Pistonless Energy Exchange Chamber for Seawater Desalination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seawater desalination systems face high operational costs due to energy consumption for pressurizing seawater, and the use of energy exchange chambers with pistons leads to wear issues and costly machining requirements, as well as mixing of concentrated and intake seawater, which reduces desalination efficiency and shortens membrane lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A no-piston energy exchange chamber design utilizing partitioned fluid passages to separate and communicate concentrated and intake seawater, preventing mixing and reducing machining complexity, while using the pressure energy of concentrated seawater to pressurize intake seawater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a piston is used in the energy exchange chamber to pressurize seawater, then the pressure energy of concentrated seawater can be utilized, but wear of the piston occurs and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the piston component from the energy exchange chamber, replacing it with a pistonless design where concentrated seawater directly pressurizes intake seawater through pressure exchange, thereby eliminating piston wear and improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary fluid medium (concentrated seawater) to transfer pressure energy to intake seawater without direct mechanical contact, replacing the mechanical piston with a fluid-mediated pressure exchange process
2Power
If a piston is used in the energy exchange chamber, then seawater can be pressurized, but machining precision requirements and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the piston component entirely, eliminating the need for high-precision machining of piston seals, guides, and clearance zones, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs while maintaining pressurization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical piston system with a fluid-based pressure exchange system, substituting mechanical components that require precision machining with a simpler fluid dynamics-based solution
3Power
If concentrated seawater and intake seawater are allowed to mix in the chamber, then pressure exchange can occur, but desalination efficiency decreases and membrane lifespan shortens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the chamber into distinct concentrated seawater and intake seawater zones, allowing pressure exchange while preventing mixing, thereby maintaining desalination efficiency and membrane lifespan
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses the chamber structure as an intermediary that enables pressure transfer between concentrated and intake seawater without allowing direct mixing, separating the functions of pressure exchange and fluid isolation
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 reduces wear, machining costs, and energy consumption, maintains seawater interface integrity, and prolongs membrane lifespan by suppressing mixing and efficiently utilizing pressure energy, thereby enhancing the overall desalination process.
Implementation Method 1
utilize pressure energy of concentrated seawater discharged from the reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus as energy for pressurizing intake seawater
Implementation Method 2
seawater passes through a reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus to remove salinity from the seawater
Implementation Method 3
the intake seawater is processed to have certain water qualities by a pretreatment system, and the pretreated seawater is delivered into the reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus under pressure by a high-pressure pump. Part of the high-pressure seawater in the reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus passes through a reverse-osmosis membrane against the reverse-osmosis pressure and is desalinated
Data Source
AI summary
In a seawater desalination system for producing fresh water from seawater by passing the seawater pressurized by a pump through a reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus to separate the seawater into fresh water and concentrated seawater, an energy exchange chamber for utilizing pressure energy of the concentrated seawater discharged from the reverse-osmosis membrane-separation apparatus as energy for pressurizing part of the seawater is provided. The energy exchange chamber includes a concentrated seawater port for introducing and discharging the concentrated seawater, a seawater port for introducing and discharging the seawater, a plurality of flow regulators, and a plurality of partitioned fluid passages provided in the chamber to allow the concentrated seawater port and the seawater port to communicate with each other.