Separation Membrane Module With Segmented Flange For Variable Length Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing separation membrane modules face challenges in housing membrane structures of varying longitudinal dimensions, requiring adjustments to the housing to accommodate different sizes, which is cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
The separation membrane module design includes a tubular housing with annular flanges at both ends of the membrane structure, allowing the membrane structure to be housed regardless of its longitudinal dimension, with joining materials spaced apart from the housing to facilitate flexible assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the housing longitudinal dimension is increased to accommodate a longer membrane structure, then the membrane structure can be housed, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is divided into two functional parts: a first flange portion that is integral to the housing and a second flange portion that is detachable. This segmentation allows the housing to maintain a fixed, standardized longitudinal dimension while accommodating membrane structures of varying lengths through the detachable portion that can be adjusted or replaced.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable second flange portion introduces dynamic adjustability to the housing-membrane structure interface. This allows the system to adapt to different membrane lengths without changing the housing itself, transforming a static housing structure into a flexible system that can accommodate variations in membrane structure dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the housing longitudinal dimension is increased to accommodate a longer membrane structure, then the membrane structure can be housed, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the flange into integral and detachable portions, the housing can be manufactured once with standardized dimensions, while the detachable portion can be adjusted or replaced to accommodate different membrane lengths. This eliminates the need to manufacture multiple housing variants for different membrane sizes, reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing with the detachable flange portion becomes a universal component that can accommodate membrane structures of various lengths. The same housing design serves multiple functions and configurations, eliminating the need for custom housing manufacturing for each membrane size variation.
3Volume of moving object
If the flange end surface is positioned at the housing end surface, then the permeate-side space is minimized, but the membrane structure cannot be housed if its longitudinal dimension exceeds the housing length
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is segmented into an integral first portion and a detachable second portion. The integral portion maintains a fixed position that defines the minimum permeate-side space, while the detachable portion extends beyond the housing end surface to accommodate membrane structures longer than the housing, allowing both compact space utilization and adaptability to longer membranes.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable flange portion extends in the longitudinal dimension beyond the housing end surface, creating an additional spatial zone that can accommodate extended membrane structures. This dimensional extension allows the system to maintain a compact housing while providing extra length accommodation through the detachable portion.
Data Source
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AI summary
A separation membrane module (1) includes a tubular housing (20), a columnar reactor (10) housed in the housing (20) and extending in a longitudinal direction, and an annular first flange (30) surrounding a first end portion (10a) of the reactor (10). A first end surface (F2) of the reactor (10) is located outward of an end surface (K1) of the first flange (30) in the longitudinal direction.