direction of the housing. Each set of deionization components includes an anode component and a cathode component. The anode component and the cathode component are arranged coaxially, and a resin cavity is provided between the anode component and the cathode component. The resin cavity is filled with resin particles.

[0014] A limiting component is disposed at both ends of each group of deionization components. The limiting component includes a first limiting plate and a second limiting plate. The first limiting plate and the second limiting plate are stacked axially and can rotate relative to each other to switch between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the resin particles cannot pass through the limiting component, but the water flow can pass through the limiting component. In the open position, the limiting component forms a channel for the resin particles to pass through.

[0015] The housing is also connected to a feed pipe, one end of which extends to the outside of the housing and the other end is connected to the resin cavity, for replenishing resin particles to the resin cavity and / or introducing flushing medium to assist in the discharge of resin particles.

[0016] Preferably, the first limiting plate is provided with a first through groove and a plurality of first through holes, and the second limiting plate is provided with a second through groove and a plurality of second through holes; and the diameter of the first through hole and the second through hole is smaller than the particle size of the resin particles; at the closed position, the first through groove and the second through groove are misaligned and the first through groove is covered and closed by the second limiting plate, so that the resin particles cannot pass through, but the water flow can pass through the first through hole and / or the second through hole; at the open position, the first through groove and the second through groove are at least partially aligned to form a resin particle passage channel for the resin particles to enter and exit.

[0017] Preferably, the first limiting plate includes multiple first sector plates, with a first through groove between adjacent first sector plates and a first through hole on each first sector plate; the second limiting plate includes multiple second sector plates, with a second through groove between adjacent second sector plates and a second through hole on each second sector plate.

[0018] Preferably, the size of the second sector plate is larger than the size of the first through slot, so that when the closing position is reached, the second sector plate can cover and close the first through slot.

[0019] Preferably, the central angle of each first sector plate is 45°-85°, and the central angle of each second sector plate is 50°-90°.

[0020] Preferably, the limiting component includes a rotating shaft, which is arranged along the axial direction of the housing and coaxial with the first limiting plate and the second limiting plate; the first limiting plate is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft, and the second limiting plate is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the housing, and the second limiting plate is rotatably engaged with the rotating shaft; by driving the rotating shaft to rotate, the first limiting plate is driven to rotate relative to the second limiting plate, thereby realizing the switching between the closing station and the opening station.

[0021] Preferably, the ends of both the cathode assembly and the anode assembly are fixedly connected to the corresponding second sector plate, so that the second sector plate provides end support and coaxial positioning for the anode assembly and the cathode assembly.

[0022] Preferably, the rotating shaft is provided with a plurality of limiting rings, which are fixedly sleeved on the rotating shaft and in contact with the second sector plate to limit the movement of the second limiting plate in the axial direction and improve stacking stability.

[0023] Preferably, a positioning component is provided on the inner wall of the housing. The positioning component is connected to the second sector plate and is used to position and hold the limiting component in the closing position and / or the opening position.

[0024] Preferably, the inner wall of the housing is provided with an installation groove, and the second sector plate is provided with a positioning groove. The positioning component includes a positioning block and an elastic element. The elastic element is disposed in the installation groove, and the positioning block is slidably disposed in the installation groove. The positioning block is provided with a first inclined surface on the side near the second sector plate. The first inclined surface is inclined downward on the side near the second sector plate, and the positioning block can be inserted into the positioning groove under the action of the elastic element to achieve positioning.

[0025] Preferably, the positioning block is provided with a second inclined surface on the side near the second sector plate. The side of the second inclined surface near the second sector plate is inclined upward so that the positioning block can be unlocked by exiting the positioning groove through the second inclined surface under the action of external force.

