Manufacturing method and program, manufacturing device, assistance method and program, and assistance device

Abstract

Provided is a manufacturing method for manufacturing a concentrate by concentrating a predetermined feed solution using a concentration device. The feed solution includes at least a solute, a first solvent, and a second solvent. The concentration device has a concentration module that concentrates the feed solution via a concentration membrane. The manufacturing method comprises: a step in which target concentrate information that includes a composition targeted for the concentrate is input; a step in which current concentrate information that includes a current composition of the concentrate is acquired; a step in which past concentrate information that includes a past composition of the concentrate is acquired; a step in which, on the basis of the current concentrate information and the past concentrate information, the mass transfer coefficient of the concentration membrane is calculated; a step in which, on the basis of the current concentrate information and the past concentrate information, the drive force for causing the concentrate to permeate through the concentration membrane is calculated; and a step in which, on the basis of the drive force and the mass transfer coefficient, predicted concentrate information that includes a composition of the concentrate after the elapse of a certain amount of time is calculated.

Description

Manufacturing method and program, manufacturing device, support method and program, support device

[0001] The present invention relates to a manufacturing method and program, a manufacturing device, a support method and program, and a support device.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a forward osmosis (FO) method as a method for concentrating a raw material liquid. Patent Document 2 describes a membrane distillation (MD) method as a method for concentrating a raw material liquid. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Documents] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0016116 [Patent Document 2] WO 2016 / 006670 Problem to be solved

[0003] The operation of a concentrator using such a concentration method requires complex and precise control. General disclosure

[0004] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing method for producing a concentrated liquid by concentrating a predetermined supply liquid using a concentrating device, wherein the supply liquid contains at least a solute, a first solvent, and a second solvent, and the concentrating device has a concentration module that concentrates the supply liquid through a concentration membrane, the manufacturing method comprising the steps of: inputting target concentrated liquid information including a target composition of the concentrated liquid; acquiring current concentrated liquid information including a current composition of the concentrated liquid; acquiring past concentrated liquid information including a past composition of the concentrated liquid; calculating a mass transfer coefficient of the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information; calculating a driving force for the concentrated liquid to permeate the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information; and calculating predicted concentrated liquid information including the composition of the concentrated liquid after a certain time has elapsed based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient.

[0005] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute the manufacturing method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0006] In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing apparatus for producing a concentrated liquid by concentrating a predetermined supply liquid using a concentrating device, wherein the supply liquid contains at least a solute, a first solvent, and a second solvent, and the concentrating device has a concentration module that concentrates the supply liquid through a concentration membrane, and the manufacturing apparatus comprises: an input unit for inputting target concentrated liquid information including a target composition of the concentrated liquid; an acquisition unit for acquiring current concentrated liquid information including a current composition of the concentrated liquid and past concentrated liquid information including a past composition of the concentrated liquid; a mass transfer coefficient calculation unit for calculating a mass transfer coefficient of the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information; a driving force calculation unit for calculating a driving force for the concentrated liquid to permeate the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information; and a prediction unit for calculating predicted concentrated liquid information including the composition of the concentrated liquid after a certain period of time has elapsed based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient.

[0007] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for supporting a concentrating device for producing a concentrated liquid by concentrating a predetermined supply liquid, wherein the supply liquid contains at least a solute, a first solvent, and a second solvent, and the concentrating device has a concentration module that concentrates the supply liquid through a concentration membrane, the method comprising the steps of: inputting target concentrated liquid information including a target composition of the concentrated liquid; acquiring current concentrated liquid information including a current composition of the concentrated liquid; acquiring past concentrated liquid information including a past composition of the concentrated liquid; calculating a mass transfer coefficient of the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information; calculating a driving force for the concentrated liquid to permeate the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information; and calculating predicted concentrated liquid information including the composition of the concentrated liquid after a certain period of time has elapsed based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient.

[0008] In a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute the support method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention.

[0009] In a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support device for a concentrating device for producing a concentrated liquid by concentrating a predetermined supply liquid, wherein the supply liquid contains at least a solute, a first solvent, and a second solvent, and the concentrating device has a concentration module that concentrates the supply liquid through a concentration membrane, and the support device comprises: an input unit for inputting target concentrated liquid information including a target composition of the concentrated liquid; an acquisition unit for acquiring current concentrated liquid information including a current composition of the concentrated liquid and past concentrated liquid information including a past composition of the concentrated liquid; a mass transfer coefficient calculation unit for calculating a mass transfer coefficient of the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information; a driving force calculation unit for calculating a driving force for the concentrated liquid to permeate the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information; and a prediction unit for calculating predicted concentrated liquid information including the composition of the concentrated liquid after a certain period of time has elapsed based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient.

[0010] The above summary of the invention does not list all of the features of the present invention, and subcombinations of these features may also be inventions.

[0011] 1 shows an example of the configuration of a concentrating device 200. FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a support device 100 according to Example 1. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a support method using the support device 100. FIG. 3 shows an example of a display in the input unit 10. FIG. 4 shows an example of a display in the display unit 30. FIG. 5 shows another example of a display in the display unit 30. FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of a manufacturing device 1000 according to Example 2. FIG. 7 shows a block diagram illustrating an example of a manufacturing method using the manufacturing device 1000. FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of a support device 3100 according to Example 3. FIG. 9 shows another example of the support method using the support device 3100. FIG. 10 shows another example of composition information 3032 displayed on the display unit 3030, illustrating an example of composition information 3032 displayed on the display unit 3030. FIG. 11 shows an example of a computer 2200 in which multiple aspects of the present invention may be embodied in whole or in part.

[0012] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a concentrating apparatus 200. The concentrating apparatus 200 of this example is an example of a concentrating apparatus for producing a concentrate by concentrating a predetermined feed solution. The concentrate produced by the concentrating apparatus 200 is subsequently freeze-dried and commercialized as a food product, a pharmaceutical product, or the like. The concentrating apparatus 200 includes a feed solution tank 210, a feed solution pump 215, a first concentration module 220, a draw solution tank 230, and a draw solution pump 235.

[0014] The supply solution tank 210 stores the supply solution 110 supplied to the concentrator 200. In this example, the supply solution 110 contains a peptide as a solute and at least water and an organic solvent as a solvent. The organic solvent may be at least one of acetonitrile, isopropanol, acetone, methanol, and ethanol. In this example, the supply solution 110 contains acetonitrile as the organic solvent. In this example, the supply solution 110 may further contain acetic acid as a solvent.

[0015] Peptides are widely used as diagnostic agents, test agents, pharmaceuticals, etc., and the raw materials for them are very expensive. Therefore, when concentrating the supply solution 110 containing peptides, it is important to recover the peptides in a high yield without denaturing them.

[0016] Acetonitrile is an organic solvent that retains dissolved peptides. If the concentration of acetonitrile decreases due to concentration of the supply solution 110, the peptides will precipitate. On the other hand, if water is separated from the supply solution 110 due to concentration, the concentration of acetonitrile will increase, lengthening the time required for the subsequent freeze-drying process. Therefore, controlling the concentration of acetonitrile is important in producing the concentrated solution.

[0017] The supply liquid tank 210 sends the supply liquid 110 to the first concentration module 220 using a supply liquid pump 215. The pumping capacity of the supply liquid pump 215 affects the flow rate (linear velocity) of the supply liquid 110 in the first concentration module 220. The supply liquid tank 210 may have a sensor that acquires information such as the temperature and storage amount of the supply liquid 110 in the first concentration module 220.

[0018] The first concentration module 220 has one or more first concentration membranes 222. The draw solution tank 230 stores the draw solution 120. The draw solution tank 230 sends the draw solution 120 to the first concentration module 220 using a draw solution pump 235. The pumping capacity of the draw solution pump 235 affects the flow rate (linear velocity) of the draw solution 120 in the first concentration module 220. The draw solution tank 230 may have sensors that acquire information such as the temperature and storage amount of the draw solution 120.

[0019] The first concentration module 220 of this example concentrates the feed liquid 110 by forward osmosis (FO). The first concentration membrane 222 is a hollow fiber forward osmosis membrane (FO membrane). In the first concentration module 220 of this example, the feed liquid 110 delivered from the feed liquid tank 210 and the draw solution 120 delivered from the draw solution tank 230 come into contact with each other via the first concentration membrane 222.

