Bidirectional Membrane Seal Plate Venting Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing membrane separation devices with chevron cross-section seals require spiral membrane units to be inserted and removed in a specific direction, limiting accessibility for maintenance and causing pressure differential issues that can lead to bending or cracking of components during startup.
Innovation Solution
The use of sealing rings with a circular cross-sectional shape and angled flattened surfaces, seated in an outer groove of a seal plate, allows for bidirectional insertion and removal of spiral membrane units while providing a robust seal and balancing pressure differentials through venting paths and grooves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If chevron cross-section seals are used, then a seal between the spiral membrane unit and device housing is achieved, but the spiral membrane unit can only be inserted and removed in one direction
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring cross-section is inverted from the conventional chevron shape to a rounded shape with flattened surfaces. This inversion allows the seal to function effectively in both insertion and removal directions, eliminating the unidirectional constraint of chevron seals while maintaining sealing reliability through the flattened surfaces that contact the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring geometry is changed from a fixed chevron angle to a rounded cross-section with specific flattened surface angles (100-160 degrees). This parameter change enables bidirectional operation by allowing the seal to conform and maintain contact pressure during both insertion and removal cycles.
2Reliability
If chevron cross-section seals are used, then a seal is formed, but pressure differentials cause bending or cracking during startup
Solution Approach 1:
The rounded cross-section with flattened surfaces provides a cushioning effect during pressure transitions. The geometry allows gradual deformation and stress distribution during startup, preventing sudden pressure differentials from causing bending or cracking of the spiral membrane unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring material and geometry parameters are optimized to accommodate pressure differentials. The rounded cross-section with specific angle ranges (100-160 degrees) allows controlled deformation under pressure, distributing stress evenly and preventing component failure during transient conditions.
3Ease of operation
If spiral membrane units are inserted in a specific direction, then proper sealing is achieved, but accessibility for maintenance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring design provides universal functionality for bidirectional insertion and removal. The flattened surfaces and rounded geometry allow the same sealing mechanism to function effectively regardless of insertion direction, enabling maintenance personnel to access and remove spiral membrane units from either end of the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The conventional unidirectional sealing approach is inverted to create a bidirectional sealing system. This allows facilities to position housing access points more flexibly, improving maintenance accessibility without compromising seal effectiveness.
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3A~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A membrane separation unit can include a cartridge, at least one membrane disposed within the cartridge, at least one seal plate, and a sealing ring seated in an outer groove of the seal plate. The at least one seal plate can seal one end of the cartridge. The seal plate can have at least one venting hole that forms a passage between the interior of the cartridge and the outer groove. The sealing ring can have a cross-sectional shape that forms a circular venting path between the sealing ring and the seal plate. The sealing ring can include one or more grooves to allow fluid to vent into an annular space between a device housing and the membrane separation unit. The sealing ring can include an outer surface having, in cross-section, two flattened surfaces that form an angle of between 90 and 175 there between.