Separation Membrane Heating for Early Leak and Defect Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing separation membrane systems struggle to detect abnormalities such as seal leaks, defects, or membrane fractures with high sensitivity at an early stage.
Innovation Solution
A separation membrane system that supplies a mixed gas of a polar and non-polar gas, with a heating device upstream, to measure the flow rate of the non-polar gas permeating through the membrane, utilizing a zeolite membrane and a measurement device to detect abnormalities based on flow rate deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separation membrane is used to separate components from a fluid, then separation function is achieved, but abnormality detection sensitivity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a polar gas (such as water vapor) as an intermediary substance that selectively interacts with the separation membrane. The polar gas permeates through the membrane under specific conditions, and its permeation behavior serves as a mediator to reveal membrane abnormalities. By measuring the concentration or flow rate of the polar gas on the permeate side, the system can detect seal leaks, defect leaks, or membrane fractures with high sensitivity without requiring complex detection equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in physical parameters (temperature, concentration, flow rate) of the polar gas to detect membrane abnormalities. By controlling the temperature and concentration of the polar gas on the feed side and measuring the resulting parameter changes on the permeate side, the system can sensitively detect even minor membrane defects. This approach transforms the detection problem into a measurable parameter change problem, improving detection sensitivity while maintaining system simplicity.
2Productivity
If the separation membrane is heated to increase temperature, then permeation performance is improved, but temperature control difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent exploits the phase transition properties of water (evaporation and condensation) to achieve temperature control and heat management. By introducing water vapor into the system and controlling its phase transitions, the patent can efficiently transfer heat to the separation membrane to improve permeation performance. The phase transition process provides natural temperature regulation, reducing the complexity of active temperature control systems while maintaining optimal operating conditions for high 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
The system enables early detection of membrane abnormalities with high sensitivity by efficiently heating the membrane and measuring non-polar gas flow rates, effectively identifying issues like seal leaks or clogging.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device arranged upstream of the separation membrane
Implementation Method 2
a separation membrane that allows a specific component to selectively permeate therethrough
Implementation Method 3
the separation membrane may be a zeolite membrane
Implementation Method 4
a measurement device configured to measure a flow rate of the non-polar gas that has permeated through the separation membrane
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a separation membrane system, which includes a separation membrane, and which can detect an abnormality of the separation membrane with high sensitivity at an early stage. The separation membrane system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a supply line configured to supply a mixed gas of a polar gas and a non-polar gas to a separation membrane; and a measurement device configured to measure a flow rate of the non-polar gas that has permeated through the separation membrane. In the separation membrane system, the mixed gas may be a heated gas.