[0020] In this example, the draw solution 120 contains water and isopropanol. The draw solution 120 has a higher chemical potential than the feed solution 110. This difference in chemical potential serves as a driving force for the water contained in the feed solution 110 to move into the draw solution 120 through the first concentration membrane 222. The amount of water that moves per unit time is called a flux, and its unit is kg / m. ２ The flux determined by the characteristics (pore size, etc.) of the first concentration membrane 222 is referred to as the initial flux, and the actual flux during operation of the concentration device 200 is referred to as the actual flux. For example, the actual flux is determined by the initial flux and the chemical potential difference between the draw solution 120 and the feed solution 110.

[0021] The first concentration module 220 concentrates the feed liquid 110 by separating water from the feed liquid 110. The FO method does not require pressure or heat, and therefore can produce a concentrated liquid without denaturing the solutes in the feed liquid 110.

[0022] In one example, the produced concentrate is recovered and returned to the feed tank 210. In this case, the initial solution stored in the feed tank 210 before the concentrator 200 starts operating may be referred to as the feed 110, and the solution stored in the feed tank 210 before the concentrator 200 starts operating may be referred to as the concentrate. Alternatively, the produced concentrate may be stored in a tank separate from the feed tank 210.

[0023] The draw solution 120 that contacts the feed solution 110 in the first concentration module 220 is collected and returned to the draw solution tank 230. This draw solution 120 is diluted with water transferred from the feed solution 110. The draw solution tank 230 may be connected to a regeneration device that supplies isopropanol to the diluted draw solution 120 or that concentrates the diluted draw solution 120, such as by evaporation.

[0024] The concentrator 200 may further include a second concentrator module 240, a feed pump 245, a cooling water tank 250, and a cooling water pump 255. The second concentrator module 240 includes one or more second concentrator membranes 242.

[0025] The supply liquid tank 210 sends the supply liquid 110 to the second concentrating module 240 by a supply liquid pump 245. The supply liquid 110 may be heated to 40 to 50°C with hot water before being sent to the second concentrating module 240. The pumping capacity of the supply liquid pump 245 affects the flow rate (linear velocity) of the supply liquid 110 in the second concentrating module 240. The supply liquid tank 210 may have a sensor that acquires information such as the temperature and storage amount of the supply liquid 110 in the second concentrating module 240.

[0026] The second concentration module 240 has one or more second concentration membranes 242. The cooling water tank 250 stores the cooling water 130. The cooling water tank 250 sends the cooling water 130 to the second concentration module 240 by a cooling water pump 255. The pumping capacity of the cooling water pump 255 affects the flow rate (linear velocity) of the cooling water 130 in the second concentration module 240.

[0027] In this example, the second concentration module 240 concentrates the feed liquid 110 by membrane distillation (MD). The second concentration membrane 242 is a hollow fiber hydrophobic porous dry membrane (MD membrane). The surface of the MD membrane may be coated with a water repellent. The actual flux of the second concentration membrane 242 is determined by the initial flux and the vapor pressure difference between the cooling water 130 and the feed liquid 110.

[0028] In the second concentration module 240 of this example, the supply liquid 110 sent from the supply liquid tank 210 and the cooling water 130 sent from the cooling water tank 250 come into contact with each other via the second concentration membrane 242. The cooling water 130 has a lower vapor pressure than the supply liquid 110. This vapor pressure difference serves as a driving force to move the solvent contained in the supply liquid 110 through the second concentration membrane 242 into the cooling water 130.

[0029] The second concentration module 240 concentrates the supply liquid 110 by separating acetonitrile from the supply liquid 110. The MD method does not require pressure or heat, and therefore can produce a concentrated liquid without denaturing the solutes in the supply liquid 110.

[0030] In one example, the produced concentrate is collected and returned to the feed tank 210. Alternatively, the produced concentrate may be stored in a tank separate from the feed tank 210.

[0031] The cooling water 130 that has come into contact with the supply liquid 110 in the second concentration module 240 may be recovered and returned to the cooling water tank 250. This cooling water 130 contains acetonitrile that has migrated from the supply liquid 110. Alternatively, the cooling water 130 recovered from the second concentration module 240 may be extracted by an extraction pump. The cooling water tank 250 may have a sensor that acquires information such as the temperature and storage amount of the cooling water 130. The cooling water tank 250 may be connected to a cooling water replenishment device.

[0032] 1 , the first concentrating module 220 and the second concentrating module 240 are provided in parallel, but in other examples, the first concentrating module 220 and the second concentrating module 240 may be provided in series. The concentrating device 200 includes the first concentrating module 220 and the second concentrating module 240 provided downstream of the first concentrating module 220. The concentrated liquid concentrated by the first concentrating module 220 may be supplied to the second concentrating module 240, and the concentrated liquid further concentrated by the second concentrating module 240 may be collected and returned to the supply liquid tank 210. Alternatively, the first concentrating module 220 may be provided downstream of the second concentrating module 240.

[0033] Alternatively, concentrator 200 may concentrate feed solution 110 using only second concentration module 240. In this case, concentrator 200 does not need to include feed solution pump 215, first concentration module 220, draw solution tank 230, and draw solution pump 235.

[0034] 2 shows an example of the configuration of a support device 100 according to Example 1. The support device 100 supports the production of a concentrated solution by a concentrating device 200. The support device 100 is connected to the concentrating device 200 wirelessly or via a wire. The support device 100 includes an input unit 10, a calculation unit 20, a display unit 30, and a storage unit 40.

[0035] The input unit 10 receives input information including membrane information and feed liquid information. The feed liquid information is information about the feed liquid 110 supplied to the concentrator 200. In one example, the membrane information includes the serial number and membrane area of ​​the first concentration membrane 222. The feed liquid information includes the weight, volume, composition, temperature, and flow rate of the feed liquid 110. The input unit 10 may input the input information using an input device such as a keyboard, or may input the input information by communicating with a server. The input unit 10 may be integrated with the display unit 30. The input information may also include draw solution information including the weight, volume, composition, temperature, and flow rate of the draw solution 120, cooling water information including the weight, volume, composition, temperature, and flow rate of the cooling water 130, and the weight, volume, and composition of the target concentrate.

[0036] The calculation unit 20 calculates predicted concentrated liquid information, including the composition of solutes and solvents in the concentrated liquid, based on the input information. The predicted concentrated liquid information may further include at least one of a predicted concentration ratio and a predicted concentration time of the supply liquid 110. Furthermore, the calculation unit 20 may calculate solute precipitation information from the concentrated liquid, predicted based on the input information. Furthermore, the calculation unit 20 may calculate draw solution information and cooling water information as operation start conditions that can achieve the target concentrated liquid composition, based on the input information. Furthermore, the calculation unit 20 may calculate operation start conditions that can achieve the target concentrated liquid composition while avoiding solute precipitation, based on the precipitation information. The calculation unit 20 outputs the calculated predicted concentrated liquid information and precipitation information to the display unit 30 as output information.

[0037] The support device 100 may periodically acquire information detected by various sensors provided in the concentrating device 200. In one example, the sensors are a thermometer, a weight scale, a level gauge, a spectrophotometer, an infrared sensor, a light scattering detector, a turbidity meter, or the like.

[0038] The calculation unit 20 may output output information using an equation or a model obtained by simulation, machine learning, or a combination thereof. In one example, the calculation unit 20 uses ridge regression, PLS regression, random forest, SVR, or the like as the regression analysis, and a genetic algorithm as the machine learning. The calculation unit 20 may also output output information based on input information using an equation or a model obtained by simulation, machine learning, or a combination thereof.

[0039] The display unit 30 displays the output information acquired from the calculation unit 20. For example, the display unit 30 displays the output information on a display. The display unit 30 may transmit the output information to an external server or the like.

[0040] The memory unit 40 stores information necessary for the calculations of the calculation unit 20. In one example, the memory unit 40 associates the identification information and corresponding product specifications of the first concentration membrane 222 and the second concentration membrane 242, predicted concentrated liquid information calculated in the past, precipitation information, and the corresponding operating conditions of the concentration device 200, and stores them as past processing results. In one example, the identification information of the first concentration membrane 222 and the second concentration membrane 242 includes a product number, and the product specifications include a pore size, an area, etc.

