Spiral Wound Bioreactor for Hyperfiltration Biofouling Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spiral wound hyperfiltration membrane assemblies suffer from biofouling due to bio-nutrient accumulation, leading to performance deterioration over time, despite existing methods like using oxidants or biocides.
Innovation Solution
A filtration assembly is designed with a spiral wound bioreactor assembly located upstream from the hyperfiltration membrane assembly, where bioreactors reduce bio-nutrients in the feed liquid by consuming them with microorganisms, thereby minimizing biofouling in the downstream membrane modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If oxidants or biocides are introduced into feed water to mitigate biofouling, then biofouling is reduced, but harmful factors increase due to chemical additives
Solution Approach 1:
A bioreactor assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the feed water source and the hyperfiltration membrane assembly. The bioreactor contains microorganisms that consume bio-nutrients in the feed water, preventing their accumulation and subsequent biofouling of membranes. This biological intermediary approach eliminates the need for direct chemical addition to the feed stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The bioreactor assembly performs preliminary treatment of feed water by consuming bio-nutrients before the water enters the hyperfiltration membrane assembly. This advance action prevents the formation of conditions that would lead to biofouling, rather than reacting to fouling after it occurs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bioreactor assembly is added upstream from hyperfiltration assembly, then biofouling is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor assembly and hyperfiltration membrane assembly are merged into a single integrated filtration system with a unified housing structure. The bioreactor assembly is positioned within the same housing as the membrane assembly, allowing both biological treatment and mechanical filtration to occur in a compact, combined unit rather than as separate systems.
3Productivity
If multiple spiral wound bioreactors are positioned in parallel arrangement, then bio-nutrient reduction is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor assembly is segmented into multiple individual spiral wound bioreactors that are arranged in parallel within the housing. Each bioreactor is a separate module containing biodegradable material and microorganisms, allowing the system to handle larger flow rates and more effectively consume bio-nutrients through distributed biological treatment zones.
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
The bioreactor assembly effectively reduces biofouling in the hyperfiltration system by depleting bio-nutrients, enhancing the long-term performance and efficiency of the filtration process.
Implementation Method 1
bioreactors reduce bio-nutrients in feed liquid by consuming them with microorganisms
Implementation Method 2
a low pressure vessel including a first and second port, and a plurality of spiral wound bioreactors located within the low pressure vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A filtration assembly including: a hyperfiltration assembly including: a high pressure vessel including a feed port, concentrate port and permeate port, and a plurality of serially arranged spiral wound hyperfiltration membrane modules; a bioreactor assembly including: a low pressure vessel comprising a first and second port, and a plurality of spiral wound bioreactors located within the low pressure vessel with each bioreactor comprising a flat sheet having two opposing bio-growth surfaces and a feed spacer spirally wound about an axis; and a fluid flow pathway extending from a fluid feed source: into the first port of the low pressure vessel, through the bioreactors and out the second port of the low pressure vessel, and into the feed port of the high pressure vessel, through the membrane modules and out of the concentrate port and permeate port.