Electric Deionization Flow Layout for High-Boron Water Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric deionization devices face challenges in maintaining high water quality when dealing with high boron concentrations in feed water, as the increased flow rate through desalination chambers leads to ion diffusion and reduced efficiency, particularly in small-scale systems.
Innovation Solution
The device employs a configuration where the same water as the feed water is used as concentrated water, supplied from both sides of the supply line, with opposite flow directions in desalination and concentration chambers to reduce flow rates and prevent ion diffusion, thereby optimizing water quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the flow rate through desalination chambers is increased to handle high boron concentrations, then the productivity increases, but ion diffusion occurs and water quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies counter-current flow by reversing the flow direction in concentration chambers relative to desalination chambers. Feed water flows through desalination chambers from one end to the other, while concentrated water flows through concentration chambers in the opposite direction. This inversion of flow direction creates a concentration gradient that prevents ion diffusion back into the treated water, allowing high flow rates without quality deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements different flow conditions in different chambers: desalination chambers operate with high flow rates for productivity, while concentration chambers operate with counter-flow to maintain quality. Each chamber type has optimized local flow characteristics - desalination chambers focus on throughput while concentration chambers focus on preventing diffusion, resolving the contradiction between productivity and water quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If treated water is used as concentrated water to improve water quality, then ion diffusion is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the feed water serve dual purposes: it is supplied to desalination chambers for treatment and simultaneously supplied to concentration chambers as concentrated water. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate treated water recirculation systems, reducing system complexity while maintaining the quality benefits of counter-current flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the feed water itself to provide the concentrated water function, eliminating the need for external treated water recirculation. The feed water automatically serves both desalination and concentration purposes through the dual supply configuration, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Volume of moving object
If small-scale systems are used to reduce device size, then the volume decreases, but ion diffusion increases and efficiency drops
Solution Approach 1:
In small-scale devices, the counter-current flow principle becomes even more critical. By having concentrated water flow opposite to feed water in compact chambers, the system maximizes the concentration gradient utilization, preventing ion diffusion despite the reduced chamber dimensions. This allows small-scale systems to maintain efficiency comparable to larger systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes flow rate parameters in small-scale systems by using counter-current flow to maintain appropriate residence times and concentration gradients. The opposite flow directions create enhanced mass transfer conditions that compensate for reduced chamber volume, maintaining efficiency in compact configurations.
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 maintains high water quality by reducing flow rates through desalination chambers and preventing ion diffusion, especially effective in small-scale systems with high boron concentrations, ensuring improved treated water quality.
Implementation Method 1
cation exchange membranes and anion exchange membranes are alternately disposed between a cathode and an anode
Implementation Method 2
electric deionization device... capable of efficiently producing treated water with high water quality
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
In an electric deionization device 1, sub-blocks 3A-3F, in which a plurality of pairs of a desalination chamber and a concentration chamber are formed, are arranged side-by-side between frames 2, 2. Water supply ports 4A, 4B, in which is disposed a water supply line 4 through which water to be treated W1 is passed, are formed at both ends on the upper side of a cell of the sub-blocks 3A-3F. Concentrated water supply ports 6A, 6B, in which is disposed a concentrated water supply line 6 through which concentrated water W3 is passed to the concentration chambers, are formed at both ends on the lower side of the cell. The water to be treated W1 passes from the water supply ports 4A, 4B through the water supply line 4 and is supplied from the upper side of the desalination chambers, and then passes from the lower side of the desalination chambers through a treated water outflow line 5 and can be discharged from treated water outflow ports 5A, 5B. Further, the concentrated water W3 passes from the concentrated water supply ports 6A, 6B through the concentrated water supply line 6 and is supplied from the lower side of the concentration chambers, and then concentrated waste water W4 passes from the upper side of the concentration chambers through a concentrated waste water outflow line 7 and can be discharged from concentrated waste water outflow ports 7A, 7B. Due to this configuration, the electric deionization device can efficiently produce treated water with high water quality.