[0041] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a support method using the support device 100. Here, a concentrator 200 supported by the support device 100 includes a first concentration module 220 having a first concentration membrane 222 that is an FO membrane and a second concentration module 240 having a second concentration membrane 242 that is an MD membrane, which are arranged in parallel. The feed solution 110 in this example contains a peptide as a solute, water as a first solvent, and acetonitrile as a second solvent.

[0042] In step S22, the calculation unit 20 acquires input information including membrane information, feed liquid information, and membrane performance standard evaluation results from the input unit 10, and calculates a mass transfer coefficient based on the acquired membrane information and past processing results stored in the memory unit 40. The mass transfer coefficient is the amount of transfer (flux) of the solvent to be separated per unit time predicted in each of the first concentration membrane 222 and the second concentration membrane 242, and is expressed in units of kg / m. ２ h / kPa.

[0043] The standard evaluation of membrane performance is performed to calculate the mass transfer coefficient in the initial state of each of the first concentration membrane 222 and the second concentration membrane 242. The membrane information includes the serial number and membrane area of ​​each of the first concentration membrane 222 and the second concentration membrane 242. The membrane area is the total contact area with the supply liquid 110 of each of the first concentration membrane 222 and the second concentration membrane 242. If product specifications corresponding to the serial number are stored in the memory unit 40, the membrane information may include the number of each of the first concentration membranes 222 and the second concentration membranes 242 instead of the membrane area.

[0044] In step S23, the calculation unit 20 calculates the driving force for membrane permeation based on the acquired feed solution information, draw solution information, and cooling water information. The driving force for membrane permeation is the driving force that moves the solvent (solvent to be separated) from the feed solution 110 through each of the first concentration membrane 222 and the second concentration membrane 242. The feed solution information includes the weight, volume, composition, temperature, and flow rate of the feed solution 110. The weight, volume, and temperature of the feed solution 110 may be the weight, volume, and temperature before the start of operation of the feed solution tank 210. The flow rate of the feed solution 110 may be determined by the pumping capacity of the feed solution pump 215. The draw solution information includes the weight, volume, composition, temperature, and flow rate of the draw solution 120. The weight, volume, and temperature of the draw solution 120 may be the weight, volume, and temperature before the start of operation of the draw solution tank 230. The flow rate of the draw solution 120 may be determined by the pumping capacity of the draw solution pump 235. The cooling water information includes the weight, volume, composition, temperature, and flow rate of the cooling water 130. The weight, volume, and temperature of the cooling water 130 may be the weight, volume, and temperature before the cooling water tank 250 starts operation. The flow rate of the cooling water 130 may be determined by the pumping capacity of the cooling water pump 255. In one example, the calculation unit 20 uses Aspen simulation software to calculate the driving force of the first concentrating membrane 222 based on the chemical potentials of the supply liquid 110 and the draw solution 120. In one example, the calculation unit 20 uses Wilson's equation to calculate the driving force of the second concentrating membrane 242 based on the vapor pressure of the supply liquid 110 and the vapor pressure of the cooling water 130.

[0045] In step S24, the calculation unit 20 calculates the instantaneous flux based on the driving force of membrane permeation and the mass transfer coefficient. In one example, the unit of the instantaneous flux is kg / m ２ h.

[0046] In step S25, the calculation unit 20 calculates the membrane permeation amount per unit time based on the instantaneous flux. In one example, the membrane permeation amount per unit time is the amount of the solvent to be separated that permeates and moves through each of the first concentration membrane 222 and the second concentration membrane 242 during a certain time (e.g., one minute).

[0047] In step S26, the calculation unit 20 calculates a predicted concentrate composition after a certain time has elapsed based on the membrane permeation amount per unit time. Next, the calculation unit 20 returns to step S23, and the processes of steps S23 to S26 are repeated. This iterative process provides a predicted concentrate composition in time series. This iterative process may be performed in parallel with the actual operation of the concentrator 200.

[0048] In step S27, the calculation unit 20 generates predicted concentrated liquid information. The predicted concentrated liquid information includes a predicted concentrated liquid composition. The predicted concentrated liquid information may further include at least one of a predicted concentration ratio and a predicted concentration time after a certain time has elapsed. The predicted concentration ratio is the ratio of the solute concentration of the concentrated liquid predicted after a certain time has elapsed to the solute concentration of the supply liquid 110. The predicted concentration time is the predicted time until a concentrated liquid with a target solute concentration is produced.

[0049] Furthermore, the calculation unit 20 determines whether or not a solute has precipitated or calculates the amount of precipitated solute based on the predicted concentrated liquid information, and generates precipitation information indicating whether or not a solute has precipitated or the amount of precipitated solute.

[0050] Furthermore, the calculation unit 20 may compare the amount of solute precipitation with a predetermined allowable amount of precipitation. The precipitation information may further indicate whether the amount of solute precipitation is within an allowable range. Furthermore, the calculation unit 20 may compare the predicted concentration information with a target concentrate composition. If the results deviate, the calculation unit 20 may generate draw solution information and cooling water information that match the predicted concentration information with the target concentrate composition and display these as recommended operating conditions. Furthermore, when generating the draw solution information and cooling water information, operating conditions that do not cause solute precipitation may be selected from the precipitation information.

[0051] Furthermore, the calculation unit 20 may acquire treatment status information from the concentrating device 200 while the concentrating device 200 is operating, and may update the predicted concentrate information and precipitation information based on the acquired treatment status information. The treatment status information indicates the treatment status of the first concentrating module 220 and the second concentrating module 240. In one example, the treatment status information includes the weight or volume of the draw solution tank 230 and the cooling water tank 250.

[0052] Alternatively, calculation unit 20 may generate precipitation information based on the acquired treatment status information. In one example, the treatment status information may further include measurement values ​​from a light scattering detector, a turbidity meter, or the like, provided in at least one of first concentration module 220 and second concentration module 240. Calculation unit 20 may determine the presence or absence of solute precipitation or calculate the amount of solute precipitation based on these measurement values, and generate precipitation information indicating the presence or absence of solute precipitation or the amount of solute precipitation.

[0053] The calculation unit 20 outputs the generated predicted concentrated liquid information and precipitation information as output information to the display unit 30. The display unit 30 displays the acquired output information. Furthermore, the calculation unit 20 may output the generated predicted concentrated liquid information and precipitation information to the storage unit 40.

[0054] In step S28, the calculation unit 20 generates an operation modification means for modifying the operating conditions of the concentrator 200 based on the predicted concentrated liquid information, and outputs the operation modification means to the concentrator 200. The calculation unit 20 may generate the operation modification means when solute precipitation is predicted from the predicted concentrated liquid information. The operating conditions of the concentrator 200 include at least one of the flow rate, temperature, and pressure of the feed liquid 110, the flow rate, temperature, concentration, and pressure of the draw solution 120 supplied to the first concentrating module 220, and the flow rate, temperature, concentration, and pressure of the cooling water 130 supplied to the second concentrating module 240.

[0055] Furthermore, the calculation unit 20 may acquire composition information of the concentrated solution from the memory unit 40. The composition information indicates a composition range, which is the range within which the composition of the concentrated solution can be under the operating conditions applied to the concentrating device 200, an allowable composition range, which is a range within which operation of the concentrating device 200 is allowed in that composition range, and an unacceptable composition range, which is a range within which operation of the concentrating device 200 is not allowed in that composition range. In one example, the unacceptable composition range is a range of the composition of the concentrated solution in past processing results in which precipitation exceeding the allowable amount of peptide precipitation was recorded. The allowable composition range may be a range within the composition range other than the allowable composition range.

[0056] The unacceptable composition range may further include a range of concentrate compositions that are unacceptable for operation of the concentrator 200 due to factors associated with the concentrator 200. The range of concentrate compositions that are unacceptable for operation of the concentrator 200 due to factors associated with the concentrator 200 is a range of concentrate compositions that are unacceptable because the concentrator 200 will not operate normally, regardless of whether peptides precipitate. In one example, a range in which the acetonitrile concentration in the concentrate exceeds an upper limit is a range of concentrate compositions that are unacceptable because the water content of the concentrate will decrease and the second concentrator membrane 242 will lose its hydrophobicity.

