Membrane Element Suspension for Independent Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing membrane module designs require replacing all connected membrane elements when one or more fail, making maintenance and replacement cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
The membrane elements are suspended on a shaft with independent water collection nozzles, allowing for easy extraction and replacement of failed elements without disassembling the entire module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If membrane elements are interlinked by joint members with continuous flow paths, then structural stability and fluid flow are improved, but ease of repair deteriorates because all connected elements must be replaced when one fails
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane module is divided into independent membrane element units, each with its own flow path. The joint member includes separate first and second flow paths that connect to individual elements, allowing each element to be independently accessed and replaced without affecting other elements, thus resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ease of repair
2Device complexity
If membrane elements are interlinked by joint members, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates because extraction and replacement of individual elements is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The joint member is segmented into distinct connection points for each membrane element, with separate flow paths (first and second flow paths) that allow individual elements to be disconnected and replaced independently. This segmentation enables easy operation for maintenance while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple
3Ease of manufacture
If all membrane elements are connected together, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but loss of time increases during maintenance when entire modules must be replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The module design segments membrane elements into independently replaceable units connected through a joint member with separate flow paths. This allows rapid replacement of only failed elements during maintenance, significantly reducing downtime compared to replacing entire interconnected modules, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized connection components
4Ease of repair
If membrane elements are suspended on shafts with independent nozzles, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each membrane element is suspended on its own shaft and equipped with independent water collection nozzles, creating segmented, independently controllable units. This segmentation enables easy repair by isolating and replacing individual elements, while the modular nature of the suspension system keeps the added complexity manageable through standardized components
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
An object of the invention is to reduce the costs of members that constitute a separation membrane module and give a separation membrane element an appropriate rigidity and a softness that allows energy of aeration to escape. Another object is to provide a separation membrane module that, at the time of failure occurring on one or more of the membrane elements constituting the separation membrane module, allows the maintenance thereof, that is, the replacement or extraction of the failed one or more membrane elements, to be easily performed. A separation membrane module 21 has an element unit. The element unit comprises: a shaft 9; a plurality of separation membrane elements 1 each including a separation membrane pair having two separation membranes disposed so that permeate-side surfaces of the separation membranes face each other and a water collecting flow path provided between the separation membranes, and a sealed portion that seals the separation membranes at peripheral edge portions of the separation membranes; a suspension portion (8) that suspends the separation membrane elements 1 on the shaft 9; and a water collection nozzle 7 provides communication between the water collection flow path and an outside of the separation membrane elements.