Membrane Wall Regeneration in Distillation Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Membrane walls in distillation apparatuses become wetted, leading to reduced liquid retention and efficiency, requiring costly and labor-intensive replacement or regeneration processes.
Innovation Solution
A process involving evaporation and condensation stages with vapor-permeable, liquid-impermeable membrane walls, where the liquid is removed by adjusting the gas atmosphere to lower the partial pressure of the liquid, allowing the membrane to dry without removal from the apparatus, using techniques such as negative pressure or air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the membrane wall is replaced individually or together with the entire distillation apparatus when wetted, then the liquid retention is restored, but this involves considerable effort and is uneconomical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the gas atmosphere surrounding the membrane wall, specifically lowering the partial pressure of the liquid through vacuum application and temperature increase, to enable evaporation of the wetting liquid and restore the membrane's hydrophobicity without replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of membrane replacement with a thermal-vacuum process that uses evaporation to remove the wetting liquid, substituting complex mechanical replacement operations with a simpler in-situ regeneration process
2Reliability
If the membrane wall is replaced when wetted, then liquid retention is restored, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies vacuum and heat treatment to the membrane wall before complete wetting occurs, preventing the need for replacement by restoring hydrophobicity through evaporation of the wetting liquid in an controlled gas atmosphere
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane wall is regenerated in-situ within the distillation apparatus using the apparatus's own vacuum and heating capabilities, allowing the membrane to self-regenerate without external removal or specialized equipment
3Ease of operation
If the liquid is removed by adjusting the gas atmosphere to lower partial pressure, then the membrane can dry in place, but energy is required to maintain the gas atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of the wetting liquid from liquid to vapor by controlling the gas atmosphere parameters (temperature and partial pressure), enabling the liquid to evaporate and be removed from the membrane pores through the vapor pressure differential
Solution Approach 2:
The regeneration process uses periodic cycles of vacuum application and heating, alternating between creating negative pressure to facilitate evaporation and maintaining conditions for liquid removal, rather than continuous energy-intensive operation
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
Enables quick and economical regeneration of membrane walls within the distillation apparatus, restoring hydrophobicity and removing wetting substances, thus maintaining efficiency without the need for membrane replacement.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid wetting the membrane wall is then removed by adjusting the gas atmosphere surrounding the membrane wall in such a manner that the partial pressure of the liquid in the gas atmosphere is lower than the vapor pressure of the liquid wetting the membrane wall
Implementation Method 2
the partial pressure of the liquid in the gas atmosphere is lower than the vapor pressure of the liquid wetting the membrane wall
Implementation Method 3
a negative pressure is generated in the distillation apparatus, and furthermore heat is fed to the distillation apparatus. This results in an evaporation of the liquid wetting the membrane wall, if the partial pressure of the liquid in the gas atmosphere is sufficiently low
Implementation Method 4
a negative pressure is generated in the distillation apparatus, and furthermore heat is fed to the distillation apparatus. This results in an evaporation of the liquid wetting the membrane wall
Implementation Method 5
a thin, microporous and hydrophobic structure is used as a membrane wall which is permeable to gases, but impermeable to liquids, particularly to water
Implementation Method 6
a thin, microporous and hydrophobic structure is used as a membrane wall which is permeable to gases, but impermeable to liquids
Data Source
AI summary
A process for the regeneration of a membrane wall in a distillation apparatus, wherein a distillation apparatus having one or more evaporation and condensation stages is provided, each evaporation and condensation stage having at least one flow channel conducting a liquid, said flow channel being at least partially confined by a vapor-permeable and liquid-impermeable membrane wall, wherein vapor emerging from the liquid passes through the membrane wall. The liquid is removed from the at least one flow channel, wherein, after the removal of the liquid, the membrane wall is surrounded on both sides by a gas atmosphere, but is still wetted with liquid, and this liquid is removed by adjusting the gas atmosphere surrounding the membrane wall such that the partial pressure of the liquid in the gas atmosphere is lower than the vapor pressure of the liquid wetting the membrane wall.