RO Water Purification Control for Stable Dialysis Fluid Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing dialysis systems face challenges with the delivery and storage of large volumes of dialysis fluid, leading to space consumption and waste generation, and the need for point-of-use systems that ensure the quality and consistency of dialysis fluid production, particularly in maintaining fluid properties like flow rate and pressure.
Innovation Solution
A water purification apparatus with a Reverse Osmosis (RO) device, recirculation path, and control unit to regulate fluid properties such as flow rate and pressure, using detectors and a control device to maintain desired criteria, including alarms for error detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the water purification system operates without active flow control, then the system is simpler, but the flow rate and pressure become unstable leading to uncertain water production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using detectors to monitor fluid properties (flow rate, pressure) in real-time and feeding this information to a control unit that adjusts the recirculation flow accordingly. This closed-loop system maintains stable product water flow rate and pressure despite filter deterioration, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by introducing targeted control mechanisms only where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters (recirculation flow rate) based on detected fluid properties and predetermined criteria. By adjusting the recirculation flow parameter in response to filter permeability changes, the system maintains stable product water output without requiring complete system redesign, thus improving reliability while limiting complexity increase.
2Productivity
If the system operates at high pressure to maintain flow rate, then the productivity is improved, but the hardware may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic pressure and flow control by continuously adjusting the recirculation flow based on real-time detection of product water flow rate and pressure. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain optimal productivity while preventing pressure from exceeding safe limits that could damage hardware, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation path acts as an intermediary mechanism that absorbs pressure fluctuations and flow variations. By routing a portion of the product water through the recirculation path back to the RO device inlet, the system can maintain stable product water output without subjecting the hardware to harmful pressure spikes, thus protecting hardware while maintaining productivity.
3Reliability
If the recirculation flow is increased to compensate for filter deterioration, then the flow rate stability is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit uses feedback from detectors monitoring product water flow rate and adjusts the recirculation flow only to the extent necessary to maintain stable product water output. This feedback-based adjustment prevents excessive recirculation and associated energy waste, resolving the contradiction between flow rate consistency and energy consumption by applying control only when and where needed.
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
Ensures consistent production of dialysis fluid with controlled flow rate and pressure, reducing the risk of hardware damage and improving the efficiency and safety of dialysis treatments.
Implementation Method 1
a Reverse Osmosis, RO, device arranged to produce a purified water flow
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a water purification apparatus that comprises a reverse osmosis device, RO-device, producing a purified water flow and to a corresponding method. The proposed method comprises detecting at least one fluid property of purified water in the purified water path and regulating a flow rate of water in the recirculation path to fulfil one or more predetermined criteria of the purified water in the purified water path, based on the at least one detected fluid property. The present disclosure also relates to a computer program and a computer program product implementing the method.