Apparatus and method for hydrate-based wastewater treatment and cold storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wastewater treatment systems face challenges with complex processes, selectivity to pollutant types, high energy consumption, and inefficient hydrate nucleation, while conventional cold storage systems have low energy storage conversion rates and density.
Innovation Solution
A hydrate-based wastewater treatment and cold storage system incorporating a water chilling unit, heat exchange system, finned tube heat exchanger, and monitoring devices to facilitate solid-liquid phase change of hydrates for energy-efficient wastewater treatment and cold storage, utilizing a hydrate former like R141b for energy integration and pollutant separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wastewater treatment technologies are used, then treatment processes can handle various pollutants, but the treatment effect is poor and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of hydrate from liquid to solid state during formation, which releases latent heat. This phase change process enables simultaneous wastewater treatment and cold energy storage, improving treatment effectiveness while reducing energy consumption by capturing and storing the thermal energy released during hydrate formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the waste heat energy normally lost during wastewater treatment into useful cold energy storage. By using the latent heat released during hydrate formation to drive the treatment process and store cold energy, the system transforms what would be wasted thermal energy into a beneficial resource for both treatment and future cooling applications.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional cold storage systems are used, then cold storage function is provided, but cold storage density is low and energy storage conversion rate is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase transition of hydrate formation and decomposition to achieve high-density cold energy storage. The latent heat released during hydrate formation is captured and stored, enabling high energy density. When needed, the hydrate decomposes to release stored cold energy, achieving high conversion rates without the losses associated with conventional compression-based cold storage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameters of the hydrate former substance, transitioning it between liquid and solid phases through controlled temperature and pressure changes. This parameter manipulation enables reversible energy storage and release, significantly improving both cold storage density and energy conversion efficiency compared to conventional isothermal storage methods.
3Use of energy by moving object
If hydrate-based wastewater treatment is used, then energy consumption is reduced and pollutant separation is achieved, but hydrate nucleation is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces pre-formed hydrate seeds or nucleation agents into the wastewater treatment system before the main hydrate formation process. This preliminary action provides ready-made nucleation sites that accelerate the hydrate formation kinetics, overcoming the slow natural nucleation rate while maintaining the energy-efficient operation of the hydrate-based treatment system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a hydrate former substance as an intermediary that facilitates the phase change process. This intermediary substance promotes rapid nucleation and crystal growth by providing a template structure for hydrate formation, thereby accelerating the overall process while maintaining low energy consumption characteristics of the hydrate-based system.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wastewater treatment is used, then treatment process can be implemented, but selectivity to types of pollutants limits applicability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal hydrate-based treatment mechanism that functions across diverse wastewater types without requiring system reconfiguration. The hydrate formation process inherently separates contaminants from water based on physical chemistry principles that apply to organic, inorganic, and mixed pollutant types, providing broad applicability while maintaining relatively simple system architecture compared to multiple specialized treatment trains.
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 system achieves efficient wastewater treatment and cold storage with reduced energy consumption, high pollutant removal efficiency, and multiple energy utilization, suitable for diverse wastewater types without secondary pollution, by leveraging the latent heat of hydrate phase change and continuous airflow disturbance for hydrate nucleation.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrate can be correspondingly formed at a relatively high temperature and atmospheric pressure by using a respective hydrate former, so as to separate purified water from impurities in the wastewater
Implementation Method 2
By using a hydrate-based wastewater treatment system, a hydrate can be correspondingly formed
Implementation Method 3
the energy consumed by the wastewater treatment can be fully utilized, thereby achieving energy saving, emission reduction, and multiple utilization of the energy
Implementation Method 4
Bubbles are generated by the gas generator at the bottom of the inner tank of the wastewater treatment and cold storage tank for continuous airflow disturbance on the mixture of the hydrate former and the wastewater in the wastewater treatment and cold storage tank, so as to induce the hydrate nucleation
Implementation Method 5
the secondary refrigerant being conveyed by the first solution pump to the wastewater treatment and cold storage tank through the first flow meter, the first one-way valve, and the second two-way valve, and exchanging heat with a mixture of the hydrate former and the wastewater through the evaporator coil
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for hydrate-based wastewater treatment and cold storage. The apparatus for hydrate-based wastewater treatment and cold storage includes a water chilling unit, a hydrate-based cold storage tank, an airflow disturbance device, a water layer positioning system, a spraying system, a suction filtration system, a heat exchange system, and a system monitoring device. The water chilling unit provides a secondary refrigerant at a low temperature. The secondary refrigerant flows through an evaporator coil in the hydrate-based cold storage tank for heat exchange. The airflow disturbance device induces hydrate nucleation. The water layer positioning system positions a contact surface between a water layer and a hydrate former after hydrate decomposition to facilitate drawing and separation of the treated upper water layer. The spraying system and the suction filtration system enhance the solid-liquid separation efficiency to improve the removal rate of pollutants.