Segmented Spacing Member for Submerged Membrane Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In submerged membrane separation devices, the spacing between filtration membranes is not consistently maintained across the membrane elements, leading to reduced membrane surface cleaning effectiveness and potential clogging due to uneven flow distribution and increased membrane flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The use of spacer sections in the spacing member, which are disposed between membrane elements to maintain predetermined spacing in the direction of the membrane surface cleaning stream, ensuring uniform flow distribution and preventing membrane deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the thickness of membrane elements is reduced to increase the number of membrane elements per unit area, then the productivity is improved, but the membrane elements are reduced in stiffness and bent by upward flows, causing spacing to be not kept at the predetermined spacing
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing member is divided into multiple spacer sections (first, second, third, fourth spacer sections) that are distributed along the membrane element. This segmentation allows the spacing function to be maintained at multiple points, preventing bending and deformation even when membrane elements are thin and flexible.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacing member acts as an intermediary component between adjacent membrane elements. It maintains the predetermined spacing by physically supporting the membrane elements at multiple points, preventing them from bending due to upward flows while allowing the membrane elements to remain thin for high productivity.
2Productivity
If the size of membrane elements is increased, then the productivity is improved, but the membrane elements are reduced in stiffness, causing spacing to be not kept at the predetermined spacing
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple spacer sections are distributed along the length of the membrane element, providing support at intervals. This allows large membrane elements to maintain their size for high productivity while the segmented spacer sections prevent bending and maintain predetermined spacing throughout.
3Device complexity
If spacing members are provided only at upper and lower ends of membrane elements, then the device complexity is reduced, but the spacing is not kept at the predetermined spacing at the central part, causing insufficient membrane surface cleaning effect
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing member is segmented into multiple spacer sections (first, second, third, fourth spacer sections) distributed along the membrane element. This segmentation ensures that spacing is maintained not only at the ends but also at the central part, preventing membrane bending and ensuring uniform cleaning effect without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different spacer sections are positioned at different locations (upper end, lower end, and central parts) of the membrane element. This local distribution of spacing functions ensures that each region of the membrane element maintains predetermined spacing, with the third and fourth spacer sections specifically addressing the central part spacing issue.
4Manufacturing precision
If the number of spacer sections is increased to maintain spacing throughout the membrane element, then the spacing maintenance is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple spacer sections are integrated into a single spacing member structure. The first, second, third, and fourth spacer sections are combined in one component that is attached to the membrane element, maintaining precise spacing throughout while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate spacing components.
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 configuration maintains consistent spacing between filtration membranes, enhancing membrane surface cleaning efficacy by dispersing upward flows uniformly across the membrane width, thereby preventing clogging and improving treatment efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
air sent from the air diffuser 19 produces an air-lift effect to generate upward flows 20 in a gas-liquid phase between the membrane elements 14
Data Source
AI summary
A membrane element 36 includes filtration membranes 45 on the flat part of the membrane element 36. Spacing members 60 keep spacing S between the filtration membranes 45 between the membrane elements 36 when the membrane elements 36 are arranged with the filtration membranes 45 opposed to each other. The spacing members 60 each have spacer sections 61a and 61b that keep the spacing S between the filtration membranes 45 between the membrane elements 36 in the direction of a membrane surface cleaning stream that flows along the surface of the filtration membrane 45.