Seawater Desalination System with Parallel Pump Routes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water treatment systems using reverse osmosis membranes face issues with uneven water flow distribution among membrane modules, leading to pressure loss differences and localized fouling, which reduces desalination efficiency and increases energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A water treatment system design that supplies raw water to reverse osmosis membrane modules through multiple parallel routes with equal pressures, using a combination of high-pressure and booster pumps and an energy recovery device to maintain consistent flow rates and prevent fouling, while allowing for easy maintenance and cost-effective configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the flow rate of raw water is increased to improve desalination efficiency, then the pressure loss increases and flow rate distribution becomes uneven among membrane modules, but if the flow rate is decreased to reduce pressure loss, then the desalination efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the raw water supply into multiple independent routes, each serving specific membrane modules. This segmentation allows different flow rates to be optimized for different groups of modules, balancing overall desalination efficiency with acceptable pressure losses in each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different membrane modules are supplied with raw water at different flow rates according to their specific requirements and positions in the system. Upstream modules receive higher flow rates while downstream modules receive adjusted flow rates, creating locally optimized conditions that prevent both excessive pressure loss and insufficient desalination efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If the flow rate of raw water varies among different membrane modules to match pressure conditions, then pressure loss is reduced, but local fouling occurs and desalination efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the membrane modules into multiple groups served by different raw water routes. This allows each segment to operate at its optimal flow rate without causing excessive fouling in any single module, while maintaining overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device monitors flow rates and pressure conditions across different membrane modules and adjusts the raw water supply accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that flow rates are optimized to prevent fouling while maintaining sufficient desalination efficiency across all modules.
3Productivity
If a resistance body is added to control flow rate distribution, then flow rate equality among modules is improved, but device complexity increases and additional driving mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex resistance bodies, the system segments the raw water supply into multiple independent routes with separate pumps. This segmentation achieves flow rate control through simple parallel piping arrangements rather than complex flow control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the flow control function from complex resistance bodies and implements it through simple parallel pump configurations. Each pump independently controls its route's flow rate, eliminating the need for complex internal resistance mechanisms within single vessels.
4Productivity
If multiple liquid transport pumps are used to supply raw water to different routes, then flow rate control and even distribution are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the raw water supply into multiple independent routes, each with its own pump. This segmentation allows precise flow rate control for each route while using standard, off-the-shelf pump components, avoiding the need for complex customized flow control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple identical or similar pumps are used across different routes, allowing a single pump design to serve multiple functions. This universality simplifies the overall system compared to using specialized flow control mechanisms for each route.
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 approach ensures even water distribution, reduces fouling, and enhances desalination efficiency by maintaining consistent flow rates across all modules, thereby improving overall system performance and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A technique for obtaining fresh water from seawater or the like using reverse osmosis membranes has been known
Implementation Method 2
a liquid transport pump configured to supply the pressure vessel with the raw water
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a seawater desalination system including reverse osmosis membrane modules each including: a reverse osmosis membrane; and a pressure vessel installing the reverse osmosis membrane, and configured to obtain permeated water and concentrated water using the reverse osmosis membranes housed in the reverse osmosis membrane modules by supplying seawater to the reverse osmosis membrane modules. The seawater desalination system includes a module group including the reverse osmosis membrane modules connected together in parallel. The seawater is supplied to each of the reverse osmosis membrane modules by being supplied to the module group through first and second seawater supply routes. The first and second seawater supply routes are each provided with a liquid transport pump configured to supply the seawater flowing through the seawater supply route to the module group.