Membrane-Assisted Evaporative Cooling for Low-Fouling Water Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooling systems face inefficiencies and contamination issues due to the buildup of dissolved solids and contaminants in recirculating water, leading to fouling and increased costs from continuous addition of additives in heat exchangers and evaporative cooling towers.
Innovation Solution
A process utilizing a selectively permeable membrane to separate solutions of varying solute concentrations, allowing solvent to flow from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated one, which is then recycled to dilute the first solution, thereby reducing contaminant transfer and potentially eliminating the need for continuous additive addition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If make-up water is continuously treated with additives (scale inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors, biocides, dispersants) to maintain water quality in cooling systems, then the reliability and performance of heat exchangers and cooling towers are improved, but the operational cost and chemical usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes contaminants (dissolved solids, suspended particles, biological matter) from recirculating water through a filtration system comprising a filter medium and a removable cartridge, eliminating the need for continuous additive addition while maintaining water quality
Solution Approach 2:
The filter cartridge acts as an intermediary component that captures and retains contaminants, preventing them from affecting heat exchanger performance and cooling tower efficiency, thereby replacing the need for chemical intermediaries (additives)
2Reliability
If blowdown is used to remove contaminants from recirculating water by removing portions of the water stream, then contaminant levels are reduced and water quality is improved, but water loss and the need for continuous make-up water increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts contaminants from recirculating water through physical filtration rather than removing water through blowdown, capturing dissolved solids, suspended particles, and biological matter on the filter medium while maintaining system water volume
Solution Approach 2:
The filtration system provides continuous contaminant removal from recirculating water without interrupting the cooling cycle or requiring water make-up, maintaining continuous water quality improvement without water loss
3Productivity
If contaminants build up in recirculating water through evaporation in cooling towers, then thermal efficiency of heat exchangers and cooling towers deteriorates due to fouling, but continuous operation and high productivity are maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system operates continuously alongside the cooling cycle, constantly removing contaminants as they accumulate, thereby maintaining thermal efficiency without interrupting continuous operation or productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous monitoring and removal of contaminants through the filtration apparatus, creating a feedback mechanism that prevents fouling accumulation and maintains optimal thermal efficiency during continuous operation
4Reliability
If a conventional cooling system uses treated make-up water with continuous additive addition to prevent fouling, then the reliability of the system is improved, but the device complexity and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complexity of chemical treatment by physically removing contaminants through filtration, replacing complex chemical addition systems with a simpler mechanical filtration apparatus
Solution Approach 2:
The filter cartridge is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that captures contaminants, eliminating the need for complex chemical treatment systems and continuous additive management
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
This approach enhances thermal efficiency, reduces fouling, and minimizes the need for costly additives by recycling solutions in a closed loop, effectively managing contaminant levels and solvent transfer within cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
positioning a selectively permeable membrane between a first solution and a second solution having a higher solute concentration than the first solution, such that the solvent from the first solution flows across the selectively permeable membrane to dilute the second solution
Implementation Method 2
introducing the second solution into an evaporative cooling apparatus in which solvent is removed from the second solution by evaporation
Data Source
AI summary
A process for introducing a solution into an evaporative cooling apparatus (14), said process comprising a) positioning a selectively permeable membrane (16) between a first solution (18) and a second solution (20) having a higher solute concentration than the first solution (18), such that the solvent from the first solution (18) flows across the selectively permeable membrane (16) to dilute the second solution (20), b) introducing the second solution into an evaporative cooling apparatus (14) in which solvent is removed from the second solution (20) by evaporation, and c) recycling the second solution (20) from step b) to step a) to draw solvent from the first solution (18).