Compact Fluid Treatment System with Ceramic Membrane Filtration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fluid treatment systems for hardness reduction and contaminant removal require large facilities, high chemical requirements, and extensive cleaning processes, which are inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A fluid treatment system incorporating a ceramic membrane filtration unit, an aeration unit for CO2 removal, and a chemical inlet for coagulant addition, integrated with a reactor tank to precipitate metals and filter contaminants in a single, compact unit, reducing chemical usage and processing time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If traditional treatment methods (ion exchange, reverse osmosis, lime softening) are used, then contaminant removal and hardness reduction are achieved, but facility size, treatment unit size, chemical requirements, and cleaning requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical requirementsVSAvoidtreatment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple treatment functions (coagulation, precipitation, filtration) into a single integrated reactor tank system. The reactor tank simultaneously performs chemical reactions and filtration operations, eliminating the need for separate treatment units and reducing overall facility size while maintaining effective contaminant removal and hardness reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The reactor tank serves multiple functions: it acts as a reaction vessel for chemical precipitation, a filtration unit for separating solids, and a treatment chamber for hardness reduction. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate equipment pieces needed and lowers chemical requirements by optimizing the treatment process within a single unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If traditional treatment methods are used, then contaminant removal is achieved, but facility size and treatment unit size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontaminant removal effectivenessVSAvoidfacility size
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the reaction tank and filtration unit into a single compact system. The reactor tank contains both the chemical reaction zone and the filtration medium, allowing contaminant removal to occur within a much smaller volume than traditional separate treatment facilities would require.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If traditional treatment methods are used, then hardness reduction is achieved, but chemical requirements and cleaning requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardness reduction effectivenessVSAvoidcleaning requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By combining the reaction and filtration functions in one tank, the system simplifies the cleaning process. Instead of cleaning multiple separate units (reaction vessels, filters, membranes), operators only need to clean the single reactor tank, reducing cleaning complexity and time requirements while maintaining effective hardness reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 system effectively reduces water hardness and removes contaminants with lower chemical dosages and reduced waste generation, achieving efficient contaminant removal and hardness reduction in a more compact and cost-effective manner.

Implementation Method 1

The fluid treatment system according to the invention further comprises an aeration unit upstream of a concentrate tank. An aeration unit may be operable to remove CO 2 content from a contaminated fluid.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAeration: Aeration

Implementation Method 2

The aeration unit comprises a dissolved oxygen addition device. The aeration unit or the dissolved oxygen addition device are operable to receive compressed air from a compressed air inlet.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas stripping: Sparging

Implementation Method 3

A system may comprise a reactor tank and a filtration unit in a single, contiguous, integrated unit with synergistically enhanced performance. A system may be operable to reduce hardness of the contaminated fluid (e.g., in a reactor tank). A filtration unit may be operable to filter contaminants from the contaminated fluid.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCoagulation: Coagulation

Implementation Method 4

chemical inlet configured to admit a coagulant, a base and/or other chemicals to permit and/or promote metal oxidation, reduction, chemical precipitation, chemical coagulation, or combinations thereof.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical precipitation: Precipitation

Implementation Method 5

In some embodiments, reducing the hardness of a contaminated fluid may comprise precipitating metals from a contaminated fluid.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Implementation Method 6

A filtration unit may be operable to filter contaminants from the contaminated fluid.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3062906B1Fluid treatment system
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 BUTTERS BRIAN E
  • EP3062906B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3062906B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3062906B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to systems and methods of fluid treatment systems. Fluid treatment systems and methods thereof may be operable to remove contaminants and optionally reduce hardness. A fluid treatment system may comprise a feed stream configured to provide a contaminated fluid, a concentrate tank configured to receive the contaminated fluid from the feed stream, a filtration unit configured to receive the contaminated fluid from the concentrate tank, and a permeate stream operable to receive a treated fluid from the filtration unit. A concentrate tank may be operable to reduce hardness of the contaminated fluid. A filtration unit may be operable to filter contaminants from the contaminated fluid.