[0026] This invention detachably stacks multiple membrane-free electro-deionization modules along the axial direction of the housing, and sets double-layered, opposing rotating sieve-plate gate-type limiting components at both ends of each resin chamber. In the water-interception state, the device achieves low-resistance flow and reliably intercepts resin particles through the through holes of the limiting plates. When maintenance is required, simply driving the rotating shaft to align the first and second through slots switches to the resin discharge / addition state, forming a particle channel. This allows for rapid resin discharge and replenishment without disassembling the housing or with only minor disassembly, significantly reducing downtime and labor intensity. Simultaneously, the limiting components are integrated with the electrode end support, ensuring coaxiality between the anode and cathode. Stable and highly consistent modular assembly avoids eccentricity, gap changes, and sealing failures caused by repeated disassembly and assembly. Furthermore, the elastic positioning and locking structure on the inner wall of the housing ensures that the limiting plate has a clear holding force in both open and closed positions, effectively suppressing the risk of accidental rotation and resin leakage caused by water flow impact and vibration, thus improving operational safety and long-term reliability. In addition, the multi-module stacking structure allows for flexible adjustment of the number of modules according to water volume and quality requirements. Independent maintenance and replacement at the module level improve system scalability and maintainability, comprehensively achieving the technical effects of easy maintenance, scalability, reliable sealing, and stable operation. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the limiting component in the closed state in the embodiment of this application.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the limit component in the open state in an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning component in an embodiment of this application.

[0031] In the diagram: 1. Housing; 11. Upper interface; 12. Lower interface; 13. Receiving cavity; 14. Feed pipe; 2. Deionization assembly; 21. Anode assembly; 22. Cathode assembly; 23. Resin cavity; 3. Limiting assembly; 31. First limiting plate; 311. First sector plate; 312. First through groove; 313. First through hole; 32. Second limiting plate; 321. Second sector plate; 322. Second through groove; 323. Second through hole; 33. Rotating shaft; 34. Limiting ring; 4. Positioning assembly; 41. Mounting groove; 42. Positioning groove; 43. Positioning block; 431. First inclined surface; 432. Second inclined surface; 44. Elastic element. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0033] I. Terminology Explanation and Definition of Critical States

[0034] Membrane-free electrodeionization (EDI): This refers to the process where no ion exchange membrane is placed between the cathode and anode. Instead, ion exchange resin particles are filled between the two electrodes or in the space between them. Ion exchange is generated by water ionization under an applied DC electric field. and A water treatment method that enables in-situ regeneration of resin and continuous desalination.

[0035] Water interception state: The limit component is in the closed position, the resin particles cannot pass through the through groove, but the water flow can pass through the through hole on the limit plate.

[0036] Resin discharge / addition status: The limiting component is in the open position, and the first channel and the second channel are at least partially aligned to form a particle channel. Resin particles can be discharged or added through the channel under the action of gravity, water, or gas.

[0037] Modular stacking: refers to two or more sets of deionization modules arranged along the axial direction of the housing, and the number of modules can be increased or decreased or individual modules can be replaced as needed.

[0038] II. Device Structure

[0039] Reference Figure 1 This application provides a modular membrane-free electro-deionization device, which includes a cylindrical shell 1. The shell 1 has an upper interface 11 at the top and a lower interface 12 at the bottom for the inflow and outflow of water to be treated. An axially penetrating receiving cavity 13 is formed inside the shell 1. Multiple deionization components 2 are arranged axially within the receiving cavity 13. Each deionization component 2 includes a centrally located rod-shaped anode component 21 and a cylindrical cathode component 22 surrounding it, coaxially arranged to form an annular resin cavity 23 filled with mixed ion exchange resin particles. A set of limiting components 3 is provided at both the upper and lower ends of each deionization component 2. A feed pipe 14 is connected to the top wall of the shell 1, one end of which leads to the resin cavity 23, and the other end extends to the outside of the shell 1 for injecting resin particles.

[0040] During operation, raw water enters through the lower inlet 12, flows through each stage of resin chamber 23, and undergoes ion exchange with the resin particles, finally exiting through the upper inlet 11. During regeneration, a DC power supply powers the anode assembly 21 and the cathode assembly 22. Under the influence of the external electric field applied to the anode assembly 21 and the cathode assembly 22, water ionization is promoted to generate H+. + Ions and OH - The ion exchange system regenerates the degraded cation and anion exchange resins. High-purity water enters from the upper port 11 and flows from top to bottom. As it flows through the ion exchange resin layer, it carries away the desorbed impurity ions. Finally, concentrated water containing the desorbed impurity ions flows out from the lower port 12. When the resin particles are completely degraded, the electric field can be stopped. By operating the limiting component 3 below, the channel at the bottom of the resin chamber 23 can be opened. At the same time, rinsing water can be injected from the upper limiting component 3 or air can be injected from the feed pipe 14. This will discharge the degraded resin from the bottom, and fresh resin can be replenished through the feed pipe 14. Then, the limiting component 3 can be closed to resume operation.

