Activated Carbon Fiber Filter Module for Water Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capacitive deionization (CDI) water treatment systems face challenges in maintaining high-efficiency ion removal performance due to reduced specific surface area and permeability, increased electrode thickness, and inflexible stacking options, which affect deionization performance and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A filter module incorporating activated carbon fiber filters with sodium orthotitanate and synthetic iron hydroxide compounds, featuring a flexible design that allows for variable stacking and the use of spacers to prevent short-circuiting, along with a power supply unit for alternating current application to maintain ion removal capability, and includes pre- and post-carbon block filters and a UF membrane filter for enhanced contaminant removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ion exchange membranes are used in conventional CDI manner, then ion removal function is improved, but electrode thickness is increased and specific surface area is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the ion exchange membrane from the electrode structure, extracting the problematic component that caused increased thickness and reduced specific surface area. The electrode is redesigned to function without this membrane, achieving both thinness and high ion removal efficiency through the activated carbon fiber layer alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses activated carbon fiber layers with high porosity to achieve ion removal function without requiring thick structures or ion exchange membranes. The porous structure provides large specific surface area for ion adsorption while maintaining thin electrode thickness, resolving the contradiction between function and volume.
2Reliability
If ion exchange membranes are used in conventional CDI manner, then ion removal function is improved, but specific surface area is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The ion exchange membrane is completely removed from the electrode structure, eliminating the barrier that limited accessible surface area. This allows the full surface of the activated carbon fiber layer to be available for ion adsorption, achieving high specific surface area while maintaining ion removal function.
Solution Approach 2:
The activated carbon fiber layer's porous structure provides extremely high specific surface area for ion adsorption. By removing the ion exchange membrane, the entire porous surface becomes accessible, achieving both high specific surface area and effective ion removal function simultaneously.
3Ease of repair
If spacing between electrodes is increased, then electrode regeneration is improved, but deionization performance is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spacing parameter to an optimized value that balances regeneration and deionization performance. The electrode spacing is set to allow sufficient ion diffusion during regeneration while maintaining close proximity for effective deionization during operation, achieving both goals simultaneously through parameter optimization.
4Speed
If treatment water flows rapidly between electrodes, then processing speed is improved, but ion adsorption is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The highly porous activated carbon fiber structure provides numerous adsorption sites that can capture ions even during rapid water flow. The porous network creates multiple pathways and retention points, allowing fast processing speed while maintaining effective ion adsorption through increased surface area and flow path complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves high-efficiency ion removal, minimizes electrode thickness, allows for flexible stacking, and effectively removes contaminants, including heavy metals and bacteria, while maintaining ion removal capability and improving water taste.
Implementation Method 1
The CDI manner is to remove underwater ions (contaminants) through the principle of adsorbing ions on the surface of the electrode through electric force.
Implementation Method 2
The CDI manner is to remove underwater ions (contaminants) through the principle of adsorbing ions on the surface of the electrode through electric force.
Implementation Method 3
the CDI water treatment system is the most popular. The CDI manner is to remove underwater ions (contaminants) through the principle of adsorbing ions on the surface of the electrode through electric force.
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of spacers interposed between the activated carbon fiber layers to prevent short
Data Source
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AI summary
A filter module for a water treatment apparatus, and a water treatment apparatus comprising the filter module according to the present invention comprise: a plurality of evenly stacked active carbon fiber layers made of active carbon fiber; a plurality of spacers inserted between the active carbon fiber layers to prevent shorting; a pair of current collectors connected to one or the other end of the plurality of stacked active carbon fiber layers; and an active carbon fiber filter which is a stack of one or more active carbon fiber filter units, each active carbon fiber filter unit comprising a power supply means for supplying current to the active carbon fiber layers via the current collectors so that neighboring active carbon fiber layers form cathodes and anodes in alternation. Accordingly, the present invention can lower the hardness of the water while increasing ion removal capability by increasing the specific surface area and water permeability, and can minimize the thickness of the electrodes by eliminating ion exchange membranes and minimizing the volume of current collectors.