Cascading, recirculating water deionization systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing desalination technologies face inefficiencies in energy consumption and material utilization due to varying salt concentrations across cells, leading to increased resistance and heat generation, and potential scaling issues that reduce system durability.
Innovation Solution
A cascading and recirculating water deionization system with adjustable cell sizes and configurations, including upstream and downstream cells, utilizing electrodes and membranes, and recirculation loops to optimize electrode material distribution, and electrodes with electrodes, and electrodes, and electrodes with adjustable cell areas and recirculation loops to manage varying salt concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional thermal or mechanical desalination processes are used, then salt and impurities are removed from seawater, but energy consumption increases and material utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the desalination process into multiple deionization cells arranged in cascading series, with each cell handling a specific concentration range. This segmentation allows each cell to operate at optimal efficiency for its specific task, reducing overall energy consumption while improving material utilization through targeted ion removal at each stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies electrode area, cell configuration, and operational parameters across different cells in the cascade. By adjusting these parameters to match the salt concentration at each stage, the system optimizes energy efficiency and material utilization, avoiding the uniform design limitations of traditional single-stage processes.
2Quantity of substance
If deionization cells operate with varying salt concentrations, then ion removal is achieved, but resistance increases and heat generation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Each deionization cell in the cascade is designed with local quality characteristics matched to its specific operational conditions. Cells handling higher salt concentrations have different electrode areas and configurations compared to cells handling lower concentrations, optimizing energy efficiency at each local stage and reducing overall resistance and heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters including electrode area, cell configuration, and flow rates based on the varying salt concentrations at different stages of the cascade. This dynamic adaptation minimizes resistance and heat generation by ensuring each cell operates within optimal parameters for its specific concentration range.
3Quantity of substance
If deionization cells operate with varying salt concentrations, then ion removal is achieved, but scaling issues develop that reduce system durability
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the desalination process into multiple cells with progressively increasing concentration handling capacity, the system prevents excessive concentration buildup in any single cell that would lead to scaling. Each cell operates within a controlled concentration range, maintaining system durability while achieving effective ion removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The cascading cell configuration provides inherent feedback control where the output of one cell becomes the input of the next, automatically regulating concentration levels. This feedback mechanism prevents the development of conditions that lead to scaling, thereby maintaining system durability without requiring additional intervention.
4Ease of manufacture
If uniform cell design is used across all deionization cells, then manufacturing is simplified, but performance consistency deteriorates across varying salt concentrations
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs local quality variations in cell design, with each cell optimized for its specific position in the cascade and the salt concentration range it handles. This approach maintains performance consistency across varying concentrations while allowing for standardized manufacturing of modular cell units that can be configured in different arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system systematically varies key design parameters such as electrode area, cell dimensions, and configuration across the cascade to maintain performance consistency. These parameter changes are implemented in a controlled manner that balances manufacturing simplicity with the need for optimized performance at each stage of the desalination process.
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
Enhances energy efficiency, reduces material usage, and mitigates scaling by optimizing cell design and recirculation, maintaining consistent performance across varying salt concentrations.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second electrodes are configured to receive an electric bias of current or voltage through a circuit such that the first and second electrodes store and release ions from the solution
Implementation Method 2
a first deionization cell including first and second compartments divided by a first anion exchange membrane
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3
Figure 4A
AI summary
Water deionization systems based on electrochemical water desalination or softening using a capacitive or intercalative deionization devices including a stack of electrochemical cells. Each cell includes first and second electrodes and an ion exchange membrane. Each cell includes inlet and outlet channels with control valves that control the separation of the source water into brine (e.g., concentration) and clean water (e.g., purification) streams. The deionization device or module may include multiple electrochemical cells connected electrically in series, parallel or a combination of both. The cells may also be in serial, parallel, or combined fluid communication. The output water of one or more streams from each cell or collection of cells may be recirculated and combined with one or more input water streams to improve the electrochemical energy efficiency of the cells. The electrochemical cells at different rows may have varying electrode thickness, area and loading of the active material.