[0057] The calculation unit 20 may update the composition information when detecting precipitation of peptides in the concentrated solution. The calculation unit 20 may change the operating conditions of the concentrating device 200 further based on the acquired composition information.

[0058] The concentrator 200 changes the operating conditions in accordance with the operation change means. For example, if the operation change means indicates that the flow rate of the cooling water 130 is 0, the concentrator 200 stops the cooling water pump 255. If the operation change means indicates the concentration of the draw solution 120, the concentrator 200 adds isopropanol to the draw solution tank 230 so that the draw solution 120 in the draw solution tank 230 has the indicated concentration.

[0059] In this way, according to the support method using the support device 100, the operating conditions of the concentrator 200 can be automatically adjusted to optimal conditions, allowing the user to easily operate the concentrator 200. Furthermore, if it is determined that solutes will precipitate, the operation of the concentrator 200 can be stopped. Furthermore, data on solute precipitation can be stored and used the next time the device is operated.

[0060] 4 shows an example of a display on the input unit 10. In one example, the input unit 10 displays an input screen for the serial number (Lot No.), number of membranes, and flow rate of the FO membrane (first concentration membrane 222) in the FO module (first concentration module 220) and the MD membrane (second concentration membrane 242) in the MD module (second concentration module 240). Furthermore, the input unit 10 may display an input screen for the temperature, weight, volume, and concentration of the FS tank (feed solution tank 210), DS tank (draw solution tank 230), and CW tank (cooling water tank 250). The input unit 10 acquires various data input by the user via the input screen.

[0061] 5 shows an example of a display on the display unit 30. In one example, the display unit 30 displays a graph showing the relationship between the predicted concentration time, the predicted acetonitrile concentration in the concentrate, and the predicted concentration factor of the concentrate (the ratio of the predicted peptide concentration in the concentrate to the feed solution), as well as the predicted concentrate composition.

[0062] The display unit 30 may display the predicted concentrate composition superimposed on the composition information of the concentrate obtained from the memory unit 40. The composition information may be a phase diagram showing the ratios of peptide, water, and acetonitrile in the concentrate. In one example, the phase diagram shows the composition range that the concentrate can take on as a triangle with the three components of the concentrate (peptide, water, and acetonitrile) as vertices, and the concentrate composition is shown as one or more points on top of the triangle. The display unit 30 may further display predicted concentrations (e.g., concentrations of peptide and acetonitrile).

[0063] The phase diagram may further indicate, as an unacceptable composition range within the composition range, a range in which peptide precipitation is predicted, by hatching a triangle with a diagonal line. The phase diagram may further indicate, as an unacceptable composition range within the composition range, a range in which the concentration of acetonitrile exceeds an upper limit, by hatching a triangle with a diagonal line.

[0064] In this way, by displaying the predicted concentrate composition and unacceptable composition range in real time visually on the display unit 30, the user can easily confirm that the concentrator 200 is automatically producing concentrate without causing peptide precipitation or malfunction of the concentrator 200.

[0065] 6 shows another example of a display on the display unit 30. The display unit 30 may display a precipitation alert when peptide precipitation is detected or predicted. The display unit 30 may further display changes to the operating conditions when the calculation unit 20 outputs an operation change instruction to the concentrating device 200. In one example, the display unit 30 displays that any of the following has been issued: an instruction to add IPA (isopropanol) or water to the DS tank (drawing solution tank 230), an instruction to turn the first concentrating module 220 on or off, an instruction to add CW (cooling water 130) to the CW tank (cooling water tank 250), or an instruction to turn the second concentrating module 240 on or off.

[0066] In this way, even if the operating conditions of the concentrating device 200 are changed due to peptide precipitation, etc., the display unit 30 displays an alert and the changes to the operating conditions, allowing the user to easily check the operating status of the concentrating device 200.

[0067] 7 shows an example of the configuration of a manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to Example 2. The manufacturing apparatus 1000 includes a concentrating apparatus 200 and a support apparatus 1100 that supports the concentrating apparatus 200 in producing a concentrated liquid. The concentrating apparatus 200 of this example may be the same as the concentrating apparatus 200 of Example 1. The support apparatus 1100 includes an input / output unit 1010, a calculation unit 1020, and a storage unit 1040.

[0068] The input / output unit 1010 acquires information necessary for the calculations of the calculation unit 1020 and outputs the information to the calculation unit 1020. The input / output unit 1010 also communicates with the concentrating device 200, an external server, etc., and exchanges information. The input / output unit 1010 has an input unit 1012 and an acquisition unit 1014. The input unit 1012 inputs target concentrate information including the target composition of the concentrate. The input unit 1012 may be an input device such as a keyboard.

[0069] The acquisition unit 1014 acquires current concentrate information, including the current composition of the concentrate, from the concentrating device 200. The concentrate composition may be acquired from measurements using a spectrophotometer, a light scattering detector, a turbidity meter, or the like. These instruments are provided in at least one of the supply liquid flow path, the draw solution flow path, and the cooling water flow path. The supply liquid flow path is a flow path for the supply liquid 110 (or the concentrate) provided between the supply liquid tank 210 and the first concentrating module 220 or the second concentrating module 240. The draw solution flow path is a flow path for the draw solution 120 provided between the draw solution tank 230 and the first concentrating module 220. The cooling water flow path is a flow path for the cooling water 130 provided between the cooling water tank 250 and the second concentrating module 240. The acquisition unit 1014 acquires past concentrate information, including the past composition of the concentrate, from the memory unit 1040. The past concentrate information may include the composition of the concentrate a predetermined time before the current time.

[0070] The acquiring unit 1014 acquires precipitation range information of the solute from the storage unit 1040. The precipitation range information includes the composition of the concentrated solution in which precipitation of the solute has been detected. The acquiring unit 1014 may acquire composition information from the storage unit 1040 indicating possible ratios of the solute, the first solvent, and the second solvent in the concentrated solution, and acquire the precipitation range information based on the composition information.

[0071] The acquisition unit 1014 acquires the list of operation change means from the storage unit 1040 and outputs the list of operation change means to the calculation unit 1020. The acquisition unit 1014 may acquire the list of operation change means in response to a request from the calculation unit 1020. The list of operation change means is a list of parameters for changing the operation of the concentrating device 200. In one example, the operation change means is a means for changing at least one parameter of the flow rate, temperature, and pressure of the concentrated solution, the flow rate, temperature, concentration, and pressure of the draw solution supplied to the first concentrating module 220, and the flow rate, temperature, concentration, and pressure of the cooling water supplied to the second concentrating module 240. The operation change means may be a new setting value for the target parameter.

[0072] The calculation unit 1020 has a mass transfer coefficient calculation unit 1022, a driving force calculation unit 1024, a prediction unit 1026, and a precipitation determination unit 1028. Note that the mass transfer coefficient calculation unit 1022, the driving force calculation unit 1024, the prediction unit 1026, and the precipitation determination unit 1028 are merely functionally divided units and are not limited to being physically separated units. The calculation unit 1020 acquires input information from the input / output unit 1010 and outputs output information calculated based on the input information.

[0073] The mass transfer coefficient calculation unit 1022 calculates the mass transfer coefficient of the concentration membrane based on input information acquired from the input / output unit 1010. The input information includes at least target concentrate information, current concentrate information, and past concentrate information. When the concentration device 200 has a first concentration module 220 and a second concentration module 240, the mass transfer coefficient calculation unit 1022 calculates a first mass transfer coefficient of the first concentration membrane 222 and a second mass transfer coefficient of the second concentration membrane 242, respectively.

[0074] The driving force calculation unit 1024 calculates the driving force for the concentrated liquid to permeate the concentration membrane based on the input information acquired from the input / output unit 1010. When the concentration device 200 has a first concentration module 220 and a second concentration module 240, the driving force calculation unit 1024 calculates the first driving force of the first concentration membrane 222 and the second driving force of the second concentration membrane 242, respectively.

