RO Membrane Verification via Conductivity and Flow Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing ultrapure water for medicinal flushing solutions in situ face challenges such as high microbiological and chemical contamination, limited germ retention by filter stages, and inadequate verification of filter quality, leading to frequent replacements and potential contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A combination of a reverse osmosis membrane with additional filters like Ultrafilter or Sterifilter, using citrate-based disinfection and low-toxicity cleaning agents, along with continuous conductivity measurements and trend analysis to ensure reliable germ reduction and chemical retention, and implementing a level-controlled glass chamber for media separation and monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal disinfection is used to reduce germs in water treatment, then germ reduction is achieved, but purification effect is low and material stress occurs causing premature ageing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of disinfection temperature from high (thermal) to low (ambient or slightly elevated), and introduces chemical disinfection agents to compensate for the lower temperature effectiveness, thereby reducing material stress while achieving adequate germ reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces chemical disinfection agents as an intermediary substance to enhance the germ reduction effect without requiring high temperatures, thus protecting the reverse osmosis membrane and other components from thermal degradation
2Reliability
If chemical disinfection is used to reduce germs, then germ reduction is effective, but toxic substances are introduced and residual concentrations can harm patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of chemical disinfection agents to extremely low levels (parts per billion or parts per trillion), maintaining germ reduction effectiveness while eliminating toxicity risks to patients
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous monitoring and feedback control of chemical agent concentrations, automatically adjusting dosing to maintain effective germ reduction while preventing accumulation of toxic residues in the water supply
3Device complexity
If filter stages with limited germ retention are used, then device complexity is reduced, but microbiological contamination increases requiring frequent replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces chemical disinfection agents as an intermediary mechanism that works in conjunction with the physical filter stages, providing an additional layer of germ reduction without requiring complex multi-stage filtration systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite water treatment approach combining physical filtration with chemical disinfection, where the filter stages and chemical agents work synergistically to achieve superior microbiological retention compared to either method alone
4Ease of operation
If conductivity measurement is used to verify membrane quality, then measurement simplicity is maintained, but detection precision is insufficient for small ruptures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback monitoring of multiple parameters including conductivity, pressure differential, and flow rate, using sophisticated algorithms to detect subtle changes that indicate membrane degradation or small ruptures before they become critical failures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite measurement approach combining multiple sensing methods (electrical conductivity, pressure sensing, flow measurement) to achieve high detection precision for membrane integrity while maintaining operational simplicity through integrated monitoring systems
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 approach enables the economical online production of ultrapure water with extremely low microbiological and chemical contamination, extending filter service life, and ensuring high availability and reliability of the water treatment system, thus preventing catastrophic consequences for patients.
Implementation Method 1
reverse osmosis membrane (12)
Implementation Method 2
the high osmotic pressure opposes the transmembrane pressure
Implementation Method 3
an Ultrafilter or sterifilter (25) are inserted in the permeate circuit downstream of the reverse osmosis membrane
Implementation Method 4
a heating device (20) is inserted in the ultrapure water line (28) downstream of the reverse osmosis membrane
Implementation Method 5
a conductivity measuring device (22) is inserted in the ultrapure water line (28) downstream of the reverse osmosis membrane
Data Source
AI summary
The method of verifying an RO membrane of an RO installation is characterized in that the conductivity values of the supplied raw water and of the permeate and the amount of the raw water inflow and the concentrate outflow are continuously or cyclically measured and that the efficiency of the RO membrane, its retention rate and/or filtration efficiency are calculated from the measured values.