Wine Filtration Membrane Declogging via Permeate Water Hammer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for unclogging tangential filtration membranes, such as those used in wine filtration, are ineffective due to high pressure injection of permeate which can damage membranes and result in low flow rates, failing to properly detach particle layers and restore permeability.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the discharge of permeate through the membrane with a high flow rate (greater than 500 liters per hour per square meter) and short duration (between 0.1 and 1.5 seconds) under a pressure of 1 to 2 bars, mimicking a water hammer effect to detach particles, while ensuring the discharge time matches the fluid transit time and the flow rate is at least twice the filtration rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If compressed air is injected into the pinch valve at high pressure (up to 6 bars) to expel permeate and unclog the membrane, then the particle layer detachment is improved, but the membrane is damaged due to excessive pressure (membranes can withstand maximum 2 bars)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pressure parameter from high (6 bars) to low (1-2 bars) while compensating by increasing the duration of permeate injection. This parameter transformation allows effective membrane unclogging without damaging the membrane structure, resolving the contradiction between unclogging effectiveness and membrane safety
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydraulic pressure from permeate injection instead of pneumatic compressed air to create the water hammer effect. This hydraulic approach generates sufficient force to detach particle layers while maintaining pressure within safe limits for the membrane, eliminating the harmful high-pressure effect
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the duct conveying compressed air is made small to reduce injection pressure of permeate, then membrane damage is prevented, but the injection time of compressed air increases significantly (to the order of 5 seconds) reducing permeate flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a dynamic injection process where permeate is injected at controlled low pressure (1-2 bars) for a short duration (0.1-1.5 seconds) to create a water hammer effect. This dynamic approach maintains high permeate flow rate while preventing membrane damage, overcoming the static limitation of small duct designs
3Object-affected harmful factors
If compressed air injection duration is extended to 5 seconds to reduce injection pressure, then membrane safety is improved, but the permeate flow rate decreases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs periodic, pulsed injection of permeate at controlled intervals rather than continuous long-duration injection. Each pulse creates a water hammer effect for effective particle detachment while maintaining high flow rate, and the short duration (0.1-1.5 seconds) preserves both membrane safety and productivity
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 method effectively unclogs membranes by creating a shock that detaches particles, restoring permeability and maintaining membrane integrity, with the ability to be used both preventatively and curatively depending on clogging severity.
Implementation Method 1
The invention consists in discharging a determined quantity of permeate through the membrane in a determined time, this discharge time being at least equal to the transit time of the fluid inside the membrane, so as to cause, at the level of the membrane, a shock similar to a water hammer
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for declogging the membrane (12) of a device (3) for the cross-flow filtration of a fluid, especially wine, said membrane being clogged up by a layer of particles, using a permeate obtained by filtering this fluid. This method consists in delivering a defined quantity of permeate through the membrane (12) with a high flow rate (Dr) for a short time (Tr), so as to cause, in this membrane (12), a shock capable of dislodging the particles from this membrane (12). The invention also relates to a device (13) for providing such declogging and to an installation (1) comprising such a device (13).