[0041] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the limiting component 3 includes a first limiting plate 31 and a second limiting plate 32. The first limiting plate 31 is formed by multiple identical first sector plates 311 arranged circumferentially, with a first through groove 312 formed between adjacent first sector plates 311. Each first sector plate 311 has multiple first through holes 313 evenly distributed, allowing water to flow through but blocking resin particles. The second limiting plate 32 is also formed by multiple identical second sector plates 321 arranged circumferentially, with a second through groove 322 formed between adjacent second sector plates 321. Each second sector plate 321 has multiple second through holes 323 evenly distributed. The first limiting plate 31 and the second limiting plate 32 can rotate relative to each other around the same axis. By rotating the first limiting plate 31 and the second limiting plate 32 relative to each other, the switching between slot alignment (open state) and sector plate covering the slot (closed state) can be achieved. The structure is simple and the operation is reliable. The first and second through holes ensure that water can still flow normally when the device is closed, while effectively intercepting resin particles.

[0042] Furthermore, the size of each second sector plate 321 is slightly larger than the width of the first through groove 312. This ensures that when the first limiting plate 31 and the second limiting plate 32 rotate to a specific relative angle, the second sector plate 321 can completely cover and seal the first through groove 312 below, preventing resin particles from leaking out of the through groove and ensuring the sealing reliability of the bottom of the resin cavity.

[0043] The angle of each first sector plate is 45°-85°, and the angle of each second sector plate is 50°-90°. Specifically, in this embodiment, the central angle of each first sector plate 311 is 45°, and the central angle of each second sector plate 321 is 50°. This ensures that, in the open state, the first channel 312 and the second channel 322 have sufficient overlap area for resin to pass through quickly; and in the closed state, the second sector plate 321 has sufficient coverage margin over the first channel 312 to ensure a seal. By optimizing the angle range of the sector plates, an optimal balance is achieved between ensuring resin flow capacity and sealing reliability. The specific angle selection ensures smooth opening and closing of the limiting component and stable operation.

[0044] Furthermore, a rotating shaft 33 is provided at the axial center of the housing 1. All first sector plates 311 are fixedly connected to this rotating shaft 33 (e.g., by key connection or welding). All second sector plates 321 are fixedly installed on the inner wall of the housing 1, and the central hole of the second sector plate 321 is rotatably fitted with the rotating shaft 33. When it is necessary to open or close the limiting assembly 3, simply drive the rotating shaft 33 to rotate, which will cause the first limiting plate 31 to rotate relative to the fixed second limiting plate 32. The ends of the cathode assembly 22 and the anode assembly 21 are fixedly connected to the second sector plates 321 of the same level by insulating fasteners. The cathode assembly 22 and the anode assembly 21 are fixed to the second sector plates 321, ensuring the coaxiality and positional stability of the electrode assemblies, while making the entire deionization module an integrated unit that is easy to assemble and disassemble.

[0045] A limiting ring 34 is fixedly sleeved on the rotating shaft 33. The limiting ring 34 clamps and limits the second sector plate 321 axially, preventing it from moving axially. This ensures the positional accuracy of each limiting component 3 in the vertical direction and the stability of the overall stack, avoiding structural loosening caused by water flow impact or vibration. At the same time, it also facilitates the movement of the deionization component 2 along the axial direction of the housing via the rotating shaft, making it easy to assemble and disassemble the deionization component 2.

