Reverse Osmosis Barrel Insulation and Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reverse osmosis filters for seawater desalination face issues such as bulky design, high energy consumption, high maintenance costs, and difficulty in operation and maintenance, along with insufficient insulation and seawater leakage, which affect efficiency and safety.
Innovation Solution
A reverse osmosis apparatus with a barrel design that includes a partition wall to separate the inflow and outflow space into two stages, allowing seawater to insulate the membrane units and increase temperature, thereby enhancing permeate production and recovery rate, and a baffle to secure flow residence time, while distributing the load effectively across membrane units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If reverse osmosis membrane units are arranged in a barrel for large treatment capacity, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and volume increase making the design bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The barrel is divided into multiple stages with partition walls creating separate compartments. Reverse osmosis membrane units are arranged in a segmented manner across different stages, allowing independent optimization of each section while achieving high overall treatment capacity without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement within the barrel, arranging membrane units vertically and horizontally across multiple stages. This dimensional optimization allows high treatment capacity in a compact cylindrical form factor, avoiding bulky horizontal expansion
2Temperature
If insulation material is arranged between the barrel and membrane units to maintain temperature below 40°C, then temperature control is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the cold feed seawater itself as the insulation medium by routing it through the annular space between the barrel and membrane units. This self-cooling approach eliminates the need for separate insulation materials while maintaining membrane temperature below 40°C, reducing manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic flow of seawater through the insulating annular space to provide thermal management. The moving fluid creates convective cooling and insulation effects, replacing static insulation materials and reducing production costs while maintaining effective temperature control
3Temperature
If seawater is fed around the tubes in the barrel to insulate membrane units, then temperature control is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted into a useful insulation mechanism. The feed seawater, which needs to be cooled anyway, is routed through the annular space to absorb excess heat from the membrane units, transforming a potential harmful temperature rise into a beneficial cooling effect that reduces overall energy consumption
4Reliability
If O-ring is provided on the barrel outer circumferential surface to seal, then reliability is improved, but the O-ring twists causing seawater leakage and pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible sealing elements that can adapt to the cylindrical barrel surface without twisting. The sealing structure uses elastic deformation capability to maintain continuous contact with the barrel outer surface, preventing seawater leakage while accommodating thermal expansion and pressure variations without compromising reliability
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 solution results in a compact, energy-efficient design with reduced maintenance costs, extended membrane life, and improved seawater desalination efficiency by insulating and distributing the load across membrane units, addressing the challenges of bulkiness, energy consumption, and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
the seawater passes through a reverse osmosis membrane by reverse osmosis and is collected to a tube at a center of the reverse osmosis membrane unit
Implementation Method 2
seawater fed into the reverse osmosis membrane units increases in temperature due to heat thereby increasing the production rate of permeated water
Data Source
AI summary
A reverse osmosis apparatus for a seawater desalination system is provided. The reverse osmosis apparatus includes: a barrel in which a plurality of reverse osmosis membrane units with a reverse osmosis membrane wrapped in each reverse osmosis membrane unit are arranged; an inflow and outflow portion provided at a first end of the barrel and connected to a seawater inlet a high salinity water outlet; a partition wall configured to partition an inner space of the inflow and outflow portion into a first stage and a second stage; and a transport space portion provided in a second end of the barrel and configured to guide water being moved from a plurality of reverse osmosis membrane units arranged in the first stage to move to a plurality of reverse osmosis membrane units arranged at the second stage, wherein part of seawater fed to the inflow and outflow portion is fed around the tubes in the barrel and insulates the plurality of reverse osmosis membrane units in the barrel from external high temperature while being moved, and flows into the transport space portion.