Separator Assembly for Spiral Flow Reverse Osmosis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional separator assemblies with folded multilayer membrane assemblies face issues with membrane function loss due to folding, leading to uncontrolled contact between the feed solution and permeate carrier layer, necessitating improved design and manufacturing for robust, efficient, and cost-effective water purification systems.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a central core element with permeate and concentrate exhaust conduits defining cavities to accommodate a membrane stack assembly, preventing direct contact between the feed and permeate carrier layers and ensuring a multilayer membrane assembly is formed around the core element, minimizing membrane layer folds and enhancing operational efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a folded multilayer membrane assembly is used to increase membrane surface area, then the purification capacity is improved, but membrane function is lost due to folding causing uncontrolled contact between feed solution and permeate carrier layer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurification capacityVSAvoidmembrane function

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The membrane assembly is divided into multiple layers (feed carrier layer, membrane layer, permeate carrier layer) that are stacked and wound around a central spool. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function while maintaining proper separation, preventing the feed carrier layer from contacting the permeate carrier layer directly, thus preserving membrane function while achieving high purification capacity through multiple layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multilayer membrane assembly is wound around a central spool in a nested configuration, with the feed carrier layer, membrane layer, and permeate carrier layer arranged concentrically. This nesting ensures that the feed solution flows through the feed carrier layer and membrane layer without direct contact with the permeate carrier layer, maintaining membrane integrity while maximizing surface area through multiple wound layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Area of stationary object

If the membrane layer is folded to create a pocket-like structure, then the membrane surface area is increased, but manufacturing complexity increases and membrane function may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemembrane surface areaVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The feed carrier layer, membrane layer, and permeate carrier layer are pre-assembled into a stacked configuration before winding around the central spool. This preliminary assembly ensures proper alignment and separation of layers, simplifying the subsequent winding process and preventing manufacturing defects that could compromise membrane function, while achieving high surface area through the wound structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The linear stacked membrane assembly is wound into a curved cylindrical configuration around a central spool. This curvature transforms the flat multilayer structure into a compact three-dimensional form, increasing the effective membrane surface area within a limited space while maintaining layer separation through the radial arrangement, and simplifying the overall assembly process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 membrane integrity, reduces pressure drop, and facilitates easier manufacturing, resulting in a more reliable and efficient separator assembly for fluid purification processes like reverse osmosis, while avoiding membrane layer folds that can cause function loss.

Implementation Method 1

a semipermeable membrane layer having an active surface and a passive surface... which transmits portions of the feed solution as a permeate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelective permeation: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 2

The feed solution also serves to disrupt solute accretion at the active surface of the membrane layer and transport excess solute out of the multilayer membrane assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMass transport: Advection

Data Source

PatentUS8961790B2Separator assembly

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 BL TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A novel separator assembly for a spiral flow reverse osmosis apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the separator assembly comprises a central core element comprising at least one permeate exhaust conduit and at least one concentrate exhaust conduit. Each exhaust conduit defines an exhaust channel and one or more openings allowing fluid communication between an exterior surface of the exhaust conduit and the exhaust channel, said exhaust conduits independently defining a cavity between said conduits. The cavity is configured to accommodate a first portion of a membrane stack assembly comprising at least one feed carrier layer, at least one permeate carrier layer, and at least one membrane layer. A first portion of the membrane stack assembly is disposed within the cavity, and a second portion of the membrane stack assembly is wound around the central core element and forms a multilayer membrane assembly disposed around the central core element.