Reverse Osmosis Plant with Parallel Membranes and Pump Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water treatment plants using reverse osmosis face issues with bulky dimensions, reliability due to connection points and material quality, clogging leading to high water consumption, and mechanical backlashes causing early plant failure.
Innovation Solution
A reverse osmosis filtration plant with smaller electric pumps, parallel connection of osmotic membrane elements, and a recirculation duct, along with a programmable logic electronic unit to manage pump activation and reduce water hammer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a single electric pump with high power is used, then the pumping capacity is sufficient, but the plant dimensions become bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The single high-power electric pump is divided into multiple smaller electric pumps working in parallel. Each pump has lower individual power but collectively they provide the same total pumping capacity. This segmentation reduces the space required for pump installation and makes the overall plant more compact while maintaining sufficient pumping power.
2Productivity
If several osmotic membrane elements are connected in series to obtain high permeate quantity, then the permeate production increases, but the pressure and flow of concentrate are reduced causing early clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The osmotic membrane elements are arranged in parallel instead of in series. This parallel configuration maintains higher pressure and flow rates in the concentrate stream by providing multiple independent filtration paths, preventing the pressure drop that occurs in series connections and thereby reducing early clogging while still achieving high permeate production.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates variable speed electric pumps that can dynamically adjust their operation based on real-time conditions. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize the balance between permeate production and concentrate flow characteristics, preventing clogging by maintaining appropriate flow rates even at high productivity levels.
3Productivity
If the electric pump operates continuously at high power, then the water treatment capacity is sufficient, but mechanical and hydraulic backlashes occur limiting plant life
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple smaller electric pumps replace a single high-power pump, allowing for more gradual and controlled startup and shutdown sequences. This reduces mechanical shocks and hydraulic backlashes (water hammer effects) that occur with sudden changes in high-power pump operation, thereby extending the plant's operational life while maintaining treatment capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses variable speed control and programmable logic to manage pump activation gradually. Pumps can be started and stopped in a controlled sequence with adjustable speeds, minimizing abrupt pressure changes and mechanical stress. This dynamic operation reduces wear and tear on plant components, extending their service life.
4Reliability
If high water consumption is used to reduce clogging, then the membrane remains clear, but the water loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple parallel osmotic membrane elements provide increased total filtration area, allowing the system to maintain membrane clarity with lower flow rates through each individual element. This distributes the filtration load more effectively, reducing the need for high water consumption to prevent clogging while maintaining reliable operation.
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
Reduces plant dimensions, increases reliability, minimizes water consumption, and extends plant life by preventing clogging and mechanical backlashes.
Implementation Method 1
an osmotic membrane filter element which, through the phenomenon of reverse osmosis, separates the path of the treated water into a first and a second duct
Implementation Method 2
second pumping means to activate the circulation of water to be treated
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
A plant (20) is described for the at least partial elimination treatment of polluting substances dissolved in water, of the type based on the reverse osmosis phenomenon and comprising: an adduction duct (21) for introducing into the plant (20) water to be treated; first pre-treatment means (22, 23) comprising a pre-filtration device (22) of the sediment type, and a chlorine absorber (23); second pumping means (24) to activate the circulation of the water to be treated; an osmotic membrane filter element (25) which, through the reverse osmosis phenomenon, separates the path of the treated water into a first duct (26) and a second duct (27); wherein, through the first duct (26), the permeate is collected, i.e. the water freed at least in part from the dissolved substances before treatment; and through the second duct (27) the concentrate is collected, i.e. the residual water with the majority of the substances dissolved before the treatment.