[0075] The prediction unit 1026 calculates predicted concentrated liquid information including the composition of the concentrated liquid after a certain time (e.g., 1 minute) has elapsed, based on the mass transfer coefficient calculated by the mass transfer coefficient calculation unit 1022 and the driving force calculated by the driving force calculation unit 1024. When the concentrating device 200 has a first concentrating module 220 and a second concentrating module 240, the prediction unit 1026 calculates predicted concentrated liquid information of the concentrated liquid that is a combination of the concentrated liquid produced by the first concentrating module 220 and the concentrated liquid produced by the second concentrating module 240.

[0076] The precipitation determination unit 1028 determines whether or not a solute will precipitate based on the predicted concentrated liquid information, the precipitation range information, and the target concentrated liquid information. The precipitation determination unit 1028 determines that a solute will precipitate if the composition of the concentrated liquid predicted after a certain time has elapsed or later matches the composition of a concentrated liquid in which solute precipitation was previously detected.

[0077] If it is determined that the solute will precipitate, the prediction unit 1026 obtains a list of operation change means from the input / output unit 1010 and updates the predicted concentrated liquid information based on the driving force and mass transfer coefficient calculated based on one of the operation change means in the operation change means list.

[0078] The precipitation determination unit 1028 determines whether or not a solute will precipitate based on the updated predicted concentrated liquid information, composition information, precipitation range information, and target concentrated liquid information. The prediction unit 1026 updates the predicted concentrated liquid information using a new operation change means until it is determined that a solute will not precipitate, and the precipitation determination unit 1028 determines whether or not a solute will precipitate using the updated predicted concentrated liquid information. If it is determined that a solute will not precipitate, the input / output unit 1010 outputs a corresponding operation change means to the concentrating device 200. The concentrating device 200 may change its operation in accordance with the acquired operation change means.

[0079] The memory unit 1040 stores information necessary for the calculations of the calculation unit 1020. In one example, the memory unit 1040 stores the composition of the concentrated liquid obtained from the concentrating device 200 in chronological order. The memory unit 1040 also associates the identification information and corresponding product specifications of the first concentrating membrane 222 and the second concentrating membrane 242, predicted concentrated liquid information calculated in the past, precipitation information, and the corresponding operating conditions of the concentrating device 200, and stores these as past processing results. In one example, the identification information of the first concentrating membrane 222 and the second concentrating membrane 242 includes a product number, and the product specifications include a pore size, an area, etc.

[0080] The support device 1100 may further include a display unit that displays output information acquired from the calculation unit 1020. The display unit may display input information and output information on a display, and may further display composition information, precipitation range information, and the like that are used by the calculation unit 1020 for calculations on the display.

[0081] In this way, the manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to this example can determine whether or not a solute will precipitate, allowing the user to easily handle the concentrating apparatus 200 that uses two different types of concentration membranes. Furthermore, if it is determined that a solute will precipitate, the operating means of the concentrating apparatus 200 can be changed, thereby producing a concentrated solution having a target composition without precipitating the solute.

[0082] 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a production method using a production apparatus 1000. Here, a first concentration module 220 having a first concentration membrane 222 that is an FO membrane and a second concentration module 240 having a second concentration membrane 242 that is an MD membrane are provided in parallel in a concentrator 200 of the production apparatus 1000. The feed solution 110 in this example contains a peptide as a solute, water as a first solvent, and acetonitrile as a second solvent.

[0083] In step S120, the input / output unit 1010 inputs target concentrate information including the target composition of the concentrate. In step S121, the input / output unit 1010 acquires current concentrate information including the current composition of the concentrate from the concentrating device 200, and acquires past concentrate information including the past composition of the concentrate from the memory unit 1040. In step S121, the input / output unit 1010 may further acquire composition information and precipitation range information of the concentrate from the memory unit 1040. The composition information indicates the possible ratios of the solute, the first solvent, and the second solvent in a concentrate previously concentrated under the same operating conditions. The precipitation range information includes the composition of a concentrate in which solute precipitation was detected in a concentrate previously concentrated under the same operating conditions.

[0084] In step S122, the calculation unit 1020 acquires input information including target concentrate information, current concentrate information, and past concentrate information from the input / output unit 1010, and calculates a mass transfer coefficient based on the acquired current concentrate information and past concentrate information. The input information may further include the weight, volume, composition, temperature, and flow rate of the feed liquid 110, measurement values ​​from a spectrophotometer, a light scattering detector, a turbidimeter, or the like, and the weights or volumes of the draw solution tank 230 and the cooling water tank 250. The mass transfer coefficient is the amount of movement (flux) of the solvent to be separated per unit time, and is expressed in kg / m.２ h / kPa. The mass transfer coefficients include a first mass transfer coefficient of the first concentrating membrane 222 and a second mass transfer coefficient of the second concentrating membrane 242.

[0085] In step S123, the calculation unit 1020 calculates the driving force for membrane permeation based on the current concentrate information and the past concentrate information. The driving force for membrane permeation is the driving force that moves the solvent (solvent to be separated) from the feed liquid 110 or the concentrate through the concentration membrane. The driving force includes a first driving force for the first solvent (water) to permeate the first concentration membrane 222 and a second driving force for the second solvent (acetonitrile) to permeate the second concentration membrane 242. In one example, the calculation unit 1020 calculates the first driving force using Aspen simulation software based on the chemical potentials of the feed liquid 110 or the concentrate and the draw solution 120. In one example, the calculation unit 20 calculates the second driving force using the Wilson equation based on the vapor pressure of the feed liquid 110 or the concentrate and the vapor pressure of the cooling water 130.

[0086] The input / output unit 1010 may periodically execute step S121 and periodically output the current concentrate information and the past concentrate information to the calculation unit 1020.

[0087] In step S124, the calculation unit 1020 calculates the instantaneous flux based on the driving force of membrane permeation and the mass transfer coefficient. In one example, the unit of the instantaneous flux is kg / m ２ h. The instantaneous flux includes a first instantaneous flux through the first concentrating membrane 222 and a second instantaneous flux through the second concentrating membrane 242.

[0088] In step S125, the calculation unit 1020 calculates the membrane permeation amount per certain time period based on the instantaneous flux. In one example, the membrane permeation amount per certain time period includes a first membrane permeation amount of the first solvent (water) and the second solvent (acetonitrile) that permeates through the first concentration membrane 222 during a certain time period (e.g., 1 minute), and a second membrane permeation amount of the second solvent (acetonitrile) that permeates through the second concentration membrane 242.

[0089] In step S126, the calculation unit 1020 calculates predicted concentrated liquid information, including the composition of the concentrated liquid predicted after the elapse of a certain period of time, based on the membrane permeation amount per unit of time. The calculation unit 1020 may periodically repeat the processes of steps S122 to S126. This iterative process obtains predicted concentrated liquid information in chronological order. This iterative process may be performed in parallel with the acquisition of current concentrated liquid information and past concentrated liquid information.

[0090] In step S127, the calculation unit 1020 determines whether or not solute precipitation will occur based on the predicted concentrated liquid information, composition information, solute precipitation range information, and target concentrated liquid information. If the composition of the concentrated liquid predicted after a certain time has elapsed or later matches the composition of the concentrated liquid in which solute precipitation was previously detected, it is determined that solute precipitation will occur. If the support device 1100 of the manufacturing apparatus 1000 has a display unit, the display unit may visually display the predicted concentrated liquid information, precipitation range information, and target concentrated liquid information in association with the composition information.

[0091] If it is determined that the solute will precipitate, in step S128, the calculation unit 1020 obtains a list of operation modification means from the input / output unit 1010. The input / output unit 1010 may obtain the list of operation modification means from the storage unit 1040 in response to a request from the calculation unit 1020. The list of operation modification means is a list of parameters for modifying the operation of the concentrating device 200. In one example, the operation modification means is a means for modifying at least one of the parameters of the flow rate, temperature, and pressure of the concentrate, the flow rate, temperature, concentration, and pressure of the draw solution supplied to the first concentrating module 220, and the flow rate, temperature, concentration, and pressure of the cooling water supplied to the second concentrating module 240. The operation modification means may be a new set value for the target parameter.

[0092] Next, the calculation unit 1020 updates the predicted concentrated liquid information based on the driving force and mass transfer coefficient calculated using one of the operation change means in the operation change means list, and determines whether or not a solute will precipitate based on the updated predicted concentrated liquid information, composition information, precipitation range information, and target concentrated liquid information. Until it is determined that no solute will precipitate, the calculation unit 1020 repeats steps S122 to S127 using the new operation change means to update the predicted concentrated liquid information, and determines whether or not a solute will precipitate using the updated predicted concentrated liquid information.

