Membrane Dealcoholization Recirculation for Lower Water Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing membrane dealcoholization processes consume large amounts of water and require significant energy, while recovering alcohol and water efficiently remains a challenge, particularly in achieving high alcohol recovery without compromising production time and quality.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a dealcoholization section with a membrane dealcoholization unit and a polishing section with at least two interconnected membrane polishing units, where the permeate outlet of the dealcoholization unit is connected to the inlet of the first polishing unit, and the retentate outlet of the second polishing unit is connected to the inlet of the first unit, allowing for recirculation of streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If reverse osmosis is used for dealcoholization, then alcohol removal efficiency is improved, but water consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers and recirculates the permeate stream generated during reverse osmosis dealcoholization back to the feed stream, thereby recovering water that would otherwise be discarded or wasted, significantly reducing net water consumption while maintaining alcohol removal efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the same reverse osmosis membrane unit for multiple functions: initial dealcoholization, water recovery, and stream recirculation, making the system multi-functional and reducing the need for separate dedicated units for each function
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple reverse osmosis steps are implemented for alcohol concentration, then alcohol recovery is improved, but process complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous recirculation of the permeate stream back to the feed stream, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the process to progressively concentrate alcohol without requiring discrete batch operations or multiple separate treatment stages
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the dealcoholization and alcohol concentration functions into a single integrated reverse osmosis unit with recirculation, combining multiple operational steps into one continuous process rather than using separate discrete units
3Loss of substance
If water recirculation is implemented to reduce water usage, then water savings are achieved, but production time may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous recirculation of permeate maintains steady-state operation conditions that balance water recovery with production throughput, preventing excessive accumulation of processing time while achieving significant water savings through the ongoing recirculation process
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 system achieves significant water savings of up to 85-100% with comparable production time and quality, generating clean water in large volumes efficiently, and recovers alcohol as a valuable by-product.
Implementation Method 1
An often-used technology for removing alcohol from beverages is reverse osmosis. Reverse Osmosis represents state-of-the-art technology in liquid or water treatment. It is used by most water bottling plants, and by many industries that require high quality water in manufacturing.
Implementation Method 2
Osmosis is the movement of a solvent through a semipermeable membrane (as of a living cell) into a solution of higher solute concentration that tends to equalize the concentrations of solute on the two sides of the membrane.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and system for reducing water consumption in a membrane dealcoholization process. The system comprises a dealcoholization section and a polishing section, where the polishing section comprises one or more membrane polishing units with recirculation of streams.