Permeate Flow Patterns for Spiral-Wound Membrane Systems

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Spiral-wound membrane filtration elements face flow restriction and membrane fouling due to the presence of traditional porous feed spacers, which hinder optimal performance in pressure retarded osmosis, forward osmosis, and reverse osmosis applications.

Innovation Solution

Integration of printed, deposited, or embossed features into the permeate spacer to create positive feed channels, using materials like photopolymers, hot melt polyolefins, or adhesives, which form arbitrary flow paths and protrusions to reduce resistance and minimize obstruction, replacing the need for a separate feed spacer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional porous feed spacers are used to maintain axial flow spacing, then membrane integrity is maintained, but flow restriction and pressure drop increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemembrane integrityVSAvoidpressure drop

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the traditional porous feed spacer component entirely and replaces it with printed patterns directly on the membrane surface. This extraction eliminates the spacer-induced flow restriction and pressure drop while maintaining the necessary spacing function through the printed features themselves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the feed spacer function with the membrane structure by printing flow channel patterns directly onto the membrane surface. This integration eliminates the need for a separate spacer component, reducing flow resistance while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If traditional porous feed spacers are used to maintain flow paths, then spacing is maintained, but membrane fouling increases due to restricted flow and contact areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow path maintenanceVSAvoidmembrane fouling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By removing the traditional feed spacer and replacing it with printed patterns, the patent eliminates the spacer surfaces that serve as fouling sites for biological growth, scale formation, and particle capture, while still maintaining adequate flow paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The printed patterns create localized flow channels with optimized geometry that ensure uniform flow distribution across the membrane surface, preventing stagnant zones where fouling would occur while minimizing overall flow restriction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If printed patterns are applied to the membrane surface to create flow channels, then flow resistance is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow resistanceVSAvoidelement manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical spacer components with printed patterns applied to the membrane surface using printing technologies, simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating separate spacer assembly steps while achieving superior flow characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11376552B2Permeate flow paterns

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 AQUA MEMBRANES INC

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide the integration of arbitrary flow directing patterns, deposited or integrated on or into the porous permeate spacer in a spiral-wound membrane separation element.