APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING FOULING AND SCALING USING ULTRASONIC VIBRATIONS

摘要

Described herein are apparatuses and methods for preventing or otherwise reducing scaling and fouling of a membrane using ultrasonic vibrations. One example method involves: (1) directing a solution to a membrane of a membrane assembly, where the membrane passes a solvent of the solution through the membrane at a first rate, and where the membrane prevents at least some of a solute of the solution from passing through the membrane; and (2) causing a piezoelectric material that is physically coupled to the membrane to produce ultrasonic waves directed at the membrane, where the ultrasonic waves induce oscillations in at least a portion of the membrane and thereby the solvent of the solution passes through the membrane at a second rate that is greater than the first rate.