Side Access Tank Facility for Membrane Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current tank facilities for wastewater treatment, particularly MBR systems, lack side access, requiring top access that is cumbersome and poses safety risks, especially in smaller applications where space and safety are concerns.
Innovation Solution
A tank facility design with a side access opening, a water-sealing cover, an in-tank equipment holding structure, and a moving mechanism with a guiding mechanism, including a rail structure and pivotally movable ramp, allowing for the horizontal movement of equipment in and out of the tank for maintenance and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If top access is provided for membrane maintenance, then membrane cleaning and replacement can be performed, but access requires tall structures, lifting equipment, and multiple operators
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of accessing membranes from the top of the tank, the patent inverts the approach by providing side access through an opening in the tank wall. This allows operators to access membranes horizontally at ground level rather than vertically from above, eliminating the need for tall structures and lifting equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the membrane module from the tank for maintenance by providing a moving mechanism that can horizontally translate the membrane holder assembly outside the tank through the side opening. This allows the membrane to be removed and serviced externally without requiring complex top-access infrastructure.
2Ease of operation
If top access platform is provided, then membrane maintenance is possible, but safety risks increase in adverse weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the access approach from vertical top access to horizontal side access at ground level. This eliminates the need for operators to work at heights on platforms or through roofs, thereby removing safety risks associated with adverse weather conditions and high-altitude work.
3Ease of operation
If MBR is placed in taller building for top access, then sufficient space is provided for operators and equipment, but construction cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the spatial arrangement by accessing membranes from the side at ground level rather than from the top. This allows the tank to be placed in a shorter building without compromising operator access, as all maintenance activities can be performed at ground level through the side opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the access dimension from vertical (top-down) to horizontal (side-to-side). This dimensional shift allows operators to access membranes at ground level through a side opening, eliminating the need for tall buildings while maintaining adequate operator space and equipment clearance.
4Length of moving object
If pre-fabricated units with maximum height of 10 feet are used, then shipping on flat bed trucks is possible, but top access becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the access approach from vertical top access to horizontal side access. This allows compact pre-fabricated units with limited height to maintain easy membrane access through the side opening, eliminating the conflict between compact dimensions and access ease.
Data Source
AI summary
A side access tank facility including an enclosure for containing water therein. The enclosure has an opening disposed in a side wall thereof. A cover covers the opening in a water sealing engagement with the enclosure. The side access tank facility further comprises an in-tank equipment holding structure for holding in-tank equipment at a predetermined position inside the enclosure. A moving mechanism is provided for moving the in-tank equipment holding structure between a position inside the enclosure and a position outside the enclosure.