Modular Water Purification Panels for Flexible Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water purification devices are inflexible, costly, and inefficient in handling large quantities of raw water, with high energy consumption and susceptibility to corrosion, especially when dealing with high salt contents, and require significant space and over-dimensioning to accommodate varying conditions.
Innovation Solution
A modular water purification device constructed from coupled panel modules that form a bearing frame, allowing for easy adjustment of capacity by adding or removing modules, with through-feed conduits forming part of the conduit system, reducing the need for extensive pipework and using plastic panels to minimize corrosion and cost, and incorporating standardized panel modules for adaptable designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stainless steel is used for couplings and conduits to handle high pressures and corrosion, then corrosion resistance is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular panels that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each panel is a self-contained unit with standardized connections, allowing the system to handle high pressures through modular construction rather than requiring entirely stainless steel conduits throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from stainless steel to plastic panels, which are lighter, cheaper to manufacture, and sufficiently corrosion-resistant for the application. The modular design compensates for any structural requirements through standardized coupling mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device is over-dimensioned to accommodate varying conditions, then adaptability is improved, but productivity decreases due to operation below design capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses modular panels that can be easily added or removed based on actual processing requirements. This allows the device to be precisely dimensioned for current needs while maintaining the ability to scale, eliminating the need for over-dimensioning and ensuring optimal operational efficiency at all capacity levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design enables dynamic adjustment of system capacity by adding or removing panels according to changing raw water quantities and contamination levels, allowing the device to operate at or near design capacity under varying conditions rather than running below capacity.
3Reliability
If a separate design is made for each specific application, then reliability is improved, but adaptability worsens and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal modular panel design that can be configured for different applications through standardized connections and module arrangements. The same basic panel modules serve multiple functions across different water purification applications, eliminating the need for completely separate designs while maintaining application-specific optimization through modular configuration.
4Productivity
If the device is designed to handle large quantities of raw water, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system processes large quantities of raw water by segmenting the purification function into multiple identical modular panels that can be arranged in series or parallel configurations. This modular approach increases processing capacity through simple replication rather than complex system design, maintaining low complexity while achieving 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 modular design enables flexible and efficient water purification with reduced energy consumption and lower costs, allowing for easy adaptation to changing conditions and capacities, while preventing corrosion and leakage, and maintaining high water quality without the need for extensive modifications.
Implementation Method 1
a partially permeable membrane is received over which there is a pressure difference generated by the pump system
Implementation Method 2
separation can for instance be performed by filtration such as ultrafiltration and/or nanofiltration. Preferably applied however are filtration methods on the basis of the principle of reverse osmosis
Implementation Method 3
filtration methods on the basis of the principle of reverse osmosis
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for purifying raw water. The device comprises an inlet for the raw water, a conduit system connected to the inlet, a pump system incorporated in the conduit system for carrying the feed water under pressure through the conduit system, and separating units incorporated in the conduit system for separating the feed water into a pure fraction (permeate) and an impure fraction (concentrate), in addition to outlets for the pure and the impure fraction connected to the conduit system. The device comprises panels which are held at a mutual distance and between which the separating units are situated, wherein the panels are constructed from mutually coupled panel modules which form a bearing frame for the at least one separating unit, which panel modules comprise through-feed conduits which in connected situation form at least a part of the conduit system. The device can be constructed in flexible manner with a number of panel modules as required. The invention also relates to a panel module evidently intended for such a device.