Membrane Container Flow Path Segmentation for Dehydration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water separation membranes in dehydrators experience degraded performance due to low flow velocity of treated fluid, leading to concentration polarization and limited scalability, which increases costs and reduces efficiency in ethanol dehydration processes.
Innovation Solution
A membrane container design with a casing and membrane container body featuring multiple flow paths, including a most upstream portion, intermediate portion, and most downstream portion, where the flow direction is reversed at least once, allowing the treated fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet through a return portion, maintaining a consistent cross-sectional area and preventing concentration polarization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the flow velocity of treated fluid is reduced to increase treatment capacity, then the quantity of treated fluid increases, but water separation performance degrades due to concentration polarization
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is divided into multiple parallel flow paths within the membrane container body. Each flow path has a smaller cross-sectional area, which increases flow velocity while maintaining treatment capacity. The segmentation of the flow path resolves the contradiction by allowing high velocity (good separation) with high throughput (good capacity).
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a return portion that creates a multi-dimensional flow pattern. The treated fluid flows from the upstream end to the downstream end and then returns to the upstream end through the return portion, creating a loop flow pattern. This dimensional change allows the fluid to pass through the membrane multiple times, increasing effective treatment capacity while maintaining high flow velocity throughout the path.
2Power
If the cross section of flow path is increased to reduce pump capacity requirements, then the pump capacity can be reduced, but flow velocity decreases causing concentration polarization
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into multiple parallel paths with smaller individual cross-sectional areas. This segmentation maintains high flow velocity in each path while the total treatment capacity is distributed across multiple paths, reducing the power requirement per path and overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The return portion creates a continuous loop flow where treated fluid continuously circulates through the membrane. This continuous circulation maintains high flow velocity without requiring excessive pump capacity, as the same fluid is repeatedly processed. The useful action of water separation continues continuously as fluid passes through the membrane multiple times during each circulation cycle.
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 configuration achieves a higher flow velocity of the treated fluid, preventing concentration polarization and ensuring a high water separation performance, allowing for the scaling down of dehydrators without degrading performance and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a method for separating water from the treated fluid by the pervaporation method (penetrative vaporization (PV) method) using a water separation membrane
Data Source
AI summary
A membrane container 6 has a casing 10 including a fluid inlet 14 and a fluid outlet 16 and a membrane container body 9 including a plurality of flow paths 11 which is arranged along the flow direction of the treated fluid and in parallel to one another. Each of the plurality of flow paths 11 includes a most upstream portion 11A which is connected to the fluid inlet 14, and a most downstream portion 11C which is connected to the fluid outlet 16. Return portions 15 and 17 configured to reverse the flow direction of the treated fluid are provided between the most upstream portion 11A and the most downstream portion 11C. After passing through the fluid inlet 14, the treated fluid flows from the most upstream portion 11A down to the most downstream portion 11C via the return portions 15 and the upper return portion 17.