Membrane Degassing Module Pressure Release to Prevent Cross-Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing degassing apparatuses with multiple degassing modules face issues of cross-contamination due to varying depressurization rates and increased complexity or cost when using individual valves for each module.
Innovation Solution
A degassing apparatus with separate vacuum and atmospheric release piping systems, controlled by a unified control unit, ensures simultaneous depressurization and atmospheric release across modules, minimizing cross-contamination and reducing component complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single valve is used to gradually open to atmosphere for multiple degassing modules, then the device configuration is simple and manufacturing cost is low, but the degree of depressurization varies among modules causing cross-contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single atmospheric release valve into multiple independent valves, one for each degassing module. This segmentation allows each module to be controlled independently, eliminating the time difference in depressurization recovery and preventing cross-contamination while maintaining relatively simple device configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Each degassing module is equipped with its own atmospheric release valve, providing localized control for each module's depressurization recovery process. This ensures that each module returns to atmospheric pressure at the same rate, preventing cross-contamination between modules.
2Reliability
If individual valves are installed in each degassing module to eliminate time difference in depressurization recovery, then cross-contamination is prevented, but the device configuration becomes more complex and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements separate atmospheric release valves for each degassing module, segmenting the control system to enable independent operation of each module. This prevents cross-contamination by ensuring simultaneous depressurization recovery across all modules while keeping the overall system structure manageable.
3Reliability
If individual valves are installed in each degassing module to eliminate time difference in depressurization recovery, then cross-contamination is prevented, but manufacturing cost increases due to increased number of components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses separate atmospheric release valves for each module, which can be standardized components. This segmentation approach prevents cross-contamination while controlling manufacturing costs through the use of identical, mass-producible valve units for each module.
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 effectively prevents cross-contamination and stabilizes depressurization processes, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of degassing operations.
Implementation Method 1
each having a gas permeable membrane to separate a fluid circulation space and a reduced-pressure space from each other
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum pump (discharge device) to discharge the atmosphere from the reduced-pressure spaces of the degassing modules
Implementation Method 3
an atmospheric release valve communicatively connected to the atmospheric release piping and capable of introducing atmosphere into the respective reduced-pressure spaces
Data Source
AI summary
A degassing apparatus capable of preventing cross-contamination is provided. A degassing apparatus includes degassing modules each having a tube unit that is a gas permeable membrane separating a fluid circulation space and a reduced-pressure space from each other, vacuum piping communicatively connected to the reduced-pressure spaces, a discharge device that discharges gas in the reduced-pressure spaces through the vacuum piping, atmospheric release piping communicatively connected to the reduced-pressure spaces, an atmospheric release valve capable of introducing atmosphere into the reduced-pressure spaces through the atmospheric release piping, and a control unit that controls the operation of the discharge device and the atmospheric release valve. The control unit performs control to close the atmospheric release valve to perform a process of discharging gas in the reduced-pressure spaces by the discharge device when a degassing process is being performed, and performs control to open the atmospheric release valve to open the reduced-pressure spaces.