Membrane Filtration Device with Feedback Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing membrane filtration systems face challenges in maintaining stable constant flow-rate filtration due to differences in clogging and component separation between stages, leading to overflow or depletion of liquids, especially when treating liquids with organic matter.
Innovation Solution
A filtration device with multiple continuous membrane filtration units, each equipped with storage tanks, separation membranes, and control units that adjust flow rates and liquid levels to maintain stability, using feedback control mechanisms to manage permeated and non-permeated liquids and prevent overflow or depletion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple stages of separation membranes are connected in series with minimized tanks to reduce residence time, then productivity is improved and organic matter deterioration is prevented, but flow-rate stability deteriorates due to clogging differences between stages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using liquid scales to detect liquid levels in each tank and controllers to adjust delivery pump speeds accordingly. The controllers receive liquid level signals and modify pump operations to maintain stable flow rates despite varying clogging conditions across different membrane stages, thus resolving the contradiction between high productivity and flow-rate stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the delivery pump speeds based on real-time liquid level measurements from each tank. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to changing clogging conditions in different membrane stages while maintaining overall flow-rate stability and preventing overflow or depletion, enabling both high productivity and reliable operation.
2Loss of time
If tank size is minimized to reduce residence time and prevent organic matter deterioration, then loss of time is reduced and productivity is improved, but flow-rate control precision deteriorates leading to overflow or depletion
Solution Approach 1:
Liquid scales are installed in each tank to provide real-time feedback on liquid levels to the controllers. This feedback mechanism enables precise control of delivery pumps even with minimized tank sizes, preventing overflow or depletion while maintaining short residence times that prevent organic matter deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical level control mechanisms with electronic sensing (liquid scales) and electronic control systems. This substitution enables more precise flow-rate control in minimized tanks, as electronic systems can detect and respond to liquid level changes more accurately and rapidly than mechanical systems.
3Productivity
If constant flow-rate filtration is implemented with minimized tanks, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to slight deviations causing overflow or depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses liquid scales to continuously monitor liquid levels in each tank and feeds this information back to controllers that adjust delivery pump speeds. This feedback control compensates for slight deviations caused by varying clogging conditions across membrane stages, maintaining both high productivity and reliable stable separation without overflow or depletion.
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 system ensures stable separation and concentration of organic matter at a constant flow rate, preventing clogging and extending membrane lifespan by adjusting liquid circulation and extraction based on real-time measurements, thus maintaining consistent organic concentration and preventing overflow or depletion.
Implementation Method 1
A first separation membrane part configured to separate the liquid to be treated into a first permeated liquid and a first non-permeated liquid
Implementation Method 2
a first separation membrane part configured to separate the liquid to be treated into a first permeated liquid and a first non-permeated liquid
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide a filtration device capable of stably filtrating a liquid to be treated at a constant flow rate, the filtration device including a single or a plurality of continuous first units including a first separation membrane part that separates a liquid to be treated in a first storage tank into a first permeated liquid and a first non-permeated liquid, a first extraction pipe through which the first non-permeated liquid is extracted, a first adjustment unit that adjusts a flow rate of the first permeated liquid to be substantially constant, and a first liquid scale that detects a liquid amount in the first storage tank, a second unit including a second separation membrane part that separates a stored liquid in a second storage tank storing therein the first permeated liquid into a second permeated liquid and a second non-permeated liquid, a second extraction pipe through which the second non-permeated liquid is extracted, a second adjustment unit that adjusts a flow rate of the second permeated liquid to be substantially constant, and a second liquid scale that detects a liquid amount in the second storage tank, a first controller unit that controls the liquid amount in the first storage tank based on measurement values from continuous two first units or from the continuous first and second units, and a second controller unit that controls the liquid amount in the second storage tank based on a measurement value from the second unit.