[0046] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 4A positioning component 4 is provided on the inner wall of the housing 1. The positioning component 4 is connected to the second sector plate 321 and is used to provide positioning and holding force for the first limiting plate 31. An installation groove 41 is provided on the inner wall of the housing 1, and a positioning groove 42 is provided at the corresponding position on the edge of the second sector plate 321. The positioning component 4 includes a positioning block 43 and an elastic element 44 (such as a spring). The elastic element 44 is placed in the installation groove 41. The positioning block 43 is slidably disposed in the installation groove 41, and one end of it can protrude out of the installation groove 41 under the elastic force of the elastic element 44. The positioning block 43 has a first inclined surface 431 on the side facing the second sector plate 321, and the side of the first inclined surface 431 near the second sector plate 321 slopes downward. When the limiting component 3 is installed, when the edge of its first sector plate 311 slides over the positioning block 43, it will squeeze the first inclined surface 431, causing the positioning block 43 to retract into the mounting groove 41; when the first sector plate 311 moves to the positioning groove 42 of its edge and aligns with the positioning block 43, the positioning block 43 pops out under the action of elasticity and inserts into the positioning groove 42 to achieve positioning.

[0047] By setting the positioning component 4, the operator can get clear feedback on the positioning when rotating the shaft, and the limit plate can be stably kept in the required working position, preventing it from deflecting unexpectedly due to its own weight, water flow impact or slight vibration, which greatly improves the safety and reliability of the device operation.

[0048] On the side of the positioning block 43 near the second sector plate 321, below the first inclined surface 431, a second inclined surface 432 is also provided. The side of the second inclined surface 432 near the second sector plate 321 slopes upward. The second inclined surface 432 allows the positioning block 43 to be pushed out of the positioning groove 42 with a small force when unlocking from the positioning state, making the unlocking process effortless and smooth. The first inclined surface 431 and the second inclined surface 432 work together to achieve a good operating feel for the positioning component, making it easy to enter and exit.

[0049] This application constructs a modular membrane-free electro-deionization device by stacking multiple deionization components 2 axially along the housing 1 and setting openable and closable limiting components 3 at both ends of the resin chamber 23 of each component. During device operation, the water to be treated flows in from the lower interface 12, passes through the resin chamber 23 sequentially, and undergoes ion exchange with the resin particles in full contact, finally flowing out from the upper interface 11. When the resin in a specific module fails and needs to be replaced, it is not necessary to disassemble the entire device. Simply open the limiting component 3 corresponding to that module using external force, which opens the bottom channel of the resin chamber 23. Subsequently, the failed resin particles can be discharged through this channel under gravity or hydraulic conveying, while fresh resin can be injected through the feed pipe 14. After completion, closing the limiting component 3 restores the module's operation.

[0050] III. Material Selection and Recommended Size

[0051] To ensure insulation, corrosion resistance, pressure resistance, and machinability, the preferred materials and size ranges are as follows:

[0052] Shell 1: Transparent acrylic glass (PMMA), PVC-U, PVDF, or 316L stainless steel with an inner insulating layer; PMMA or PVC-U is preferred for laboratory prototypes to facilitate observation of resin flow. Inner diameter of the shell. It can be 60-120mm.

[0053] Anode assembly 21: Titanium-based coated (e.g., IrO2 / RuO2) inert anode or graphite anode; rod diameter It can be 8-20mm.

[0054] Cathode assembly 22: 316L stainless steel or titanium cylindrical electrode; inner diameter slightly larger than anode outer diameter to form resin cavity gap.

[0055] Resin particles: Strong acid cation exchange resin and strong base anion exchange resin are mixed at a volume ratio of 1:1 (or adjusted according to water quality), particle size... The preferred size is 0.60-0.90mm.

[0056] First limiting plate 31, second limiting plate 32: PP, PE, PVDF or POM; diameter of first / second through hole The preferred diameter is 0.25-0.50mm, which meets the requirements. To retain resin.

[0057] First / Second Through Slot Width : Preferably 2-8mm; the groove length extends radially to facilitate resin discharge.

[0058] The central angle of the sector plates is 45°-85° for the first sector plate 311 and 50°-90° for the second sector plate 321, in order to satisfy the closing coverage margin and the effective opening area.

[0059] Sealing components: The end caps and housings use EPDM or FKMO type rings, which are resistant to electric fields and acids and alkalis.

