Membrane Separation Unit Air Bubble Gathering Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Membrane separation processes for water treatment face challenges with air bubble diameter affecting cleaning efficiency and energy consumption, where smaller bubbles require more energy for efficient cleaning but larger bubbles reduce dissolving efficiency, leading to uneven distribution and increased energy use.
Innovation Solution
A membrane separation unit with air bubbles gathering means, featuring multiple air bubbles staying plates that allow air bubbles to combine and form larger diameters, ensuring effective scrubbing of membrane surfaces with reduced air supply quantity, enhancing cleaning efficiency and energy savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the diameter of air bubbles for scrubbing is made smaller, then the dissolving efficiency is improved, but the cleaning efficiency is reduced and requires increased air supply quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces air bubbles gathering means as an intermediary device between the air diffusing device and the membrane element. This mediator collects fine air bubbles and merges them into larger bubbles before they reach the membrane surface, thereby achieving both efficient dissolving (through fine bubbles) and effective cleaning (through larger bubbles) without requiring increased air supply quantity
2Productivity
If the diameter of air bubbles for scrubbing is made larger, then the cleaning efficiency is improved, but the dissolving efficiency is reduced and requires increased air supply quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The air bubbles gathering means serves as a mediator that transforms the air bubble characteristics. It receives fine bubbles from the air diffusing device (which provide good dissolving efficiency) and converts them into larger bubbles (which provide effective cleaning efficiency), thus resolving the trade-off between these two functions
3Use of energy by stationary object
If the quantity of air bubbles is decreased to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the cleaning effect is insufficient and uniform distribution is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the merging principle by using air bubbles gathering means to combine multiple fine air bubbles into larger bubbles. This merging process allows the system to achieve effective cleaning with fewer, larger bubbles rather than requiring many fine bubbles, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness and improving uniform distribution across the membrane surface
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 solution achieves improved cleaning efficiency and reduced energy consumption by allowing larger air bubbles to uniformly act on membrane surfaces, maintaining high cleaning effects while minimizing air supply quantity and energy usage.
Implementation Method 1
air bubbles gathering means for gathering air bubbles diffused from the air diffusing means
Implementation Method 2
a process for peeling off the suspended matter at the separation membrane surface by shaking (scrubbing) the treated water at the surface of a separation membrane 5 upon making diffusion of air from the air diffusing device 2
Data Source
AI summary
In a membrane separation apparatus, a cleaning effect for membrane elements by scrubbing is improved. In the membrane separation apparatus 14 including a separation membrane 5 (membrane element) dipped in treated liquid in a treatment bath 15, and air diffusing means 2 for diffusing air bubbles 6 for cleaning the separation membrane 5, an air bubbles staying plate 3 is provided between the air diffusing means 2 and the separation membrane 5. The air bubbles staying plate 3 is configured to allow air bubbles 6 diffused from the air diffusing device 2 to stay, by which air bubbles 6 gather each other to form air bubbles 6 having large diameters. By causing air bubbles having large diameters to act on the separation membrane 5, air bubbles 6 can be allowed to act whole the separation membrane 5.