Hollow Fiber Degassing Module Drainage for Stable Chemical Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chemical analyzers face challenges in maintaining high measurement accuracy due to air bubbles in reverse osmosis water, which can lead to reduced performance and bacterial proliferation in hollow fiber degassing modules, despite the need for compact size and low pressure loss.
Innovation Solution
A chemical analyzer equipped with a hollow fiber degassing module featuring a housing with specific liquid and gas discharge units, sealing units, and a cylindrical design that maintains temperature and prevents bacterial growth by efficiently removing dissolved gases and liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a hollow fiber degassing module is continuously used for a long period of time, then degassing function is maintained, but volatilized water accumulates in the vacuum portion and degassing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful accumulation of volatilized water from the vacuum portion by providing a separate liquid discharge unit that drains water from the housing. This separates the water discharge function from the gas discharge function, preventing water accumulation in the vacuum path while maintaining continuous degassing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into multiple functional units: a liquid supply unit for introducing water, a liquid discharge unit for removing water, and a gas discharge unit for removing gas. This segmentation allows independent operation of each function and prevents interference between water and gas flow paths.
2Ease of repair
If the vacuum path is opened periodically, then maintenance is possible, but bacteria proliferate and cause deterioration of performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-maintenance by continuously draining volatilized water through the liquid discharge unit, eliminating the need for periodic opening of the vacuum path. This continuous self-cleaning mechanism prevents bacterial proliferation while maintaining operational integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of volatilized water accumulation into a beneficial continuous drainage system. The liquid discharge unit transforms what would be a harmful accumulation problem into a controlled water removal mechanism that prevents bacterial growth.
3Volume of moving object
If the hollow fiber degassing module is made compact, then device size is reduced, but pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality optimization by strategically positioning the liquid discharge unit at the vertically lower end portion of the housing, utilizing gravity for water removal. The hollow fiber membrane is arranged to optimize gas permeation while maintaining compact dimensions, achieving localized functional optimization without increasing overall size.
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 ensures compact size with low pressure loss, maintains excellent degassing performance over time, and suppresses bacterial proliferation, thereby enhancing measurement accuracy and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a hollow fiber membrane that allows gas to pass through but retains liquid
Implementation Method 2
at least one gas discharge unit that connects the internal space and the outside to each other and depressurizes the internal space
Implementation Method 3
a constant temperature tank that maintains a temperature of water
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a chemical analyzer equipped with a hollow fiber degassing module that can maintain the original excellent degassing performance even after long periods of continuous use. More specifically, a hollow fiber degassing module 20A includes a housing 210 and a hollow fiber membrane 220 disposed in an internal space S1 of the housing. The housing 210 includes a liquid supply unit 216A for connecting an outside of the housing 210 and an internal space S2 of the hollow fiber membrane 220 to each other, and for supplying constant temperature water W1 from an outside of the housing 210 to an internal space S2 of the hollow fiber membrane 220, a liquid discharge unit 217A for connecting the internal space S2 of the hollow fiber membrane 220 and the outside of the housing 210 to each other, and for discharging constant temperature water W2 degassed from the internal space S2 of the hollow fiber membrane 220 to the outside of the housing 210, a gas discharge unit 218A for connecting an internal space S1 of the housing 210 and the outside of the housing 210 to each other, and for depressurizing the internal space S1 of the housing 210, and a liquid discharge unit 219A that is provided at a vertically lower end portion of the housing 210 for discharging a liquid generated in the housing 210.