Perforated Plate Flow Regulator for Desalination Energy Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy recovery chambers in seawater desalination systems suffer from inefficient pressure transmission due to non-uniform fluid flow, leading to mixing of seawater and concentrated seawater, which increases salt content and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
An energy recovery apparatus with perforated circular plates at the concentrated seawater and seawater ports, regulating fluid flow to achieve uniform distribution and prevent mixing, allowing effective pressure transmission from high-pressure concentrated seawater to seawater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional energy recovery chambers are used without flow regulation, then the structure is simple, but fluid flow becomes non-uniform causing mixing of seawater and concentrated seawater
Solution Approach 1:
A flow regulator is introduced as an intermediary component between the seawater inlet and the chamber interior. This regulator mediates the fluid flow by adjusting velocity distribution and flow direction, transforming non-uniform inlet flow into uniform chamber flow without fundamentally changing the chamber structure
Solution Approach 2:
The flow regulator creates local variations in flow properties at the inlet region, where flow velocity and direction are adjusted locally to achieve global flow uniformity throughout the chamber. The regulator addresses the non-uniformity problem at its source rather than requiring uniformity throughout the entire chamber structure
2Reliability
If flow regulation components are added to achieve uniform flow, then mixing is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow regulator serves as a mediator that improves pressure transmission efficiency by ensuring uniform flow distribution across the chamber. This single intermediary component achieves the reliability improvement without requiring multiple complex subsystems
Solution Approach 2:
The flow regulator may employ flow control elements that substitute complex mechanical flow distribution systems with simpler flow-resistance-based regulation, achieving uniform flow through passive hydraulic principles rather than active mechanical adjustment mechanisms
3Productivity
If high-speed fluid flows directly into the chamber, then the structure is simple, but turbulent mixing occurs at the boundary portion
Solution Approach 1:
The flow regulator applies preliminary anti-action by reducing flow velocity and organizing flow direction before the fluid enters the main chamber. This preliminary velocity reduction prevents the formation of turbulent mixing zones at the boundary between seawater and concentrated seawater
Solution Approach 2:
The flow regulator acts as an intermediary buffer zone that transitions high-speed inlet flow into low-speed uniform chamber flow, preventing direct high-velocity impact that would cause turbulent mixing
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 apparatus ensures uniform fluid flow, reducing salt content discharge and energy consumption by suppressing turbulent mixing, thereby enhancing the performance of the reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus and prolonging its replacement cycle.
Implementation Method 1
seawater passes through a reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus to remove salinity from the seawater
Implementation Method 2
Part of the high-pressure seawater in the reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus passes through a reverse-osmosis membrane against the osmotic pressure
Implementation Method 3
the pretreated seawater is delivered into the reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus under pressure by a high-pressure pump
Implementation Method 4
energy recovery apparatus for converting pressure energy of concentrated seawater discharged from a reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus to pressure energy of seawater
Data Source
AI summary
An energy recovery apparatus which is used in a seawater desalination system includes a cylindrical chamber (CH) being installed such that a longitudinal direction of the chamber is placed in a vertical direction, a concentrated seawater port (P1) for supplying and discharging the concentrated seawater, a seawater port (P2) for supplying and discharging the seawater, a flow resistor (23) provided at a concentrated seawater port (P1) side in the chamber (CH), and a flow resistor (23) provided at a seawater port (P2) side in the chamber (CH). The flow resistor (23) provided at the concentrated seawater port (P1) side and the flow resistor (23) provided at the seawater port (P2) side comprise at least one perforated circular plate, and the perforated circular plate has holes formed at an outer circumferential area outside a predetermined diameter of the circular plate.