[0060] IV. Assembly Method

[0061] Taking the three-module device as an example, the assembly steps are as follows:

[0062] S1, Housing and Interface Assembly: Install the upper interface 11 on the top of the housing 1 and the lower interface 12 on the bottom, and check the O-ring compression (15%-25% recommended). Install the feed pipe 14 on the side wall or top wall of the housing, and connect it to one of the resin chambers 23 through a sealing joint (one pipe can have multiple branches, or multiple pipes can correspond to each module respectively).

[0063] S2, pre-installed with deionization module:

[0064] Place the anode assembly 21 at the center of the module;

[0065] The cathode assembly 22 is coaxially sleeved on the outer periphery of the anode, and the two form an annular gap as a resin cavity 23.

[0066] The second limiting plate 32 is fixed on the annular support at the end of the module (the support is positioned on the inner wall of the housing or on the guide rib), and the ends of the anode assembly 21 and the cathode assembly 22 are fixed to the second limiting plate 32 with insulating fasteners to ensure coaxiality and end positioning consistency.

[0067] S3, Limiting component stacking and pivot penetration:

[0068] Position the second limiting plate 32 at the reference angle (positioned by the positioning component 4).

[0069] The first limiting plate 31 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 33 (key connection / screw connection / welding connection are all acceptable, screw + positioning pin is recommended for laboratory prototypes).

[0070] The rotating shaft 33 passes through each module from top to bottom, so that the first limiting plate 31 of each stage is stacked with the corresponding second limiting plate 32 to form a double-layer relative rotating screen gate.

[0071] A limiting ring 34 is installed on the rotating shaft 33 to axially clamp each of the second limiting plates 32, thus preventing the stack from loosening due to running vibration.

[0072] S4, Resin Filling and Encapsulation Inspection: Slowly inject the mixed resin into the resin chamber 23 through the feed pipe 14 (venting can be done while injecting). When the limiting component is in the water-passing interception state, the resin is reliably trapped in the resin chamber 23. Check the pressure drop and leakage of each module to confirm that there is no resin leakage from the through hole.

[0073] V. Operating Procedures

[0074] 1) Water production / desalination operation: Raw water enters through the lower inlet 12 and flows axially through each stage of resin chamber 23, making full contact with the resin particles for ion exchange. The effluent flows out through the upper inlet 11. A DC power supply is connected to the anode assembly 21 and the cathode assembly 22 respectively, and voltage is applied. And limit the current To maintain a stable electric field.

[0075] 2) Online regeneration (in-situ regeneration): Maintaining the electric field and adjusting the flow rate and current density to generate water through ionization. and After the resin is continuously regenerated and the conductivity of the effluent stabilizes, it enters the continuous water production stage.

[0076] 3) Resin replacement (resin discharge / addition state switching): When resin contamination or breakage leads to performance degradation, after power failure or a drop to a safe voltage, rotate shaft 33 to align the first channel 312 with the second channel 322 to open the resin channel; introduce flushing water or compressed air from feed pipe 14 to discharge the failed resin from below; then add new resin and switch back to the water interception state, and lock the positioning component 4 at the work station.

[0077] VI. Testing Methods and Evaluation Indicators

[0078] 1.1 Influent water quality and operating conditions

[0079] Feed water: RO permeate / pretreated pure water, prepared with trace amounts of NaCl to achieve three conductivity levels: 5.0±0.2μS / cm, 10.0±0.3μS / cm, and 15.0±0.3μS / cm.

[0080] temperature: C; Flow rate: set according to the number of modules (2 modules 0.8L / min; 3 modules 1.0L / min; 4 modules 1.2L / min; 5 modules 1.4L / min).

[0081] DC power supply: constant voltage mode, single module U=18-24V, total current limit 1.5-2.5A.

[0082] Sampling: After 30 minutes of steady-state operation of each water quality setting, data were continuously recorded for 60 minutes (at 1-minute intervals). Each operating condition was repeated. Second-rate.

[0083] 1.2 Desalination Rate Calculation

[0084] ;

[0085] in The influent conductivity is expressed in μS / cm. The conductivity of the effluent (μS / cm).

[0086] 1.3 Other Indicators

[0087] pressure drop (MPa): Pressure difference between module inlet and outlet.

[0088] Resin leakage (g / h): Conversion of weight of 200 mesh collection net at the outlet.

