Desalination and cooling system integrating permeate gap membrane distillation and ejector cooling cycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current desalination and cooling technologies face inefficiencies and environmental concerns, with traditional methods like reverse osmosis and thermal distillation being energy-intensive and producing brine by-products, while existing combinations of membrane distillation and ejector cooling cycles lack integration, leading to suboptimal performance and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A desalination and cooling system integrating a Permeate Gap Membrane Distillation (PGMD) system with an Ejector Cooling Cycle (ECC) system, where the ECC system's waste heat is utilized to enhance the PGMD process, improving energy efficiency and reducing costs by combining thermal management and desalination in a closed loop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional desalination techniques such as reverse osmosis and thermal distillation are used, then desalination can be achieved, but energy consumption is substantial and environmental impact is significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines membrane distillation for desalination with ejector cooling cycle for cooling in an integrated system. The waste heat from the ejector cooling cycle is utilized to drive the membrane distillation process, while the cold stream from membrane distillation enhances the ejector cooling performance. This merging of two separate systems resolves the technical contradiction by achieving both desalination and cooling functions simultaneously with reduced energy consumption and minimal environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the waste heat generated by the ejector cooling cycle into a useful resource to drive the membrane distillation process. The waste heat, which would normally be discarded, is now utilized to heat the feed stream for desalination, thereby converting a harmful factor (waste heat) into a beneficial effect (energy source for desalination).
2Use of energy by moving object
If membrane distillation and ejector cooling cycles are combined, then energy efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated system design allows each component to serve multiple functions. The ejector cooling cycle not only provides cooling but also generates waste heat for desalination. The membrane distillation system not only performs desalination but also produces a cold stream that enhances cooling performance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems, thereby managing complexity while maintaining high energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be self-sufficient by utilizing its own waste heat for desalination and its own cold stream for cooling enhancement. The waste heat from the ejector cooling cycle automatically drives the membrane distillation process without requiring external energy input, and the cold stream from membrane distillation automatically enhances the ejector cooling performance, creating a self-service system that manages complexity through internal resource circulation.
3Productivity
If waste heat is utilized to enhance PGMD process, then water flux and productivity improve, but heat transfer efficiency requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary component to transfer waste heat from the ejector cooling cycle to the feed stream for membrane distillation. This intermediary device ensures efficient and reliable heat transfer by providing a dedicated interface between the hot and cold streams, thereby meeting the high heat transfer efficiency requirements while improving water flux and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes heat transfer parameters by controlling the temperature and flow rate of the waste heat stream from the ejector cooling cycle. By adjusting these parameters, the system ensures that the heat transfer process meets the required efficiency levels, thereby improving water flux and productivity while maintaining reliability.
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 integrated system enhances energy efficiency, reduces operational costs, and provides a sustainable solution for both desalination and cooling, leveraging waste heat to improve water flux and productivity, making it suitable for widespread application.
Implementation Method 1
The temperature difference across the membrane causes water vapor to evaporate from the feed stream, travel through the membrane pores, and condense in the permeate gap
Implementation Method 2
water vapor to evaporate from the feed stream, travel through the membrane pores
Implementation Method 3
travel through the membrane pores, and condense in the permeate gap
Implementation Method 4
Ejector Cooling Cycle (ECC), which is a type of refrigeration cycle that uses a jet of vapor to entrain and compress additional vapor
Implementation Method 5
the cold stream is heated by the super-heated stream of the refrigerant at the condenser
Data Source
AI summary
A desalination and cooling system integrating an Ejector Cooling Cycle (ECC) system and a Permeate Gap Membrane Distillation (PGMD) system. The ECC system includes a generator, an evaporator, an ejector, and a condenser. The generator produces a primary flow of refrigerant, the evaporator provides cooling and a secondary flow of the refrigerant, and the ejector combines these flows to generate a super-heated stream of the refrigerant, which the condenser cools. The PGMD system, including a feed chamber, a coolant chamber, a permeate gap chamber, and a membrane with pores, allows water vapors from a hot stream to pass from the feed chamber to the permeate gap chamber. The ECC and PGMD systems are connected at the condenser, where the super-heated stream of the refrigerant heats the cold stream to produce the hot stream, facilitating efficient desalination and cooling.