Hexagonal Feed-Side Spacer Structure for Pressure-Loss Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spiral wound-type separation membrane elements face challenges in balancing flow convection to mitigate ion polarization while minimizing pressure loss and maintaining salt rejection, as existing mesh-shaped flow-channel members either increase turbulent flow leading to high differential pressure or reduce flow convection causing concentration polarization.
Innovation Solution
A feed-side flow-channel member with a network structure featuring hexagonal eyes, comprising parallel and inclined portions, optimally arranged to reduce friction and maintain effective flow convection, thereby minimizing differential pressure and concentration polarization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a mesh-shaped flow-channel member is used to provide flow convection, then ion polarization is mitigated, but differential pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the flow-channel member by introducing a specific hexagonal eye structure with defined parallel portions (1-5 mm) and inclined portions (5-10 mm) at specific angles (50°-80°). This structural parameter optimization reduces flow resistance and differential pressure while maintaining effective flow convection for mitigating ion polarization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hexagonal eye structure with inclined portions that create curved flow paths rather than straight mesh patterns. This curvature design reduces turbulent flow and pressure loss while maintaining flow convection effectiveness, resolving the contradiction between polarization mitigation and pressure reduction.
2Reliability
If flow convection is increased to mitigate concentration polarization, then separation performance is improved, but pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes geometric parameters including parallel portion length (1-5 mm), inclined portion length (5-10 mm), and angle (50°-80°) to achieve the right balance between flow convection intensity and pressure loss, maintaining separation performance while minimizing energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined portions of the hexagonal eye structure create dynamic flow patterns that enhance convection near the membrane surface without causing excessive turbulence throughout the entire flow channel, thus improving separation performance with minimal pressure loss.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If turbulent flow is increased to reduce concentration polarization, then ion rejection is improved, but differential pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flow convection enhancement locally at critical areas through the inclined portions of the hexagonal structure, creating sufficient turbulence near the membrane interface to reduce concentration polarization without generating excessive turbulent flow throughout the entire channel that would increase differential pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved inclined portions of the hexagonal eye structure create controlled flow patterns that generate localized turbulence for polarization mitigation while reducing overall pressure loss compared to conventional mesh structures.
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
The hexagonal eye structure reduces differential pressure to 1.3 psi or less and maintains salt rejection at 99.5% to 99.6%, optimizing performance and reducing operational costs by minimizing pressure loss and concentration polarization.
Implementation Method 1
a role of the flow-channel member is not only to simply provide a flow channel, but also to generate more flow convection in the raw water channel in order to mitigate ion polarization (concentration polarization) occurring near an interface of the separation membrane
Implementation Method 2
mitigate ion polarization (concentration polarization) occurring near an interface of the separation membrane
Implementation Method 3
a separation membrane; and a permeation-side flow-channel member
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a feed side spacer comprising a network structure, wherein the network structure includes a hexagonal eye, the hexagonal eye includes a pair of parallel portions parallel to a flow direction of a supply liquid, and an inclined portion disposed in a diagonal direction with respect to the flow direction of the supply liquid; the parallel portion has a length of 1 mm to 5 mm; the inclined portion has a length of 5.1 mm to 10 mm; and an angle formed by sides in contact with each other of the inclined portion is from 50° to 80°, and a separation membrane element comprising same.