US 11,913,692 B2
Heat exchanger integration with membrane system for evaporator pre-concentration
Kyle Vanzandt, Watertown, MA (US); Marcus Lundgren, Cambridge, MA (US); and Brent D. Keller, Somerville, MA (US)
Assigned to Via Separations, Inc., Watertown, MA (US)
Filed by Via Separations, Inc., Watertown, MA (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/141,316.
Application 18/141,316 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2022/080120, filed on Nov. 18, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/283,767, filed on Nov. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0258378 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. B01D 71/02 (2006.01); F25B 43/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 43/00 (2013.01) [B01D 71/024 (2013.01); B01D 2311/04 (2013.01); B01D 2311/106 (2013.01)] 43 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for concentrating a liquid feed, the system comprising:
a membrane system configured to receive the liquid feed and produce a concentrate and a permeate, the membrane system including:
a graphene oxide membrane configured to operate at a membrane temperature of at least 60° C.;
a passive cooling system, the passive cooling system including uninsulated piping, a membrane housing, or a combination thereof; and
an active cooling system;
a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the membrane system and disposed upstream of the membrane system such that the liquid feed enters the membrane system immediately after exiting the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger configured to cool the liquid feed and heat the concentrate by transferring heat from the liquid feed to the concentrate; and
a controller configured to:
determine performance of the passive cooling system; and
adjust an operation of the active cooling system based on the determined performance of the passive cooling system, such that the cooling of the membrane system is at a target cooling level.