Modular Membrane Bioreactor Cartridge Scaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wastewater treatment plants face challenges in managing variable wastewater flow rates and maintaining capacity without significant design and maintenance costs, as current membrane bioreactor (MBR) filter systems require additional or larger containers to accommodate increased demand, leading to higher operational expenses.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of modular membrane bioreactor (MBR) cartridges that can be dynamically activated or deactivated to adjust wastewater processing rates and provide fault-tolerant operation, allowing for flexible and efficient treatment of variable flow rates and ensuring continuous processing despite cartridge failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If additional or larger volume containers are used to increase WWTP capacity, then wastewater filtering capacity is improved, but design, construction, and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewastewater filtering capacityVSAvoiddesign and construction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the wastewater treatment system into multiple modular cartridges, each containing filtration media. These cartridges can be independently installed, removed, and replaced within a standardized housing, allowing capacity adjustment without redesigning the entire system. This segmentation enables flexible scaling while maintaining consistent structural design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic adjustment of filtering capacity by adding or removing cartridges based on varying wastewater flow demands. The modular design enables the WWTP to adapt its capacity in real-time without requiring permanent infrastructure changes, thereby avoiding the need to design for peak demand scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If additional or larger volume containers are used to increase WWTP capacity, then wastewater filtering capacity is improved, but maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewastewater filtering capacityVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the filtration system into discrete cartridges, maintenance operations are simplified. Individual cartridges can be removed and replaced without affecting other parts of the system, reducing maintenance complexity and cost compared to maintaining a single large integrated system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular cartridge design enables easy replacement of worn or degraded filtration media. Used cartridges can be quickly removed and replaced with fresh ones, while the spent media can be recovered and regenerated or disposed of separately, reducing overall maintenance burden and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Adaptability or versatility

If the WWTP is designed to accommodate current and future demand, then capacity requirements are met, but initial design and construction costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapacity accommodationVSAvoiddesign cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The modular cartridge architecture allows the system to be designed for current needs and expanded later by simply adding more cartridges. The standardized housing and connection interfaces remain the same, eliminating the need to redesign the overall system for future capacity requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The standardized cartridge design serves multiple functions: it provides the basic filtration capability, enables easy system expansion, and maintains compatibility across different capacity configurations. This universal design approach allows the same housing and cartridge interface to serve both current and future demand scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enables wastewater treatment plants to efficiently manage variable flow rates, reduce water cycle time, and maintain high treatment quality while minimizing the need for additional infrastructure, thereby decreasing operational costs and ensuring continuous operation even in the event of cartridge failures.

Implementation Method 1

a first chamber in communication with a second chamber with a semi-permeable membrane between the first chamber and the second chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10836663B2Wastewater treatment with modular membrane bioreactor cartridges

Publication Date: 2020.11.17 BLUE ARRAY LLC

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention describe an apparatus, method, and system of wastewater treatment using modular membrane bioreactor (MBR) cartridges. In one embodiment, said method of wastewater treatment includes adjusting the number of activated modular MBR cartridges in a container and adjusting the wastewater processing rate of the container to dynamically change the throughput of a fixed-size wastewater processing container. According to one embodiment, said method can include utilizing modular MBR cartridges to provide for a fault-tolerant wastewater treatment container.