Permeate Supply Ring Lines With Passive Pressure Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing permeate supply systems in medical settings face challenges in recirculation and regulation of permeate flow, particularly in double ring main systems, leading to uncontrolled operation, inefficiency, and high costs due to pressure-controlled reverse osmosis systems.
Innovation Solution
A permeate supply system with a ring line system comprising two parallel ring lines, each equipped with a flow restrictor and pressure relief valve, and a control unit that adjusts pump operation based on pressure sensors, ensuring precise control and efficient permeate production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a double ring main system is used to improve supply reliability, then permeate supply reliability is improved, but recirculation control and pressure regulation become complex and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses passive flow restrictors and pressure relief valves that automatically self-regulate the recirculation flow based on system conditions without requiring active control. The flow restrictor inherently limits flow rate, and the pressure relief valve automatically opens when pressure exceeds the setpoint, eliminating the need for complex control mechanisms while maintaining supply reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Pressure sensors provide feedback about the actual pressure in the ring main, which is used by the control algorithm to adjust the pump operation. This closed-loop feedback ensures that pressure remains within the desired range while simplifying the overall control strategy by relying on automatic pressure-based regulation rather than complex flow control
2Manufacturing precision
If pressure-controlled reverse osmosis systems are used to maintain precise pressure, then permeate production control is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces expensive, energy-intensive active pressure control mechanisms with simple, passive pressure relief valves and flow restrictors. These passive components require no energy input but effectively maintain pressure within acceptable ranges, significantly reducing energy consumption while preserving adequate permeate production control
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameter from active pump speed modulation to passive pressure-based flow regulation. By setting the pressure relief valve to open at a specific pressure threshold, the system maintains pressure control through parameter-based passive regulation rather than continuous active control, reducing energy consumption
3Productivity
If flow restrictors and pressure relief valves are added to each ring main return to improve recirculation control, then recirculation optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the return line into separate segments for each ring main, with each segment equipped with its own flow restrictor and pressure relief valve. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each ring main's recirculation while maintaining overall system simplicity through modular, standardized components
Solution Approach 2:
Each ring main return is equipped with passive flow restrictors and pressure relief valves that automatically self-regulate without requiring external control mechanisms. These components inherently control flow and pressure based on system conditions, optimizing recirculation efficiency while avoiding additional complexity from active control systems
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A permeate supply system (2) for medical applications designed for high supply security and reliability with simultaneous high energy efficiency, comprises: • a water treatment plant (90) with at least one integrated pump (5) for producing permeate, • a ring line system connected on the inlet side via a permeate divider (16) to the water treatment plant (90) with at least two ring lines (10, 12) connected in parallel, which are connected on the outlet side via a return device (50) to the water treatment plant (90), • a control or regulating unit (80), wherein the return device (50) for each of the ring lines (10, 12) comprises the following components: • a ring line return (101, 105) which branches into two parallel line branches, wherein one line branch has a flow limiter (111,114) and the other line section has a pressure-maintaining valve (103, 107) opening above a set opening pressure, • a pressure sensor (110, 113) which measures the pressure in the ring line return (101, 105) upstream of the flow limiter (111, 114) and the pressure-maintaining valve (103, 107), and wherein a control or regulation algorithm is implemented in the control or regulation unit (80), which in normal operation controls the pump (5) based on a pressure measured by one of the pressure sensors (110, 113),