Electrochemical Desalination Equipment Using Electric Fields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing desalination methods, such as evaporation and reverse osmosis, are inefficient in terms of energy consumption, flow rate, and reliability, with high operating costs and susceptibility to contamination and membrane fouling.
Innovation Solution
A desalination method involving the use of electric fields to separate positively and negatively charged ions in salt water, utilizing multiple units with polarized plates to generate separate flows of desalinated water, reducing the need for high-pressure pumps and passive membranes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reverse osmosis is used to desalinate salt water, then desalinated water can be produced, but high energy consumption is required due to high-pressure pumps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical high-pressure pump system with an electrochemical system using electrolysis and ion exchange. Electric current is passed through the salt water to separate ions via electrochemical reactions, eliminating the need for mechanical pressure generation and significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining desalination effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter from high mechanical pressure to electrical current. By applying voltage across electrolyte solutions and ion-exchange membranes, the system achieves ion separation through electrochemical potential differences rather than mechanical pressure, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining desalination performance.
2Reliability
If reverse osmosis membranes are used, then desalinated water can be obtained, but the membranes are susceptible to contamination and require frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive reverse osmosis membranes with active electrochemical components including ion-exchange membranes and electrode assemblies. These components use electrochemical reactions to actively transport and separate ions, making them resistant to fouling and contamination while eliminating the need for frequent membrane replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrochemical system performs self-cleaning through continuous electrochemical reactions that prevent deposit accumulation. The electric field and chemical reactions at electrodes continuously remove contaminants and prevent biofilm formation, eliminating the maintenance issues associated with passive membranes.
3Device complexity
If evaporation method is used for desalination, then simple process is achieved, but significant energy is required and process is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental mechanism from thermal evaporation to electrochemical separation. Instead of heating water to vaporize it, the system uses electric current to drive ion migration and electrochemical reactions, dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining process simplicity through direct electrical-to-chemical energy conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions in electrochemical reactions at electrodes rather than thermal phase transitions. Water undergoes electrolysis into hydrogen and oxygen gases at electrodes, and ions transition between dissolved and precipitated states through electrochemical reactions, achieving separation without the high energy costs of thermal evaporation.
4Reliability
If reverse osmosis is used, then desalinated water can be produced, but the flow rate is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pressure-driven flow through membranes with electrochemically-driven ion separation. Electric current directly drives ion migration and electrochemical reactions, enabling higher flow rates limited only by electrical power input rather than membrane permeability and pressure constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrochemical system dynamically adjusts flow rate by varying electrical current and voltage. The system can rapidly respond to changes in power input, allowing flexible control of production rate and enabling high-flow operation when sufficient electrical power is available, unlike the static flow limitations of reverse osmosis membranes.
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 method achieves a more efficient and cost-effective desalination process with reduced energy consumption, higher flow rates, and lower operating costs, while minimizing the risk of contamination and improving long-term reliability.
Implementation Method 1
making said incoming flow run through a first unit and through a first electric field generated in said first unit, said first electric field affecting said incoming flow to generate a first outgoing flow of negatively ionized water comprising CL- ions and a second outgoing flow of positively ionized water comprising NA+ ions
Implementation Method 2
making said first flow run through a second unit and through a second electric field generated in said second unit, said second electric field affecting said first flow to generate a final outgoing flow of negatively ionized water comprising CL- ions and a final flow of desalinated water
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a desalination method designed to obtain a final flow (Ff, Ff1, Ff2) of desalinated water from an incoming flow (Fi) of salt water. The method comprises the following steps: - making the incoming flow (Fi) run through a first unit (20) and through a first electric field (El) generated in the first unit (20), the first electric field (El) affecting the incoming flow (Fi) to generate a first outgoing flow (F1-) of negatively ionized water comprising CL- ions and a. second outgoing flow (F2+) of positively ionized water comprising NA+ ions, the first flow (F1-) and the second flow (F2+) being separate from each other; - making the first flow (F1-) run through a second unit (40) and through a second electric field (E2) generated in the second unit (40), the second electric field (E2) affecting the first flow (F 1 -) to generate a final outgoing flow (F3-) of negatively ionized water comprising CL- ions and a final flow (Ff1) of desalinated water, and/or - making the second flow (F2+) run through a third unit (60) and through a third electric field (E3) generated in the third unit (60), the third electric field (E3) affecting the second flow (F2+) to generate a final outgoing flow (F4+) of positively ionized water comprising Na+ ions and a final flow (Ff2) of desalinated water.