[0093] If it is determined that the solute will not precipitate, in step S129, the input / output unit 1010 outputs a corresponding operation change means to the concentrator 200. The concentrator 200 may change its operation in accordance with the acquired operation change means. For example, if the operation change means indicates that the flow rate of the cooling water 130 is 0, the concentrator 200 stops the cooling water pump 255. If the operation change means indicates the concentration of the draw solution 120, the concentrator 200 adds isopropanol or water to the draw solution tank 230 so that the draw solution 120 in the draw solution tank 230 has the indicated concentration.

[0094] As described above, the manufacturing method according to this example makes it possible to determine whether or not a solute will precipitate, allowing the user to easily handle the concentrator 200 that uses two different types of concentration membranes. Furthermore, if it is determined that a solute will precipitate, the operating means of the concentrator 200 can be changed, thereby producing a concentrated solution having a target composition without precipitating the solute.

[0095] (Example 3) Fig. 9 shows an example of the configuration of a support device 3100 according to Example 3. The support device 3100 supports the production of a concentrated liquid by the concentrating device 200. The concentrating device 200 of this example may be the same as the concentrating device 200 of Example 1. The support device 3100 includes an input / output unit 3010, a calculation unit 3020, a display unit 3030, and a storage unit 3040. The support device 3100 of this example has the same configuration as the support device 1100 of Example 2, except that it includes the display unit 3030. Therefore, the following description will focus on the display unit 3030, and a description of common points will be omitted.

[0096] The display unit 3030 displays output information acquired from the calculation unit 20. In one example, the output information includes predicted concentrate information, target concentrate information, composition information, and precipitation range information. The composition information in this example visually indicates the possible ratios of the solute, the first solvent, and the second solvent. The display unit 3030 in this example displays solute precipitation range information in association with the composition information. The display unit 3030 may further display predicted concentrate information and target concentrate information in association with the composition information.

[0097] 10 shows an example of the display unit 3030. In this example, the display unit 3030 displays information 3032 about the composition of the concentrate and a list 3036 of operation change means.

[0098] The composition information 3032 may be a phase diagram showing the ratios of peptide, water, and acetonitrile in the concentrated solution. In one example, the phase diagram shows the composition range that the concentrated solution can take, as a triangle with the three components of the solute (peptide), water, and acetonitrile (MeCN) in the concentrated solution as vertices. In this example, the display unit 3030 further displays a precipitation line 3033 on the phase diagram, indicating the composition of the concentrated solution in which precipitation was previously detected. In the phase diagram of FIG. 10 , the concentration of acetonitrile (MeCN) is low to the left of the precipitation line 3033, indicating that peptide precipitation is predicted. The precipitation line 3033 is an example of precipitation range information.

[0099] In this example, the display unit 3030 further displays the target concentrate composition 3034 and the predicted concentrate composition 3035 on the phase diagram. In FIG. 10 , the range of the target concentrate composition 3034 is indicated by diagonal hatching, and the predicted concentrate composition 3035 is indicated by a black circle. The display unit 3030 may display the predicted concentrate composition 3035 at multiple time points on the phase diagram and further indicate the transition of the predicted concentrate composition 3035 with an arrow A. This allows the user to visually understand whether the concentrate composition is approaching the target composition or whether precipitation is predicted. The display unit 3030 may display a precipitation alert if peptide precipitation is detected or predicted.

[0100] When the calculation unit 20 determines that peptides will precipitate and determines whether or not peptides will precipitate using the updated predicted concentrated solution information, and determines that peptides will not precipitate, the display unit 3030 of this example displays the corresponding operation change means in the operation change means list 3036. In one example, the operation change means list 3036 displays that any of the following has been issued: an instruction to add IPA (isopropanol) or water to the DS tank (drawing solution tank 230), an instruction to turn the operation ON / OFF for the first concentrating module 220, an instruction to add CW (cooling water 130) to the CW tank (cooling water tank 250), or an instruction to turn the operation ON / OFF for the second concentrating module 240.

[0101] In this way, even if an operation change means is output to the concentrating device 200 due to peptide precipitation, the display unit 3030 displays an alert and the operation change means, allowing the user to easily check the operating status of the concentrating device 200.

[0102] 11 shows an example of composition information 3032 displayed on display unit 3030. Display unit 3030 shows multiple predicted concentrate compositions 3035 acquired in chronological order, with numbers in parentheses at the end of the symbols in ascending order from the oldest to the newest. When the extension line of arrow A, which indicates the transition from predicted concentrate composition 3035(1) to predicted concentrate composition 3035(2), intersects with precipitation line 3033, precipitation is predicted at the next predicted concentrate composition 3035(3).

[0103] When the calculation unit 3020 updates the predicted concentrate information using a new operation change means, the display unit 3030 may display a composition candidate 3035(3)' corresponding to the updated predicted concentrate information and operation change suggestion information indicating a transition from the predicted concentrate composition 3035(2) to the composition candidate 3035(3)'. In Figure 11, the operation change suggestion information is displayed on the phase diagram as arrow B.

[0104] In this way, even if it is determined that peptides will precipitate, the display unit 3030 displays the operation change presentation information, allowing the user to understand that precipitation has been avoided by the operation change and that the predicted concentrate composition 3035 is changing toward the target concentrate composition 3034.

[0105] Fig. 12 shows another example of the composition information 3032 displayed on the display unit 3030. This example differs from the example of Fig. 10 in that a plurality of pieces of operation change suggestion information are displayed on a phase diagram.

[0106] When it is determined that the peptide will precipitate, the calculation unit 3020 acquires the operation modification means and calculates candidate concentrated liquid information, including candidate compositions of the concentrated liquid after a certain time has elapsed, based on the driving force and mass transfer coefficient calculated using the operation modification means. The calculation unit 3020 may calculate multiple candidate concentrated liquid information. The display unit 3030 displays multiple candidate compositions 3035(3)' corresponding to the multiple candidate concentrated liquid information, and arrows B1 to B3 on the phase diagram as recommended operation change presentation information indicating a transition from the predicted concentrated liquid composition 3035(2) to the candidate composition 3035(3)'.

[0107] By displaying arrows B1 to B3 indicating the recommended operation change presentation information on display unit 3030, the user may input operation change presentation information selected from the recommended operation change presentation information, and in accordance with the user input, output corresponding operation change means to concentrating device 200. This allows the user to select, for example, to stop first concentrating module 220 and replenish cooling water 130 in second concentrating module 240 in order to remove a large amount of MeCN and obtain a concentrate containing a large amount of water, or to stop second concentrating module 240 and replenish draw solution 120 in first concentrating module 220 in order to remove a large amount of water and obtain a concentrate containing a large amount of MeCN.

[0108] According to this example, there is also provided a method for supporting the concentrating device 200 using the support device 3100. The support method of this example includes the steps of inputting target concentrated liquid information including a target composition of the concentrated liquid, acquiring current concentrated liquid information including a current composition of the concentrated liquid, acquiring past concentrated liquid information including a past composition of the concentrated liquid, calculating a mass transfer coefficient of the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information, calculating a driving force for the concentrated liquid to permeate the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information, and calculating predicted concentrated liquid information including a composition of the concentrated liquid after a certain time has elapsed based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient.

[0109] The support method of this example further includes a step of visually displaying composition information of the concentrated liquid, and displaying predicted concentrated liquid information, target concentrated liquid information, and solute precipitation range information in association with the composition information, and a step of determining whether or not precipitation has occurred based on this information displayed in association with the composition information, and displaying the determination result.

[0110] The support method of this example may further include a step of determining, when it is determined that the solute will precipitate, candidate concentrated liquid information including candidate compositions of the concentrated liquid after the certain period of time has elapsed, based on the precipitation range information and the target concentrated liquid information displayed in association with the composition information, and a step of displaying, in association with the composition information, operation change presentation information (arrow B) indicating the transition from the predicted concentrated liquid information to the candidate concentrated liquid information.

