Active Pressure Intensifier for Reverse Osmosis Energy Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reverse osmosis systems face challenges in achieving a variable recovery rate and compact system design without the need for recirculation pumps or low-pressure filling pumps, particularly in smaller systems, due to complex valve concepts and high acquisition costs associated with maintaining high-pressure components.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an active pressure intensifier with a double differential piston pump, featuring swash plates and piston rods of different diameters that are movably mounted, allowing for mechanically initiated piston displacement in both axial directions, which enables energy recovery from concentrate pressure without additional drive power and eliminates the need for recirculation pumps and low-pressure filling pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If an active pressure intensifier with double differential piston pump is used, then energy recovery from concentrate pressure is achieved and system compactness is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the dual swash plate mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of two separate pressure intensifiers into a single dual differential piston pump unit. The two swash plates are integrated into one housing with a common drive shaft, allowing simultaneous pressure intensification of two feed volume flows from one concentrate volume flow, reducing the number of separate components while achieving energy recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The active pressure intensifier performs multiple functions: it intensifies pressure of feed volume flows, recovers energy from concentrate pressure, and eliminates the need for separate recirculation pumps and low-pressure filling pumps. The dual swash plate mechanism universally handles both pressure intensification tasks simultaneously
2Adaptability or versatility
If piston rods of different diameters movably mounted on swash plates are used, then variable recovery rate is achieved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The piston rods are designed with different diameters on opposite sides and are movably mounted on the swash plates rather than being fixed. This dynamic configuration allows the recovery rate to be varied by adjusting the piston rod positions and diameters, enabling adaptation to different operating conditions while maintaining functional versatility
3Device complexity
If the active pressure intensifier eliminates recirculation pumps and low-pressure filling pumps, then acquisition costs are reduced and system simplicity is improved, but the reliability requirements for the pressure intensifier increase
Solution Approach 1:
The active pressure intensifier is designed to perform multiple functions that previously required separate components: it replaces the recirculation pump by maintaining system pressure and replaces the low-pressure filling pump by mechanically initiating piston displacement in both axial directions. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of pumps while concentrating reliability requirements on the pressure intensifier unit
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
This solution allows for a compact, variable yield rate in reverse osmosis systems, efficiently recovering energy from concentrate pressure and maintaining system pressure without pressure surges, making it suitable for both small and large-scale applications.
Implementation Method 1
the pump has two swash plates as mechanical drive devices, each piston having a piston rod with different diameters on both sides, which are not fixed to the swash plates, but are movably mounted on the swash plates, which allows a mechanically initiated displacement of the piston in both axial directions
Implementation Method 2
active pressure intensifier, which enables energy recovery from concentrate pressure without additional drive power
Implementation Method 3
seawater, brackish water or saline well water is pressed into one or more membrane modules as a so-called feed at overpressure above the osmotic pressure. The feed volume flow is divided into two partial volume flows within these membrane modules, consisting of a permeate volume flow and a concentrate volume flow
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an active pressure intensifier comprising an axial piston pump with a housing in which there is arranged a drum driven to rotate by means of a driveshaft and having at least two piston chambers, each of the piston chambers having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, and a piston with at least one piston rod being arranged in each of the piston chambers. The invention likewise provides a reverse osmosis system comprising this active pressure intensifier. The invention likewise provides a process for changing the concentration of dissolved constituents in liquid solutions by means of reverse osmosis. The subject of the invention finds use particularly in seawater and brackish water desalination, in wastewater treatment, in the food and drink industry, in the chemical industry and in mining.