Membrane Filtration System with Dynamic Concentrate Return Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Membrane filtration systems face issues with wasteful power consumption and clogging due to fluctuations in concentrate flow rates and product water flow rates, leading to inefficient operation and potential fouling.
Innovation Solution
A membrane filtration system with a return flow rate adjusting mechanism that adjusts the concentrate return flow based on the discharge flow rate of concentrate and product water flow rate, maintaining a set proportion to prevent wasteful power consumption and ensure optimal flow velocity at the membrane surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the discharge flow rate of concentrate is increased to prevent clogging, then the flow velocity at the membrane surface is maintained, but the feeding flow rate of the feed pump increases resulting in wasteful power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the return flow rate of concentrate based on real-time measurements of discharge flow rate and product water flow rate. The control portion modifies the return flow rate adjusting portion to maintain optimal concentrate flow rate proportion, allowing the system to adapt to varying operating conditions and maintain membrane surface flow velocity while minimizing feed pump power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by measuring the discharge flow rate of concentrate and the flow rate of product water, then using these measurements to adjust the return flow rate of concentrate. This closed-loop control ensures that the concentrate flow rate remains at the optimal proportion to prevent clogging while avoiding excessive power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the return flow rate of concentrate is kept constant while reducing discharge flow rate, then power consumption is reduced, but the concentrate flow rate becomes lower than necessary resulting in decreased flow velocity and potential clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the return flow rate based on the actual discharge flow rate and product water flow rate. When discharge flow rate is reduced, the control portion proportionally reduces the return flow rate to maintain the optimal concentrate flow rate proportion, preventing clogging while minimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the return flow rate parameter in response to changes in discharge flow rate and product water flow rate. By proportionally adjusting the return flow rate to match the discharge flow rate, the system maintains optimal operating conditions across varying load levels.
3Productivity
If the flow rate of product water is reduced to match temperature changes, then filtration efficiency is improved, but the concentrate flow rate becomes higher than necessary with respect to product water flow rate resulting in wasteful power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the return flow rate of concentrate in response to changes in product water flow rate. When product water flow rate is reduced to match temperature changes, the control portion proportionally reduces the return flow rate to maintain the optimal concentrate flow rate proportion, preventing wasteful power consumption while preserving filtration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from product water flow rate measurements to adjust the return flow rate of concentrate. This ensures that the concentrate flow rate remains proportionally appropriate to the product water flow rate, avoiding excessive power consumption during temperature-adjusted operation.
4Productivity
If the flow rate of product water is increased, then productivity is improved, but the concentrate flow rate becomes lower than necessary with respect to product water flow rate resulting in decreased flow velocity and potential clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the return flow rate of concentrate in response to increases in product water flow rate. The control portion proportionally increases the return flow rate to maintain the optimal concentrate flow rate proportion, ensuring that flow velocity at the membrane surface is sufficient to prevent clogging while supporting improved productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the return flow rate parameter in response to changes in product water flow rate. By proportionally adjusting the return flow rate to match product water flow rate increases, the system maintains optimal operating conditions for preventing clogging while maximizing productivity.
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 solution effectively reduces power consumption and prevents clogging by maintaining the concentrate flow rate proportion to product water flow rate, ensuring efficient operation and extending membrane lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a filtering membrane portion for removing impurities in feed water
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a membrane filtration system (1) including: a filtering membrane portion (3) for removing impurities in feed water; a drain line (16) for draining a part of concentrate from the filtering membrane portion (3) to an exterior of a system; a concentrate return line (17) for returning a remainder of the concentrate from the filtering membrane portion (3) to an upstream side of the filtering membrane portion (3); a return flow rate adjusting portion (28) for concentrate provided in the concentrate return line (17); and a control portion (30) controlling the return flow rate adjusting portion (28) based on a drain flow rate of the concentrate or a flow rate of product water from the filtering membrane portion (3). With this construction, it is possible to suppress wasteful power consumption in a feed pump (7) for feeding water to the filtering membrane portion (3) and to prevent clogging in the filtering membrane in the filtering membrane portion (3).