[0111] Alternatively, the support method of this example may further include a step of acquiring an operation change means when it is determined that a solute will precipitate, and calculating candidate concentrated liquid information including candidate compositions of the concentrated liquid after the certain period of time has elapsed based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient calculated based on the operation change means, and a step of displaying recommended operation change information (arrows B1 to B3) indicating the transition from predicted concentrated liquid information to the candidate concentrated liquid information in association with the composition information.

[0112] In this way, according to the support method of this example, even if it is determined that a solute will precipitate, by visually displaying the operation change presentation information, the user can understand that the operation change has avoided precipitation and that the predicted concentrated liquid composition 3035 is changing toward the target concentrated liquid composition 3034.

[0113] 13 illustrates an example of a computer 2200 in which aspects of the present invention may be embodied, in whole or in part. Programs installed on the computer 2200 may cause the computer 2200 to function as or perform operations associated with an apparatus or one or more sections of the apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention, and / or to perform a process or steps of the process according to embodiments of the present invention. Such programs may be executed by the CPU 2212 to cause the computer 2200 to perform specific operations associated with some or all of the blocks of the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0114] A computer 2200 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 2212, a RAM 2214, a graphics controller 2216, and a display device 2218, which are interconnected by a host controller 2210. The computer 2200 also includes input / output units such as a communication interface 2222, a hard disk drive 2224, a DVD-ROM drive 2226, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 2210 via an input / output controller 2220. The computer also includes legacy input / output units such as a ROM 2230 and a keyboard 2242, which are connected to the input / output controller 2220 via an input / output chip 2240.

[0115] The CPU 2212 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 2230 and RAM 2214, thereby controlling each unit. The graphics controller 2216 acquires image data generated by the CPU 2212 into a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM 2214 or into the graphics controller 2216 itself, and causes the image data to be displayed on the display device 2218.

[0116] The communication interface 2222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The hard disk drive 2224 stores programs and data used by the CPU 2212 in the computer 2200. The DVD-ROM drive 2226 reads programs or data from the DVD-ROM 2201 and provides the programs or data to the hard disk drive 2224 via the RAM 2214. The IC card drive reads programs and data from an IC card and / or writes programs and data to an IC card.

[0117] ROM 2230 stores therein a boot program or the like that is executed by computer 2200 upon activation, and / or programs that depend on the hardware of computer 2200. I / O chip 2240 may also connect various I / O units to I / O controller 2220 via a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, etc.

[0118] The programs are provided by a computer-readable medium such as a DVD-ROM 2201 or an IC card. The programs are read from the computer-readable medium, installed in the hard disk drive 2224, RAM 2214, or ROM 2230, which are also examples of computer-readable media, and executed by the CPU 2212. Information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 2200, and brings about cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or method may be configured by realizing information manipulation or processing in accordance with the use of the computer 2200.

[0119] For example, when communication is performed between computer 2200 and an external device, CPU 2212 may execute a communication program loaded into RAM 2214 and instruct communication interface 2222 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of CPU 2212, communication interface 2222 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer processing area provided in RAM 2214, hard disk drive 2224, DVD-ROM 2201, or a recording medium such as an IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to the network, or writes received data received from the network to a reception buffer processing area or the like provided on the recording medium.

[0120] Furthermore, the CPU 2212 may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or database stored on an external recording medium such as the hard disk drive 2224, the DVD-ROM drive 2226 (DVD-ROM 2201), an IC card, etc. to be read into the RAM 2214, and may perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 2214. The CPU 2212 then writes back the processed data to the external recording medium.

[0121] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored on the recording medium and may undergo information processing. The CPU 2212 may perform various types of processing on data read from the RAM 2214, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information search / replacement, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and specified by the instruction sequences of the programs, and write the results back to the RAM 2214. The CPU 2212 may also search for information in a file, database, etc. on the recording medium. For example, if multiple entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored on the recording medium, the CPU 2212 may search for an entry that matches a condition specified by the attribute value of the first attribute from among the multiple entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0122] The above-described programs or software modules may be stored in a computer-readable medium on or near the computer 2200. A recording medium such as a hard disk or RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can also be used as a computer-readable medium, thereby providing the programs to the computer 2200 via the network.

[0123] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0124] The order of execution of each process, such as an operation, procedure, step, or stage, in the apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims, specification, and drawings is not specifically indicated as "before," "prior to," or the like, and it should be noted that any order may be used as long as the output of a previous process is not used in a subsequent process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specification, and drawings is described using terms such as "first," "next," or the like for convenience, this does not mean that the process must be performed in that order. (Item 1) A method for supporting a concentrator for producing a concentrated liquid by concentrating a predetermined feed liquid, wherein the feed liquid contains at least a solute, a first solvent, and a second solvent, and the concentrator has a concentration module that concentrates the feed liquid through a concentration membrane, the method comprising: acquiring feed liquid information including the weight and volume of the feed liquid, the composition of the solute, the first solvent, and the second solvent, the temperature, and a flow rate; acquiring membrane information including the area of ​​the concentration membrane; and outputting predicted concentrate information including the composition of the solute, the first solvent, and the second solvent in the concentrated liquid. (Item 2) The support method according to item 1, comprising outputting information about solute precipitation from the concentrated solution, predicted based on the feed solution information and the membrane information. (Item 3) The support method according to item 2, wherein the concentration module is a first concentration module, and the first concentration module is a forward osmosis membrane module. (Item 4) The support method according to item 2, wherein the concentration module is a second concentration module, and the second concentration module is a membrane distillation membrane module. (Item 5) The support method according to item 2, wherein the concentration module has a first concentration module and a second concentration module, the first concentration module is a forward osmosis membrane module, and the second concentration module is a membrane distillation membrane module, and the concentrator performs processing of the first concentration module and the second concentration module in parallel. (Item 6) The support method according to item 5, wherein the precipitation information indicates whether the amount of solute precipitation is within an acceptable range.(Item 7) The support method of item 6, wherein the predicted concentrate information further includes at least one of a predicted concentration ratio and a predicted concentration time of the concentrate. (Item 8) The support method of any one of items 5 to 7, further comprising changing the operating conditions of the concentrator based on the predicted concentrate information. (Item 9) The support method of item 8, wherein the operating conditions include at least one of the flow rate, temperature, and pressure of the feed liquid, the flow rate, temperature, concentration, and pressure of the draw solution supplied to the first concentrating module, and the flow rate, temperature, concentration, and pressure of the cooling water supplied to the second concentrating module. (Item 10) The support method of item 8, further comprising acquiring composition information indicating a composition range that the composition of the concentrate can take, an allowable composition range that is a range within which operation of the concentrator is acceptable within the composition range, and an unacceptable composition range that is a range within which operation of the concentrator is unacceptable within the composition range, and changing the operating conditions of the concentrator further based on the composition information. (Item 11) The support method according to Item 10, wherein the unacceptable composition range includes a range of compositions that make operation of the concentrator unacceptable due to the concentrator. (Item 12) The support method according to Item 11, further comprising updating the composition information when precipitation of the solute is detected in the concentrated solution. (Item 13) The support method according to Item 10, wherein the composition information is a phase diagram showing the ratios of the solute, the first solvent, and the second solvent in the concentrated solution. (Item 14) The support method according to Item 6, further comprising acquiring, during operation of the concentrator, processing status information indicating processing statuses of the first concentrating module and the second concentrating module, and updating the predicted concentrated solution information based on the processing status information. (Item 15) The support method according to Item 8, further comprising acquiring, during operation of the concentrator, processing status information indicating processing statuses of the first concentrating module and the second concentrating module, and updating the predicted concentrated solution information based on the processing status information. (Item 16) A program for causing a computer to execute the support method according to Item 1 or 2.

