Reciprocating Membrane Support Frame for Sludge Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Membrane bioreactors face challenges with membrane blocking due to suspended matter attachment, leading to decreased filtration capacity and increased energy consumption for cleaning, particularly in submerged membrane systems.
Innovation Solution
A membrane filtration system with a reciprocating membrane support frame and sludge floating mechanism that uses a movable filtered-water discharge part to efficiently remove foreign matter and reduce energy consumption by utilizing inertial force to prevent contamination and facilitate easy recovery of filtered water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the separation membrane is fixedly installed in a submerged membrane bioreactor, then the system structure is simple and easy to operate, but suspended matter attaches to the membrane surface causing blocking and decreased filtration capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the membrane support frame movable rather than fixed. The support frame is equipped with a reciprocating mechanism that moves it back and forth in the horizontal direction, transforming the static membrane installation into a dynamic one. This reciprocating motion prevents suspended matter from attaching to the membrane surface, thereby maintaining filtration capacity while remaining relatively simple in structure.
2Ease of repair
If air refining method is used to clean the blocked membrane, then the membrane can be cleaned, but energy consumption is considerably high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by enabling the membrane to clean itself through reciprocating motion. When the membrane support frame moves back and forth, suspended matter attached to the membrane surface is detached and falls into the bioreactor due to gravity. This self-cleaning mechanism eliminates the need for energy-intensive air refining methods while maintaining ease of operation.
3Productivity
If the separation membrane is reciprocated to remove foreign matter, then filtration efficiency is maintained, but the filtered-water discharge part must be movable or stretchable increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the flexible shells and thin films principle by using a flexible discharge part made of a thin film or shell that can stretch and move. The discharge part is designed with sufficient flexibility to accommodate the reciprocating motion of the membrane support frame without breaking or detaching. This allows the system to maintain filtration efficiency through reciprocation while minimizing the increase in device complexity by using a simple flexible component rather than a complex movable mechanism.
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
Effectively prevents membrane blocking and maintains filtration efficiency while reducing energy usage by using inertial force to detach contaminants and allowing for simple water recovery, enhancing the overall performance of the membrane bioreactor system.
Implementation Method 1
uses inertial force to detach contaminants and facilitate easy recovery
Implementation Method 2
a sludge floating part disposed on a lower end of the membrane support frame to float sludge accumulated in the treatment bath
Implementation Method 3
separation membrane technology is one of separation technologies using selective permeability of polymeric materials
Data Source
AI summary
A membrane filtration system, capable of effectively removing foreign matter attached to a separation membrane while saving energy by reciprocating the separation membrane, includes a treatment bath, a membrane support frame disposed in the treatment bath, a separation membrane module installed in the membrane support frame, a reciprocating part connected with the membrane support frame to reciprocate the membrane support frame, and a sludge floating part disposed on a lower end of the membrane support frame to float sludge accumulated in the treatment bath, and a filtered-water discharge part discharging filtered water that has been filtered via the separation membrane module. The filtered-water discharge part is formed to be movable or stretchable in response to a reciprocating motion of the membrane support frame.