Multi-stage Membrane Filtration Bypass Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-stage membrane filtration systems require manual operation of valves to bypass defective stages, leading to potential unfiltered water supply and risks during dialysis, as incorrect valve positions can endanger patients.
Innovation Solution
A control and regulation unit automatically controls bypass valves to divert fluid around defective stages, ensuring continuous supply and preventing incorrect interactions by monitoring sensor data and process values, using check or solenoid valves to maintain system integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual valve operation is used to bypass defective stages, then the system structure remains simple, but the reliability of filtered water supply deteriorates due to potential incorrect valve positions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-diagnosis and self-correction by automatically detecting defective stages through sensor monitoring and actuating bypass valves without human intervention. The control unit continuously monitors process parameters, identifies failures, and autonomously switches bypass valves to maintain filtered water supply, eliminating the need for manual operation while ensuring system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback monitoring through sensors that track process parameters such as pressure, flow rate, and temperature across each stage. This feedback loop enables the control unit to detect deviations indicating stage failure and automatically adjust bypass valve positions to maintain system reliability and ensure only filtered water reaches consumers.
2Loss of time
If manual valve switching is implemented, then the device complexity is low, but the response time to stage failure increases causing system downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The system autonomously detects stage failures through continuous sensor monitoring and immediately actuates bypass valves without waiting for manual intervention. This self-service capability eliminates the time delay between failure occurrence and bypass activation, ensuring continuous operation and minimizing system downtime while maintaining appropriate automation levels.
Solution Approach 2:
Bypass valves are pre-positioned and pre-configured in the system design, ready for immediate activation upon failure detection. The control unit maintains standby readiness to switch bypass valves instantly when sensors detect stage defects, eliminating response delays and ensuring continuous filtered water supply without system downtime.
3Reliability
If automated control is implemented, then the reliability of water supply improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional control components
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it monitors process parameters through sensors, identifies stage failures, controls bypass valve actuation, and ensures continuous filtered water supply. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional control system, the patent achieves high water supply reliability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between sensor inputs and bypass valve actuators, processing sensor data and automatically actuating bypass valves when failures are detected. This intermediary function ensures reliable water supply safety by eliminating manual intervention requirements while keeping the control system architecture manageable and not excessively complex.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If bypass valves are manually operated, then the system is easier to manufacture, but the risk of unfiltered water reaching consumers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects when a stage fails and self-corrects by actuating bypass valves without human intervention. This eliminates the risk of unfiltered water reaching consumers that would result from manual operation errors, while the standardized control architecture keeps manufacturing complexity manageable through modular design and programmable logic.
Solution Approach 2:
Continuous sensor feedback monitors the operational status of each stage, providing real-time information to the control unit. This feedback mechanism ensures that bypass valves are activated only when and where needed, preventing unfiltered water from reaching consumers while maintaining ease of manufacture through reliable automated control logic that reduces assembly complexity.
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
Ensures uninterrupted supply to consumers by automatically detecting and bypassing faulty stages, reducing the risk of unfiltered water and system downtime, particularly critical for dialysis applications.
Implementation Method 1
the control and regulation unit is configured to open the bypass valve assigned to the respective stage during emergency operation, so that the fluid is bypassed by the defective stage. The bypass line guides the fluid past the defective stage to the hydraulically adjacent or next stage.
Implementation Method 2
a check valve is arranged in each bypass line, particularly upstream of the respective bypass valve in the bypass line, which blocks the backflow through the bypass valve. Check valves are particularly well suited to preventing backflow because their simple mechanical design makes them durable and resistant to failure. Furthermore, these valves do not require any control logic, since the onset of emergency operation reverses the pressure conditions within the system in such a way that the check valves close automatically.
Implementation Method 3
The invention relates to a membrane filtration system, in particular for reverse osmosis, comprising a plurality of stages, each stage comprising at least one pump and one filter membrane
Data Source
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AI summary
Membrane filtration system (100), in particular for reverse osmosis, comprising a plurality of stages (102, 104, 190), wherein each stage (102, 104, 190) comprises at least one pump and a filter membrane, and wherein the stages (102, 104, 190) are hydraulically connected to each other sequentially by connecting lines (103, 191, 192), and wherein a bypass line (110, 111) is provided for each stage (102, 104, 190) to divert the liquid flow around this stage (102, 104, 190), and wherein at least one bypass valve (107, 108, 170, 207, 208, 209) is provided which, in the closed state, closes the respective bypass line (110, 111). locks, wherein a control and regulation unit (109) is provided which is configured to control the respective bypass valve (107, 108, 170, 207, 208, 209).