Pulse Aeration Flow Path for Membrane Defouling at Lower Gas Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aeration systems for liquid filtration membranes suffer from inefficiencies and high operational costs due to continuous gas release, which can lead to fouling and reduced membrane performance.
Innovation Solution
A pulse aeration system with a chamber housing and riser conduits that intermittently release gas through controlled apertures and distributors to uniformly clean the membrane surfaces, maintaining consistent gas pressure and reducing fouling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous gas release is employed in aeration systems, then membrane cleaning is maintained, but operational costs increase and gas usage is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by using an intermittent aeration system that releases gas in pulses rather than continuously. The system accumulates gas in a chamber and releases it periodically through controlled apertures, creating bubble bursts that effectively clean membranes while significantly reducing overall gas consumption and operational costs compared to continuous aeration systems.
2Use of energy by moving object
If gas is released intermittently to reduce operational costs, then gas usage is minimized, but membrane cleaning consistency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the gas release process into discrete pulses through multiple chambers with controlled apertures. Each chamber releases gas independently in controlled bursts, and the cumulative effect of multiple segmented releases maintains consistent membrane cleaning while minimizing total gas usage. The distributor with multiple outlets further segments the gas flow to ensure uniform distribution across membrane surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the accumulation of gas in chambers and the resulting bubble release patterns are controlled to maintain optimal cleaning consistency. The intermittent release creates feedback loops where gas pressure buildup triggers release events, ensuring that cleaning action is maintained at consistent intervals without requiring excessive gas input.
3Reliability
If gas pressure is increased to improve cleaning effectiveness, then fouling is reduced, but gas consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic gas release in controlled bursts to achieve effective fouling reduction without requiring continuously high gas pressure. The intermittent nature of the pulses allows gas pressure to build up sufficiently for effective cleaning during each pulse, then dissipate between pulses, reducing overall gas consumption while maintaining reliable fouling prevention.
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 system effectively defouls membranes while minimizing gas usage, ensuring consistent bubble distribution and reducing operational costs by intermittently releasing gas, thereby extending membrane lifespan and maintaining filtration efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Some aeration systems employ an intermittent siphon effect, so as to release bubbles only intermittently
Implementation Method 2
aeration systems have been employed in the water tank to release bubbles of air that rise and interact with the membranes to clean the contaminants off the membranes
Data Source
AI summary
A pulse aeration system for an immersed membrane filtration system is provided. The aeration system includes a housing defining at least one chamber with a flow path structure with a first flow path portion extending downwardly downstream from an inlet, and a second flow path portion extending upwardly upstream from an outlet and downstream from the first flow path portion. A barrier is fluidically between the first and second flow path portions, having a barrier bottom positioned to permit a gas release event during which the gas is released up the second flow path portion from the first flow path portion to defoul membranes. A flow path aperture permits sludge in the flow path to fall therethrough, with an area between 2% and 12% of an area of the flow path at the barrier bottom.