Multi-ported Vessel Desalination System with Radial Flow Slots
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reverse osmosis desalination systems face inefficiencies due to uneven feed flow and salinity distribution, leading to increased energy consumption, reduced water production, and higher costs, primarily because the first membrane elements produce more water and experience fouling, while the last elements are underutilized and prone to scaling.
Innovation Solution
A desalination system with a multi-ported vessel design featuring flow distribution tubes and radial flow distribution slots that allow uniform distribution of feed water to all membrane elements, reducing osmotic pressure variations and enhancing energy efficiency by balancing the flow and salinity concentration across all elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional reverse osmosis desalination systems are used with series-arranged membrane elements, then water purification is achieved, but uneven feed flow and salinity distribution occur leading to increased energy consumption and reduced water production
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the single pressure vessel into multiple pressure vessels, each containing a subset of membrane elements. This segmentation allows independent flow distribution to each vessel, enabling more uniform feed flow and salinity distribution across all membrane elements, thereby improving overall productivity and reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pressure vessel is equipped with its own flow distribution system tailored to its specific position in the series arrangement. This local optimization ensures that each vessel receives appropriately distributed feed water, addressing the uneven flow and salinity distribution problem that plagues conventional single-vessel systems.
2Reliability
If conventional reverse osmosis desalination systems are used, then membrane elements are utilized, but the first membrane elements experience fouling while the last elements are underutilized and prone to scaling
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing membrane elements into multiple pressure vessels with independent flow distribution, the system prevents the cascading fouling effect seen in conventional series arrangements. Each vessel's membrane elements receive more uniform feed water quality, reducing fouling on early elements and underutilization on later elements, thereby improving overall reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow distribution system in each pressure vessel is designed to optimize local flow parameters, ensuring that each membrane element operates within its optimal performance range. This prevents the extreme conditions (high fouling risk at the beginning, low utilization at the end) experienced in conventional single-vessel systems.
3Productivity
If conventional reverse osmosis desalination systems are used, then feed water is processed, but uneven salinity distribution leads to osmotic pressure variations reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the system into multiple pressure vessels with independent flow distribution allows each vessel to maintain more uniform salinity levels across its membrane elements. This reduces osmotic pressure variations and improves desalination efficiency while minimizing energy losses.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pressure vessel is optimized for local flow and salinity conditions, ensuring that feed water is distributed more uniformly to each membrane element. This local optimization reduces osmotic pressure variations and improves overall energy efficiency.
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 design achieves higher fresh water production with reduced energy use, lower operational costs, and a smaller footprint, optimizing the performance of each membrane element and reducing fouling rates, thereby increasing the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the desalination process.
Implementation Method 1
radial flow distribution slots that allow uniform distribution of feed water to all membrane elements, reducing osmotic pressure variations and enhancing energy efficiency by balancing the flow and salinity concentration across all elements
Implementation Method 2
Conventional reverse osmosis desalination systems face inefficiencies due to uneven feed flow and salinity distribution
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-ported vessel system includes an outer pressure vessel containing a plurality of flow distribution tubes, each of which comprises a plurality of reverse osmosis membrane elements aligned serially within each tube. The outer pressure vessel includes bypass flow paths whereby feed water flows around each of the tubes within the vessel. Slots are disposed in the flow distribution tubes at the upstream end of each RO membrane element such that feed water reaches all RO membrane elements of the tubes in parallel. The serial alignment of the membranes also allows for serial water processing also. A product water tube collects the purified water from the reverse osmosis elements and provides it to a product water port. Brine water is provided to an output port to be discarded of for further processing. The parallel processing of feed water by all membrane elements results in increased productivity and reduced costs.