Seawater Desalination Control via Real-Time Chemical Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for controlling seawater desalination plants using dissolved air flotation (DAF) struggle to adjust chemical dosing in real-time, leading to suboptimal operation and increased costs due to reliance on sampling experiments and operator expertise, rather than real-time water quality feedback.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for controlling reverse osmosis membrane seawater desalination plants, which includes a dissolved air flotation device, ultrafiltration units, reverse osmosis trains, an information collection unit, and a state treatment unit that adjusts chemical agent injection based on turbidity, residual iron, and differential pressure increase rates to maintain optimal operating conditions within preset reference values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sampling experiments and operator know-how are used to control chemical injection, then the control process is simple, but the ability to reflect real-time changes in seawater quality and plant state is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system that continuously monitors water quality parameters (turbidity, residual iron) and plant operational parameters (differential pressure increase rates) and uses this information to automatically adjust chemical injection rates. The state treatment unit receives real-time data from sensors and modifies chemical dosing accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing conditions without requiring complex manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus integrates multiple monitoring functions into a single unified system. The information collection unit simultaneously tracks turbidity, residual iron content, and differential pressure changes across both ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis processes. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate monitoring systems into one comprehensive control platform
2Productivity
If chemical injection is not adjusted in real-time, then the control process is simple, but the differential pressure increase rates in ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis processes increase, leading to reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The control system enables the desalination plant to self-regulate its chemical dosing requirements. The state treatment unit automatically determines optimal chemical injection rates based on real-time monitoring of differential pressure increase rates, turbidity, and residual iron levels. This self-service capability allows the system to maintain optimal filtration efficiency without external manual intervention, with the plant effectively controlling its own chemical requirements based on actual process conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts chemical injection parameters (dosage rates, timing, and types of chemicals) based on changing process conditions. When differential pressure increase rates exceed thresholds or water quality parameters deteriorate, the control apparatus modifies chemical dosing parameters to restore optimal operation. This parameter adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to varying feed water qualities and operational states, maintaining high filtration efficiency
3Reliability
If excessive chemical agents are injected, then water quality parameters (turbidity and residual iron) are maintained, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements precise chemical dosing that applies only the necessary amount of chemical agents required to maintain water quality standards. Rather than using excessive chemicals to ensure quality, the state treatment unit calculates and applies optimal dosages based on actual process conditions. This partial action approach uses the minimum necessary chemical quantity to achieve the desired water quality outcomes, avoiding waste while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes chemical consumption by dynamically adjusting dosing parameters based on real-time water quality measurements. When turbidity and residual iron levels are already within acceptable ranges, the control apparatus reduces or maintains lower chemical injection rates. Only when water quality parameters approach or exceed thresholds does the system increase chemical dosing, thereby minimizing overall chemical consumption while ensuring consistent water quality stability
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 real-time adjustment of chemical dosing to maintain stable ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis differential pressures, reducing operational costs and ensuring stable plant management by reflecting changes in seawater quality and plant state.
Implementation Method 1
a dissolved air flotation device configured to receive seawater and to provide treated water obtained by treating the seawater according to a dissolved air flotation (DAF)
Implementation Method 2
an ultrafiltration device including one or more of ultrafiltration units, each ultrafiltration unit having an ultrafiltration membrane, and configured to perform an ultrafiltration (UF) process of filtering impurities remaining in the treated water using the ultrafiltration membranes
Implementation Method 3
a reverse osmosis device including one or more of trains, each train having a reverse osmosis membrane, and configured to perform a reverse osmosis (RO) process of filtering the impurities remaining in the treated water using reverse osmosis membranes
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an apparatus for controlling a seawater desalination plant. The apparatus includes: a dissolved air flotation device configured to provide treated water obtained by treating seawater according to a dissolved air flotation (DAF); an ultrafiltration device including a plurality of ultrafiltration units each having an ultrafiltration membrane, and configured to perform an ultrafiltration (UF) process of filtering impurities remaining in the treated water using the ultrafiltration membranes of the plurality of ultrafiltration units; a reverse osmosis device; an information collection unit; and a state treatment unit.