[0089] Resin replacement recovery time (min): Total time from switching to the resin discharge / addition station → discharge → replenishment → reset → water returns to steady state.

[0090] Number of times of accidental opening / misplacement (times / 72h): The number of times the limit mechanism deflects unplanned due to vibration / water hammer during 72 hours of continuous operation.

[0091] VII. Examples and Comparative Examples

[0092] Example 1

[0093] Number of modules: 3; Central angle of the first / second sector plate: 45° / 50°; Through hole diameter: 0.35mm; Resin particle size: 0.65-0.85mm; Through groove width: 4mm. Features: Double-layer relative rotating screen gate, rotating shaft linkage, and elastic positioning lock.

[0094] Resin replacement: Rotate the shaft to the open position, 0.12MPa compressed air pushes and 0.5L of flushing water is discharged, then new resin is added through the feed pipe and the shaft is reset.

[0095] Example 2

[0096] Number of modules: 5; Central angle: 60° / 70°; Through hole: 0.30mm; Resin: 0.60-0.80mm; Through groove width: 5mm. The rest is the same as in Example 1.

[0097] Example 3

[0098] Number of modules: 2; Central angle: 80° / 90°; Through hole: 0.45mm; Resin: 0.80-1.00mm; Through groove width: 3mm. The rest is the same as in Example 1.

[0099] Example 4

[0100] Number of modules: 4; Central angle: 55° / 65°; Through hole: 0.40mm; Resin: 0.70-0.90mm; Through groove width: 6mm. The rest is the same as in Example 1.

[0101] Comparative Example 1

[0102] Structure: The double-layered, relatively rotating sieve gate is replaced with a filter screen / perforated plate fixed at both ends to trap resin; the remaining electrodes and resin chamber are the same as in Example 1. Resin replacement: The end caps and internal components need to be disassembled, manually cleaned and drained before reassembly.

[0103] Comparative Example 2

[0104] Structure: Same as Example 1, but the elastic positioning component is removed, and the workstation position is maintained solely by friction damping. Slight angular drift may occur during operation → partial overlap of the through-slots → resin leakage and fluctuations in the outlet water.

[0105] Comparative Example 3

[0106] Structure: Only one limiting plate with through grooves / holes is retained, with no second limiting plate covering and sealing. The closing station is difficult to completely seal, resulting in continuous micro-leakage and water quality fluctuations.

[0107] IV. Experimental Data Table

[0108] Table 1 Structural and Key Operating Parameters

[0109]

[0110] Table 2 Operating Performance ( ≤15μS / cm, and The bigger (lower)

[0111]

[0112] Note: Calculated from the 60-minute average value of each working condition; as shown in Table 2: the embodiments of the present invention in μS / cm It remains stable at approximately 98.9% while maintaining extremely low resin leakage.

[0113] Table 3 Comparison of Maintainability and Operational Stability (in terms of...) (taking μS / cm as an example)

[0114]

[0115] V. Conclusion

[0116] Under laboratory conditions where the influent conductivity does not exceed approximately 15 μS / cm, the device of this invention can stably achieve deep desalination. Compared with comparative examples that use fixed interception or lack positioning locking, this invention, through its double-layered relatively rotating screen gate and positioning locking structure, significantly shortens resin replacement and recovery time while maintaining low leakage and stable water quality, reducing the risk of accidental opening and leakage, and demonstrating excellent maintainability and operational stability.

[0117] The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention, through which those skilled in the art are able to implement or use the present invention, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelty disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A modular membrane-free electro-deionization device, characterized in that, The device includes: The housing (1) has an upper interface (11) at the top and a lower interface (12) at the bottom. The housing (1) has a receiving cavity (13) inside. The upper interface (11) and the lower interface (12) are both connected to the receiving cavity (13). Multiple sets of deionization components (2) are arranged in the receiving cavity (13) along the axial direction of the housing (1). Each set of deionization components (2) includes an anode component (21) and a cathode component (22). The anode component (21) and the cathode component (22) are arranged coaxially, and a resin cavity (23) is provided between the anode component (21) and the cathode component (22). The resin cavity (23) is filled with resin particles. The limiting component (3) is set at both ends of each deionization component (2). The limiting component (3) includes a first limiting plate (31) and a second limiting plate (32). The first limiting plate (31) and the second limiting plate (32) are stacked in the axial direction and can rotate relative to each other to switch between the closed position and the open position: in the closed position, the resin particles cannot pass through the limiting component, but the water flow can pass through the limiting component; in the open position, the limiting component forms a channel for the resin particles to pass through. The housing (1) is also connected to a feed pipe (14), one end of which extends to the outside of the housing (1) and the other end is connected to the resin cavity (23).