[0125] 10...input unit, 20...calculation unit, 30...display unit, 40...memory unit, 100...support device, 110...feed liquid, 120...drawing solution, 130...cooling water, 200...concentration device, 210...feed liquid tank, 215...feed liquid pump, 220...first concentration module, 222...first concentration membrane, 230...drawing solution tank, 235...drawing solution pump, 240...second concentration module, 242...second concentration membrane, 245...feed liquid pump, 250...cooling water tank, 255...cooling water pump, 1000...manufacturing apparatus, 1010...input / output unit, 1012...input unit, 1014...acquisition unit, 1020...calculation unit, 1022...mass transfer coefficient calculation unit, 1024...driving force calculation unit, 1026...prediction unit, 1028...precipitation determination unit, 104 0...Memory unit, 1100...Support device, 3010...Input / output unit, 3020...Calculation unit, 3030...Display unit, 3032...Composition information, 3033...Deposition line, 3034...Target concentrated liquid composition, 3035...Predicted concentrated liquid composition, 3036...Operation change means list, 3040...Memory unit, 3100...Support device, 2200...Computer, 2201...ROM, 2210...Host controller, 2212...CPU, 2214...RAM, 2216...Graphics controller, 2218...Display device, 2220...Output controller, 2222...Communication interface, 2224...Hard disk drive, 2226...ROM drive, 2230...ROM, 2240...Output chip, 2242...Keyboard

Claims

1. A method for producing a concentrate by concentrating a predetermined supply liquid using a concentrating device, comprising the steps of: the feed solution includes at least a solute, a first solvent, and a second solvent; The concentrating device has a concentrating module that concentrates the supply liquid through a concentrating membrane, inputting target concentrate information including a target composition of the concentrate; obtaining current concentrate information including a current composition of the concentrate; obtaining past concentrate information including a past composition of the concentrate; Calculating a mass transfer coefficient of the concentration membrane based on the current concentrate information and the past concentrate information; calculating a driving force for the concentrate to permeate the concentration membrane based on the current concentrate information and the past concentrate information; calculating predicted concentrate information including a composition of the concentrate after a certain time based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient; A manufacturing method comprising:

2. The concentrating module includes a first concentrating module having a first concentrating membrane and a second concentrating module having a second concentrating membrane. The method of claim 1 .

3. the mass transfer coefficients include a first mass transfer coefficient of the first concentrating membrane and a second mass transfer coefficient of the second concentrating membrane; The driving force includes a first driving force for the first solvent or the second solvent to permeate the first concentration membrane and a second driving force for the first solvent or the second solvent to permeate the second concentration membrane, The step of calculating the predicted concentrate information comprises: Calculating a first membrane permeation amount permeating through the first concentration membrane in the given time period based on the first driving force and the first mass transfer coefficient; Calculating a second membrane permeation amount permeating through the second concentration membrane in the given time based on the second driving force and the second mass transfer coefficient; The method of claim 2, comprising:

4. determining whether or not the solute is precipitated based on the predicted concentrated solution information, composition information indicating a possible ratio of the solute, the first solvent, and the second solvent in the concentrated solution, precipitation range information of the solute, and the target concentrated solution information; The method of claim 2 or 3, comprising:

5. When it is determined that the solute precipitates, an operation change means is acquired, and the predicted concentrated liquid information is updated based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient calculated based on the operation change means; determining whether or not the solute is precipitated based on the updated predicted concentrated liquid information, the composition information, the precipitation range information, and the target concentrated liquid information; The method of claim 4 comprising:

6. and outputting the operation change means to the concentrating device when it is determined that the solute will not precipitate. The method of claim 5 , comprising:

7. The first concentration module is a forward osmosis membrane module, and the second concentration module is a membrane distillation membrane module. The method according to claim 5 .

8. The operation changing means is a means for changing at least one of the flow rate, temperature, and pressure of the concentrated liquid, the flow rate, temperature, concentration, and pressure of the draw solution supplied to the first concentration module, and the flow rate, temperature, concentration, and pressure of the cooling water supplied to the second concentration module. The method of claim 7.

9. A program for causing a computer to execute the manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

10. A manufacturing apparatus for producing a concentrated liquid by concentrating a predetermined supply liquid by a concentrating device, the feed solution includes at least a solute, a first solvent, and a second solvent; The concentrating device has a concentrating module that concentrates the supply liquid through a concentrating membrane, The manufacturing apparatus includes: an input unit for inputting target concentrate information including a target composition of the concentrate; An acquisition unit that acquires current concentrate information including a current composition of the concentrate and past concentrate information including a past composition of the concentrate; a mass transfer coefficient calculation unit that calculates a mass transfer coefficient of the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information; a driving force calculation unit that calculates a driving force for the concentrated liquid to permeate the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information; a prediction unit that calculates predicted concentrated liquid information including a composition of the concentrated liquid after a certain time has elapsed based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient; A manufacturing apparatus comprising:

11. 1. A method for supporting a concentrator for concentrating a predetermined feed liquid to produce a concentrate, the method comprising: the feed solution includes at least a solute, a first solvent, and a second solvent; The concentrating device has a concentrating module that concentrates the supply liquid through a concentrating membrane, inputting target concentrate information including a target composition of the concentrate; obtaining current concentrate information including a current composition of the concentrate; obtaining past concentrate information including a past composition of the concentrate; Calculating a mass transfer coefficient of the concentration membrane based on the current concentrate information and the past concentrate information; calculating a driving force for the concentrate to permeate the concentration membrane based on the current concentrate information and the past concentrate information; calculating predicted concentrate information based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient, the predicted concentrate information including a composition of the concentrate after a certain time period; A method of support that provides:

12. The concentrating module includes a first concentrating module having a first concentrating membrane and a second concentrating module having a second concentrating membrane. The method of claim 11.

13. the mass transfer coefficients include a first mass transfer coefficient of the first concentrating membrane and a second mass transfer coefficient of the second concentrating membrane; the driving force includes a first driving force for the concentrated liquid to permeate through the first concentration membrane and a second driving force for the concentrated liquid to permeate through the second concentration membrane; The step of calculating the predicted concentrated liquid information includes a step of calculating the membrane permeation amount per unit time of the first concentration membrane and the second concentration membrane based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient. The method of claim 12.

14. Displaying the predicted concentrate information. The method for supporting according to claim 12 or 13, comprising:

15. displaying precipitation range information of the solute in association with composition information visually indicating the possible ratios of the solute, the first solvent, and the second solvent in the concentrated solution; The method for supporting according to claim 12 or 13, comprising:

16. displaying the predicted concentrate information and the target concentrate information in association with the composition information; determining whether or not the solute is precipitated based on the predicted concentrated solution information, the precipitation range information, and the target concentrated solution information displayed in association with the composition information, and displaying the determination result; The method of claim 15, comprising:

17. When it is determined that the solute will precipitate, determining candidate concentrated liquid information including composition candidates of the concentrated liquid after the certain time has elapsed based on the precipitation range information and the target concentrated liquid information displayed in association with the composition information; displaying, in association with the composition information, operational change presentation information indicative of a transition from the predicted concentrate information to the candidate concentrate information; The method of claim 16, comprising:

18. When it is determined that the solute will precipitate, acquiring an operation change means, and calculating candidate concentrated liquid information including a composition candidate of the concentrated liquid after the certain time has elapsed based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient calculated based on the operation change means; displaying, in association with said composition information, recommended operational change information indicative of a transition from said predicted concentrate information to said candidate concentrate information. The method of claim 17, comprising:

19. The first concentration module is a forward osmosis membrane module, and the second concentration module is a membrane distillation membrane module. The method of claim 18.

20. The operation changing means is a means for changing at least one of the flow rate, temperature, and pressure of the concentrated liquid, the flow rate, temperature, concentration, and pressure of the draw solution supplied to the first concentration module, and the flow rate, temperature, concentration, and pressure of the cooling water supplied to the second concentration module.

20. The method of claim 19.

21. A program for causing a computer to execute the support method according to any one of claims 11 to 13.

22. 1. A device for supporting a concentrator for concentrating a predetermined feed liquid to produce a concentrate, comprising: the feed solution includes at least a solute, a first solvent, and a second solvent; The concentrating device has a concentrating module that concentrates the supply liquid through a concentrating membrane, The support device includes: an input unit for inputting target concentrate information including a target composition of the concentrate; An acquisition unit that acquires current concentrate information including a current composition of the concentrate and past concentrate information including a past composition of the concentrate; a mass transfer coefficient calculation unit that calculates a mass transfer coefficient of the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information; a driving force calculation unit that calculates a driving force for the concentrated liquid to permeate the concentration membrane based on the current concentrated liquid information and the past concentrated liquid information; a prediction unit that calculates predicted concentrated liquid information including a composition of the concentrated liquid after a certain time has elapsed based on the driving force and the mass transfer coefficient; A support device comprising: