Membrane Distillation Module Sealing Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Membrane distillation under reduced pressure faces issues with pressure loss and airtightness due to dimensional changes between housing components and adhesive interfaces, leading to contamination and operational inefficiencies over time.
Innovation Solution
A membrane distillation module comprising a membrane cartridge with a hydrophobic porous membrane affixed using a resin, housed in a module with a housing that absorbs linear expansion differences, ensuring airtightness and ease of membrane replacement and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If membrane distillation is carried out under reduced pressure, then the vapor flow rate increases and water production improves, but pressure loss occurs and the vapor pressure difference may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible sealing members (gaskets) between the housing and membrane cartridge that can deform to accommodate dimensional changes, preventing air leakage while maintaining the vapor pressure difference necessary for efficient membrane distillation under reduced pressure conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent accounts for thermal expansion by designing the housing and membrane cartridge with compatible dimensional stabilities, ensuring that temperature-induced dimensional changes do not compromise the sealing interface or the vapor pressure difference across the membrane
2Reliability
If adhesive is used to affix membrane to housing, then airtightness is maintained, but dimensional changes cause adhesive interface to peel off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid adhesive bonding with flexible gasket-based sealing that can accommodate dimensional changes between the housing and membrane cartridge, preventing interface peeling while maintaining airtightness during thermal cycling and pressure variations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sealing mechanism from chemical adhesion to mechanical deformation sealing, where the gasket material's physical properties (elasticity, compressibility) allow it to adapt to dimensional changes without losing sealing effectiveness
3Duration of action of stationary object
If membrane is used for long periods, then continuous operation is achieved, but wetting occurs causing raw water mixing and decreased efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables easy removal of the membrane cartridge from the housing, allowing frequent inspection, cleaning, and replacement of membranes to prevent wetting and maintain distillation efficiency over extended operational periods
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows preliminary cleaning or replacement of the membrane before wetting occurs, maintaining optimal performance by enabling proactive maintenance rather than waiting for efficiency degradation
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 maintains airtightness and efficiency under high temperature and reduced pressure conditions, allowing for continuous, long-term membrane distillation with simplified maintenance and replacement of the membrane.
Implementation Method 1
uses a hydrophobic porous membrane which allows only water vapor to permeate from the treatment target water, and is a method of obtaining distilled water from heated treatment target water (high temperature water) by condensing water vapor that has passed through the porous membrane due to a pressure difference of saturated water vapor
Implementation Method 2
allows only water vapor to permeate from the treatment target water
Implementation Method 3
condensing water vapor that has passed through the porous membrane
Implementation Method 4
uses a hydrophobic porous membrane which allows only water vapor to permeate
Implementation Method 5
Wetting is related to the pore size of the membrane, the hydrophobicity of the membrane, and the surface tension of treatment target liquid
Implementation Method 6
the sealing member is made of an elastic body
Data Source
AI summary
A membrane distillation module comprising a membrane distillation cartridge and a membrane distillation housing, wherein: the cartridge comprises a anchoring part in which porous membranes are anchored by resin; the housing comprises a housing body and a housing lid; the membrane distillation module comprises a support part where the outer surface of the anchoring part is supported by the inner surface of the housing with a seal member interposed therebetween; and a value C in the cross section of the support part is at least 30° C. as represented by the formula, where dF is the equivalent circular diameter (mm) of the outer circumference of the anchoring part, kF is the linear expansion coefficient (1/° C.) of the resin, dE is the equivalent diameter (mm) of the inner circumference of the housing, and kE is the linear expansion coefficient (1/° C.) of a portion where the housing contacts the seal member.