2. The modular membrane-free electro-deionization device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first limiting plate (31) is provided with a first through groove (312) and a plurality of first through holes (313), and the second limiting plate (32) is provided with a second through groove (322) and a plurality of second through holes (323). The aperture of the first through hole (313) and the second through hole (323) is smaller than the particle size of the resin particles. In the closed position, the first through groove (312) and the second through groove (322) are misaligned and the first through groove (312) is covered and closed by the second limiting plate (32), so that the resin particles cannot pass through, but the water flow can pass through the first through hole (313) and / or the second through hole (323). In the open position, the first through groove (312) and the second through groove (322) are at least partially aligned to form a resin particle passage channel for resin particles to enter and exit. The first limiting plate (31) includes multiple first sector plates (311), with a first through groove (312) between adjacent first sector plates (311), and a first through hole (313) on each first sector plate (311); the second limiting plate (32) includes multiple second sector plates (321), with a second through groove (322) between adjacent second sector plates (321), and a second through hole (323) on each second sector plate (321).

3. The modular membrane-free electro-deionization device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second sector plate (321) is larger than the first through groove (312) so that when the station is closed, the second sector plate (321) can cover and close the first through groove (312).

4. A modular membrane-free electro-deionization device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The central angle of each of the first sector plates (311) is 45° to 85°, and the central angle of each of the second sector plates (321) is 50° to 90°.

5. A modular membrane-free electro-deionization device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The limiting component (3) includes a rotating shaft (33), which is arranged along the axial direction of the housing (1) and coaxially arranged with the first limiting plate (31) and the second limiting plate (32); the first limiting plate (31) is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft (33), and the second limiting plate (32) is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the housing (1), and the second limiting plate (32) is rotatably engaged with the rotating shaft (33); by driving the rotating shaft (33) to rotate, the first limiting plate (31) is driven to rotate relative to the second limiting plate (32), thereby realizing the switching between the closing station and the opening station.

6. A modular membrane-free electro-deionization device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The ends of the cathode assembly (22) and the anode assembly (21) are fixedly connected to the corresponding second sector plate (321) so that the second sector plate (321) provides end support and coaxial positioning for the anode assembly (21) and the cathode assembly (22).

7. A modular membrane-free electro-deionization device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The rotating shaft (33) is provided with a plurality of limiting rings (34), the limiting rings (34) are fixedly sleeved on the rotating shaft (33), and the limiting rings (34) are in contact with the second sector plate (321) to restrict the movement of the second limiting plate (32) in the axial direction and improve the stacking stability.

8. A modular membrane-free electro-deionization device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A positioning component (4) is provided on the inner wall of the housing (1). The positioning component (4) is connected to the second sector plate (321) and is used to position and hold the limiting component (3) in the closed position and / or the open position.

9. A modular membrane-free electro-deionization device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The inner wall of the housing (1) is provided with an installation groove (41), and the second sector plate (321) is provided with a positioning groove (42). The positioning component (4) includes a positioning block (43) and an elastic element (44). The elastic element (44) is disposed in the installation groove (41), and the positioning block (43) is slidably disposed in the installation groove (41). The positioning block (43) is provided with a first inclined surface (431) on the side near the second sector plate (321). The first inclined surface (431) is inclined downward on the side near the second sector plate (321), and the positioning block (43) can be inserted into the positioning groove (42) under the action of the elastic element (44) to achieve positioning.

10. A modular membrane-free electro-deionization device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The positioning block (43) is provided with a second inclined surface (432) on the side near the second sector plate (321). The second inclined surface (432) is inclined upward on the side near the second sector plate (321) so that the positioning block (43) can be unlocked by exiting the positioning groove (42) through the second inclined surface (432) under the action of external force.

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